Love Potion Commotion!

by Danielle Williams

  Marty groaned and dropped his head further. But then Vivian scritched his ears. Frank saw him perk up. He’d recover.

  “Wow,” said Alanna Lu. She stood behind them, a red-piped store-bought sheet cake in her arms. She watched the dogs silently following their owners back inside.

  “You sure have a way with dogs, Auntie!”

  Vivian smiled.

  Chapter 24

  Alanna Lu had bought the local Fred Meyer out of its cakes. The cuter, the better, she’d thought, and he picked up cakes shaped like hearts, ladybugs, and even basketballs, just for good measure.

  The dogs had followed their owners inside and after a few more wipe downs (and lick downs) of the be-frostinged floor, the festivities had resumed.

  Vivian smiled at the scene, crossing her arms. “Looks like the party’s saved.”

  “Yeah, but what about Tom’s job?” said Alanna Lu.

  “WHAT?”

  “Look over in the corner, by the darts.”

  The blonde-haired woman had her hands on her hips while Tom talked to her. From time to time she gestured at the ruined cakewalk.

  “That’s Tom’s boss. I talked to him on the way in with the cakes. She’s blaming him for this! He could be fired‌—‌right before his first semester at college!”

  “Not on my watch.” said the witch. “What’s her name?”

  “Ms. Lawrence.”

  “Thanks.” Vivian strode to the punch table and ladled a cupful of love potion into a Styrofoam coffee cup covered in hearts. She went over to Tom and his boss.

  What was she doing?? thought Alanna Lu.

  Rhoda paced behind Tom. Glancing down at her, Vivian caught a glimpse of the CEO’s pant legs and saw the telltale wisp of dog hair.

  Well, of course. She runs a dog-friendly office, doesn’t she?

  “Ms. Lawrence, is it? So sorry to interrupt. I’m Vivian Feng, owner of Feng’s Canine Fashions.” She stuck her hand out to shake.

  The boss glanced at Tom‌—‌a warning, thought the witch‌—‌but took Vivian’s hand. “So glad you could make it.”

  “Punch?”

  “Oh, I really couldn’t‌—‌”

  Vivian shoved the cup in her face. “Just a sip.” Most were helpless before the one-two punch of Vivian’s age and insistence. Tom’s boss wasn’t an exception.

  She took the heart cup. “Thank you.”

  Vivian put her hand on Tom’s shoulder. “No. Let me thank YOU for putting this marvelous young man in charge of this event! Without his quick thinking, the party would have been ruined!”

  Ms. Lawrence’s face went from strained sociability to genuine interest.

  Vivian didn’t wait for her to ask. “After the excitement with the dogs, he had my great-niece run out and buy some goodies so your clients could still get their prizes. And I hear he did it on his own dime!”

  Panic burst through Tom’s smile, but he hid it when his boss turned to him.

  “Really?”

  Tom caught Vivian’s hint of a nod in his peripheral vision.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  The boss threw her hands up in the air, but she was smiling. “Well, why didn’t you say so?”

  Tom swallowed. “Because I, uh, didn’t want to interrupt.”

  Now the woman went red. “Well‌—‌I…‌I suppose I jumped to conclusions.”

  “Shame we can’t get our exercise that way, isn’t it?” said Vivian.

  The woman pulled at her necklace. She looked over at the crowd, now gathered around the prize table. “Well, things seem to be smoothed over.”

  “Just look at all those smiles!” said Vivian.

  “Thank you, Tom,” said his boss. “Please…‌forget everything I said. You’ve done good. On behalf of the company, thank you.”

  “See you Monday?” said Tom.

  “Of course! And Tom?”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “No need to worry about your upcoming semester, either. You’ve earned your spot with us.”

  Tom’s chest finally relaxed. “Thank you, Ms. Lawrence.”

  After the boss excused herself, Tom turned to Vivian.

  “What…‌um…‌?”

  She took his elbow and pulled him in close.

  “We bought the cakes, dear. I think most of what happened could be considered my fault anyway. Don’t worry, with the business we did tonight, it shouldn’t be any trouble,” she said.

  Tom ran his hand through his hair, sighing.

  “Thanks, Mrs. Feng. You‌—‌I owe you.”

