Bagels the Brave

by Joan Betty Stuchner

  “Maybe not yet,” I say. “But did you notice what he was holding?”

  Becky nods. “Blanky,” she says. Then she looks me in the eye. “I’m six now. I don’t need Blanky anymore. I think I’m ready for a G.I. Joe and a Barbie—and maybe I’ll finally get that pony.”

  We go back into the cabin. I hope the water didn’t damage my camera.

  While Dad, Bagels and I get dry, Mom bakes another cake. She says it’s bad enough that poor Becky loses Blanky. She shouldn’t miss out on her birthday cake.

  Becky says, “It’s okay, Mom. Now that I’m six, I don’t need Blanky anymore.”

  Wait till Mom hears what Becky does want.

  Becky whispers, “I think the hairy guy needs Blanky more than I do.”

  Sure, I think, but does he need Mom’s phone?

  Mom’s second cake looks good. We all sing, “Happy birthday, dear Becky.” Bagels joins in.

  Just as we finish the last piece of cake, there’s a bright flash.

  And it’s not my camera.

  It’s lightning. Followed by a drum roll. That’s thunder. A second later, rain starts to pound on the roof. Two seconds later it pours through the roof.

  Dad looks up and says, “You know what I think we should do?”

  We all nod. “Go back home.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Bagels the Brave

  Don’t be cruel to a heart that’s true...

  “Woo, woo, woo, woo-ooooo bruff...”

  It’s still raining as we drive away from the cabin.

  I check my camera to see if it got waterlogged. Luckily, it didn’t.

  I flip through the pictures until I find the last one. The one I took after we got out of the lake. I press the zoom. Yep. There’s the cave entrance. And right beside it is Hairy Guy wearing a baseball cap and Dad’s pj’s.

  As we turn onto the highway, I see something in the bushes. It’s him. He’s waving Blanky.

  I look at Becky over Bagels’s head. She sees him too. She grins.

  Elvis isn’t singing anymore. Neither are Bagels and Dad.

  Bagels curls up on the seat.

  He’s soon snoring.

  Dad says, “You know, kids, I’ve been thinking. Bagels may not be perfect, but he has three things going for him. He’s a good actor. He loves Elvis. And he saved my life. Maybe we should forget the sheep farm. All those who agree, say aye.”

  Becky, Mom and I say, “Aye.”

  “Motion carried,” says Dad.

  Bagels doesn’t know what a lucky escape he’s had.

  I try not to think how disappointed Creamcheese is going to be.

  Bagels twitches in his sleep.

  I think he’s having a good dream. Maybe he’s rounding up joggers.

  “Dad,” I ask, “is it okay for Bagels to sleep with me tonight?”

  “Sure,” says Dad. “Just this once.”

  “Okay,” says Mom, pointing at the map. “Second turn to the right and straight on till we get home.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The End (I Hope)

  I wake up in my own bed. Bagels is sharing my pillow. He’s snoring. But that’s not what wakes me. I hear music. Elvis is singing “All Shook Up.” Oh no. I forgot to give Dad his phone back. Should I answer it? I look at the alarm clock. Two AM? Who’s phoning Dad at two in the morning?

  Wait a minute. I think I know who.

  “Grrrr,” Bagels growls at the phone. He knows too.

  Only a Sasquatch would be phoning this early in the morning.

  I switch off the phone. I lie back down.

  “I can’t remember if Mom’s phone has GPS,” I say to Bagels.

  Bagels doesn’t answer.

  He’s snoring again.

  I fall asleep trying to figure out how long it would take for a Sasquatch to walk all the way from Sasquatch Lake to our house.

  Too long.

  I hope.

  Joan Betty Stuchner loved stories. When she wasn’t writing, she worked in a library, taught part-time and acted in community theater. Sadly, Joan lost her battle with cancer in 2014, but her stories will continue to bring joy to readers for years to come.