Q: What type of music did Pilgrims like the best?
A: Plymouth Rock!
Click here for the link to a PDF of the previous 26 chapters -> Andy and The Zodiac Crystal (Chapters 1 to 26)
Andy and The Zodiac Crystal – Chapter 27
“Who’s dogs are those?” said my father when we reached the top of the porch stairs. Both of our parents had been sitting in those colorful Adirondack chairs, obviously observing the breathtaking views from there.
I looked over at Chris to see if he was going to handle it given he had been the one with the master plan.
“I don’t think this is going to go so well Joe…” said Paul.
“Try and have a little faith Paul ok?” said Joe.
“That’s much easier said then done Joe…” said Paul.
“I know Paul; I know…”
“It’s ok guys, you know we’re going to do our best to help the two of you…” I said hoping it would reassure them.
“Well?” my father asked again. “Who’s dogs are they and why are they whimpering so much?”
I was about to respond when thankfully Chris suddenly spoke.
“They are a neighbor’s dog and are being seriously abused and malnourished.”
“And, how do you know this?” said Chris’s mother.
“Well for starters, take one look at them. Do they look healthy to you? They are starving and have bruises all over them.” Chris said rather adamantly.
Both mine and Chris’s parents then came over to take a closer look at the two overly neglected German Shepherds.
“I feel kind of uncomfortable with all this attention Joe…” said Paul feeling concerned.
“Yeah, I know what you mean Paul. I don’t like strange adults touching me either.” said Joe in a somber tone.
“Look guys, we really are only trying to help, but we need our parents to understand for that to happen ok?” I said trying once again to reassure them that everything was going to be ok.
“They’re a little upset aren’t they?” said Chris’s dad observing that the dogs were making more whimpering and slight growling noises.
“Yeah, you don’t know the half of it.” I said.
“What do you mean Andy?” said my mother chiming in.
“Well for starters, it appears as if their owner is a serious alcoholic and is kicking them repeatedly when he gets drunk!” I said heatedly.
I glanced at my father and saw him cringe. I’m sure he was relating to the effects that alcoholism had on him, although I’m grateful to say he never physically abused my sister nor I.
“I still don’t understand. How is it that you know all this?” said Chris’s mother.
Before Chris even had a chance to respond, I did exactly what I knew he didn’t want me to do.
“We talked with another neighbor when they saw us petting them in their front yard. They said it was sad what those two dogs are put through on a daily basis and how mean and drunk their owner always is. I felt so bad after hearing that that I convinced Chris and Laura to take them back here hoping you would help us call the local Humane Society.
Chris glared at me obviously a little perturbed that I ended up telling another lie again. I shrugged my shoulders at him feeling like there was nothing else any of us could have said. I mean it’s not like either of our parents would understand I could communicate with animals right?
“We really shouldn’t be meddling with another person’s animals Andy.” said my mother who never has been a big fan of dogs.
“So you want them to go back to their owner and not be fed and continue to be kicked!” said Laura somewhat angrily.
“Watch that tone young lady!” said my mother glaring at my sister.
“While I agree with you Pam, I do think we need to do something. These dogs definitely aren’t well. And from the looks of it, I’m not sure if they can keep on going much longer being treated like this…” said Chris’s father.
“Pam, I think Frank is right. We really should do something about this…” said my own father.
“Ok, well why don’t you and I go inside Linda and find the phone number to call the local Humane Society while the rest of you stay out here with them.” said my mother pointing at the nervous and weakly shaking dogs.
“See guys, everything is going to be ok.” I said calmly petting the both of them.
“So they’re going to get us some help Andy?” said Joe.
“And some food?” said Paul.
“They’re going to go call the local Humane Society guys. And I’m going to go get you some food right now ok?”
“Well so far we’ve been treated far better than the last year of our lives that’s for sure right Paul?” Joe responded sounding a little upbeat.
“Absolutely!” said Paul sounding upbeat as well.
Once I got my father’s permission, Chris and I went inside and grabbed two large cereal bowls and filled them with a bunch of cold cuts and a few apples that I cut up into smaller pieces. We also filled two other bowls with water as well. Meanwhile, I could hear Chris’s mother and my own downstairs on a speakerphone explaining the situation to whomever was on the other end.
It didn’t take Paul and Joe very long at all to devour the food and water we brought them, but not wanting them to get sick, we all decided it was best to wait for the Humane Society to show up and let us know what to do. About an hour later after showing them plenty of love and affection, a van pulled into the driveway and a police car just in front of it. After directing them up onto the porch, we all discovered that each was already well aware of Paul and Joe’s repeated abuse. It appeared that some of the neighbors had previously reported it several times and that their owner, whose name was Carl, had received a number of citations for the constant abuse and neglect. And as much as hearing all that wasn’t a funny thing at all, I had to give Chris a cocky grin knowing my lie wasn’t as much of a lie after all.
“So what happens now?” said Chris who had been relatively silent for most of the past hour.
“We will take them into our care now and ensure they get the proper rest and nutrition they need.” said the lady from the Human Society. “Don’t worry, they won’t be going back to Carl anymore. This was his final straw.”
“But what happens after that though? I mean who will become their owner now?” I asked while Joe and Paul both looked at me with a very serious stare.
“That all depends on if anyone chooses to adopt them. Until then, we will keep them safely in our care.”
“We’ll adopt them!” my sister suddenly blurted out quite excitedly.
“Laura, you know Mom will never go for that.” I said solemnly, noticing my father shaking his head and agreeing.
“You don’t know that!”
“Andy, what’s going on?” Joe said nervously.
“The Humane Society is going to take you into their care now and get you better. You’re not going to go back to Carl ever again.”
“But what happens after that?” said Paul equally as nervous.
“Hopefully you will then be adopted and have a much more loving home.” I said feeling a few tears welling up in my eyes.
“Hopefully?” said Paul worriedly.
“You know what they do with dogs that don’t get adopted, especially at our age right?” said Joe.
“Do you put to sleep animals that don’t get adopted?” I immediately asked the woman from the Humane Society.
“Only in rare cases son, when an animal is either very sick or very dangerous.” she answered.
“Hey, I think it’s going to be ok guys and I’m going to work on seeing if my parents will somehow allow us to adopt them.” I said feeling not very confident of that, while the woman from the Humane Society placed leashes on them and began to lead them down the porch stairs.
“Andy please come visit us…” yelled Joe.
“And don’t let us die there…” yelled Paul being a little dramatic, but I understood where he was coming from.
I then watched from the porch as they were loaded into the Humane Society’s van. As it slowly pulled away while the police car headed for Carl’s house, I suddenly felt completely overwhelmed. Without warning, I burst into a pile of tears and felt totally powerless. It was the first time I had felt that way since emerging out of the woods back in the summer and found my home was no longer occupied by my family. But what I was really feeling most powerless over at this very moment was the fact that I had so many abilities with my Zodiac crystal, yet none of them could guarantee that Paul and Joe were going to be ok…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson