Thomas walked into the living room, feeling a little nervous to talk to his dad about something for school. "Um… dad?" Thomas standing in front of his father who was reading his newspaper. Bandit looked at his son and smiled. "Hey mate, what's up?" Bandit asked. "Um, I hate to bother you about this but it's for school," Thomas said as he handed his father a piece of paper. Bandit took the paper and looked at it. "Oh, the school wants you to experience a job site with both parents," Bandit said reading the paper. "Yeah, your job actually is the first one I want to experience," Thomas said rubbing the back of his neck. "Why do you sound nervous mate?" Bandit asked, looking at his son. "It's just… I know your busy and stuff so I thought that you wouldn't do it," Thomas confessed.
Bandit smiled as he put the paper aside. "Son, of course I'll do this for you," Bandit said still with his smile. "Are you sure dad?" Thomas asked Bandit nodded. "Of course, but I have to warn you that you may not like it so much, archeological work is not that much exciting outside the field," Bandit told. "It's okay, actually I could use a break from excitement… besides I always wanted to know how your work is," Thomas confessed. "Very well… but you'll have to ask your mother about her job site experience as well, let her sign first and then come here for me to sign it" Bandit said, handing his son the paper back. "Alright dad, I'll go ask her now," Thomas said as he went to the kitchen. Chilli was baking brownies as Thomas walked into the kitchen. "Mom?" Thomas said sitting at the counter. "Yes sweetheart?" Chilli asked. "I have this thing for school and I was wondering if you would be able to do it? Dad said he can do it but he said to ask you about it," Thomas explained handing the Chilli the paper.
Chilli read the paper and smiled. "You want me to take you to my work to experience it?" Chilli asked. Thomas nodded. Chilli smiled and signed the paper. "You can do it?" Thomas asked perking up. "I sure can, it will be nice to have you at the airport, now just go get your father to sign," Chilli said handing back the paper. "Okay, thanks mom," Thomas said preparing to leave the kitchen. "Can I get a brownie once they are ready? I love when they are fresh baked," Thomas said. Chilli made a thinking look. "Okay, I think I can sneak one to you… just don't tell your sisters," Chilli replied, while winking to him. "My lips are sealed" Thomas replied, before getting back to the living room to have his dad sign the paper. "So, when it's going to be this day at work with me?" Bandit asked. "I need to deliver this paper tomorrow at school, so… at the next day after it" Thomas replied. "Okay, then, it's settle," Bandit told.
Two days later, after both son and father returned from their morning jog and took a shower, they prepared themselves to go to work. Getting in the kitchen for the breakfast, Bluey and Bingo got to know their brother would go with their dad to the latter's job. "Why is Thomas going with dad?" Bluey asked. "Yeah, we also want to go," Bingo said. "Your brother is going because the school asked him to," Chilli said. "Don't worry, shorties, someday you may also go as well," Thomas replied, while rubbing the heads of his sisters. "Okay, we need to go now, mate," Bandit replied, as he got out while eating a toast. "I'm coming, dad," he said, while also getting a toast. "Have a good day, little sisters, I'll tell you everything later," Thomas said, before leaving.
Bandit drove himself and Thomas to the museum where the former worked and they got in. "G'day, Mr. Heeler," the receptionist said. "G'day," he replied. They advanced through the museum until Bandit turned to a part of the museum reserved to the staff of the museum, where there was a hall with many doors. Entering in one, they entered in a room with a desk and some filling cabinets. "This is my office, you can put your bag here," Bandit said. After putting down his bag, Thomas turned to his father. "So, what are we doing now?" Thomas asked. "Well, I was thinking I could show you around… maybe show you the storage, some of my responsibilities and the new exhibit we're building," Bandit said. "Sounds great!" Thomas said. "Okay, let's go then," Bandit said. They then advanced and Bandit went to show many of the places of work. First stop was the storage, where many findings and artifacts were placed, waiting to be processed or exhibited. After that, they went to a room where bones, either from dogs or any other creature, was processed and studied, being one of the places where his dad passed some of his time.
After that, they came to another room, where they found someone familiar. "And this is where we process, study and restore the artifacts we find," Bandit said. "Hey, is that Liam's dad?" Thomas asked, pointing to a great dane that was restoring an ancient vase. "Oh, yeah, Scooter is one of our best artifact specialist," Bandit said. They approach him. "Hey, there, Scooter, look who decided to join us today," Bandit said. "Hey, Thomas, came to see your dad working? I hope you don't find old bones too much boring," Scooter said. "Hey!" Bandit said, with a smile. "I'm just kidding, mate, you know I have the upmost respect for your job," Scooter replied. "Did Liam also come?" Thomas asked. "No, he decided to start with his mom's work," Scooter said. "I guess he thought it would be more exciting than mine," he added. "Well, no worries, mate, he'll eventually will see how much fun he's missing," Bandit said, turning then to Thomas. "Come, son, the best part is still waiting, I'll show you the place where we're setting up the next exhibition," he said. "What is it about?" Thomas asked, as they headed towards the exit. "Do you remember those bones I found? Well, it's about them," Bandit replied, as they got out.
