My vision became blackened. It was Bandit who had done so, covering my eyes with his hands to avoid me seeing a supposed surprise he and the others conjured up. I could tell for starters we were going upstairs, where too? No clue. but considering they were excited to show me, I could only assume.

Maybe it could be something nice like a gift they got me for helping around the house for a month now. Oh yeah I forgot to mention, about a month has passed since the incident with the tradies and it's been quite nice, it is now March 21 which just so happens to be my 17th birthday… speaking of which, I wonder if the heelers know anything about that?

"You Ready Shane?" Bandit had asked me, seems likely we had arrived at what the blue heeler wanted to surprise me with as I nodded yes to his question. His hands slowly moved away from his face, my eyes could see a light approaching until my vision became clearer, what I saw was a bedroom in front of me.

"Surprised!" The heelers and Brandy yelled in unison, the bedroom I seen was of a small interior with wooden floors that have a watermelon rug on top of it and the walls had a darkish green color to it, comprised of a medium sized bed, a lounge chair, a dresser, a desk and lastly a flat screen television that stood on a tv stand. "Is this for me?" I asked them in confusion. "It's a gift from all of us, Happy Birthday Shane" Chilli exclaimed while wrapping her arms around me in a little hug which I embraced back before we both let go, I was stunned to hear that as I haven't told them my birthday was today… How did they knew?

"How did all you know?" I asked, to which Bandit enlightened me. "The girls noticed your phone went off notifying you that today was your birthday and we felt bad you couldn't celebrate it with your family, so we agreed to conjure up a gift for you. There was an empty room that used to be Bluey's room before she moved back with her sister and since I wanted you off the couch I thought… why not let you have your own room for the time being" Bandit explains firmly to me as I looked around the room in awe.

"I… I don't know what to say" I told the five of them, shocked yet amazed at the fact I was given my own room as Bandit and Chilli came over to me. "You don't need to. After everything you've been through the past month, you at least deserve a positive birthday" Chilli calmly told me, I gave them both a hug before replying.

"Thank you" I uttered as they embraced my hug back. "That's not all we've done for you Shane, however this one we're gonna need to go for a car ride" I blinked seeing Brandy standing there as she jumped in the conversation, I raised an eyebrow at what she said, what exactly did she mean this wasn't the only gift? "Alright where to?" I asked with curiosity.

Minutes later, I sat in the backseat of the heeler's jeep. Bluey and Bingo were to my right as their parents were up front with Bandit at the wheel, Brandy took her own vehicle which I jokingly said earlier, "why doesn't she sit in the trunk?" which she responded by giving me a face that basically told me "that is not happening" but I digress as Bandit parked into a parking lot.

"We're here Mate" He turned to tell us. I, Chilli and Bandit then stepped out of the car, soaking in the fresh air, while Chilli was helping Bluey and Bingo get out of the car I walked forward to see the very location we were at. A park, more specifically a playground with the usual stuff that would be at one but over by it was a small area consisting of a small basketball court with one hoop, an outdoor table and finally some swings.

"Mate!" I jumped hearing a male voice from a distance, looking to the left I saw some fellow looking bipedal dogs sitting down on a wooden table who waved at me. Or so I thought as I noticed Bandit was next to me waving at them back, seems like they didn't notice me and like the tradies He must've known them as well. "Come on Shane, let's go greet them" Bandit said, signaling me to follow him. I was a bit nervous but went with him with Brandy, Chilli and her kids following behind us.

Approaching the wooden table I saw there were only three, the first one looked to be female with gray, white and black fur and a few spots. The other two were most definitely male but looked completely different as looking at the bluish one, he had light blue fur around his body, dark blue fur on his tail and on the left side of his face, brown eyebrows and dark brown fur which he had on his left face accompanying the dark blue, the dark brown appeared on his tail as well as it showed next to the dark blue, and finally his ears were also dark brown.

The last guy was also of a different color having Light blue, light yellow, dark orange and finally light orange fur with his main feature being his wavy looking hair. "Looks like you showed up," Bandit jokes directly to the dog with blue fur who sarcastically responded with a. "Duh. rode in Radley's truck since he was already at my house, Trixie and the kids came as well if you're kids want to play with Muffin and Socks there over by the slide" He replies, now knowing the multi-colored dog was named Radley and the gray one was named Trixie, as Bluey and Bingo looked at each other knowing where their going to be.

"Let's head to the slide," Bluey told her younger sister. They both instantly ran off leaving the adults and me to talk. "So who's the lucky kid that's having a birthday today?" Radley questions Bandit, to which he stepped aside to present me to them before saying. "Well… It's this kid's!" He announced to the three, their smiles went down after seeing me, I doubt they didn't like me or humans in general as their expressions were actually more puzzled by me being with Bandit and his family.

"Bandit, who is this?" The blue looking dog was the first to ask the now evident elephant in the room. "You didn't tell Stripe, his wife or your other brother about him?" Chilli questioned her husband. I now knew lastly the blue looking dog's name… Stripe, and it seems like these are Bandit's brothers… Wait. Bandit has brothers?!! "Ha… surprise?" Bandit could only say to which Chilli just facepalm in response.

