Cheers: The Malones

Chapter 1

Here is another story chronicling the lives of Sam and Diane and their children since their marriage in 1993. My stories have no real sequence of dates to them other than the first story written about their reunion in 1993. They are random stories and dates showing how their lives have unfolded since the Cheers finale. I place dates on the stories only so the reader has an idea of the time frame in which they take place. Enjoy.

The Body Guard

October 1999

The bell rang as Maura and Joey walked up to the front door of the school. Joey ran ahead of his sister and slipped quickly through the throng of children waiting in line. Maura picked up her backpack that was resting on the sidewalk outside of the school and looked at her friend.

"Sophie, go home," she said.

Brown eyed Sophie dropped her eyes to the ground but Maura persisted.

"Sophie, I said go home right now."

Sophie sheepishly turned away from her friend and started walking away then looked back one more time. Maura ran to her and put her arms around her neck.

"Oh Sophie, you know you can't come into the school with me. Even though Daddy thinks you're smarter than most of the kids in the school, dogs aren't allowed inside."

Sophie licked Maura's face, wagged her tail, and ambled away.

Sam had gotten Sophie, a chocolate lab, as a six month old puppy in 1990 from a friend. She came to him fully trained, able to sit and shake hands on command. She often accompanied Sam to Cheers and honed her friendly dog status with all of the customers. When Diane and Sam reunited in 1993 Sophie bonded with Diane and moved from sleeping on the floor next to Sam's side of the bed to sleeping on the floor next to Diane's side. The day that Sam and Diane brought their twins home from the hospital in 1994, Sophie took up residence in the hallway between the children's bedrooms where she still sleeps, watching over the household.

Diane watched the crossing guard pat Sophie's head as she crossed the street to return home. Maura and Joey had begged Diane to let them walk 'alone' to school with their friends. The school was three quarters of a block from their home so Diane reluctantly agreed but watched them until the school bell rang.

Diane walked back into the house, poured herself a cup of coffee, and sat down at the table next to Sam. With a sigh she said,

"Sam, I can't believe how quickly time flies. Before you know it Maura and Joey will be leaving us entirely."

Sam, laughed and hugged her. "Is this about their wanting to walk to school alone?"

"Yes, they're growing up so quickly. They don't need me anymore, as much I mean, and before you know it they'll be going off to college."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down Diane. They won't be going to college until about 2012. It's only 1999. You've got a little time."

"Oh I know but it still makes me sad. We've known each other seventeen years and look how quickly that time passed."

Sam took her hands and said, "I know of six years that didn't pass so quickly."

She looked at him and squeezed his hands. "You're right about that Sam. Six very long years," she said wistfully. "So, what are you up to today?"

"Not a lot. I'm going to Cheers soon, then to the catering company at 2:00 to check the books, then to the bank, then a haircut. How about you and how about going out to dinner tonight?"

"Ooh, I'd love that. Let's go to that cozy Italian restaurant in the North End. I have a wonderful day planned. No classes today so I'm free. I'll be picking up your tux from the dry cleaners. Don't forget the Hospital Ball tomorrow night. It's one of Boston's most glamorous events."

"How could I forget such an eventful display of social climbing goons," he laughed, "and I get to pay a lot of money for the privilege."

"Oh Sam, I know you love wearing a tux and hobnobbing. You're just pretending to hate it. Besides, we have a table with Janet and Michael and Anna and Jim."

"True, at least we'll have fun making fun of your snobbish sorority sisters."

Diane burst out laughing. "Mitsy really is a snob isn't she, right down to the phony British accent but the ball is a wonderful money maker for the hospital. The proceeds go to the hospital's homeless shelter. Besides she hired our catering company for the affair so you'll actually be making money while you dance. By the way, are Woody and Kelley going?"

"No not this year."

"I'll bet Kelly's parents will be there," said Diane.

"Oh goody," laughed Sam, "Another group of snobbish boors.

"Come here you and give me a kiss, I have to go now," said Sam as he leaned over to give Diane a hug. "I do wish I didn't have to leave so early. We could have some serious hanky-panky this morning."

"I do too Sam. I have another idea. Let's not go out tonight. We can stay home, get the kids in bed early and have a Sam and Diane night right in our own bedroom. We can sit in bed watching old movies and have ice cream, peppermint ice cream," Diane said as she put her arms around his waist.

"I can almost see the ice cream melting as I swirl it around and around and around. Is this kitchen getter hotter or is it me?" Sam laughed.

"No, I think it's me. See you tonight. I'll get the ice cream," smiled Diane.

Sam pulled away from Diane, put his jacket on and opened the back door.

"By the way, "Where is Sophie?"

"You know Sophie. She's probably out and about in the neighborhood visiting and getting treats from her many friends. One neighbor calls her the Pearl Mesta of the canine set. I think she's right."

The bar was nearly empty when Sam walked in so he took the opportunity to check stock, work on paperwork and catch up on phone calls. As noon approached the bar got busier so he went out to help Woody.

"Woody, turn on the local news, I want to watch the highlights of last night's game."

Norm and Cliff had their eyes on the big screen television when Norm said, "Sammie, isn't that Sophie?"

Sam looked up and saw video footage of Sophie standing at a curb in front of a small child, blocking the child from entering traffic. The reporter described the event on the video. A small child, eighteen months old, apparently slipped out of her house and started to walk into traffic. The dog stood in front of the child and refused to let her into the heavily traveled street. If the child tried to get around the dog, the dog moved too. Passersby tried to intervene but the protective dog wouldn't let them near the child. It wasn't until the child's mother came screaming to the scene that Sophie relented and allowed the mother to grab her child.

The reporter went on to report. The chocolate lab nonchalantly sauntered away as soon as the mother took over. The reporter then went on to ask viewers if they knew the identity of what she described as the 'Hero Dog '.

Sam answered the phone an hour later. "Sam," said Diane, "What in the world is going on? I just got home from the dry cleaners and there are three messages on our answering machine from reporters wanting to do a feature story on Sophie."

Sam explained the news clip to Diane, wrote down the reporter's numbers and told her he'd call them. "Someone must have phoned in her identity. Everyone knows her." And then he asked, "Is Sophie home?"

"Oh sure, she's right at my feet sleeping."

"I'll bet she's sleeping, being a hero is a tough job. I'll let you know what the reporters want."

Chapter 2 The Hospital Ball is up next