Hi everyone! Here we are with another update, take care.

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Chapter 3: The Heeler Family Part 1

What a day this had been, and it is barely noon. I've been wandering the suburbs after leaving the park in search of answers. Now I'm here, standing before a Red Heeler (turns out that was their species) who was confused more than anything…never having seen me before and wondering why I was on their lawn. I tried coming up with excuses…a fake story to try and not make her suspicious.

But, before I could make my case: who I assume to be the husband comes out to greet his wife and he looks down to see me, "G'day, this one of Bluey's friends?"

As soon as he asked that, two others appeared from behind him: the kids.

At first, they're confused by seeing me and I awkwardly wave at them, whilst giving a sheepish smile to add to my gesture.

"H-hey, it's you!" Bluey said, mouth gaped.

"You know 'em, Bluey?" The mother asked.

"From the picnic yesterday!" Bingo added.

"I-I…" I looked back and forth between parents and children…trying to come up with something, "I just moved in!" I responded.

Instead of scrutiny, I am given a warm reception, "oh, welcome to the neighborhood!" The father said enthusiastically.

"Nice to have you. What's your name?" The mother asked.

"Their name is Dusty!" The five-year-old exclaimed.

I coughed back as if to dispel that comment slightly, "actually, it's Dustin." I had added before the adults looked at one another. I guess the name is a little unusual given the context, but they soon dropped it.

"Well, it's nice to meet a friendly face, Dustin" the tall blue dog smiled, but then he caught my scent as every else did at the time, "worked up a sweat, kiddo?"

I hesitantly nodded.

"C-can we play with them!?" The smaller Blue Heeler asked.

I stood across from them, not knowing for sure what to do, but that's when I heard familiar voices echoing down the street: it was the couple that were chasing me down! Oh, that's not good!

With haste, I looked back at them and nodded. The parents decided to let me in the residence: seeing no harm in me joining the kids in the backyard. I guess they assumed being a "new kid on the block" they wanted to make a good first impression and what not.

As I followed them to the backyard, I thought to myself, what have I gotten myself into exactly? I guess I ought to just follow along for now, stay here until I know it's okay to leave? Ugh, Dustin, like seriously? Why are you doing this man…you should be searching for a way back home!

I shake my thoughts away. Truth is, I got nowhere else to go for now…I'll just wing it for now…it's what I usually do anyway.

What a second half this day would turn out to be.

Once we made it to the open space that is their backyard I turn to the blue dog beside me, and with a raised furry brow I asked in my seven-year-old voice, "so…your name is…Bluey?"

"Yup!" She responded in kind, "and this is my sister, Bingo!"

The smaller Heeler simply smiled, waving a paw at me before we stopped beneath their exotic tree (which, unknown to me, is a poinciana.)

"And you're Dustin" she giggled at the sound of my name. I guess I should just spill the beans and tell them both I'm NOT a seven-year-old female German Shepherd. I wondered in that moment if the two would actually know what a human actually is…doubt it. And, even if I told them: they or their parents would likely think that I'm a bit nutty…so yeah.

"So…uh…" I began, fidgeting with my paws, "what are we playing if you don't mind me asking?"

"Dinnertime!" The five-year-old Red Heeler exclaimed, jumping in the air.

I just raise an eyebrow at this, "dinnertime?" Obviously, I had never heard of such a game. Bluey next to us could see my puzzled expression and laughed in response, "actually it's called What's the time, Mr. Wolf!"

They could see that I was still lost, and Bingo had flung her mouth open in surprise, "you've never played, Dustin?"

I shook my head, "can't say I have."

Bluey grinned mischievously, "this ought to be interesting!"

And so, Bluey explained the rules to me: to start, someone in the group is picked to be "it" meaning they're Mr./Mrs. Wolf. Then, the player who was chosen is made to look away from the others (reminds me of hide and seek somewhat) who stand in a line and shout, what's the time, Mr. Wolf?

Mr./Mrs. wolf can answer with different times and the other players take that number of steps according to what was said. Then they ask the wolf again for the time and the cycle repeats. Finally, the "wolf" can say Dinnertime at anytime to begin chasing the others (like a game a tag.) Obviously, once the wolf catches up and touches someone, that person is now it. Simple enough, right? Heaven knows my dumb head can keep up with this.

Anyway, Bluey volunteered to go first, so it looks like it's Bingo and I who must work together the first round. We both line up as her older sister faces away from us. I follow Bingo's lead for now as we call out together, "what's the time, Mrs. Wolf?"

"Four o'clock!" The seven-year-old yelled back across from us before we began our steps. Once finished, we asked her again and Bluey answered with more steps for us to take. By now we're about more than halfway to the Blue Heeler. Bingo and I stepped forward before finally her sister exclaimed, "dinnertime!" She turned around and a chase ensued.