  Vivian’s eyes narrowed.

  “Well…‌there is one thing you could do for an old woman. Then you’ll be off the hook!”

  Tom’s smile turned uneasy. “OK, Mrs. Feng. Whatever you say.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  Chapter 25

  “Oh, man…‌I can’t believe what I did…‌so sorry, bro!” Marty said to Leggo. They were hiding in the quiet corner. Vivian was off talking with some woman and Tom. Frank was off helping cut and distribute cakes while Alanna Lu took photos of the celebrating humans.

  “Yeah, yeah,” said Leggo. His excitement at getting a new Bully stick had disappeared when they’d passed Rhoda on the way in and she’d turned her back to them. It made him feel like a Bad Dog.

  Freckles looked at Leggo a moment, then started licking him on the cheek. But Leggo shouldered him off after just one lick and stood up.

  “I’m gonna go in my kennel,” he said, beginning the turn.

  “Oh, c’mon, brindlebutt, it’s not the end of the yard!” said Wonder. She laid herself in front of both kennels, blocking the entrances. “There’s always another ball in the toy box!”

  Leggo sighed.

  “Hey, man‌—‌Marty, tell your brother this is supposed to be a party.”

  Marty blinked. His suit was wrinkled, he’d chased around girl dogs like some annoying cat, his brother was mad at him, and Mom was going to give him a talking to when they got home. But worst of all, he’d gotten Freckles into trouble, too. Who’d want to adopt a pup in the center of a Bad Dog controversy? He probably wouldn’t be getting too many likes from this.

  Why, if he had a clicky mouse, Marty thought he wouldn’t have given himself a Thumbs Down right now. He deserved it. All because he was in love with his mom’s delicious dip!

  “Idunno, Wonder. Maybe the party’s over for us pups.”

  Three dogs hung their heads. Even Wonder quieted, scuffing her paw on the floor.

  Over the microphone up front, a human on a microphone began announcing the winners of a raffle. The humans cheered, the sound echoing through the venue.

  Then the dogs’ ears perked at the sound of a toddler’s giggle.

  “Look, it’s that baby!” said Freckles, getting to his paws.

  “You know him?” said Wonder.

  “Kinda,” said Marty. He looked around. “Don’t see his mom, though. Hey, whoa!” The toddler had put on a wobbly burst of speed and had gotten himself past the first set of exit doors.

  Marty barked. “He can’t go out there! That’s the parking lot! There are cars! He could get hurt!”

  “What?” said Freckles.

  Marty, Leggo, and Wonder began to bark, but the sound was drowned out by the humans’ applause.

  “Freckles, come help me find Mom and Dad!” said Marty. “Leggo, you and‌—‌oh, no!”

  The toddler had disappeared from sight.

  Before Marty could say anything more, Freckles was out the door, barking his head off. But with music blaring from the speakers, none of the humans noticed.

  Wonder pushed herself to her feet. “I’ll go help him,” she said. “Go get your Mom and Dad!” She left after Freckles, and the brothers hurried into the crowd.

  * * *

  Freckles found the toddler on the sidewalk, hanging on to a Handicapped sign pole for support as he squatted down to investigate the grooves in the sidewalk.

  Wonder bounded to the spaniel’s sid
e.

  “Good! As long as he’s on the white part, he’s safe.”

  She trotted up to the toddler. Sensing her, the toddler looked up from his investigating. He took one look at the enormous dog and screamed.

  “What?!” said Wonder.

  The toddler balled up his fist and punched the Boxer in the face, just under the eye. Wonder flinched, taking the blow, and the toddler pushed her.

  Freckles ran up. “Wonder, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine! You try getting him, baby, he’s scared of me! Go!”

  Freckles turned to the parking lot. The air was dense with the smells of cars and oil, but a trail of scented baby powder hung in the air in the toddler’s wake.

  Still crying, the toddler was just about to wander out past the lines of the handicap loading space when two beams of light appeared. Tires rolled.

  He was about to step into the car’s path.

  The roar of an engine filled Freckles’ ears.

  Freckles charged anyway.

  Chapter 26

  The terrible screech of the car’s brakes rang through the auditorium. Outside, a dog yelped over and over again.

  This quieted everyone enough to hear a woman go, “Where’s Bradley?”

