Chapter 7 Solving the Red Light
The next morning they walked to the shop and found Frank inside getting ready for the lunch rush.
"Hey, we won't be open for another half hour," he said when they walked up.
"We're not here to eat," Jeff began. Even though it hurt to say it, he knew Ralph would be better off here than with him. "Actually, if your brother still wants Ralph, I'd like to give him to him."
"Really?" when Jeff nodded, he began to shout, "Ruddley! Hey Rudd, come down here quick!" he shouted.
Jeff glanced up at Bogg with a strange expression on his face. Something about that name made him think. He turned and walked outside and looked up at the sign. It read "Weatherwax Confections". Then he walked back inside to meet Ruddley.
"You're Rudd Weatherwax, aren't you?" Jeff said with such a big smile that Bogg knew the kid was solving the red light.
"Yeah, who did ya think I was?" Rudd said smiling.
"I've decided to give you my dog," Jeff said as he handed the rope to Rudd.
"Thanks, I promise I'll take good care of him," Rudd told him as he took the rope.
"I know you will," Jeff said smiling, then he knelt down and gave Ralph a hug. "Be a good boy, okay?" he whispered into his ear and Ralph licked his face.
After they had left the store, Bogg turned to Jeff. "Okay, now tell me what you know."
"First look at the omni," Jeff instructed.
Bogg opened it quickly, then smiled, "green light, what happened?"
"Bogg, that was Rudd Weatherwax!"
"Yeah, so?" Bogg asked with a smile as he waited for Jeffrey to explain.
"Didn't you ever hear of Lassie?"
"A lassie is a girl, of course I've heard of that."
"Lassie was, or will be, a dog. And a great story about a boy and his dog."
"Okay, so?"
"Rudd Weatherwax was Lassie's owner and trainer. Actually there were a lot of Lassies, the show lasted for so many years they had to keep replacing the dog. It was a collie."
"And this was important enough to take 2 weeks to fix?"
Jeff shrugged, "don't look at me, I don't control that omni. But, Lassie was a very popular show. It brought enjoyment to millions of people."
"Show? You mean like a play?"
"TV show," Jeff paused, "never mind Bogg."
"Well, I feel like we just had a vacation," Bogg told him.
"Maybe it was to make up for the last trip, where we landed inside that cage of dogs," Jeff guessed.
"Yeah," Bogg whispered, and after seeing the somber expression on his face, Jeff wished he hadn't brought it up.
As Bogg opened the omni, Jeff reached for his arm and they disappeared.