Post by Cuddly Dearly on Aug 23, 2010 16:44:20 GMT -5
Finally, the so long waited fanfic, which introduces my new character Matt, is finally HERE!!!
In human time, a few weeks passed since the day when Roger and Anita Dearly, a married couple who lived with the famous 101 Dalmatians, got another adult Dalmatian dog, Lilly. The day when they found her was very unusual, especially because she was the one who entered their farm. When Roger and Anita came out, they saw eight of their Dalmatian puppies with that adult dog. There was no doubt – the adult Dalmatian was the mother of eight of them. They were separated from her when Lilly's pet's evil wife, Jessica Jane Wilson, sold the puppies to Cruella de Vil, a wealthy fashion tycoon and fur lover from London. Fortunately, those eight puppies, together with the other 91, were rescued from the Hell Hall, a scary mansion where miss de Vil was keeping them and planning to skin them to make a nice Dalmatian fur coat. They were rescued by Pongo and Perdita, the couple of adult Dalmatians whose pets were Roger and Anita Dearly.
Since Lilly became a part of Dearly farm, she was spending almost all her time with her eight children: Cuddly, Smiley, Emerald, Lusious, Mandy, Flowerpetal, Spencer and Foody. She also got very close to a pup with star-shaped spots, always seen in a black cape. His name was Shadow, and he was the best friend of Cuddly, Smiley and Emerald. Lilly and Shadow got so close that Lilly adopted Shadow and so he became like a full brother to Lilly's puppies.
One beautiful day on Dearly farm, Lilly was sitting next to the barn and talking with her nine children.
„Mommy...“ Shadow said, accidentally interrupting her speak. „Who is my stepfather?“
The other puppies started to stare at Shadow and their mother. At that moment, they got very curious about their biological father.
„Your stepfather, son...“ Lilly started to talk. „His name is Matt. He is a beautiful Dalmatian dog whose pet is a good friend with my former pet Howard Wilson. One day we met while I was walking with Howard. Matt's pet Johnny invited Howard for a cup of tea and he accepted. Howard took me to Johnny's house, and I was left in a room with Johnny's dog, Matt. That was the only time we saw each other. And on that blessed day happened... You know what?“
„What?“ Cuddly asked curiously.
„Matt and I did something magic. And that magic moment left me pregnant. After a while I gave birth to eight wonderful puppies!“
As she said that, she smiled at her children and they smiled back at her.
„But it was time to go home. Howard took me away from Matt, and I never saw him again.“
„Oh, how sad!“ Smiley frowned. „You must have suffered a lot.“
„I didn't really suffer much“, Lilly started to explain. „I was so young, barely adult. Matt was young as well. Those moments of us together were something magic, but we didn't know the real meaning of what we did. It was a moment of mutual impulses, of an incredible passion carrying our bodies closer and closer to each other. I was sad when I had to leave him, but... At that moment, it seemed like leaving any other dog who I recently met. But later...“ she sighed sadly, as the puppies listened carefully to her.
„Later I matured, I realised the meaning of that day“, Lilly continued. „And I daydream... I do wonder... What would the life be like if your father was here with us. I wish he was here with me, with us.“
„You have never mentioned that, mother!“ Cuddly said, surprised by his mother's words. „You never seemed to be sad because of him.“
„You never asked me, son“, she explained. „And I have been hiding my feelings, didn't want you to worry about me. I have been separated from you for too long, and now when I have you again, I want to give you my best.“
„Why did you never look for our father?“ Emerald asked.
„I would if I could. When it was time to leave Johnny's house, it was so dark and I was so tired. As Howard took me out, I fell asleep. He probably carried me away in his arms. So, even if I wanted to go back to London, I couldn't find the house where he lives.“
At that moment, Smiley noticed two puppies passing by them. Those were Clayton and his girlfriend Kendra, very good friends to Lilly's children.
„Hy Clayton, hy Kendra!“ Smiley shouted to them.
„Oh, hy Smiley! Hy everyone!“ Clayton said, stopping his walk and turning to them.
„Come here, join us!“ Mandy said.
„No, eh...“ Clayton stammered timidly. „I don't want to interrupt a family moment.“
„Come on, dear, you are not interrupting anything! Come here!“ Lilly said, smiling at Clayton who she knew very well, and his girlfriend who she hadn't met yet.
„Hello, mrs Lilly, my name is Kendra!“ Kendra said.
„Don't call me missis, dear, makes me feel old!“ Lilly laughed. „Nice to meet you, Kendra. Obviously, you know my name.“
„So, what's up, Clayton?“ Cuddly asked.
„Nothing much, I've passed by the house and heard the Dearlys saying that they are going to London. They are going by their bus, probably to buy much new stuff.“
As Clayton mentioned London, the nine puppies looked at their mother who sighed sadly.
„What's wrong, Lilly?“ Clayton asked. „Did I say... something wrong?“
„No, dear, everything's alright“, Lilly answered. „I have just been talking to my children about their father who I lost and never met him again. And he lives, well, in... London.“
„Why don't you go and look for him?“ Clayton asked.
