The Rightful Heir

by Jefferson Knapp

  “Oh, this is too much…” Benjamin sighed as he exhaled slowly through his nose. He thought about the pug with the one black foot that he saw from the school bus everyday. He looked at his clock. It was 9:15. “Mom and Dad will be going to bed in an hour. I’ll sneak out after that.” Benjamin set his alarm for 10:30 and tried to get some much-needed sleep. Tonight he hoped to meet the rightful heir.

  CHAPTER NINE

  The Pug with One Black Foot

  BENJAMIN FELL IN AND OUT OF SLEEP. Beep! Beep! Beep! He jumped out of bed at the alarm’s deafening sound in his ear. Exhausted, almost to the point of going back to sleep and saving his visit to the pug for another night, he knew he had put it off far too long.

  He slipped on his shoes and tread up the stairs as quietly as he could. A board squeaked. He paused. Much like the last time he’d sneaked out, when he met Paco, he heard his parents snoring loudly from their room at the end of the hall. He opened the front door carefully, having had practice with it, and smiled when he didn’t make a sound. The night was inky black. Thick clouds covered the entire sky.

  “Okay, Ben. Keep your bike on the road,” he said quietly, slipping on the collar.

  He made it down the driveway with ease, thanks to the lamppost by the pond, but the road was a different story. White and brown gravel by day, it was now almost darker than the sky. It didn’t take long for his imagination to start playing tricks on him.

  A biting breeze struck his face. He grew edgy at the thought that “it” might be staring at him through the thick, shadowy trees ten feet away. “That’s stupid, Ben. There’s no way that thing came all the way out here…” But if it did, the whole kingdom is in trouble! He put a little more push in his legs and the bike sped faster down the dark road. He rode blind almost the whole way, sometimes feeling dizzy. He stopped a few times to get his bearings, but briefly, in case his imagination was right about a monster.

  A sense of security came over him as he spotted the small, orange-pink lights of the Howells’ and their neighbors’ lampposts in the distance. Oh, finally! Benjamin wasn’t tired at all. More anxious than anything. Yes, he might be meeting the new king of the kingdom across the road, but really he looked at it as meeting Pugsly’s son. In a way, he thought it would be like seeing his old best friend again.

  Benjamin could now see the houses. The first was Jessica Howell’s. Not only was the pug with the black foot there, but she was, too! There was a light on in the front corner window behind a closed blind. He stopped his bike on the other side of the road and hid it in the ditch by the hedge trees in case a car came along. Tha-thoom, tha-thoom, tha-thoom! His pulse pounded in his ears as his adrenaline rose to a new level. He’d felt something like it before with the giant, hungry warthog and the twenty-five foot python, Farangis. But this was new.

  Torn between meeting Pugsly’s son and lingering outside Jessica’s house at night, he crept over the gravel road, making soft crunching sounds with every step. Something was happening to him. His knees shook uncontrollably and he felt vulnerable leaving the darkness and entering the lamppost’s pinkish glow. The neighbors’ yard lights were conveniently far enough away that he could hide in the darkness quickly if he had to.

  As Benjamin neared the chain link fence around the front yard, out of nowhere came a deep, furious voice. “Hey, you! Get out of here! Go on! I will bite!” He almost fainted with fright. He looked around but couldn’t see anyone. He sprinted across the road, faster than he would’ve ever believed he could, and grabbed the handlebars of his bike. “Get out of here now!” the voice boomed from behind. Benjamin turned to see a full-grown, strong, black Doberman Pincher charging angrily right at him. “Go on!” The dog’s muscular front legs pounded the gravelly road.

  “Okay, okay, I’m leaving!” Benjamin managed to say in a shaky voice.

  “Hurry up! Move!”

  “Alright, I said I was leaving!”

  “And don’t come back!”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t!” The boy pedaled to get out of the ditch.

  “Go on! Get out—” The dog stopped and tilted its head. “Wha…what’d you say?”

  “I said ‘don’t worry, I won’t come back!’” Benjamin tried not to make eye contact and started down the road.

  “Wait! Stop!”

  Benjamin hesitated, then braked. Should I really stop?

  “How is it you can understand me?” the Doberman asked. Benjamin relaxed a little. The dog wasn’t growling, but curious.