My partner playfully screeched as we attempted to evade Bluey, but unfortunately for me, she makes it to me and before I can react on time, I ended up getting tagged by "Mrs. Wolf."

"Gotcha!" She exclaimed. Bingo heaved a sigh before saying, "Dusty's turn!" The former laughed at her sister's comment, "we can't call them Dusty, Bingo! There's already someone I know with that name!"

"Oh…okay" the five-year-old nodded in agreement. I, meanwhile, laughed, "it's fine, really."

We resumed the game shortly after and once they got fairly close to me, I called out "dinnertime" in my new high-pitched voice and started chasing Bluey and Bingo. I was just about to tag the latter; however, I soon became exhausted, and I fell flat on my stomach. The girls ran toward me to help me up as I panted, "sorry…"

"You okay?" Bingo asked before I nodded, "just thirsty…"

Their father came out, with what looks to be wet laundry to hang, "how's it going, squirts?"

"Dad, can we have something to drink?"

"Ahh, let me hang the clothes first."

"Daaaaddddd" Bluey insisted, and her dad rolled his eyes, setting the basket down, "I'll check, kiddo" he said before leaving.

"Thanks dad!" She finished. Before going back inside, the adult Heeler turned back and winked at her, with a pointed finger.

"We have the best fizzy drinks in all of Brisbane!" Bluey giggled as her tail wagged. I folded my arms at that, "oh yeah? I'll hold you to it" I leaned closer to her as if to taunt her, "my expectations just went off the charts."

In response, she pushed me away lightly with a paw in playful banter, "you'll love it, mate!"

After a bit of silence, she put on a face as if she was wondering something about me, "you don't look like you're from Brisbane, are you?"

I scoffed, shaking my head, "yeah, I'm not. I'm from…far away, you wouldn't believe how far."

"Sydney?"

I shake my head.

"Melbourne?"

I shake my head again.

"Where then!?" She retorted, begging to know.

"Canada."

She jumped at this, surprised by my response, "really?" I guess my new Australian accent threw her off.

I nodded.

As she thought about it, something in me made me finally ask the anthropomorphic dog something, "um…listen…by any chance, do you know what a human is?"

The young blue canine just looked at me with a confused look running down her face…she obviously didn't know…figures…

I sighed; I might as well explain…it's not like they'll believe I was one not too long ago anyway. I started pacing back and forth across from her as she scratched her head, made awkward by my question.

"T-they're like you-I mean-us…they walk on two legs and talk."

"So…a dog? Are they a dog breed from Canada?"

I look back at her and scoffed, "no, t-they're not dogs…they don't have fur like…us…" I looked away, finishing my explanation.

"Strange" Bluey crossed her arms, trying to make sense of it all.

Man…I wish I could show them a picture…something…anything! Ugh, this is so frustrating!

Looking over to her again, my attention is suddenly drawn to her younger sister, Bingo, who, while we were having our conversation, had been busy eyeing a tiny bug that had been crawling across the family bench next to their exotic tree. I raise a furry brow and decide to see what she's up to. She was almost startled but when Bingo saw me crouch down to be eye level with her, she calmed down. Bluey, who's behind us, thought about what I had just told her about:

Dustin is a weird one, what was all that about? Sure enough, the canine's attention is shifted toward her father, who's coming out of the house.

Meanwhile, realizing I've taken interest, Bingo smiled at me and said, "look Dustin!"

It's a colorful ladybug, skittering across but it finally opened its red wings and took flight…flying high above us as we saw it go into the sky. I can't explain this feeling. I really can't…could it be this body I'm inhabiting…this young body? I felt so much joy from such a little thing.

In response, I patted Bingo on the shoulder, "that was great. Thanks for showing me that." I stood up and sighed softly to myself, "heh, I haven't seen a ladybug in years…" I softly muttered.

Bingo raised an eyebrow, confused by my comment, but before she could ask, Bluey approached us, "dad's back with some fizzies!"

He pretends to be a waiter, bowtie and everything (I'm not even joking, he's actually wearing one now!) He passes each of the drinks to us as if we were patrons (gosh, that's something I miss right now…bars, heh.)

"Here 'ya go. One for these two lovely ladies and one for the Guest of Honor" he gave the last carbonated soda-drink to me, "thanks" I said, taking the small glass with my new paws.

"Thank you, waiter" Bluey pulls out what appears to be candy in a wrapper and offers it to her father as a tip.

"Thank you, m'lady" the large Blue Heeler acknowledged before returning to his stack of wet laundry.

"Ah, a cool, refreshing, drink!" Bingo said, before both girls looked at each other and giggled.

I took a sip of the cold, bubbly, drink and I immediately jolted back, "oof, that's a lot of sugar."

I wonder what this will do to my seven-year-old body? Nothing good I bet…I might be bouncing off the walls after this. Ah hell, might as well enjoy being like this again while I still can, right?

…right?

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I hope you all enjoy this latest chapter; I hope you enjoyed. See you next time!