„I don't know where he lives. I forgot that street, I couldn't find him.“
„Can you remember anything about that house?“
„It was yellow. With two floors. That's all what I remember. Why are you asking me that?“
„We can sneak into the bus. The Dearlys won't see us. But we gotta hurry up.“
„Oh my God!“ Lilly said. „Are you crazy, Clayton?“
„No, I'm not crazy. Maybe this is shocking for you, I should have suggested that earlier. But this is a chance for you to find your lost love, Lilly! My friends Lucky, Rolly and Cadpig go to London very often, by sneaking into the bus. But well, I doubt that we'll be able to take all your children. Maybe... four of them!“
„Children, who wants to go?“ Lilly asked, turning to her puppies.
„Me!“ Cuddly, Smiley, Emerald and Shadow said at the same time.
„But what about the others?“ Smiley asked.
„Don't worry about us!“ Foody said. „We will be here, have fun, eat delicious food... After all, we will know if you find our father. But that's impossible.“
„Grrrrrrr, Foody, always so shallow! I don't believe it!“ Cuddly grumbled.
„No time to waste, Cuddly, let's go!“
Six puppies and an adult dog ran to the house. They saw the bus opened. Roger and Anita Dearly were in the house, looking for their wallets. The dogs entered the bus and hid under the seats. Roger and Anita got out of the house and entered the bus. They didn't notice the dogs who entered before them. Roger drove away to London.
As they arrived to London several hours later, and stopped the bus next to a shopping center, Roger and Anita left the bus and closed the door.
„Bloody hell, how will we get out now?!“ Cuddly said.
„Calm down, Cuddly, and stop using that phrase!“ Emerald said. „You will make me hate the Hell Lightning, you repeat his buzzword much more often than he does it.“
„Lightning is the best TV hero ever!“ Cuddly said. „Maybe even better than Thunderbolt, although Thunder is a dog.“
„Stop, you two!“ Kendra said. „Let's better find a way out of here!“
„The window!“ Lilly said, pointing to a window of the bus. „It's opened!“
„That's it!“ Smiley said. „Let's go out through the window.“
The seven dogs walked to the opened window. Cuddly jumped on the seat and then jumped out through the window. The others did the same. One by one, they went out of the bus.
„Ah well, if at least Lucky was here with us!“ Clayton sighed. „He would surely know how to find that yellow house.“
„London is a huge city“, Shadow said. „How could Lucky possibly know every single street here?“
„He doesn't know every single street, but he has many friends in the barking ch... Of course! The barking chain!“
„Barking what?“ Lilly asked.
„That's practically the same thing as the Twilight Bark, mother“, Cuddly said. „But it happens anytime, not only during twilight, or night. I hope that Clayton knows some dogs in barking chain here.“
„Oh yes, I do!“ Clayton said. „Let me send a message.“
Clayton produced several barking noises, some shorter and some longer ones. The others could recognize his message to the others:„Hello, Clayton Dearly here. I am next to the „Shopping Universe“ store. I'm looking for a yellow house with two floors where lives Matt, an adult Dalmatian dog. End of the message.“
Some seconds later, they heard an adult dog barking from the distance. He said:“Hello, Clayton! Browny here!“
„Guys, that's Browny, the German Shepherd!“ Clayton said. „Listen!“
„I think I know where that guy Matt lives“, Browny continued. „Where do you know him from and why do you need him? End of the message.“
„I have to meet him personally!“ Clayton barked out to Browny. „It's something very private and urgent. He has to meet someone. End of the message.“
„Alright, Clayton“, Browny barked back. „You are a good pup and I trust you. The yellow house is two blocks away from „Shopping Universe“ store. Matt seems to be sad and lonely these days. He may be happy to see you.“
„Twilight bark!“ Lilly exclaimed. „How did I never remember that?! I could have found Matt by that!“
„You couldn't find him just like that, Lilly“, Clayton explained. „Someone who doesn't know you wouldn't give you any information about another dog. And honestly, I doubt that Matt and you have mutual friends.“
„You're right, Clayton“, Lilly said, and at that moment her eyes started to shine with happiness and excitement. „I can't believe, I'm going to... going to... meet him... again... I'm going to meet Matt again!“
„Well, follow me!“ Clayton said.
Lilly, Kendra, Cuddly, Emerald, Shadow and Smiley followed Clayton, who was walking away from „Shopping universe“ store. They walked two blocks away, but then they didn't know where to go.