  “It’s because of this.” He held out a shaking wrist and the great dog saw the silvery-blue tag sparkling in the darkness. He assessed Benjamin with piercing brown eyes, trying to decide whether to move in closer. Then he slowly approached. Benjamin tried to control his trembling arm.

  The Doberman sniffed at the collar. “There’s a rotten smell to this.”

  “Yeah, this really nasty dog was wearing it earlier.” Benjamin had put his foot in his mouth this time! Only Clementine would have said something like that.

  The offended Doberman growled softly at the demeaning comment. “What are you doing out here, boy?” His voice was intimidating again.

  “Well, uh…m-my name is Benjamin B-Biggs, and I’m the king of a secret kingdom of animals, uh, just down the road.” The dog stared into the boy’s eyes for a while, with no movement or expression. Then suddenly he howled with laughter at the ridiculous statement. “No!” Benjamin said quickly. “I’m serious. This collar once belonged to my dog, Pugsly.”

  “Pugsly?”

  “Yes, and just a month ago I didn’t know anything about this kingdom, but my dog, Pugsly, he was their king.”

  “Hmmm…” the dog looked suspicious.

  “So, then my dog was murdered by snakes…” His voice cracked.

  “Snakes?!”

  “Yes, and now…I’m the king.” Benjamin looked back at Jessica’s house. “And I need to talk to the pug that lives at that house.”

  “Why?” The dog puffed out his chest.

  “Because I believe he’s the true heir to that kingdom.”

  The dog laughed sarcastically. “This must be a kingdom of really small animals then!”

  “Actually, no…they’re all sizes. So…well, if you don’t mind, I need to hide out behind their fence and wait for that dog to come out.”

  “Hmmm… I’ve only lived here a few weeks, but I know he doesn’t come out until morning.”

  Benjamin sighed. “Great.”

  The Doberman looked at the fence, then at the house, and blew through his nostrils. “I can help you out. Just go wait by the fence and I’ll call him. But don’t try anything—”

  “Oh no, don’t worry! I just want to talk to him.” Benjamin’s hand rose in defense. “Thanks a lot, um…”

  “Zeus.” He stared into the boy’s eyes.

  “Thanks a lot, Zeus.” Benjamin laid his bike in the ditch and ran to the fence, just out of the light’s glow. Zeus ran around to the garage and stood by the gate. Even from this distance he looked huge. Boy I’m glad he’s on my side. At least I hope so!

  In the voice that had scared the life out of Benjamin just a few minutes before, Zeus boomed, “Mac? Mac, can you hear me? It’s Zeus. Come out here! I have a surprise for you. Mac?” In a minute the porch light came on and Zeus ran for the trees.

  “Okay, Macky, don’t stay out too long.”

  Jessica! Benjamin gasped and moved his head to see her. Shoot! She’s already gone back inside.

  A little pug ran off the porch. Zeus shouted, “Mac, come over to the far end of the fence,” and the pug trotted to the spot right in front of Benjamin.

  “Okay, Zeus, now what’s so important it can’t wait until morning?” Benjamin came out of the darkness into the glow of the lamppost. The pug’s eyes grew huge. “Yap, yap, yap, yap! Help, help, help!” He ran back to the porch, his curly tail tucked between his legs.

  “Mac! Stop!” Zeus now stood beside the boy.

  Mac turned around. “Zeus, th-t
here’s a boy next to you!”

  “Yeah…I know that.”

  “Why is there a boy next to you?”

  “Because he has something he wants to tell you.” Zeus nudged Benjamin forward. Mac’s little black ears folded back, on guard against the boy coming up to the fence.

  “Uh… hi. My name’s Benjamin Biggs.” He looked back at the house and the light in the window. “Look, could you come a bit closer? I don’t want anyone to hear me talking out here.”

  Mac looked at Zeus. “Don’t worry. If he tries anything, he knows I’ll bite him!”

  Benjamin froze, but Zeus winked playfully. The boy felt some relief.

  “Alright, Zeus, but if anything happens to me…well, I’ll make sure you limp for the rest of your life!” The Doberman laughed through his nose at the threat while Mac slowly approached Benjamin, who crouched to meet his eyes.

  “I’ll give you two some privacy.” Zeus smiled reassuringly when Mac flinched. “Don’t worry. I’ll be watching.” He disappeared into the darkness.

  Benjamin took a breath. “Um, hello…Mac, is it?”