*

I sat on a swing alone, talk about an awkward introduction. Bandit and Chilli insisted me that I should go and play while they handled explaining everything to Stripe, Radley, and Trixie, as much as I wanted to slide down the slide a few times, I frankly just want to collect my thoughts, thinking of what my parents have been doing.

I haven't received any phone call from them today or even recently as a matter of fact, imagine they're busy with work or trying to figure a way to get me back there… If only I could get some kind of sign of hope. "You ok Shane?" My thoughts were put on hold as I heard Bingo who stood there asking me that in a concerned tone. "Yeah. I'm thinking… about my parents again and how much they miss me cause… I'm really starting too as well" I responded back to her question.

"These things happen, Shane. But you can't let yourself get too blue and gloom… I'll tell you what, I know what you should do. Hey Bluey!" She then called for her oldest sister who immediately rushed to see what Bingo wanted. "What's going, Bingo?" Bluey asked to which Bingo replied by saying. "I need the Checklist" Bluey nodded and then pretended to hold a pen and notepad. "Watch this. Human" Bingo told me. "I have a little cry. Mwaa" Bingo said, rubbing her eyes to pretend she was crying as Bluey wrote it down.

"Check" Bluey says after writing it. "Then I pick myself up" Bingo continues, doing a little jump to indicate she was standing up while Bluey adds another step to her notepad. "Check" She responded again. "Dust myself off…" Bingo then pretends to dust yourself off as Bluey adds another. "Check," She said, checking it off the list. "And keep going, the show must go on." Bingo exclaims in excitement as Bluey lastly checks that off her list with a "Check" I just watched both puzzled and intrigued.

"S-See. Now you give it a try" Bingo offered me to which I obliged and got up from the swing to try Bingo's advice. " *Sigh* K.. Bluey? Checklist," I said pointing directly at the blue heeler, She then pretended again to pull out a pen and notepad.

No POV

Shane: "I have a little cry. Mwaa"

Bluey: "Check"

Shane: "Then I pick myself up"

Bluey: "Check"

Shane: "Dust myself off…"

Bluey: "Check"

Back to Shane's POV

"And keep going, the show must go on." I triumphantly said to which the two girls clapped before stopping as Bingo comments. "Now that's the spirit, human" She said but after she finished her sentence my phone began to go off, pulling it out and taking a closer look I saw it was a call from my Dad! I couldn't believe it. "Be right back, you two" I quickly ran off to somewhere private nearby when I ended up on a sidewalk but no matter, I proceeded to answer. "Dad? It's me Shane" I spoke into my phone, expecting to hear my dad's voice on the other end.

"Hey short man. It's dad, great to finally get to speak to you again" My Dad says on the other end of the call. "No kidding" I joked back in response. "Sorry for not calling sooner or at all, it's been pretty tacky for me and your mother still, dealing with the situation and all" He explained to me, frankly finding it understandable. "Yeah" I reply. "Anywho. I called to wish you a happy birthday and to check up on you. Mom's with me talking to the police and wishes you one as well but when it comes to your party and gift from us… that's gonna have to wait," He told me.

"Whatever. I'm just glad to be talking to you and mom, I'm really missing you guys you know" I admitted to my father. "I don't blame you. We have too, but like before you gotta be brave, we're counting on you kiddo" He told me which I nodded. "I will" I told him back. "Hopefully the orphanage is treating you well, isn't it?" He asked me, my eyes widened hearing him talk about the orphanage and the fact he doesn't know I'm not there anymore and with the heelers, looks like I'm going to have to break the news soon or later. "About that? I need to tell You and Mom, I'm actually not…" I tried to explain but then I hear my Mom in the background talking to father before speaking to me again.

"Sorry son I couldn't catch that. I have to get off unfortunately, we'll speak to you again soon" He said to me and I responded. "Oh… Okay, tell Mom I said hi and love you dad" I said. "Got it. Bye son" My dad lastly said before hanging up, I was left distraught that I wasn't able to tell him what was happening with me and the orphanage, All I could say to myself was "Shit"

I then looked at my phone briefly for any text messages from some family members or even Mom and Dad, but while I wasn't paying attention I managed to bump into someone, dropping my phone onto the ground which I then proceeded to try to grab as the very someone yelled at me. "Hey! Watch where you're going Mate…" I could hear a feminine voice in my ears, however that voice. It sounded… familiar. "Eh, Shane?" I heard again only this time she said my name… wait is my ears deceiving me? I grabbed a hold of my phone while looking up, I saw clearly visible in front of me a very recognizable corgi.

"Scarlet?" I asked her, I knew by looking at her face and attire who it was, although she wasn't wearing her jacket, instead having the same Purple T-shirt, black leggings, white sneakers only dirtier than usual.

I literally could not believe it. "Been a while hasn't it?" Scarlet spoke again, she could tell I was in shock seeing her face again as I tried to find words. "I've been looking all over for you" I explained, but looking at her expression she seemed to get me the "what are you doing here" look which got me confused however she then responded back."What… I… come with me!" She told me. I felt my hand being grabbed, I saw it had been her as Scarlet took me away from the playground, heading somewhere when I noticed we were going straight into a forest.