Thomas and Bandit walked into a room where a large exhibit was being built. "Wow," Thomas said looking at the large structure. "You found a woolly mammoth?" Thomas asked, as he looked between his father and the skeleton of the massive creature before him. "I sure did mate," Bandit said crossing his arms. "Dad, this… this is amazing," Thomas said still looking at his dad's finding. "Dad?" Thomas asked looking down. "Yes mate?" Bandit asked looking at his son. "When you were with mom, were you happy doing that old job of yours?" Thomas asked now looking at Bandit. "Um, well mate it was just a marketing job, not as exciting as this" Bandit explained rubbing the back of his neck. "It was not exactly my dream job… but it helped me to take care of our little family," Bandit continued. "So… you gave up your dream… because of me and mom?" Thomas asked, feeling a little guilty. "Don't say that, I made a choice… and the best one at the time," Bandit replied, while putting a hand on his son's shoulder.
"You know, Thomas, when it was just me and your mom, we were still at college and we could both work and study," Bandit told. "When you came, your mother had to stay at home with you, so I had to take more working hours, I was able to graduate and even do my master's degree, but after that… I had to make a choice, and since I didn't know if I would be able to get a job as an archaeologist any time soon, I decided to take my marketing job at full time," Bandit continued. Hearing that aspect of his dad's life made Thomas realize another sacrifice he had made for him and his mother. "That… was very brave of you, dad, give up on your dream job for me… for mom…" Thomas said. "You know what is funny, son? It's that is was not that hard, my love for you and your mom made me not have any regret of my choice. That caused Thomas to smile. "Well… I'm glad you were able to find this job and that you're happy doing it instead of your old job, dad," Thomas said wagging his tail. This also made Bandit's tail wag making him feel good about his son's words.
"I'm not sure how mom's job is going to top this," Thomas said as he and his father walked back to Bandit's office. "I wouldn't say that, I mean, a part of my job is to travel around the world and dig up amazing things like that mammoth, but most of the time is pretty much studying, analyzing… that kind of stuff," Bandit replied. "But I bet it is worth it, right?" Thomas said. "You can bet on that," Bandit replied. "Dr Heeler!" a voice called. It came from a white bull arab with a big brown spot covering his right ear and small ones over the left one. Thomas recognized him from some photos his dad had on his office back home, with him being Dr. Cooper, the museum curator, who was coming out of his office. "Hey, Dr Cooper how can I help you mate?" Bandit asked. "I just received your reports and I wanted to say good work on them," Dr. Cooper said with a smile. Bandit smiled and thanked him.
"Is this your son, Bandit?" Dr. Cooper asked, turning and looking at Thomas. "Yes, sir, this is Thomas, I told you he would come to watch me working for school," Bandit replied. "Yes, you did… So, Thomas, what are you thinking about your dad's job and what we do around here?" Dr. Cooper asked. "It's actually pretty cool, the way you all take a great effort to preserve History and share it with everyone… it's admirable… noble even," Thomas replied. "I can see you got very impressed, could it be that we have a future archaeologist before us?" Dr. Cooper asked. "Yeah, I'm still not sure…" Thomas confessed, while nervously scratching the back of his head. "Whatever you choose to be, son, I know you will be great and you'll have my full support," Bandit replied, while tapping his son's back. "Thanks, dad…" Thomas replied.
"Well, if you ever decide to come to Archaeology, you can count on me to give you a little boost… just like I did with your dad," Dr. Cooper told. "Dr. Cooper was the one to give me this job at museum after I came back to Australia after… you know, the divorce, thanks to him, not only I was able to get my dream job, but I managed to get my doctorate," Bandit told. "Well, you're the one that deserve all the merit… Dr. Heeler," Dr. Cooper said. "Not only you're a great worker, but you're also a dedicated family dog, something some of us can't exactly brag about, but I better leave you two be, I bet there's a lot of stuff for you to show your son, Dr. Heeler," he told, heading back to his office. "He seemed nice, I can understand why you respect him so much," Thomas replied. "He is a great dog… when Chilli and I married and we had your sisters, he was very patient with me," Bandit told. After that, a pause was made. "So, what about a tour around the museum?" Bandit asked to his son. "You know, I did help retrieve a few of the artifacts in exhibition, nothing as flashy as a mammoth, but I think you're going to like see them," Bandit said. "Sounds great, dad," Thomas replied, with a smile. And the two Heelers went for a tour, having then lunch at the cafeteria of the museum.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: this was a fun chapter to make I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as we did making it for you!