BouvLand ADVENTURES
Chapter 2

by: Poppy MacLean & Percy, too

Finally the human rolled over on his side and snuggled into the pillows.

‘At last he’s ready to listen and learn’ thought Bigbouv, and with a sigh he settled himself down to tell his Story.

It was early one Friday evening many years ago. It was already getting dark. The kids were just home from school. The big black dog sniffed each child carefully as they piled noisily through the door. ‘That’s three home’, thought the big dog - ‘only two to go and the herd is complete’. From her place by the front door she kept one eye on the kids as they spun and yammered around the house, heads stuck in the refrigerator, on the telephone, shooting pretend hoops on the stairs. ‘If only they would all stay together’ she sighed with a worried frown, ‘its hard to keep track of everyone when they keep moving’.

The big dog stood up, stretched and walked across the room to the sofa - the remote lay there twinkling its one red eye at her. She lifted a huge paw and poked gently at it. There was a crisp sound behind her as the television crackled into life. Another poke and the volume grew louder. Suddenly the room was full of children clamouring for a place on the sofa - the big dog smiled to herself - ‘The Simpsons!’ shouted someone, ‘I want to watch the Nanny!’ shouted another - the tallest child picked up the remote and flicked over to a news report - ‘dont you two CARE what’s really going on in the world?’ He plopped himself down on the sofa and took the big dog’s head in his lap, fondling her ears.

The face on the television was describing a plane crash that had happened that afternoon. Pictures of shredded metal, stretchers with black shapes being hurried away. ‘The worst aviation disaster in this state for over 30 years’.........., said the voice, ‘.......relatives have been notified......................three passengers still not accounted for......officials say they cannot rule out a terrorist attack.’

Suddenly, a flash of headlights glared through the windows. The sound of an engine and the crunch of wheels on gravel announced that another of the herd was home for the evening.

The big dog excused herself gently from the tall child and hastened to the door. She sat bristling with happiness, just barely able to control a joyful wiggle that had started at her stumpy tail, worked its way along her body and ended-up by splitting her face into a huge pink, toothy grin.

The door opened and a woman’s face appeared, pale and distraught against the harsh electric light of the verandah. The children looked up from the television and were silent at the strange sight. At the door, the big dog checked herself in mid-spring and instead of giving the woman her usual hug, she pushed a big black nose into the hands that stretched towards her. The woman stumbled into the room and buried her face in the big dog’s fur. Tears slid down her cheeks.

The children sat in silent amazement.

The sound of another car pulling up outside brought a huge WOOF from the big dog. She ran stiffly to the door and barked again. ‘KNOCK KNOCK’ Two men in overalls stood shuffling uncomfortably at the door. Recognising one of them, the woman hugged him, tightly, sobbing against his shoulder.

Uncle Jack! cried the kids, now convinced that something unusual was going on. What’s happened? Whats happening Mum? Where’s Dad?

‘He hasn’t been identified’, whispered Uncle Jack, disentangling himself from the woman. ‘There’s a chance he’s still out there, somewhere’. ‘We have to move quickly.’ - ‘We brought Ovid along to help us search, can we take the big girl too?’

Behind Uncle Jack stood the dog, Ovid. He was bigger and blacker and hairier than the girl but they were clearly the same type of dog. He was wearing a red flashing light on his collar , a red Halti and a yellow and white striped doggy-raincoat made out of reflective material. "Boy, is he CUTE" thought the big girl to herself. But in spite of her initial impression, she turned her nose up and stiffly turned her tail to him, leaving him sitting, grinning on the verandah.

Orders were given. People ran around the house finding boots and scarves, coats and torches. The woman came over to the big dog holding one of Dad’s socks and a collar and lead. "We have to find Dad, big girl, think you can help us?"

The big dog put out a paw to say that she had understood. She pushed her head through the collar, herded the children, now warmly dressed, out the door and into the waiting station wagon. She had just settled in her spot in the back of the wagon when the hatch went up again and there he stood. A fine black face with a beautiful beard and full sideburns - he was grinning and the flashing red light was still flashing. ‘I’m coming to help, ma’am’ said the dog politely . ‘Would you mind sharing your spot with me until we get to the airfield? And with that he bounded into the station wagon and curled up alonside the big girl. She moved away from him just a little, sniffed, sighed and closed her eyes. As the station wagon started to hum along the road toward the airfield, the two dogs leaned gently against each other in the darkness..