„We are lost!“ Smiley said. „I don't see any yellow object around!“
„Calm down, Smiley, brother!“ Shadow said. „We will find something out! Clayton, can you consult Browny again?“
„Oh, right!“ Clayton said and barked out a new barking-chain message:“Hello, Clayton Dearly again! I'm talking to Browny, the German Shepherd. We passed two blocks from „Shopping universe“, but we don't see any yellow house. Could you help us? End of the message.“
„Hello again, Clayton!“ Browny barked back. „If you describe the houses that you can see around, I may be able to tell you where to go. End of the message.“
„There are three streets I can go to“, Clayton answered. „The first one starts with a tall pink building. The second one starts with an abandoned grey house. The third one starts with a restaurant. Where do I have to go? End of the message.“
„I perfectly know where you are“, Browny barked. „Go to the street which starts with the abandoned grey house. Just walk down that street and you will find the yellow house with two floors. There lives Matt the Dalmatian. End of the message.“
„Thank you a lot, Browny! End of the message.“
Clayton walked to the street which starts with an abandoned grey house. Kendra and Lilly with her puppies followed him.
„Does the street look familiar?“ Shadow asked.
„Oh my God, it does!“ Lilly said. „Now when I see it, oh it does look familiar! Matt lives here! Good Heavens, Matt lives here!“
As they walked on, very soon they appeared next to a yellow house. It had two floors. But strangely, the door was opened. No one was there.
„Mat...“ Lilly started to shout, but Cuddly closed her mouth with his paw.
„Don't do that, mother!“ he said. „If our father is here, he can get shocked if he hears your voice. Let us do it.“
„You're right, Cuddly!“ Lilly said, sighing deeply.
„Anybody there?!“ Cuddly barked out loud. „Does a Dalmatian dog named Matt live here?“
„Who needs me?“ a male canine voice from inside the house barked back. He sounded so tired and distraught.
„I don't believe it, it's Matt!“ Lilly whispered in excitement, as a tear fell out of her eye. Shadow and Smiley hugged her warmly.
„Someone wants to meet you, Matt!“ Clayton barked. „It's a surprise!“
„I don't want surprises, leave me alone!“ Matt barked back.
„What's wrong with him?“ Kendra asked.
„Who knows!“ Emerald said. „Something is very strange here.“
„And what if there is... Lilly Wilson?“ Clayton barked.
„Do not mention that name, brat!!!“ Matt shouted angrily. „I don't know what kind of childish prank this is, but stay away from her name!!!“
Lilly trembled at Matt's words. Why did he react like that? Is he resentful or nostalgic about her?!
„It's not a prank!“ Cuddly barked. „She is here and she came for you!“
„Lilly, say something to him!“ Clayton said.
„Matt, it's me!!“ Lilly barked out loud. „I am here and I came for you!“
No noise. Matt stopped talking. Clayton and Kendra stared at the house. Cuddly and Emerald were anxious about what was going to happen. Lilly was trembling, while Smiley and Shadow were hugging her. Some minutes later, an adult Dalmatian dog came out through the opened door. He was very special because of his right ear which was white with two huge black spots, one on the top of the ear, and one on the bottom. He was wearing a blue collar. His face was very sad, he looked like his life was making no sense.
„Matt...“ Lilly whispered in shock and excitement, as she saw him.
„After such a long time, Lilly...“ Matt said, pretending to sound flegmatic. „You left me, you never came again. What do you want now?“
„Let me explain, Matt!“ Lilly said, as another tear fell down. „Just listen to me!“
„Who are these kids?“ Matt asked, looking at all the puppies around.
„You will... hear about them. Darlings, could you leave Matt and me alone?“
„Of course, mother!“ Smiley said.
„Mother?!“ Matt said. „They are...?!“
„Yes, Matt!“ Lilly said, as the puppies went away. „Our children, they are. You know, Matt, since Howard and I left your house...“
Lilly was telling her life story to her lost love. Matt was listening carefully. As he was listening, the life seemed to come back to his sad dim eyes. The puppies were hidden, secretly listening to their conversation. Clayton asked them why are they spying on them. Cuddly answered that they mustn't have missed the first conversation of their parents. Although he didn't like that, Clayton stayed with them, spying as well. Kendra was with them too.
During the conversation, Lilly told Matt everything about Jessica Jane, her puppies being sold away, how they rescued her, and how Jessica ended up in jail with her leg amputated. She told him about the life on Dearly Farm, about Shadow who she loves as if he was one of her children...
„Why did you never look for me, Lilly?“ Matt asked. „For all the time... You never felt like meeting me again?“
„I didn't know where you lived...“
Lilly told him about how she started to daydream about him, how she missed him and wondered where he was. She explained him that she could never find him if the Dearlys didn't go to London, and if Clayton wasn't with her at that moment. She let him know about the sadness that she was keeping away from her children.
„The same thing, Lilly...“ Matt stammered, shocked and excited at the same time, pouring a tear. „The same thing happened with me. I've been daydreaming, hoping that you would come for me. My life was never the same since you left me.“
„With the time I realised... that I really love you, Matt!“ she cried.
„I love you too, Lilly!“ he answered, and finally a spark of joy could be seen in his eyes.
The two of them ran to each other and hugged warmly, so happy to meet again after such a long time.
