The characters in this story don't belong to me, except for the dogs and the people they are given to. I based this story on the Animal Planet movie "The Retrievers"; this story has basically the same plot. I just saw the movie (at 10:00 pm, it is now midnight) so I thought I should write a fic. This story is dedicated to my dogs Buffet and Jo Dee and my friend's dog Sugar and another's friend's dog Max. Thanks, SparklingDiamond
Chapter One
Going to the Museum
It was a cold, rainy London day -not unlike many of the other days that London experienced- when the dog came. Alexander O'Connell, or Alex for short, sat staring out his bedroom window; he watched the rain fall in sheets, trickling down his windowpane. He was upset, as an eight-year old boy, at the rain since his father, mother and uncle had promised to take him to the circus today. However, with the rain the circus plans had been cancelled. "Some other time." His mother, Evelyn O'Connell, had told him at breakfast, ruffling his hair.
But Alex didn't want to go "some other time"; he wanted to go today. Alex sighed and turned away from the window; he didn't want to watch the rain anymore. Watching it fall wouldn't make it stop, so there was no point. Because of the rain there was nothing to do; he couldn't go outside and his father didn't like him to play in the house. Since the circus plans had been cancelled his mother had gone to the British Museum, where she worked, to help put up more displays or catalog more artifacts. Alex was left in his father's care, Rick O'Connell, which meant all the rules were strictly enforced. That meant no playing in the house.
Alex stood up and left his room; he might be able to talk his father into letting him go to the museum to help his mother. Now that he was eight -he had just turned eight a few weeks ago- he was allowed to do more things, like help his mother or take the bus by himself.
Alex went downstairs, trotting down the winding oak staircase that lead to the sitting room. His father was in the sitting room playing chess with his uncle Jonathan. Jonathan was his mother's brother, older by around ten years. Rick was beating Jonathan; lessons from his wife were paying off but not enough for the dashing American to beat his wife at "her own game."
Alex joined his father in the sitting room, sitting beside him.
"There you are Alex, sorry about the rain and the whole circus thing. Tomorrow, maybe if the weather is nice we'll go." Rick said as he looked up at his son.
Alex nodded; he wasn't concerned about the circus right now. "Dad can I take the bus down to the museum and help Mum. Since there's nothing to do around here." Alex asked, he watched his father and uncle move the granite chess pieces around the board.
"I don't know Alex, if you're old enough to take the bus by yourself." Rick began.
Alex wouldn't let him finish. He leapt to his feet. "Dad! I'm eight years old; I'm old enough to take the bus to the museum. I've done it a thousand times!" Alex cried.
"But your mother, or your uncle or I were with you. Taking it by yourself would be different and-" Rick started but once again Alex cut him off.
"Please Dad." Alex pleaded, regaining his position beside his father. He gave his father one of his "innocent smiles" that he had inherited from his mother.
Rick looked over at Jonathan, who was trying to use the "father-son moment" to his advantage, trying to cheat. "What do you think Jonathan? Is Alex old enough to take the bus himself?" Rick asked.
Jonathan looked up, startled. "Oh what, yes sure." Jonathan muttered, not sure what was going on.
Once his uncle said it was okay Alex was sure his father wouldn't say no. The young boy was right again, his father gave in. Alex yelped in happiness and did a half cartwheel around the room his friend Max, from school, had taught him.
"Alright Alex there are going to be a few simple rules. You will not go anywhere else then the museum and you will let your mother know the minute you get there. Once you're done you will come straight home, unless your mother is with you. Also don't bother your mother if she is working; stay out of the way." Rick addressed his son.
Alex nodded, acting as though he was paying attention. He had heard these rules, or variations of them, millions of times before. He ran up to his room to pack his trusty rucksack, which he took everywhere, with things like his slingshot while his father got him money for the bus ride. In his room Alex put his slingshot and a few toy trucks inside his rucksack before slinging it over his shoulder.
Downstairs his father was waiting with the money and the young boy's raincoat. He also held a brown paper bag. He handed the things to Alex. "There's your money and your raincoat. Put your raincoat on or you'll get sick. In the bag are some snacks I threw together if you get hungry." Rick said, making sure he covered everything before sending his only son off by himself. "And remember the rules, do as you're told." Rick added.
Alex nodded. "Right dad, no problem. Bye." Alex said and ran outside the O'Connell manor. The rain showed no sign of letter up, Alex let the rain pelt him on the head.
Rick opened the door and looked at his son. "Raincoat!" He called as he watched his son run down the drive.
Alex stopped and put his raincoat on; he tucked the money and bag in his coat pocket and then ran down the street.
Rick stood by the door until he couldn't see Alex anymore. He went back inside, shutting the door and joined his brother-in-law back at the chess table. Jonathan had "managed" to steal all of Rick's chess pieces.
