南希、乔和孩子们不顾一切地冲向零度以下的室外,记者们紧随其后。货车转过街角,车灯闪烁,喇叭鸣响。孩子们高喊着:“史努比回家了!史努比回家了!”
小狗穿着圣帕特里克节日盛装坐在前排座位上,眯着近视眼望着窗外喧闹的人群。与家人分离两个月,路上走了一个星期,在陌生人陪伴下行程1500英里,途经5个州,史努比的漫长行程终于结束了。
南希第一个走到卡车跟前,在她打开车门的一刹那,史努比认出了她。她高兴地大声叫着,爬过座位,扑入南希的怀抱。随后乔和孩子们也出现了。他们悲喜交加地拥抱着史努比,互相庆贺着,这个没有舍弃家庭中最小成员的一家又一次相聚在一起。
TheToppsstoodontheshoulderoftheroadandwatchedastheirtruck', theirtwochildren, Jodi, twelve, andMatthew, fifteen, andtheirelderlydog, Snoopy, were1,500milesfromhome, strandedonahighwayinWyoming, withtheoldtruckclearlybeyondevenJoe', peeringaroundthecircleoffaceswithcataractdimmedeyes, seemedtoreflecttheiranxiety.
TheToppswereontheroadbecausefivemonthsbefore, , Indiana, , thewarehousingjobJoehopedfordidn'tmaterialize, Nancyandthekidswereveryhomesick, , thegamblelost, theywereontheirwaybacktoFortWayne.
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.