Chapter sixty-six: Orderly Decorative
Snowflake yawned before stretching. As she slowly woke up, her eyes adjusted to the light. Soon, she saw the light shine from outside and looked to see the white powder outside. The female husky gasped happily.
"Time to get ready! Oh wait, Thanksgiving. I better get the others to help. At least I can get us started!" Snowflake said. The female husky pup started to take down the paw print turkey she had made, then wrapped herself in a blue blanket before looking at the snow fall. She might as well wait for her friends to wake up before beginning the day.
Chase's brow furrowed over his closed eyes and he shifted over slightly. But seeing as how the nagging dream just wouldn't let go, his squirming progressed until it shook him awake!
A couple pups gasped with the sudden motion and sat up. Chase yawned and stretched as a few other disoriented pups looked about blindly trying to figure things out.
"Wah? Huh? *yawn* What was that about?" Rubble asked lifting a paw up to rub his eye.
"What was what?" Marshall asked.
"Someone moved.." Skye yawned, stretching. "Everybody ok?"
"Yeah, *sniffle*.." Chase sniffed, making himself look as groggy as possible, so not to let them in on what happened.. And so they wouldn't notice the tears he was roughly brushing away with one long sweep of his paw.
"Oh.. Snowflake you're already up!" Rocky noticed, then thought for a moment. "How long have you been sitting there?"
"Just a minute or two," Snowflake replied as she turned to face the pups, her body still wrapped up in the blue blanket.
"Okay..." Ned said before he too yawned and stretched, getting up. "So, is everyone up?" Snowflake asked.
"I think so." Marshall thought, glancing around. "-oh, wait, nevermind.. Most of us."
Then everyone looked over to find Chester and Zuma still snoozing away amongst the blankets and pillows still around them.
Rocky leaned in closer.
"You sure they're both still asleep?" he asked.
"Pretty sure," the Dalmatian shrugged.
"I don't know.." Rubble wondered.. "Sure, seemed like they're really trying to look.."
"Shhh, we're sleeping!" Chester hissed without opening his eyes even though he was kind of smiling.
"Oh see? I told you they weren't sleeping." Rocky confirmed, straightening up.
"I think Zuma might actually be sleeping." Marshall observed, more closely. "I mean obviously Chester isn't.."
"Awww.. you ruined it!" Chester complained, finally getting up, more like dragging himself up like he were still exhausted.
"Wait, 'ruined it'? What?" Snowflake asked, confused, coming over to the others.
"What... were you doing?" Ned added, also trying to figure out why Chester was pretending to be asleep.
"Enjoying the peace and quiet for once.." the older German Shepherd replied simply. "There's just this blessed peace that snow seems to bring that gives everybody a break from busy life.. That is until you wake up. Have you noticed that every time it snows you have really weird or creative dreams?"
"Yeah.. great.." Chase replied dryly, then stumbled forward out of bed, stopping to rub his eyes before walking forward stiffly.
Snowflake smiled happily.
"I KNOW RIGHT?! Snow is just so soft, and calm! It's fun to play in! And when it shimmers in the light during night time and falls to the ground! Aaaawwww! It's so... peaceful and calm. I love it!" Snowflake exclaimed, saying the last part dreamily. Her tail wagged like crazy.
"Awww. Chess and my sister are in love with my sister's natural mom. Snow," Ned cooed in a teasing way.
"What!? No! Eww! Absolutely not!.. What's wrong with you?!" Chester gasped in surprise.
"Ah! Ned! No! Why would you think that?!" Snowflake retorted with disgust.
"Hey, I just wanted to join the conversation," Ned said with a shrug.
"Yeah, but nothing like that!" Chester shook his head, vigorously. Then he noticing his smaller double sitting quietly at the window, almost sulking a bit.
"Hey, you ok?" he asked, coming up next to him. But Chase avoided his gaze.
"Yes.." he replied lightly. Then Chester suddenly took it very seriously and backed off reluctantly.
Snowflake walked over to the brothers along with Ned.
"Why don't we take the Thanksgiving decorations down? Something to keep us busy as we wake up?" Snowflake suggested softly.
"And while we wait on Zuma and Ryder." Marshall added.
Then spreading throughout the room the pups began taking things down and putting decorations away. Chase, however, never even moved.
"Excuse me," Ned said, as he carefully took down the stickers off the glass window in front of Chase.
Chase seemed to suddenly register this invasion of space and willingly slid over out of his way. He blankly watched the husky for a moment, then resumed staring out the window. But even as the work continued around him, he tried to block it out even though the presence of the whole team still nagged at him. As his thoughts wandered through recently recognized points, he resisted the urge to look anywhere but out the window. Yet the harder he tried the more the nagging feeling tore at his focus.
