Ma: Babee Blue loves hearing about his big brother and his friends at K-9 Town. I haven't thought about this in a while, but I remember like it was yesterday.
Omar was pouting because I wouldn't let him out until he put his bones away. Caught him sneaking out the back door, dressed in his cap and bling, heading down the block to see some of his buddies.
Oh no you don't! Bones away first, I screeched.
Turning to me with that "caught again" look, he scampered towards his room.
I was chuckling, when it came. A sound that always sent mixed feelings... A low bark.
Omar dashed from his room. "I'll be right back," he woofed, as he flew by me.
I ran to the window.
It was Freedom Dog, and he was pacing. Freedom never came unless there was a problem.
Omar came back in, moving fast. I gotta go, Ma, he yelped. They got A Dog Called Horse.
"What happened," I remember wailing.
A Dog Called Horse is one of the nicest, huge, dogs in the pack. We call him "Horse" for short.
Omar told me Horse had found a place where puppies were being mistreated. But while Freedom was rounding up some of the pack, he ran off alone.
Horse got caught rescuing the puppies and was taken away.
I watched as my mild-mannered companion, transformed into a strong-willed leader, and dangerous snarling adversary, commanded Freedom, "Take some of the pack. Get the puppies!"
I'll never forget the look on his face as he rushed away. I barely heard him woof, "I'll be back as soon as we get Horse, Ma."
Oh my gosh! I had to go. Maybe I could help. I ran in his direction, summoning everything within me into that threatening adventure... It worked.
Suddenly, I was in an unfamiliar place, on a street I'd never seen before, not knowing how much time had elapsed.
There were people standing around, on a strange avenue, all looking in one direction. Then, from around a corner they came, running fast, with A Dog Called Horse in the lead.
They got him -- just like Omar said they would -- but they were being chased!
I didn't like the fact that Omar was in the very back, knowing what a fast runner he is. He later told me, "That's where a good leader is supposed to be."
Anyway, even though the rider after them was fast, Omar and the pack outdistanced him. I'd never seen anything like it. Their feet were barely touching the ground as they ran by.
There was something strange about that place. I felt like I'd gone back in time.
After Omar and the others had passed, I waited until I saw the chaser pass back without them and summoned my way back home. It was like regaining consciousness.
Omar came home a little later. His friends dropped him off with his assurance that he would be following shortly.
When he came in, I asked about Horse and the puppies.
Omar grunted. "Horse is fine. He promised never to do anything like that again. His heart is in the right place, but he's a little hard-headed sometimes, that's all."
He told me the puppies were safe and after some loving from the females, they would be joining the K-9 Town puppies. Freedom and the others would leave no stone unturned until they found those puppies. There was never any doubt.
As Omar left to catch up to his pack, glancing over his shoulder, he ruffed, "I saw you Ma."
I smiled, as he trotted away from me, then watched as he caught up with the others, on that mysterious path that leads to K-9 Town. I heard them yapping joyously... but then they were gone.