„I'm so sorry for not doing anything to find you earlier, darling!“ Lilly said.
„Don't worry, my love! I could have done something too!“
While spying on them, the puppies were moved inside by their words and they cried quietly.
„What happened to you, darling?“ Lilly asked Matt some minutes later. „When I came, you were so sad, so desperate...“
„Yesterday I experienced the biggest disappointment of my life!“ Matt said. „Johnny, my pet... He fell in love with a rich female human who hated dogs. Her parents bought her a house in France. She married Johnny, and he had to choose between her and me. He chose her and left me here. He abandoned this house and went to France, to live there with his wife. He abandoned the house, and me as well.“
„Matt, darling!“ Lilly said, wiping his tears. „If Johnny was here... Now when I'm here, and your children too, if you had to choose between Johnny and me, who would you choose?“
„I, well...“ Matt stammered. „I was very loyal to my pet, but... I love you, and...“
„But Johnny is gone. I am here, and I love you! You can go with me!“
„Go with you?! Where?“
„On Dearly farm! My pets would never let you go. If you just took your collar off, they will think you are abandoned. And well, you... are abandoned. You will live there with three wonderful humans, with me and our children, with two great dogs who will become your friends, and with many many puppies...“
„Children... What did you say, how many children do I have?“
„Nine, darling! Nine wonderful puppies!“
„Nine?!“ he exclaimed. „Oh my God!“
„Well, you will have to learn to be a father!“
„Yeah...“ he laughed at himself, confused and pleasantly surprised at the same time. „I will have to. I just hope that they will... accept me as a father.“
„Of course they will! Children, you can stop spying, come out!“
The six puppies came out.
„These are... six pups! You said there were nine...“ Matt said.
„Actually, Clayton and I aren't one of those. Here are four of them, and the rest of them is on Dearly farm“, Kendra explained.
„We are your children, daddy!“ Cuddly said. „My name is Cuddly.“
Smiley, Emerald and Shadow said their names to Matt. Very soon, the four of them ran to their father who hugged them very warmly.
„My children!“ he said. „I can't believe it, I am a father! You are my children!“
„Yes, daddy, we are your children!“ Emerald said, wiping her tear off.
„Well, everyone, I think it's time to go home.“
„I can't wait to meet the others!“ Matt said, full of excitement. It seemed that he wasn't sad about Johnny anymore. He was so happy because he finally had something he thought he would never have – family.
Lilly bit Matt's collar and tore it off. The eight dogs walked away from the abandoned house. Lilly and Matt seemed to be happier than ever. After several minutes of walk, they came to the yellow bus with black spots. It was still there, which meant that the Dearlys hadn't finished shopping yet.
Half an hour later, there came Roger and Anita with some bags.
„Oh my God!“ Roger said in shock, as the bags fell out of his hands.
„Lilly, what are you doing here?“ Anita said, squatting down to her. „With some puppies and... oh my God, it's, it's...“
„An abandoned Dalmatian, Anita!“ Roger said. „You see? He has no collar.“
„Oh, he's beautiful!“ Anita said. „And look at Lilly, she seems so... in love with him. Just like Perdy when she met Pongo, and... when I met you, dear!“
„That's true, darling!“ Roger said, smiling at Anita, and at Lilly and Matt. „Well, what can we do? Let's take him home!“
„Clayton, dear, how can we ever repay you for what you did?“ Lilly asked, as Roger started to drive back to Devon.
„Nah, I don't need any repayment“, Clayton said timidly. „I am always delighted to help.“
And so, Matt became a new member of the enormous Dearly family. Several hours later, they were back on their farm. As soon as Roger opened the door of the bus, Lilly and Matt went out with the puppies.
„Well, Anita, we have to give some name to this dog, don't we?“ Roger said.
„Right, darling!“ Anita answered. „We could call him...“
Her sentence was interrupted by the noise of something falling on the ground. Smiley dropped Matt's identification tag.
„What's this?“ Anita said, squatting down to take it. „That's his identification tag. Oh, it was probably found next to the place where Lilly found him. Look, his name is Matt. I think we don't have to change it. Matt can keep being his name.“
„You're right, darling! It's a nice name“, Roger said.
After letting a joyful bark, Lilly, Matt and the puppies ran to the barn. The other children of Lilly and Matt were there: Mandy, Spencer, Flowerpetal, Lusious and Foody.
„Dear children, this is Matt!“ Lilly said, proudly. „He is your father.“
At the moment when he saw all the nine puppies together, Matt was shocked and happy at the same time.
„Children, I...“ he stammered. „I haven't been here with you since you were born. Your mother, eh... she told you how it all happened, and I... I was so surprised to... to find out that I am a father, that I have nine puppies... nine really nice puppies... I can't promise that I will be the best father in the world, but... I will do my best to keep you happy with me, forever. Because I... I really love you all, my puppies!“
The nine puppies ran joyfully towards their father. He fell on the ground as they hugged him.