He snuck a quick look at Rubble and Rocky pulled the garlands down with Rocky's ladder contraption, but dared himself not to look again. He heard something behind him fall to his left and an ear turned back toward it slightly. He must have let his guard down a little too much cause he caught himself watching Marshall and Skye working together to place the cornucopia back in the box with the help of Ryder, who had seemingly just appeared from nowhere.
Snapping back to the window he stared stiffly out of it, hoping to keep his guard rock solid once again.
Why is this so much harder all of a sudden? He wondered, then he remembered what Ryder had said..
"..they've let you try to work through it yourself.. but now maybe you owe them a little something for their efforts and willingness to step back and give you space.."
This thought carried more of a heaviness that he both hated and kinda really wanted.. But these mixed feelings were so mixed that he felt so neutral that it was almost infuriating. The help sounded freeing but the vulnerability seemed far too big to face up to.
"You're the bravest pup I've ever seen.."
Am I? He wondered in shame, with the memory of this line flashing back over. I can't even face up to my friends about anything anymore.. What does that say about me as a friend?
Then more voices of encouragement which had been said to him came rippling back and he felt even more conflicted!
To the point of making him feel exhausted and sick at the same time.
Why would they even wanna know.. What could they possibly do to fix it anyway? But then who can make this all go away?!
And while helplessness still loomed over him like the developing black clouds outside,.. the work continued.
Snowflake and Ned helped to take down the fake leaves and other decorations, trying to make sure they didn't miss anything.
"I think we're done. Did we miss any Thanksgiving decorations?" Snowflake asked, looking around.
Rocky dropped the last garland from the top of his ladder into the box that Zuma had pushed over to him, the chocolate lab finally joining them to assist.
"Yup, that's everything." He said, sliding his way back down again.
"Good. Let's put these decorations back in the basement," Snowflake suggested.
The female husky and her brother pushed some boxes into the elevator, while waiting for everyone else.
Marshall pushed a box over toward the elevator then stopped to glance back.
"Come on, Chase. We need you." He called. Chase took a second to look his way, a lost look falling over his gaze at seeing them all staring at him expectantly.
"Um.. for what?" The German Shepherd wondered softly, cocking his glance away from them briefly as if feeling exposed.
"To help us with these boxes. You saw how hard it was to get them from the basement," Ned commented.
"Please Chase?" Snowflake added before giving a puppy-eyed look. "We really could use the help."
"Um.."
"Come on, Chase. It'll be fun!" Rubble pried. And the asking eyes that bore into him seemed almost begging and he immediately felt trapped.
Can't let them down now.. he supposed reluctantly.
"Eh.. alright.." Chase finally gave in,.. following slowly.
"Thanks." Marshall smiled lightly.
'Why was Chase so hesitant? We're just putting decorations away,' Snowflake thought privately, focusing on the boxes.
"Ih-.. are we all gonna be able to fit?" Rocky wondered, nestling in next to the two boxes they'd already pushed into the elevator.
"Probably not.. we'll have to do this in trips like last time." Marshall figured, pausing.
"Ok.. Snowflake, Ned and Rocky can head down first.. then Zuma, Chester and Skye and take the other two.. and Chase and I'll bring the last ones." He said finally.
"Sounds good to me." Zuma shrugged. "Let's do it, dudes!"
"Okay," Snowflake said in agreement as Ned nodded.
Then every pup, but the three in the elevator stepped back so the doors could shut and the pups could descend..
xxxx
After Chase and Marshall emerged with their boxes, they all pushed the six boxes all the way over to the empty space from which they came.
"So.. how are we gonna get these boxes stacked back up again?" Rubble wondered, after they'd fit three of the boxes in place to make the bottom layer.
"Should we call, Ryder?" Skye asked.
Chester thought for a moment.
"Oorr we put them back the way we got them out." He said immediately looking at Chase knowingly.
"Why are you looking at me? I don't even know what you did." The younger German Shepherd pointed out.
"Oh right.. but hey, no worries.. just follow my lead, you'll catch my wavelength on this one,.. I just know it! Come on!" Then Chester bounded over to the first box, which was aligned with the one behind it, and stood his forepaws on it to tip it toward him. Marshall and the pups looked confused, but then watched Chase's face analyze the situation. Noting his sudden moment of understanding, they watched him hurry forward to stand underneath his brother so the box was now supported by the length of his body.
"Now Marshall.." Chester said, turning to the Dalmatian.
