Chapter 2

Strudel

I was born in Vienna, Austria. It is the capitol of all of Austria, and the largest city. Also it's where they filmed that one musical movie about 'the hills are alive' I don't know what that means. How can hills be alive? Anyways, on with my tale.

When my siblings and I were just eight weeks old, we were put up for adoption.

"Awww, look at this cutie!" Someone said as she picked me up, and marveled at me. Right away, I could tell, it was love at first sight. I was so excited that I licked her face. "Aww, she's so sweet, like my favorite desserts, strudel." She then gasped in realization. "That's it! I'll call her Strudel. Strudel the dachshund." She looked at the man next to her. "Isn't that a nice name, Franz?" Franz nodded.

"Ja, Eva, it is." Franz answered. "Now, let's just pay for her, und get her home." Eva agreed with a nod, and stood up. She gave me to her husband so she could pay for me.

On the drive to my new home, I watched as all the beautiful sites zoomed by from the window. I was sitting on Eva's lap. Since I was cooped inside for most of the days, except for outside play and walks to the parks, I never realized how beautiful Austria really is, and I loved it!

My owners loved me, they played with me, walked with me, groomed me when I needed grooming, bathed me, fed me, and took me to the vet. My female owner, Eva, typed on the computer a lot. At the time, I didn't know what a computer was. I just laid under her feet everyday as she typed away.

One day, I was curious, so I walked out from under the desk, looked at her, and barked. She looked at me. I cocked my head. What are you typing? Of course, she didn't understand.

"Hi, Strudel. What do you want? Do you want to go out? Go potty? You need to wait. I'm almost done with this book, and I must have it ready first thing tomorrow." She looked at the screen again, and continued typing. I went under the desk, and rested under her feet again.

"There!" She said. "I'm all done." I walked to her, and she looked at me. "I finished; I can take you out now." She stood up, and was about to go, when Franz came in.

"Hi, honey." He greeted. "Want me to walk Strudel for you as you write?" Eva looked at him, and shook her head.

"No; I just sent in the finished draft."

"That's great honey. You've been working on that book for a long time. Do you think it'll finally be published?"

"Here's hoping."

"Well, you go on that walk with Strudel. You need it, and I think Strudel misses walking with you." Eva smiled.

"Thanks, honey." She walked off.

Eva and I went to the dog park. She was sitting on a bench, and I laid on the grass. I then saw a nut roll up to me. I saw a squirrel ran up to the nut. The furry animal then looked at me, and suddenly acted all terrified.

"Please don't chase me!" He begged. I was confused.

"Chase you? Why would I do that?"

"Well, you're a dog, aren't you?" I still didn't get it.

"Yeah, but what does have to do with me chasing you?" The squirrel shrugged.

"I don't know. It what you dogs do."

"That seems silly to me. Just because some dogs do it, doesn't mean I or all dogs have to do it."

"So, you're not going to chase me?" I smiled at him.

"No. You can just scurry off with your nut." The squirrel smiled.

"Thanks!" And with that, he took off with the nut in his mouth.

The next day while Eva was on the computer, she got really excited.

"My book is being published!" She shouted. Franz came running in, and smiled.

"That's wunderbar news, honey! I'm so proud of you!" She kissed him.

"Thanks honey, whoo, I'm so excited!"

"I'm excited that you're excited. This is your first book, and now it's going to be in bookstores around the world for all to read." I didn't know what they were talking about, but I was excited for her. I panted and wagged my tail with glee.

"I have to plan a book launch party!" Eva finally said. Franz was confused.

"Book launch party?" Eva went back to her computer.

"Yeah, a party to promote my new book." Franz scratched his head.

"Will this happen every time you publish a new book?"

"Only if you want a lot of them." Franz laughed.

"No; just one is fine. We have other parties for birthdays, Christmases, and so on."

"Ja; that's true. So, do you have a venue in mind?"

"I was thinking World of Books. I'm on their website right now." Franz chuckled.

"I suppose you'd want to host a book party there. It is your favorite bookstore after all."

"Precisely. Now…." She looked at the clock. "Oh shoot, it's time for Strudel's walk."

"Do you want me to do it?" She looked at him.

"Will you?" Franz nodded.

"Ja, you're deep in work. I get it, und I'll be glad to."

"Oh, thank you, Franz. You're a life saver!" She sat down to type on the computer. Franz looked at me.

"Ready for a walk with Daddy, lil' girl?" I barked happily.