„Oh, I... will really need to learn to be a father!“ Matt said, looking at Lilly and laughing joyfully.
In human time, a few weeks passed since the day when Roger and Anita Dearly, a married couple who lived with the famous 101 Dalmatians, got another adult Dalmatian dog, Lilly. The day when they found her was very unusual, especially because she was the one who entered their farm. When Roger and Anita came out, they saw eight of their Dalmatian puppies with that adult dog. There was no doubt – the adult Dalmatian was the mother of eight of them. They were separated from her when Lilly's pet's evil wife, Jessica Jane Wilson, sold the puppies to Cruella de Vil, a wealthy fashion tycoon and fur lover from London. Fortunately, those eight puppies, together with the other 91, were rescued from the Hell Hall, a scary mansion where miss de Vil was keeping them and planning to skin them to make a nice Dalmatian fur coat. They were rescued by Pongo and Perdita, the couple of adult Dalmatians whose pets were Roger and Anita Dearly.
Since Lilly became a part of Dearly farm, she was spending almost all her time with her eight children: Cuddly, Smiley, Emerald, Lusious, Mandy, Flowerpetal, Spencer and Foody. She also got very close to a pup with star-shaped spots, always seen in a black cape. His name was Shadow, and he was the best friend of Cuddly, Smiley and Emerald. Lilly and Shadow got so close that Lilly adopted Shadow and so he became like a full brother to Lilly's puppies.
One beautiful day on Dearly farm, Lilly was sitting next to the barn and talking with her nine children.
„Mommy...“ Shadow said, accidentally interrupting her speak. „Who is my stepfather?“
The other puppies started to stare at Shadow and their mother. At that moment, they got very curious about their biological father.
„Your stepfather, son...“ Lilly started to talk. „His name is Matt. He is a beautiful Dalmatian dog whose pet is a good friend with my former pet Howard Wilson. One day we met while I was walking with Howard. Matt's pet Johnny invited Howard for a cup of tea and he accepted. Howard took me to Johnny's house, and I was left in a room with Johnny's dog, Matt. That was the only time we saw each other. And on that blessed day happened... You know what?“
„What?“ Cuddly asked curiously.
„Matt and I did something magic. And that magic moment left me pregnant. After a while I gave birth to eight wonderful puppies!“
As she said that, she smiled at her children and they smiled back at her.
„But it was time to go home. Howard took me away from Matt, and I never saw him again.“
„Oh, how sad!“ Smiley frowned. „You must have suffered a lot.“
„I didn't really suffer much“, Lilly started to explain. „I was so young, barely adult. Matt was young as well. Those moments of us together were something magic, but we didn't know the real meaning of what we did. It was a moment of mutual impulses, of an incredible passion carrying our bodies closer and closer to each other. I was sad when I had to leave him, but... At that moment, it seemed like leaving any other dog who I recently met. But later...“ she sighed sadly, as the puppies listened carefully to her.
„Later I matured, I realised the meaning of that day“, Lilly continued. „And I daydream... I do wonder... What would the life be like if your father was here with us. I wish he was here with me, with us.“
„You have never mentioned that, mother!“ Cuddly said, surprised by his mother's words. „You never seemed to be sad because of him.“
„You never asked me, son“, she explained. „And I have been hiding my feelings, didn't want you to worry about me. I have been separated from you for too long, and now when I have you again, I want to give you my best.“
„Why did you never look for our father?“ Emerald asked.
„I would if I could. When it was time to leave Johnny's house, it was so dark and I was so tired. As Howard took me out, I fell asleep. He probably carried me away in his arms. So, even if I wanted to go back to London, I couldn't find the house where he lives.“
At that moment, Smiley noticed two puppies passing by them. Those were Clayton and his girlfriend Kendra, very good friends to Lilly's children.
„Hy Clayton, hy Kendra!“ Smiley shouted to them.
„Oh, hy Smiley! Hy everyone!“ Clayton said, stopping his walk and turning to them.
„Come here, join us!“ Mandy said.
„No, eh...“ Clayton stammered timidly. „I don't want to interrupt a family moment.“
„Come on, dear, you are not interrupting anything! Come here!“ Lilly said, smiling at Clayton who she knew very well, and his girlfriend who she hadn't met yet.
„Hello, mrs Lilly, my name is Kendra!“ Kendra said.
„Don't call me missis, dear, makes me feel old!“ Lilly laughed. „Nice to meet you, Kendra. Obviously, you know my name.“
„So, what's up, Clayton?“ Cuddly asked.
„Nothing much, I've passed by the house and heard the Dearlys saying that they are going to London. They are going by their bus, probably to buy much new stuff.“
As Clayton mentioned London, the nine puppies looked at their mother who sighed sadly.
„What's wrong, Lilly?“ Clayton asked. „Did I say... something wrong?“
„No, dear, everything's alright“, Lilly answered. „I have just been talking to my children about their father who I lost and never met him again. And he lives, well, in... London.“
„Why don't you go and look for him?“ Clayton asked.
