ThenextdayJoewentofftocollectthewiredfundswhileNancyandthekidssortedthroughtheirpossessions, , butnowhereyesfollowedeverymoveofNancyandthechildren, andifoneofthempausedtothink, evenforaminute, Snoopynosedattheidlehand, askingtobetouched, tobeheld.
“Sheknows,” Jodisaid, cradlingher.“Sheknowssomethingawfulisgoingtohappen.”
TheTravelers’ Aidrepresentativearrivedtotakethebelongingstheycouldn’, hewascaughtbetweenbeingsympatheticandbeingpracticalwhenhelookedatSnoopy.“Seventeenisreallyoldforadog,” hesaidgently.“Maybeyoujusthavetofigureshe’shadalonglifeandagoodone.” Whennobodyspoke, hetookadeepbreath.“Ifyouwant, youcanleaveherwithmeandI’llhaveherputtosleepafteryou’vegone.”
ThechildrenlookedatNancybutsaidnothing; theyunderstoodtherewasn’tanychoiceandtheydidn’, alltheromps, allthepicnics, allthetimesshe’dgoneintokissthechildrengoodnightandSnoopyhadliftedherheadtobekissedtoo.
“Thankyou, ” shetoldtheman.“It’,no,” sherepeatedfirmly, “Snoopy’spartofthefamily, andfamiliesdon’tgiveuponeachother.” Shereachedforthetelephonebook, lookedup “Kennels” intheYellowPages, , shestartedeachcallwiththeexplanationthatthefamilywasdownontheirluck.“But,”shebegged, “ifyou’lljustkeepourlittledoguntilwecanfindawaytogethertoFortWayne, Igiveyoumywordwe’.”
Aveterinaryclinic, whichalsoboardedpets, finallyagreed, andtheTravelers’ ’sfrostedmuzzleinherhands.“Youknowwe’dneverleaveyouifwecouldhelpit,” shewhispered, “sodon’tgiveup; don’’.”
OncebackinFortWayne, theToppsfoundamobilehometorent, oneofJoe’sbrothersgavethemhisoldcar, sisters-in-lawprovidedpotsandpansandbedlinens, thechildrenreturnedtotheiroldschools, , , adifferenttruckingcompany, ’dhadanyluck, andshehadtosayno.
ByMarch, they’, neverknowinghowhardthey’, havingtriedeverythingelse, shetelephonedtheFortWayneDepartmentofAnimalControlandtoldthemthestory.
“Idon’tknowwhatIcandotohelp,”thedirector, amannamedRod, saidwhenshe’dfinished.“ButI’lltellyouthis: I’msuregoingtotry.”
Aweeklater, $.“Iwishtheold-timePonyExpresswasstillinexistence,” heremarkedtohisassistant, Skip.“They’dhavebroughtthedogback.”
“They’’vebeenaPuppyExpress,” Skipjoked.
Rodthoughtforaminute.“Bygolly, thatmaybetheanswer.” HegotoutamapandalistofanimalsheltersinWyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, IllinoisandIndiana, ? Wouldenoughpeoplebelieveitmatteredsoforalittleseventeen-year-olddogtobereunitedwithherfamilythatthey’ddriveahundredorsomileswesttopickherupandanotherhundredorsomileseasttodeliverhertothenextdriver?
Aweeklater, RodcalledtheTopps.“’scominghome!” hetoldNancyjubilantly.
TheanimalcontrolofficerinRockSpringshadvolunteeredtobeSnoopy’, thevetbundledSnoopyinasweaterandcarriedhertothecar.“She’sgotacold,” thevetsaid, “.”
.“You’rewelcome, oldgirl,” thevetsaid, shakingit.“It’!”
