ThetruckhadtakenthemasfarasRockSprings, Wyoming, , anddogswerenotallowedonthebus.
"Butwe' vegottotakeSnoopywithus." Nancypleadedwiththeticket-seller, tearswellinginhereyes.
, hetoldher, , theycalledTravelers' Aid, andwithkindefficiency, , withtheirboxesandbagspiledaroundthem, theyputinacalltorelativesbackhome, whopromisedtogettogethermoneyforthefareandwireritthenextday.
"ButwhataboutSnoopy?" Matthewsaidassoonashisparentsgotoffthephone.
"Wecan' tgowithoutSnoopy,", Snoopyhadabitofaheartconditionandsomekidneyproblems, andthefamilyworriedabouther.
Joepickedupthelittledog."Snoopy," hesaid, tuggingherfloppyearsinthewaysheliked."Ithinkyou' regoingtohavetohitchhike."
"Don' ttease, Joe," saidNancyshortly.
"I' mnotteasing, honey," heassuredher, tuckingSnoopyintothecrookofhisarm."I' mgoingtotrytofindaneastboundtruckertotaketheoldgirlbackforUS."
Atthelocaltruckstop, JoesatSnoopyonastoolbesidehimwhilehefellintoconversationwithdriverswhostoppedtopether."Gee, I' dliketohelpyouout," oneafteranothersaid."She' sawfulcuteandIwouldn' tmindthecompany, butI' mnotgoingthroughFortWaynethistrip." TheonlydriverwhocouldhavetakenherpickedSnoopyupandlookedatherclosely."Naw," themangrowled, "withanolddoglikeher, there' ." Stillhopeful, Joetackedupasignandgavethemotel' sphonenumber.
"Somebodywillcallbeforebustimetomorrow," hepredictedtothekidswhenheandSnoopygotbacktothemotel.
"Butsupposenobodydoes?" Jodisaid.
Joeanswered, "Sweetie, we' ' Aidcanonlypayforustostayhereonenight."