„I don't know where he lives. I forgot that street, I couldn't find him.“
„Can you remember anything about that house?“
„It was yellow. With two floors. That's all what I remember. Why are you asking me that?“
„We can sneak into the bus. The Dearlys won't see us. But we gotta hurry up.“
„Oh my God!“ Lilly said. „Are you crazy, Clayton?“
„No, I'm not crazy. Maybe this is shocking for you, I should have suggested that earlier. But this is a chance for you to find your lost love, Lilly! My friends Lucky, Rolly and Cadpig go to London very often, by sneaking into the bus. But well, I doubt that we'll be able to take all your children. Maybe... four of them!“
„Children, who wants to go?“ Lilly asked, turning to her puppies.
„Me!“ Cuddly, Smiley, Emerald and Shadow said at the same time.
„But what about the others?“ Smiley asked.
„Don't worry about us!“ Foody said. „We will be here, have fun, eat delicious food... After all, we will know if you find our father. But that's impossible.“
„Grrrrrrr, Foody, always so shallow! I don't believe it!“ Cuddly grumbled.
„No time to waste, Cuddly, let's go!“
Six puppies and an adult dog ran to the house. They saw the bus opened. Roger and Anita Dearly were in the house, looking for their wallets. The dogs entered the bus and hid under the seats. Roger and Anita got out of the house and entered the bus. They didn't notice the dogs who entered before them. Roger drove away to London.
As they arrived to London several hours later, and stopped the bus next to a shopping center, Roger and Anita left the bus and closed the door.
„Bloody hell, how will we get out now?!“ Cuddly said.
„Calm down, Cuddly, and stop using that phrase!“ Emerald said. „You will make me hate the Hell Lightning, you repeat his buzzword much more often than he does it.“
„Lightning is the best TV hero ever!“ Cuddly said. „Maybe even better than Thunderbolt, although Thunder is a dog.“
„Stop, you two!“ Kendra said. „Let's better find a way out of here!“
„The window!“ Lilly said, pointing to a window of the bus. „It's opened!“
„That's it!“ Smiley said. „Let's go out through the window.“
The seven dogs walked to the opened window. Cuddly jumped on the seat and then jumped out through the window. The others did the same. One by one, they went out of the bus.
„Ah well, if at least Lucky was here with us!“ Clayton sighed. „He would surely know how to find that yellow house.“
„London is a huge city“, Shadow said. „How could Lucky possibly know every single street here?“
„He doesn't know every single street, but he has many friends in the barking ch... Of course! The barking chain!“
„Barking what?“ Lilly asked.
„That's practically the same thing as the Twilight Bark, mother“, Cuddly said. „But it happens anytime, not only during twilight, or night. I hope that Clayton knows some dogs in barking chain here.“
„Oh yes, I do!“ Clayton said. „Let me send a message.“
Clayton produced several barking noises, some shorter and some longer ones. The others could recognize his message to the others:„Hello, Clayton Dearly here. I am next to the „Shopping Universe“ store. I'm looking for a yellow house with two floors where lives Matt, an adult Dalmatian dog. End of the message.“
Some seconds later, they heard an adult dog barking from the distance. He said:“Hello, Clayton! Browny here!“
„Guys, that's Browny, the German Shepherd!“ Clayton said. „Listen!“
„I think I know where that guy Matt lives“, Browny continued. „Where do you know him from and why do you need him? End of the message.“
„I have to meet him personally!“ Clayton barked out to Browny. „It's something very private and urgent. He has to meet someone. End of the message.“
„Alright, Clayton“, Browny barked back. „You are a good pup and I trust you. The yellow house is two blocks away from „Shopping Universe“ store. Matt seems to be sad and lonely these days. He may be happy to see you.“
„Twilight bark!“ Lilly exclaimed. „How did I never remember that?! I could have found Matt by that!“
„You couldn't find him just like that, Lilly“, Clayton explained. „Someone who doesn't know you wouldn't give you any information about another dog. And honestly, I doubt that Matt and you have mutual friends.“
„You're right, Clayton“, Lilly said, and at that moment her eyes started to shine with happiness and excitement. „I can't believe, I'm going to... going to... meet him... again... I'm going to meet Matt again!“
„Well, follow me!“ Clayton said.
Lilly, Kendra, Cuddly, Emerald, Shadow and Smiley followed Clayton, who was walking away from „Shopping universe“ store. They walked two blocks away, but then they didn't know where to go.