  “Yes.” The pug kept both eyes on him, waiting for him to do something.

  “Well, Mac…first off, don’t you wanna know how I can hear you?”

  “That thought did cross my mind, yes.”

  “Well, it’s because of this.” The boy lifted his arm and the pug jumped. Zeus growled in the darkness. “No! No! It’s okay, Zeus. I’m showing Mac how I can understand you two.”

  Zeus chuckled a little. “Oh yeah, I forgot…Your Majesty.”

  “Mac, it’s okay. Come here.” Benjamin smiled as the pug tried to muster the courage to come close, drawn by the sparkling tag dangling on his wrist.

  “That’s a nice collar. Okay…is that all you wanted to show me?”

  “Mac, this collar once belonged to my dog…” His face lit up with joy. “…Pugsly!”

  Mac stared at him, then at the collar, and gulped. “Puh… Pugsly?”

  “Yeah…Pugsly,” he replied quietly.

  The pug’s eyes filled with tears. He took a second to collect himself. “Pugsly…You mean…D-Daddy?”

  Benjamin teared up, too. “Yeah…Daddy.” Zeus sniffed in the darkness behind them.

  “So…you’re my dad’s owner?” Mac asked with admiration.

  “Mac…” He bit the inside of his cheek and tried to reply gently. “Pugsly died about a month ago. This was his collar.” He lifted his wrist again. “…And he was a king.”

  “He…he was? Are you serious?”

  “Yes.” Benjamin looked down at the pug’s little black foot. “And that would make you his heir.”

  “His heir? Me?”

  “Yes. I’ve seen you many times from the school bus. I noticed your black foot.” Mac looked down. “Pugsly had a black foot, too.”

  “I know. Dad only visited me a few times, but I remember it.”

  Benjamin liked hearing his Pugsly being called “Dad.” “Mac, I’ve told all the others in the kingdom about you. They can’t wait to meet their new king.”

  “King!” he whispered in awe, then asked, “Well, w-where is this kingdom?”

  “About a mile down the road. There’s a pond on the right with a mailbox out front. Across the road is a fox den, the entrance to a tunnel that takes you there.”

  “I…how…gosh, I don’t know what to say.” Mac looked around, bewildered.

  “Believe it or not, I think I know how you feel.” He smiled. “Look, I don’t want to rush you, but they are anxious to meet you. You should come and see it…tomorrow!”

  “Yeah…yeah, I should.” Mac looked up at him. “You’re serious about this, right?”

  “Oh yes, of course!”

  “Because if this is a joke, you’ll be limping back home!” They heard Zeus snort again, then heard a different voice.

  “Hey! What’re you doing out here?” Jessica was on the porch, glowering at Benjamin.

  He stood, frozen in his tracks. “Uhhhh.… I uh…I saw your—”

  “What’re you doing to my dog?” she yelled as Mac ran to her.

  “Um, nothing. I just saw him and thought he was kinda… cute.” Oh, geez, could that sound any dumber? He started to sweat profusely.

  “Wait a minute…” Jessica stepped off the porch and came toward him. “Aren’t you that kid from the school bus?”

  “Uh, well I don’t know about kid…uh…I’m gonna be thirteen next May, so…” His voice had never been shakier. “I-I gotta go.” Benjamin ran into the darkness. Jessica heard the crunch of gravel, then the squealing bike wheels as he blindly took off down the road as fast as he could. He didn’t even know if he was headed in the right direction. He just knew the farther away he was from the Watermelon Queen’s house, the better.

  Jessica picked up Mac and stroked him. “That was totally weird.”

  “You’ve no idea!” the black-footed pug barked in her ear.

  For the rest of the night Mac lay in his doggy bed in Jessica’s room and dreamed of being a king, just like his dad. Morning couldn’t come soon enough.

  CHAPTER TEN

  A Bunch of Snakes and an Ugly, Wet Dog

  BENJAMIN MADE IT to his mailbox safely. He looked over at the shadow that was the fox den. It was too late to go inside. He didn’t want to wake the animals to tell them about his visit. Lightning flashed in the eastern sky. He rode his bike up the driveway and laid it beside his house, glad to be getting inside before the rain came. Exhausted and happy, he fell into bed, only able to give his meeting with Mac a few seconds of thought before he was in a deep, deep sleep.

