Chapter 11: Fu Dog Takes a Walk
Jake Long and his Grandfather/Dragon Master were working on Jake's dragon training when Fu Dog received a letter. To the latter's joy, the letter contained a ticket to a big game he intended to watch. Fortunately, there's a box for magical creatures. Fu soon shared the good news with Jake and Lao Shi. "Lucky you, Fu." Jake commented.
"Unfortunately, kid, I need someone to take me to the game." Fu sadly commented. "Would you like to go, old man?"
"I would but I cannot attract attention to myself, Fu Dog." Lao Shi explains.
"I can go and buy a ticket for myself, G." Jake suggested.
"Jake, you have dragon training." Lao Shi reminded his grandson/pupil.
"As the American Dragon, it's my duty to protect magical creatures and you know Fu, Grandfather." Jake commented. "You know he's bound to get in trouble within the next hour."
"Hey!" Fu protested but was ignored.
Lao Shi pondered that for a while. "It's okay, young dragon."
As Jake walked Fu towards the stadium, they were spotted by a dog catcher who was particularly interested on Fu. It turned out she's not a real dog catcher but a woman who decided to capture one dog of each breed so she could turn them into a cure for her dog allergy and the last breed left was a shar-pei. She then approached Jake. "Kid, hand over that flea bag of yours."
Fu Dog took offense. "Hey, you're you calling… I mean, woof, woof?"
"Ma'am, Fu isn't a stray." Jake politely explained. "He has a license. See?"
"I don't care!" She exclaimed and then grabbed Fu. "Atchoo!" The sneeze made her drop Fu.
"Honestly, you should have called in sick to deal with that flu." Jake suggested.
"It's not flu." She explained. "It's an allergy to dogs."
"And yet you became a dog catcher?" Jake asked in confusion.
"Shut up and hand over the shar-pei." She ordered.
"Run!" Jake shouted as he and Fu started fleeing from the dog catcher. "Fu, it's moments like these that make me wish to be able to throw my father's weight around."
During the chase, they ran into another street and the dog catcher accidentally caught an old woman who started hitting her with a purse. Jake and Fu took advantage of that distraction to enter a magical subway. They then watched the game without further troubles.
As they walked back to Canal Street Electronics, Jake and Fu showed each other the photographs they took of each other. "Kid, I wonder where that crazy dog catcher is right now." Fu commented.
"I'm right here." They heard her say.
"I had to ask." Fu muttered.
Jake then took a picture of her and ran away with Fu. His run was interrupted by a hand grabbing him. "Officer Morton?" Jake asked in surprise.
"Have we met?" Officer Morton asked in confusion.
"He's Jake Long, Dad." Brad told Officer Morton. "I know him from school."
"And what's your hurry, Jake Long?" Officer Morton asked.
"Her." Jake answered while pointing at the dog catcher.
"Hand over that dog." She ordered.
"He's got a license and you shouldn't even be a dog catcher with your allergy." Jake protested.
"A dog catcher with an allergy to dogs?" Officer Morton asked in surprise while reaching for his gun. "You must be Ophelia Ogelvy!" He pointed his gun at Ogelvy. "You're under arrest for dognapping. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney present during your questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you by the court. Do you understand these rights as I recite them to you?"
"Yes." Ophelia answered.
"Do you wish to speak to me?" Officer Morton asked.
"No." Ophelia grunted.
"Brad, how does your Dad know her?" Jake asked.
"My Dad knows of her because she's a wanted criminal with several dognapping charges, Long." Brad explained.
After handcuffing Ophelia, Officer Morton approached Jake. "Mr. Long, I may need your testimony to add this charge so I'll have to talk to your parents. Where are they?"
"Actually, I live with my Grandfather and he's…" Jake started to explain.
"Right here, young one." Lao Shi completed as he suddenly showed up.
"Is this man your Grandfather, boy?" Officer Morton asked.
"Yes, Sir." Jake answered.
"And I have the paperwork to prove I have the right to act as my grandson's guardian, Officer." Lao Shi stated.
With that bureaucratic issue solved, Jake, Fu and Lao Shi eventually returned to Canal Street Electronics. "Jake, I'm proud of you for how you handled the issue." Jonathan commented through the magic mirror.
"Really?" Fu asked. "I'd rather flee while the cop was reading that woman's rights."
"That would be most unwise, Fu Dog." Lao Shi commented. "Thanks to his son, Officer Morton not only already knows my grandson's name but also where to find him."
"Did that horrible woman hurt you?" Susan asked out of concern.
"Nope, I'm fine." Fu commented in relief.
"Uh, what about Jake?" Susan awkwardly asked.
"I'm fine too, Mom." Jake answered.
"What'll become of that woman, Jake?" Haley asked.
"Well, Officer Morton hopes she'll reveal the other dogs' whereabouts in exchange for a lighter sentence." Jake commented.
End chapter.