„We are lost!“ Smiley said. „I don't see any yellow object around!“
„Calm down, Smiley, brother!“ Shadow said. „We will find something out! Clayton, can you consult Browny again?“
„Oh, right!“ Clayton said and barked out a new barking-chain message:“Hello, Clayton Dearly again! I'm talking to Browny, the German Shepherd. We passed two blocks from „Shopping universe“, but we don't see any yellow house. Could you help us? End of the message.“
„Hello again, Clayton!“ Browny barked back. „If you describe the houses that you can see around, I may be able to tell you where to go. End of the message.“
„There are three streets I can go to“, Clayton answered. „The first one starts with a tall pink building. The second one starts with an abandoned grey house. The third one starts with a restaurant. Where do I have to go? End of the message.“
„I perfectly know where you are“, Browny barked. „Go to the street which starts with the abandoned grey house. Just walk down that street and you will find the yellow house with two floors. There lives Matt the Dalmatian. End of the message.“
„Thank you a lot, Browny! End of the message.“
Clayton walked to the street which starts with an abandoned grey house. Kendra and Lilly with her puppies followed him.
„Does the street look familiar?“ Shadow asked.
„Oh my God, it does!“ Lilly said. „Now when I see it, oh it does look familiar! Matt lives here! Good Heavens, Matt lives here!“
As they walked on, very soon they appeared next to a yellow house. It had two floors. But strangely, the door was opened. No one was there.
„Mat...“ Lilly started to shout, but Cuddly closed her mouth with his paw.
„Don't do that, mother!“ he said. „If our father is here, he can get shocked if he hears your voice. Let us do it.“
„You're right, Cuddly!“ Lilly said, sighing deeply.
„Anybody there?!“ Cuddly barked out loud. „Does a Dalmatian dog named Matt live here?“
„Who needs me?“ a male canine voice from inside the house barked back. He sounded so tired and distraught.
„I don't believe it, it's Matt!“ Lilly whispered in excitement, as a tear fell out of her eye. Shadow and Smiley hugged her warmly.
„Someone wants to meet you, Matt!“ Clayton barked. „It's a surprise!“
„I don't want surprises, leave me alone!“ Matt barked back.
„What's wrong with him?“ Kendra asked.
„Who knows!“ Emerald said. „Something is very strange here.“
„And what if there is... Lilly Wilson?“ Clayton barked.
„Do not mention that name, brat!!!“ Matt shouted angrily. „I don't know what kind of childish prank this is, but stay away from her name!!!“
Lilly trembled at Matt's words. Why did he react like that? Is he resentful or nostalgic about her?!
„It's not a prank!“ Cuddly barked. „She is here and she came for you!“
„Lilly, say something to him!“ Clayton said.
„Matt, it's me!!“ Lilly barked out loud. „I am here and I came for you!“
No noise. Matt stopped talking. Clayton and Kendra stared at the house. Cuddly and Emerald were anxious about what was going to happen. Lilly was trembling, while Smiley and Shadow were hugging her. Some minutes later, an adult Dalmatian dog came out through the opened door. He was very special because of his right ear which was white with two huge black spots, one on the top of the ear, and one on the bottom. He was wearing a blue collar. His face was very sad, he looked like his life was making no sense.
„Matt...“ Lilly whispered in shock and excitement, as she saw him.
„After such a long time, Lilly...“ Matt said, pretending to sound flegmatic. „You left me, you never came again. What do you want now?“
„Let me explain, Matt!“ Lilly said, as another tear fell down. „Just listen to me!“
„Who are these kids?“ Matt asked, looking at all the puppies around.
„You will... hear about them. Darlings, could you leave Matt and me alone?“
„Of course, mother!“ Smiley said.
„Mother?!“ Matt said. „They are...?!“
„Yes, Matt!“ Lilly said, as the puppies went away. „Our children, they are. You know, Matt, since Howard and I left your house...“
Lilly was telling her life story to her lost love. Matt was listening carefully. As he was listening, the life seemed to come back to his sad dim eyes. The puppies were hidden, secretly listening to their conversation. Clayton asked them why are they spying on them. Cuddly answered that they mustn't have missed the first conversation of their parents. Although he didn't like that, Clayton stayed with them, spying as well. Kendra was with them too.
During the conversation, Lilly told Matt everything about Jessica Jane, her puppies being sold away, how they rescued her, and how Jessica ended up in jail with her leg amputated. She told him about the life on Dearly Farm, about Shadow who she loves as if he was one of her children...
„Why did you never look for me, Lilly?“ Matt asked. „For all the time... You never felt like meeting me again?“
„I didn't know where you lived...“
Lilly told him about how she started to daydream about him, how she missed him and wondered where he was. She explained him that she could never find him if the Dearlys didn't go to London, and if Clayton wasn't with her at that moment. She let him know about the sadness that she was keeping away from her children.
„The same thing, Lilly...“ Matt stammered, shocked and excited at the same time, pouring a tear. „The same thing happened with me. I've been daydreaming, hoping that you would come for me. My life was never the same since you left me.“
„With the time I realised... that I really love you, Matt!“ she cried.
„I love you too, Lilly!“ he answered, and finally a spark of joy could be seen in his eyes.
The two of them ran to each other and hugged warmly, so happy to meet again after such a long time.
„I'm so sorry for not doing anything to find you earlier, darling!“ Lilly said.