In the city, Alex had no trouble getting on the bus. He deposited the fair and took a seat in the back, where he liked to sit; he looked out the window at all the people hurrying around the streets in raincoats. Alex was glad he was on the bus and not out in the street, in the pouring rain.
Chapter One
Going to the Museum
It was a cold, rainy London day -not unlike many of the other days that London experienced- when the dog came. Alexander O'Connell, or Alex for short, sat staring out his bedroom window; he watched the rain fall in sheets, trickling down his windowpane. He was upset, as an eight-year old boy, at the rain since his father, mother and uncle had promised to take him to the circus today. However, with the rain the circus plans had been cancelled. "Some other time." His mother, Evelyn O'Connell, had told him at breakfast, ruffling his hair.
But Alex didn't want to go "some other time"; he wanted to go today. Alex sighed and turned away from the window; he didn't want to watch the rain anymore. Watching it fall wouldn't make it stop, so there was no point. Because of the rain there was nothing to do; he couldn't go outside and his father didn't like him to play in the house. Since the circus plans had been cancelled his mother had gone to the British Museum, where she worked, to help put up more displays or catalog more artifacts. Alex was left in his father's care, Rick O'Connell, which meant all the rules were strictly enforced. That meant no playing in the house.
Alex stood up and left his room; he might be able to talk his father into letting him go to the museum to help his mother. Now that he was eight -he had just turned eight a few weeks ago- he was allowed to do more things, like help his mother or take the bus by himself.
Alex went downstairs, trotting down the winding oak staircase that lead to the sitting room. His father was in the sitting room playing chess with his uncle Jonathan. Jonathan was his mother's brother, older by around ten years. Rick was beating Jonathan; lessons from his wife were paying off but not enough for the dashing American to beat his wife at "her own game."
Alex joined his father in the sitting room, sitting beside him.
"There you are Alex, sorry about the rain and the whole circus thing. Tomorrow, maybe if the weather is nice we'll go." Rick said as he looked up at his son.
Alex nodded; he wasn't concerned about the circus right now. "Dad can I take the bus down to the museum and help Mum. Since there's nothing to do around here." Alex asked, he watched his father and uncle move the granite chess pieces around the board.
"I don't know Alex, if you're old enough to take the bus by yourself." Rick began.
Alex wouldn't let him finish. He leapt to his feet. "Dad! I'm eight years old; I'm old enough to take the bus to the museum. I've done it a thousand times!" Alex cried.
"But your mother, or your uncle or I were with you. Taking it by yourself would be different and-" Rick started but once again Alex cut him off.
"Please Dad." Alex pleaded, regaining his position beside his father. He gave his father one of his "innocent smiles" that he had inherited from his mother.
Rick looked over at Jonathan, who was trying to use the "father-son moment" to his advantage, trying to cheat. "What do you think Jonathan? Is Alex old enough to take the bus himself?" Rick asked.
Jonathan looked up, startled. "Oh what, yes sure." Jonathan muttered, not sure what was going on.
Once his uncle said it was okay Alex was sure his father wouldn't say no. The young boy was right again, his father gave in. Alex yelped in happiness and did a half cartwheel around the room his friend Max, from school, had taught him.
"Alright Alex there are going to be a few simple rules. You will not go anywhere else then the museum and you will let your mother know the minute you get there. Once you're done you will come straight home, unless your mother is with you. Also don't bother your mother if she is working; stay out of the way." Rick addressed his son.
Alex nodded, acting as though he was paying attention. He had heard these rules, or variations of them, millions of times before. He ran up to his room to pack his trusty rucksack, which he took everywhere, with things like his slingshot while his father got him money for the bus ride. In his room Alex put his slingshot and a few toy trucks inside his rucksack before slinging it over his shoulder.
Downstairs his father was waiting with the money and the young boy's raincoat. He also held a brown paper bag. He handed the things to Alex. "There's your money and your raincoat. Put your raincoat on or you'll get sick. In the bag are some snacks I threw together if you get hungry." Rick said, making sure he covered everything before sending his only son off by himself. "And remember the rules, do as you're told." Rick added.
Alex nodded. "Right dad, no problem. Bye." Alex said and ran outside the O'Connell manor. The rain showed no sign of letter up, Alex let the rain pelt him on the head.
Rick opened the door and looked at his son. "Raincoat!" He called as he watched his son run down the drive.
Alex stopped and put his raincoat on; he tucked the money and bag in his coat pocket and then ran down the street.
Rick stood by the door until he couldn't see Alex anymore. He went back inside, shutting the door and joined his brother-in-law back at the chess table. Jonathan had "managed" to steal all of Rick's chess pieces.
In the city, Alex had no trouble getting on the bus. He deposited the fair and took a seat in the back, where he liked to sit; he looked out the window at all the people hurrying around the streets in raincoats. Alex was glad he was on the bus and not out in the street, in the pouring rain.