  JONAH WAS EXHAUSTED. He’d wandered off the road, walking aimlessly for hours through dark pasture. He ran into evergreen tree branches when the tall, thick, bluestem grass wasn’t smacking him in the face. He didn’t care—anything was better than his dead owner’s house. Why did snakes come and kill her… and the cat? Jonah felt a little sorry for them, but thinking back on how they’d always treated him, he figured they got what they deserved. It didn’t matter to him now. He was going to find this hidden kingdom that he’d been king of…for a very short time. After all, he’d worn the crown, until some boy came along and took it from him! He gritted his teeth in anger. If only that stupid boy had told me where this kingdom is! At least the grass, which was a lot taller than he was, scratched his itch as it rubbed and cut against his short, grime-ridden body.

  BOOM! Thunder rumbled in the distance. Jonah looked up at the moonless night sky and sniffed the cool, humid air, smelling something he hadn’t smelled in a long time. Rain. He walked on, in which direction he couldn’t tell. He just walked, hoping he’d somehow stumble on this kingdom and announce the news they wanted to hear: “Your king has arrived!”

  The rattlesnakes gathered in the old barn as lightning flashed in the sky around them. Many more snakes were slithering in than ever before. Whispers throughout the main room were interrupted by their new leader.

  “A ssstorm isss coming, my friendsss.” The rest of the snakes hissed. “A ssstorm isss coming to the kingdom, with rattlesss and fangsss.” The barn vibrated with thunder and loud rattling.

  “Massster…” A snake said, and Siloam hissed with pleasure. “Massster, did you kill the heir to the kingdom?”

  Siloam hissed angrily. “No!” Angry hisses surrounded him. “He had already essscaped. I did manage to create a little havoc while I looked for him, though.” His evil laugh was joined by others. “I wasss told that thisss heir hasssn’t shown up at the kingdom, yet. However…” BOOM! “…I have more interesssting newsss.”

  “Tell usss, Massster!”

  “Hissssssssss. Their kingdom isss about to grow in numbersss we cannot allow. Over a thousssand othersss are hiding in the heart of Persssly’sss Woodsss. If they reach thisss many, it will be even harder to take them over.”

  “How are they going to gain ssso many more?”

  “They are waiting for a group from the kingdom to come and gu
ide them back.”

  “Can we ssstop them, Massster?”

  “Yesss.”

  “How, My Lord?”

  “I know of a way.” Siloam shook his rattle commandingly. “All of you will go and find thisss heir. He mussst be sssomewhere to the wessst looking for the kingdom.”

  Every snake sounded a shaking rattle. BOOM! Lightning illuminated countless rattlesnakes, covering the floor of the barn.

  “And if we find thisss heir?” one asked.

  “Kill him!” Siloam slithered around the carcass of Farangis. “Kill him and any other creature that you crosss!” The leader of the rattlesnakes slithered out of the barn’s entrance. Three others followed.

  “Where are they going?” others asked.

  “To kill! Hisssssss. We have our ordersss. Let’sss move out!”

  JONAH HAD NOT STOPPED since taking off after the boy late that afternoon. Miles and miles he’d covered, not knowing where the kingdom was, only that the boy headed south. The little dog had decided not to stay on the road very long. Surely a kingdom of animals wouldn’t be close to the road. Maybe I should have gone west instead of east.

  The thunder got nearer as a cool breeze picked up. It was almost a relief. He was panting, thirsty and hungry after traveling so many hours.

  “Owwwwwwwww…ow, owww, owwwwwwwwww!”

  Jonah’s ears shot up at the sound he’d often heard in pastures outside the old lady’s house. “Oh no! Coyotes!” They sounded far away, perhaps miles. But where am I? He couldn’t see a thing as the sky grew darker, if that was even possible. When the lightning flashed, all he saw was bluestem grass in front of his face and an occasional tree above it.

  Jonah sighed, then all of a sudden, Tap.… Tap, tap, tap. His nose felt the first light drops of the cool sprinkle of rain. Soon his body was covered in wet drops of water and the dirty, ugly dog smiled in relief. “Ohhhhhh…that feels so good!” Jonah didn’t care if anyone was around to hear. The rain soothed his itching body. He rolled around in pure bliss as the wet, thick grass cleaned off the dirt, grease, and who knows what else stuck to him.