„Don't worry, my love! I could have done something too!“
While spying on them, the puppies were moved inside by their words and they cried quietly.
„What happened to you, darling?“ Lilly asked Matt some minutes later. „When I came, you were so sad, so desperate...“
„Yesterday I experienced the biggest disappointment of my life!“ Matt said. „Johnny, my pet... He fell in love with a rich female human who hated dogs. Her parents bought her a house in France. She married Johnny, and he had to choose between her and me. He chose her and left me here. He abandoned this house and went to France, to live there with his wife. He abandoned the house, and me as well.“
„Matt, darling!“ Lilly said, wiping his tears. „If Johnny was here... Now when I'm here, and your children too, if you had to choose between Johnny and me, who would you choose?“
„I, well...“ Matt stammered. „I was very loyal to my pet, but... I love you, and...“
„But Johnny is gone. I am here, and I love you! You can go with me!“
„Go with you?! Where?“
„On Dearly farm! My pets would never let you go. If you just took your collar off, they will think you are abandoned. And well, you... are abandoned. You will live there with three wonderful humans, with me and our children, with two great dogs who will become your friends, and with many many puppies...“
„Children... What did you say, how many children do I have?“
„Nine, darling! Nine wonderful puppies!“
„Nine?!“ he exclaimed. „Oh my God!“
„Well, you will have to learn to be a father!“
„Yeah...“ he laughed at himself, confused and pleasantly surprised at the same time. „I will have to. I just hope that they will... accept me as a father.“
„Of course they will! Children, you can stop spying, come out!“
The six puppies came out.
„These are... six pups! You said there were nine...“ Matt said.
„Actually, Clayton and I aren't one of those. Here are four of them, and the rest of them is on Dearly farm“, Kendra explained.
„We are your children, daddy!“ Cuddly said. „My name is Cuddly.“
Smiley, Emerald and Shadow said their names to Matt. Very soon, the four of them ran to their father who hugged them very warmly.
„My children!“ he said. „I can't believe it, I am a father! You are my children!“
„Yes, daddy, we are your children!“ Emerald said, wiping her tear off.
„Well, everyone, I think it's time to go home.“
„I can't wait to meet the others!“ Matt said, full of excitement. It seemed that he wasn't sad about Johnny anymore. He was so happy because he finally had something he thought he would never have – family.
Lilly bit Matt's collar and tore it off. The eight dogs walked away from the abandoned house. Lilly and Matt seemed to be happier than ever. After several minutes of walk, they came to the yellow bus with black spots. It was still there, which meant that the Dearlys hadn't finished shopping yet.
Half an hour later, there came Roger and Anita with some bags.
„Oh my God!“ Roger said in shock, as the bags fell out of his hands.
„Lilly, what are you doing here?“ Anita said, squatting down to her. „With some puppies and... oh my God, it's, it's...“
„An abandoned Dalmatian, Anita!“ Roger said. „You see? He has no collar.“
„Oh, he's beautiful!“ Anita said. „And look at Lilly, she seems so... in love with him. Just like Perdy when she met Pongo, and... when I met you, dear!“
„That's true, darling!“ Roger said, smiling at Anita, and at Lilly and Matt. „Well, what can we do? Let's take him home!“
„Clayton, dear, how can we ever repay you for what you did?“ Lilly asked, as Roger started to drive back to Devon.
„Nah, I don't need any repayment“, Clayton said timidly. „I am always delighted to help.“
And so, Matt became a new member of the enormous Dearly family. Several hours later, they were back on their farm. As soon as Roger opened the door of the bus, Lilly and Matt went out with the puppies.
„Well, Anita, we have to give some name to this dog, don't we?“ Roger said.
„Right, darling!“ Anita answered. „We could call him...“
Her sentence was interrupted by the noise of something falling on the ground. Smiley dropped Matt's identification tag.
„What's this?“ Anita said, squatting down to take it. „That's his identification tag. Oh, it was probably found next to the place where Lilly found him. Look, his name is Matt. I think we don't have to change it. Matt can keep being his name.“
„You're right, darling! It's a nice name“, Roger said.
After letting a joyful bark, Lilly, Matt and the puppies ran to the barn. The other children of Lilly and Matt were there: Mandy, Spencer, Flowerpetal, Lusious and Foody.
„Dear children, this is Matt!“ Lilly said, proudly. „He is your father.“
At the moment when he saw all the nine puppies together, Matt was shocked and happy at the same time.
„Children, I...“ he stammered. „I haven't been here with you since you were born. Your mother, eh... she told you how it all happened, and I... I was so surprised to... to find out that I am a father, that I have nine puppies... nine really nice puppies... I can't promise that I will be the best father in the world, but... I will do my best to keep you happy with me, forever. Because I... I really love you all, my puppies!“
The nine puppies ran joyfully towards their father. He fell on the ground as they hugged him.
„Oh, I... will really need to learn to be a father!“ Matt said, looking at Lilly and laughing joyfully.