"Oh I get it! I'm fired up!" Then dashing over to the opening under the box he dove under it and rolled onto his back, paws up to catch the box.
"Perfect! Ok, get ready, Rocky!" Chester called.
"Oh! I get it now too!" The mixed breed gasped. "Ready and waiting.."
"You'll need help," Ned commented before he carefully slid under the box, laid on his back, and put his paws in the air too.
"Right behind you!" Rocky added, standing crouched and ready.
"Hold on, Chess," Snowflake said, before running forward to help Chester with the box. She got in front and held it with her front paws, while standing on her back paws.
"One, two, three!" Chester, Chase and Snowflake pushed upwards and Rocky slid under to help Marshall and Ned to lift it up so that their other three friends could slide it in on top of the box in front of them.
"Perfect! See? We got this.." Chester shrugged. "Now we just gotta do this two more times."
"Let's go for it!" Snowflake said enthusiastically.
"Box tower time!" Ned cheered.
xxxx
They pushed the last box into place, and sighed with relief.
"Phew! That's the last one.." Chester sighed, nodding his satisfaction.
"Ok guys.. now for the Chri-.." however before he could finish that sentence a certain husky's excitement took over.
"CCCHHRRRIIISSSTTTMAAAAASSS! Eeeeeeehehehehehe! This is going to be awesome!" Snowflake screamed, before running around in circles and jumping with excitement.
"Easy sis. We need to get the decorations down first!" Ned countered calmly.
"Oh, right. Of course," Snowflake replied after realizing her mistake. Her tail kept wagging though.
Everyone was surprised by this sudden reaction, but Chase felt almost unnerved by the over-exuberance of the husky's excitement.
"Ok, ok, settle down guys.." Chester said. "Let's set up for the next adventure.. getting the Christmas boxes down.. just like before.. How many are we gonna need?"
"Well.. let's see.." then Rocky peered around, mumbling to himself as he looked over the group carefully. "Nine? One for each pup?"
"Nah that's ok.. I'll just help someone else bring one up." Chase decided, backing down from his sudden response a little as he spoke. Rocky and various pups stared at him for a moment then the mixed breed shrugged.
"Ok, eight boxes then.. and we can always come back for the other two." He said after the pause. Then Marshall creeped over to Snowflake.
"He seems so.. withdrawn.." the Dalmatian whispered. "Should we do something?"
"No. Let's wait. I probably surprised him," Snowflake answered.
"Alrighty then, let's get to work!" Chester said, preparing to start taking boxes down. "Ready, pups?.. Skye?"
"Wah-hoo!" The cockapoo called, backflipping. Then came the cascade of agreeing catchphrases.
"Let's dive in!"
"Rubble on the double!"
"Green means go!"
"I'm fired up!"
"Detail counts," Snowflake exclaimed. Ned remained silent.
Then they all parted ways to look at Chase, who brightened up at the sudden attention, looking at either side in confusion.
"Uh.. Chase is on the case." He added quickly, basically forcing himself to say it out loud and smile. And this was enough for the pups to cheer, as they all leaped into action once again.
"Let's get the boxes down," Snowflake said as she and Ned remained where they were.
xxxx
As they pushed the boxes back the way they came, they reached the elevator they all looked up and realized..
"Heh heh.. Oh yeah.. We gotta do this in trips.." Rocky chuckled awkwardly.
"Well, then I guess it's elevator assembly line take two.." Chester shrugged. Then Rocky and Zuma pushed their boxes forward to start the process over again.
xxxx
Chase and Skye finished the transition with one last push, completing the line of boxes arranged two by two in the middle of the floor.
"Phew! Got it.." Skye sighed.
"That was a lot of work!" Rocky mentioned..
"And we haven't even gotten to the best part yet!" Rubble gasped, plopping down flat on the floor. Various pups sighed, others either sat down or laid down and some even stretched. Chase looked around him amongst the group and tried to resist a smile at the irony of his friends' exhaustion.
Ok, I guess this makes me feel a little better about myself. But he instantly regretted that thought by its sole meaning, even though he still felt a bit more satisfied at the moment. WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME!? How can I think their misery is satisfying!?
"I think we should take a break. All that box moving was a lot of work!" Snowflake said, as she was laying on the ground.
"Agreed!" Ned responded, feeling tired too.
"Sounds good to me.." Chester decided, sprawling onto the nearby pillow, then laid out on his back to stretch his paws out as far as they could reach.
Hey you guys! Here we are, just two remaining chapters toward the end of this story! And what a wild ride it has been.. Also, as you can tell something is gonna happen before the end of this thing, so hang on! Cause we're not done yet! Have fun! Thx!