  The audience ran into the parking lot, ceremony forgotten.

  Outside, Wonder was yelping and hopping. A man had gotten out of his car. He was kneeling next to two small figures on the ground.

  The mother pushed her way through.

  “BRADLEY?!”

  The man looked up at the crowd, eyes wide.

  “He was just about to walk out in front of me when this dog here yanked him back by his shirt.” He looked around, tears suddenly filling his eyes. “I didn’t hit them, did I?”

  Bradley the toddler lay upon Freckles’ belly, who had fallen down on his side.

  Both had glazed looks in their eyes and were panting heavily. But then, the boy pushed himself up and began bawling.

  “It’s a good sign if he’s crying!” said a certified grandmother in the crowd.

  Bradley’s mother grabbed him up, feeling him all over.

  “Are you OK? Are you hurt? Tell Mommy!”

  At this last question, the boy sniffled and shook his head “no” before wrapping his arms around his mother’s neck.

  She began swiveling and patting him on the back. “It’s OK, you’re all right…‌”

  The man from the car put his face in his hands, crying over what could have happened, tears flowing as hard as the toddler’s.

  Then Vivian Feng pushed through the crowd, followed by her husband and the Frenchies.

  “Freckles!”

  She dropped to her knees next to the spaniel. Seeing her, he rolled to standing and tried to lick her face.

  “Looks to all right to me!” said Frank. “Looks like he just flopped over to give the kid a soft place to land!”

  Vivian grabbed the spaniel up, hugging him.

  “There’s a good boy…‌there’s a good boy.”

  Bradley’s mom touched Vivian’s shoulder.

  “I agree.”

  Chapter 27

  Vivian stood next to Bradley’s mom. Together, they peered into the viewing window in the Berryville No-Kill Animal Shelter. Inside the room they were looking into, a male shelter worker approached Freckles in a dowdy white-haired wig, oversized sunglasses, and pink crocheted shawl.

  Freckles looked up at the strangely-dressed worker and wagged his tail. Another worker slipped a bowl of food into the room. After a glance at the man, Freckles began eating. The man reached into his shawl and pulled out a rubber hand attached to the end of a thick, wooden dowel.

  He approached the dog from behind.

  “DOES THE DOGGIE LIKE HIS DINNER?” squealed the man, poking the rubber hand into Freckles’ dish.

  “C’mon, honey,” whispered Vivian.

  Freckles glanced at the hand, then returned to eating.

  “Good boy!” said Vivian.

  The man gently touched Freckles’ snout with the rubber hand. Freckles continued to ignore him.

  “Yes!” Vivian clenched her fists in glee.

  Finally, the man put the rubber hand between Freckles and his food. He began sliding the dish away from the spaniel.

  Vivian thought she saw Freckle’s back stiffen and her heart fell into her shoes. But instead of growling or even baring his teeth, Freckles retreated a few feet away and sat.

  The man with the old lady wig turned to the two women and gave them a big thumbs-up.

  Vivian didn’t know how other homes did this without being able to talk‌—‌really talk‌—‌with their fosters. She’d drilled Freckles on this the night before and still was nervous. It happened every time.

  The shelter man stepped out the door to the room, pulling off the wig.

  “He passed with flying colors! He can go home with you after you fill out the paperwork. Congratulations, Mrs. Winfield.”

  The women hugged. “Sounds like you did a great job with Freckles.”

  “Mrs. Feng has a way with dogs. We give her all our tough cases and she always brings ’em back perfect angels. Not that Freckles was too far gone though, right, buddy?” said the attendant as his co-worker brought out Freckles on a leash.

  Mrs. Winfield bent down. “Hi, buddy! You’re coming home with us! You sure are, you handsome boy!”

  Freckles put a paw on her knee and leaned in to lick her face.

  “Aww!”

  * * *

  In a gated field connected to the shelter, Mr. Winfield swayed, holding Bradley the toddler while the older children played tag around his legs with Marty, dressed now in a lime green doggy windbreaker. Frank stood near the door, waiting to welcome Vivian and Mrs. Winfield. Leggo, at his feet, kept his nose turned towards the parking lot. Alanna Lu was due any second.