"Okay; just let me get your leash." He went off. I followed.

"So, how's it going?" Franz asked his wife after we were done with my walk. He had just put my leash away. Eva looked at him.

"I set up a date. It's going to be this month on the 19th. How does that sound?"

"Sounds great! I'll be sure to cancel the show then."

"Can you see if any of your work friends would like to come?" Franz nodded.

"I'll ask tomorrow."

"Great; thanks!" She looked at the computer again. Franz is an usher at a circus, and works part time at a child daycare, whatever those two things are.

The next few days were busy for my owners. Mommy was on the computer, Both Mommy and Daddy were making telephone calls, both left, and then came back with human food and other stuff. One night, Mommy was on TV. Franz sat down with me, and we watched the whole interview. She and the other woman doing the interview talked about stuff. I didn't know what it was about, some book, but I was just so happy seeing my mommy on the TV.

Then, one day, they were dressing in their coats and other stuff. I went to them, wondering what they were doing. Mommy and Daddy don't go to work at the same time, and Mommy works mostly at home. She works somewhere else at a gardening store too, but not always. I just took a walk with Mommy. So, whatever it was, it must be something special. I barked, wanting to come along, knowing that I probably can't. Franz looked at me. He looked at his wife.

"I think Strudel's thinking we might abandon her." He said. I just looked at him. No, I wasn't thinking that at all! Ooh, how I wish that humans could understand us, well we could talk to them, but we just didn't feel the need to. I mean, what would we possibly want to tell them? Our body language, and facial expressions seems to do just fine.

"No girl, we're not leaving you." Eva said to me. Well, I already knew that. "We'll never do that." Franz then petted my head, and scratched between my ears.

"We're just leaving for a few hours for Mommy's big party." What party? Why can't they just tell me? He and his wife exchanged goodbyes to me, told me to be a good girl, told me that they loved me, and then both left, closing the door behind them. I went to the window to see them off.

After I saw their car drive down the driveway, and out of sight, I had the whole place to myself. What am I to do now? I don't feel sleepy, and I couldn't do human stuff. I didn't feel like watching TV. I'm too old to mess stuff up, and chew on things. I haven't done those things in a long time, and boy, did I learn my lessons when they scolded me. 'No' or 'bad girl' are three words I never wanted to hear again. They're even worse than taking me to the vet.

Suddenly, I had an idea. I looked at the computer. Why not?! I am interested in how it works, and I have time to kill. I ran to the computer, jumped onto the chair in front of it, and looked at the screen. I put my front paws on the keyboard. I looked down at it, not knowing what it was at the time. I just knew my owners would push things on it, and the screen would have something appear on it. I pressed a button on it, and looked at the screen. Nothing happened. It remained black. I pressed more buttons, and more, in hopes that something will happen. No such luck. Why…isn't…this…working?! Why didn't I pay more attention when my owners were using this? Oh, yeah, because I didn't think I'll be having the need to use this, that's why.

Okay. I told myself, looking at the last button above all the others on the computer. I'll press this last one. If this doesn't work, then that's it. I'm done. I'll give up, and do what pets do when their owners are away: boring, lazy, stuff the whole time. With my nose, I pressed the button.

And wouldn't you know it, it worked! The computer made a sound that almost frightened me, an apple appeared on the screen, and a few seconds later, it turned on.

Now, I know what I have to do to get to the place where my owner goes to type her stuff. I moved the 'mouse' (I know, weird name. It's not a real mouse. It's just what the humans call it) onto where she opens the place where she types, and clicked on it the best that I could. It opened, and I pressed something in the middle, and a letter came up. I didn't know what it was. I only knew I had typed something, and I was happy as can be for it. I typed more, and more. I couldn't stop. I was just amazed that I was doing something other dogs never thought of doing.

"Strudel; we're home!" I heard Franz call to me after a long while. I stopped typing, and jumped down off of the chair. I then ran to my owners, excited as can be, barking all the way. Eva knelt down and petted me.

"Strudel; hi!" She greeted. "Was my dog a good girl while we were away?" I barked. Franz knelt down, and scratched me between the ears. Aw; I always liked when he or she did that to me. Such a wunderbar feeling!

"See?" Franz told me. "I told you we weren't abandoning you. I stayed true to my word." He stood up, and went off with his wife. I followed.

"Eva," Her husband stated. "Are you going to write a new book?"

"I have another one in mind, but I don't want to start just yet."

"That's good. You should relax before you start again." He then changed the subject, confusion in his voice. "Honey, did you leave the computer on while we were out."

"No; why?"

"Well, it's on."

"What?" She went to the computer. "What does it say?" She looked at it. "Well, that's strange. It's a bunch of nonsense. It's like they were just testing the keys out. No real intention. Who could have typed this?" Franz then looked at me.

"This may sound strange, but Strudel might've done it." Eva looked at him like he was nuts.

"Strudel? You can't be serious."

"I know, but Strudel was the only one here. We didn't have a break-in because everything was closed, and the windows aren't broken. It couldn't have been a ghost. We could have a typing dog in our midst."

"A typing dog?" She laughed. "What a crazy thought!" Franz laughed too. Eva stopped laughing as an idea struck her. "Hey; a typing dog; you had just given me an idea Franz!" Franz smiled.

"Only helping out sweetie. That's what husbands do best." Eva kissed him.

"And I love you for that." She looked at me.

"How do you like to be the star of my next book, Strudel?" I barked with joy. I didn't know what she meant, but I didn't care. As long as she was happy.

The next day, Eva typed most of the day on her new book. Her husband then came into the room.

"Hi, Franz." Eva greeted, not taking her eyes off of her typing.

"Hello, honey." Franz said back. He then kissed his wife.

"How was your day?"

"Oh, fine. A new circus show came today. They arrived from Prague, and they never have been on tour before. We are their first destination."

"Ooh, that's interesting."

"Yeah, it is." He looked at me, then back at his wife. "I told my buddies about Strudel's typing." Eva looked at him in shock.

"What?! Why would you do that?" Franz shrugged.

"Seems too interesting to keep hidden. Besides, I helped spread the word on your new book. They're going to tell their kids tonight."

"Well, I guess that's alright, but now the pressure's on. I mean, the pressure's already was on with my three-month deadline, but now it's even more. Those kids are counting on me."

"Sorry, dear. Say, do you have a name for the book yet?"

"I, Strudel. She types whenever her owners are away to escape boredom. She has a golden hamster named Dietlof, a pigeon named Peggy, and two twin pot-bellied pigs Stuart and Duchess as friends who come over, and help her with her stories."

"Wow; what an imaginative story. I can't wait to read it."

"That's what I love about children's books compared to novels written for adults. They're more imaginative."

"But, some adult books can be imaginative."

"Yeah, but I still like children stories better. That's why I do this for a living."

"And the kids love you for it." He changed the subject. "I'll leave you to your writing."

"No; that's alright. I have been typing for hours, and I'm done with a chapter. I'll go make dinner. Care to walk Strudel?"

"Alright, honey. Whatever you say."

Days went by, and before I knew it, my owners were leaving again. This time to Tokyo, Japan.

"You know, maybe for my next book I'll write about Tokyo." Eva said to her husband. I was on her lap. We were all in the car, heading to where I was going to be kenneled until they got back.

"I know, you will, honey." Franz spoke, not taking his eyes off the road. "We have never been to Japan before, and you're already boasting about it to your friends."

"Well, I know from TV and pictures that it'll be an amazing time. There's nothing like going to new places to get the inspiration and the mind going when you're an author."

"That's true." I wish I could go with them, but I'm happy for my owners just the same. And I agree. Leaning about new places far beyond your own and culture, whatever that is, is cool.

They dropped me off, and said goodbye. I wanted to go, and see them leave from the airport, so I sniffed them before they left, so not long after they had left, and as luck would have it, it was time for all of the dogs to get out, and do their stuff. When the woman led me outside, I bolted off.

"STOP THAT DASHUND!" The lady shouted. A few of the employees tried to stop me, but failed. Nothing could stop me. I was a dog on a mission.

When I was across the street, I looked back at it quickly, memorized where it was, so I could find it again, and took off again.

I then found an airport, but was it the right one? I sniffed, and the scent was familiar. Yep, it was Eva's perfume. I was indeed in the right place.

Since, I would be kicked out if I went inside, I sat my rump on the pavement, and waited for the smell of the perfume to leave. That will tell me that my owners' plane has taken off, and I would go back to the kennels.

I saw an open plane, and where the humans put luggage into. I smelled more dogs, and decided why not? I wasn't sure how long until my owners fly off in their plane, so why not say hello to some fellow canines? So, off I went to the back of the plane.

Once inside, I saw a grown Labbie, a cross breed between a Beagle and a Labrador Retriever.