  The shelter doors opened. Out trotted Freckles in a teal doggie scarf, patterned with white hearts, Vivian’s final gift to all her fosters.

  His practice time on the leash meant Mrs. Winfield crossed the threshold with the spaniel at the same moment, with Vivian bringing up the rear. The shelter director walked next to her, talking in a low tone to the witch.

  The kids stopped their game and surrounded their new family member, covering him with pets and hugs.

  “Hi, boy!”

  “Good boy, Freckles!”

  Marty sat back and smiled. It was always satisfying to see a good dog get his forever home.

  Leggo padded to his brother’s side. Marty started to tell him to check if the zipper was up on his windbreaker only to find Leggo wasn’t facing him. His tail had frozen, at attention. Marty looked.

  Alanna Lu was running towards them, phone out, taking video, he thought, since she was only holding it with one hand.

  “Hey, wait up, Lu!” said a new voice.

  Marty’s ears perked. “That Tom?”

  Then the scent hit him. He turned to Leggo. “And Rhoda?”

  The man and his beautiful red dog turned the corner, coming into view.

  Leggo hurried behind Frank’s legs. Marty started to follow him, then stopped. Alanna Lu would want pictures of him. And technically, Rhoda was a fellow Instagram star like him. It’d be unprofessional of him to avoid her. He wuffed to himself, steeling his resolve. There were “likes” at stake.

  Vivian finally escaped the shelter director.

  “Got a tough one ahead of us,” the witch said to Frank, but not without a smile.

  He gave her a kiss. “If anyone can handle a difficult dog, it’s you, dear.”

  Alanna Lu reached them.

  “Did I miss it? Aw, darn, I did!” Alanna Lu liked to snap the shot of the moment when the family found out they’d gotten their new dog. It always made for a happy blog post. She had prints of all her aunt’s previous success stories pinned to a board in her room. Seeing them at night before bed always made her smile, even after a rough day.

  Still…‌these were some cute pictures! She squa
tted down to capture the Winfield children celebrating the Welsh Springer Spaniel’s adoption into their family.

  “Tom, how you doing?” asked Frank.

  “Great, Mr. Feng.”

  “Tom, so wonderful to see you‌—‌and you too, Miss Rhoda!” Vivian gave Rhoda a good ear scritch in greeting.

  Rhoda panted gratefully, but kept an eye on Marty as he waddled up.

  “So-uh. Hiya,” he said in Dog.

  “Hello-o.” Her floppy ears cocked forward. She had no intention of being chased today.

  “Uh, Idunno if you heard, but, uh, me and Freckles there ate some bad human health food at the party.”

  “Uh huh?”

  “And that’s what made us chase you. We’re sorry. We wasn’t trying to be weird or nothing. Or scare you.”

  Rhoda barked in surprise. “Ha! Scare me?” She’d marked bushes bigger than both of them! But then her tail stilled. “I was kind of worried about you guys. You weren’t yourselves!”

  “I know.”

  “You were really rude!”

  Marty hung his head. “I’m sorry.”

  She flashed her teeth at him, but only for a second. “You better be!”

  Marty rolled onto his back, showing his belly. The move undoubtedly got dirt on his windbreaker, but he had to prove he was sincere.

  “Aww,” said Alanna Lu, snapping pictures from above. “Marty likes Rho-da, Marty li-ikes Rho-da!” she sang.

  Marty rolled back upright, glancing at Leggo, who was spying on them from the safety of Frank’s pasty legs.

  “No, I don’t! Not in that way. Rhoda, I’d give you a big ‘like’ any day of the week, but I don’t like¬-like you.” He crawled forward. He lowered his voice. “Actually, Leggo’s the one who’s got a big, mooshy love-crush on you. But you didn’t hear it from me.”

  “Really?” Her nose wrinkled, but not in a mean way.

  She tried looking at Leggo, still lurking between Frank’s legs, but when Leggo saw her looking, the brindle Frenchie turned around in a hurry.

  Rhoda took a step towards him, only to be halted by Freckles shooting by, the Winfield children in tow.

  “Hi, Rhoda!” he said.

  Then, remembering the last time they met, he tucked his head and tail. “Are you mad at me?” he asked, just before the children tumbled onto him, hugging his neck in a group hug. The spaniel went down without a sound.