"Hi." I greeted the dog. "My name's Strudel; what's yours?" The dog smiled.

"Daisy." She answered.

"Well Daisy, can I talk to you, and keep you company while I wait for my owners' flight to leave?"

"Sure, I'd love that. But, you got to go when this plane leaves, otherwise you'll be on your way to America."

"Oh, so that's where you're going? Don't worry, this'll be quick."

But it wasn't quick. This dog talked, and I talked, and before either of us knew it, we were suddenly moving.

"What's happening?!" I wanted to know.

"We're moving. She said to me. "We're about to take off." I panicked.

"About to take off? But, I have to get off."

"Afraid you can't. You're going to America."

I ran inside the whole compartment, pawing at the doors frantically and barking.

"HELP!" I barked. "I'M NOT SUPPOSE TO BE HERE! HELP! GET ME OFF!"

"You can do that all day, darling." Daisy informed me. "But, you'll tire yourself out, and it's a waste." I stopped. I know that she was right. I was making a dumkoph of myself. Oh, why did I not stay back at the kennels? I shouldn't have gone on here, and then this wouldn't have happened. Dummkoph, dummkoph, dummkoph! I sighed, and looked at her.

"Alright, Daisy. I'll stay here. But, when we stop, I'll stay here, and return to Austria."

"Where were your owners going if you don't mind?"

"Tokyo."

"Oh, well by the time you get back to Austria, they possibly will be long gone at their destination."

"Yeah, you're probably right. I'll go back to the kennels when I return."

It seemed like forever, but finally the plane landed. I looked at Daisy when the compartment door opened, and the men getting the luggage off one by one.

"Well Daisy," I told her. "I thank you for keeping me company on this long flight, but now we must part."

"Hey!" One of the men said, looking at me. "Victor, is there suppose to be a Dachshund on this flight?"

"I don't think so." Another man told him. "Why?"

"Because there's a Dachshund in here."

"Well, check it's tags. See where the dog lives, and then we can return the dog." Victor inspected me. I was nervous.

"Hmmm, Strudel. Okay, Strudel. Let's see where you live now." Victor squinted at it.

"It's okay, Strudel." Daisy assured me. "The man is just seeing where you live so he can take you home."

"But, my owners aren't home." I reminded her. "They're on their way to Japan. I'm supposed to be in the kennels, remember?"

"I can't make this out." Victor said. "It's all in German." He then picked me up. "Come on girl. We'll figure this out." He took me away.

"Auf Weidershen!" I called out to Daisy.

"Goodbye, Strudel!" She called back. "I hope you find your way back!"

"Thanks! I hope so too."

At the airport, the man showed me to another man at a computer. They chatted, and the other man searched something on the computer, looking at my tags. We then heard something from behind us.

"A plane going from Austria to Tokyo had mysteriously vanished from the radars." We turned, and looked at the TV. What did the TV say to have the men so interested?

"How terrible!" The man who is helping Victor observed. "I wonder what happened." He looked at Victor. "The dog is from Austria."

"And we just arrived from there. You don't think…"

"I hope not." I could see the worry on their faces. What did the TV say to have them so concerned? I wish I knew.

The men then chattered some more, and Victor got the information that he needed.

"Thanks, Chuck." Victor thanked him. "We're going back to Austria. I'll take her back, and then take her back home. Right now, I think she needs some fresh air. She's been cooped up for nearly ten hours." Chuck nodded. They said goodbye, and then left.

"Okay girl," Victor said to me when we were outside of the airport. "We'll be out here for fifteen minutes or so, then we go back in to get ready for our flight back." He then noticed his shoe was undone. "Oh, that's not good." We went to a nearby bench, and he sat down. "Just a minute." I was about to lie down when something caught my eye. A dog and two puppies were in front of the building. Now, what are they doing here? I looked at Victor who was still tying his shoelace. I looked back at the dogs. Curious as a cat (excuse the expression), I went to them.

"Excuse me." I said to them. They all looked towards me.

"Can I help you?" The older dog, the poodle asked.

"Yes. I was wondering what you are all doing here in front of an airport is all."

"Oh, this is where Piper here will meet her perfect person." I was confused.

"Perfect person?" I questioned.

"Yeah!" The other puppy spoke, a mutt. "Dolly here is the leader of the Pound Puppies; an awesome group of dogs that find dogs homes."

"Oh, well that sounds just wunderbar."

"Isn't it? Dolly is teaching me everything she knows."

"Say, do you have a family?" Dolly asked me. "Or should we find you one?" I shook my head.

"Oh, I have a family."

"Your owner is at the airport?"

"Oh no, they live in Austria."

"Austria? My, that's a long ways from here. Why are you alone in the States?" So, I told them my tale.

"That's horrible!" The mutt observed, who I learned was Lucky. I nodded.

"It is. I wish I hadn't have boarded that plane, then I wouldn't be here."

"So what do you plan to do? I mean, isn't Austria a whole other country or something?" I told them my plan. Dolly smiled.

"Good. Hope you find your family."

"Hope so too."

"Hey!" Victor shouted. The three dogs ran off. Victor got to me. He looked down at me. "Come on, girl. Let's start your walk." He picked me up, and we were off.

"Victor!" Chuck greeted, coming up to us. He then frowned. "I'm afraid I have some bad news."

"Bad news?" Victor asked, concern in his voice. I was concerned too. "What it is?"

"You remember that plane that disappeared from radar?"

"Yeah."

"Well, they have an update. Now, the plane is still missing, but two of the people on it were Strudel's owners, Eva and Franz Hisser."

"Oh no, are you sure?" Chuck nodded.

"I'm very sure. I'm very sorry Victor. " Victor looked at me. I looked up at him, extremely worried now. What was wrong? Ugh; it's so frustrating not understanding this.

"Poor Strudel."

"Yeah. What are you going to do with her?"

"Well, I suppose I'll keep her until we know what's going to happen."

"I think that's a good idea." He bent down to me.

"Okay Strudel, you're going to live with my friend for a while. He'll take good care of you." Why? Where are Eva and Franz? I was so stressed out, that I ran off.

"STRUDEL!" They both yelled after me. But, I didn't listen. I just kept on running.

I ran to a nearby tree, laid down, and cried.

"Are you okay, darling?" Asked a familiar voice. I looked up. There in front of me was Lucky and Dolly. I sniffed. I wanted to lie to them. I wanted to so bad, but couldn't. I shook my head. "Well, want to tell me what's the matter?" I told them.

"Gosh!" Lucky said in shock when I was done. "And I thought I had a tragic story."

"Well, at least this Victor person is willing to take care of you until something happens." I nodded.

"But, it won't be the same."

"Oh, I know darling, but it's better for the time being."

"I guess. I'd rather do what you guys are doing though, helping dogs finding their perfect people, and their forever homes."

"Won't that make you jealous that you won't be with your family?" Lucky wanted to know.

"I guess, but it'll also give me hope. It'll also bring me joy knowing that I made a difference in a pup's life." Dolly smiled.

"It gives me great joy every day." She said. I then saw Victor coming to me.

"Strudel!" He called. "Ready to go to your temporary home?" I stood up.

"Well," I started. "I have to go." They each said their good lucks, and I was off.

Well, it went horribly wrong. Victor's wife was mad at him for taking me in without her permission, and ordered him to take me to the shelter the next morning. He agreed, so now I'm going, only I didn't want to. But, I feared I had no choice. I was outside, laying on my paws in sadness.

"Fancy meeting you again." I heard a familiar voice. I looked and once again, Lucky and Dolly stood in front of me. They then noticed my gloomy state. "You have to go?" I nodded.

"Why?" Lucky asked. "Well, that's not fair. I guess Victor should have asked first, but hearing all you have suffered, it still doesn't seem right." I nodded slowly in agreement.

"Are you still interested in joining the Pound Puppies?" Dolly asked. I stood up in an instant, tail wagging.

"Really, can I?!" I questioned. Dolly nodded.

"Yeah, temporarily."

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Dolly smiled.

"I had a feeling you'd be thrilled. You have to let Victor drop you off first, so he doesn't have to worry."

"Okay. Sounds good to me."

After Victor dropped me off at the shelter, Dolly picked me up with Lucky. We passed by a computer store. I spoke up.

"I can use the computer." Both Dolly and Lucky were shocked.

"Really?!" Lucky asked. "I don't know what a computer is, but that's so cool!" I looked at Dolly.

"If you need somebody to use the computer, I'm your dog."

"That's nice, but I don't think we do." She then thought of something. "Actually, we could use a dog like you. It's the 21st centaury according to the humans. They changed their world, and now, we will too."

"I won't let you down, Dolly."

"I like to hear that. I like that a lot." We walked onward.