Back with a new chapter, enjoy everyone!

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Chapter 15: Bingo

Not long after, I am sitting in the family jeep. Bandit was sitting next to me in the back...staring down at me with a mix of emotions, mostly confusion: he wanted to know exactly what caused the fight. He might seem like a light-handed person in appearance sometimes, but Bandit still had a dominating posture and physique...much of what you'd expect a father to have. For this special occasion, he could definitely be intimidating as heck toward me, scold me...pressure me into a confession simply for towering over me.

Instead, he wanted to build a rapport for the situation in question, "Dustin…" he began as I held onto my brown cheek, which is bruised and swollen, "you can't strike people, mate...you ought to know this..." I could hear him say. I could sense the disappointment in his voice but he moved a bit closer to me, "what happened" he asked, wrapping an arm around me.

I look to him with a frustrated face, remembering what had just happened as if it were happening again right as I told him, "those kids hurt Bingo...I couldn't have just...stood there." I looked away, growling under my breath unbeknownst to him, "can't believe they did that to her…" I soon explained everything to him...every little detail of what happened and Bandit immediately understood.

Still, it wasn't right for me to have done what I did...nothing can excuse it, justify it. For Bandit, he sighed, scoffing a bit, "I used to fight in my younger years, kiddo...I...know...believe me I know."

"I just snapped...I'm sorry...I'm a damn mess…"

Silence filled the jeep, until the adult decided to intervene for my sake, much to my muted surprise.

"If what you're saying is right...then between you and me, you stood up for my daughter and that tells me what kind'a person you are. Just...try not to get into trouble again, squirt, alright?" He tried saying that last part with a chuckle to soften the air a bit and I nodded silently and softly in return.

Right after, Chili came to the car with Bluey (who was guiding Bingo...who was still distraught over what happened.) Bandit got out of the seat to approach Chili to explain what I told her as the girls got situated inside the jeep next to me. Bingo, in particular, rubbed her teary eyes with her small arm without saying a word, but she soon hugged my side.

I looked to Bluey for guidance, but her face is filled with worry, but inside she is proud of me for sticking up for her younger sister.

The blue dog looked out the window to see her parents talking about the incident and she shook her head, "Dustin didn't do anything" she whispered with confidence. She saw more or less how everything went down.

Despite this, unknown to the three of us: Chili Heeler voiced her concerns, but Bandit tried to convince her that I wasn't a threat. It would have to wait, for they decided to get in the car to drive us back to the Heeler residence for the time being.

The drive back was quiet, not even the radio was on. You could only hear the motion of the car and other vehicles passing by. And soon enough, you could hear the pellets of rain that began striking the windows of the jeep.

...

Upon returning to the house, Bingo went to her bedroom and covered herself with her blankets while the parents went to the living room to discuss things further. Bluey went to comfort her sibling. I, meanwhile, am left alone...I sat on the steps of the back porch...leading to the Poinciana tree. It was raining, but I didn't care if I was getting drenched. I just...stared at the scenery in front of me: you could barely see the sun behind the dark cloud cover. One could tell that the sun would soon sink below the horizon to welcome the, cold and dark, night.

As the events of today replayed in my head, ending with the same conclusion...something unique crossed my mind...and I thought to myself what it all meant. For some reason, what happened today made me realize something…

Me messing up, Bandit comforting me...giving me words of inspiration...something I ought to take to heart from him. After all, I AM a parent in training...and this moment requires me to take action to make things better!

I smiled.

A few minutes later: I went back in the house and dried myself, and soon enough I walked to Bluey and Bingo's bedroom.

I could see the seven-year-old Blue Heeler on Bingo's bed hugging the latter, and from the corner of her eye Bluey spotted me. From the doorway I looked like a parent checking on them, making sure everything was alright.

As if I could see it in her eyes, the blue dog welcomed me in and I slowly walked over to them. Bingo sniffled: she had her face buried between her legs but soon she managed to gather enough strength to look up to see me, "Dustin…"

I smile softly in return, "I got a story I'd like to share with you. I think you'll love it."

After some time, I sat on her bed, telling the tale of one of my favorite childhood movies. Bluey, Bingo and I were in a circle as I recounted the story's events to them.

It becomes clear they've never heard of what I was telling them (and I expected this since most of the things from my world don't exist here.) It's something they were just discovering through me: they both were just beaming with interest...curiosity...most importantly: inspiration.

Bingo seemed to feel much better, especially the longer I narrated.

"And so, Sebastian brought back Fantasia with the power of his imagination, and thanks to his efforts he brought back the world from certain doom."

Bingo was leaned over, loving the story...every detail of it (even the ones she didn't necessarily understand.) Bluey too seemed pleased by my oral tale.

Unbeknownst to us, Bandit and Chili stood across the doorway, listening in. The parents were both thinking of what I was doing for the girls...and similar to them, I was helping put the kids in a better mode: reassuring them the world was still beautiful and full of hope.

"Sebastian rode on Falkor and saw their friends who had returned...riding through the plains."

"Sweet! So, do they live happily ever after?" Bluey inquired before I winked back, "in a way, but 'Bastian had another idea" I had turned to Bingo for this as she listened intently. Her eyes were shining in amazement, completely enveloped in my storytelling, "he asked the dragon to take him to the real world to give the bullies who hurt him a lesson, a playful lesson...just chase them down and make them see that bullying is wrong."

If it isn't obvious, I shared with them The NeverEnding Story as a source of inspiration for what happened today with the bullies. Bingo kind of saw the connection eventually, and the parents definitely did also. They both looked at one another with grins on their faces.

"So what happened next, Dustin?" Bingo asked in her high-pitched voice. I chuckled.

"They continued having many adventures together."

"That was amazing, mate" we heard Bandit said, walking in beside Chili...finally getting our attention.

"Where'd you find that story?" Chili asked.

"From a movie I saw when I was young-younger" I corrected myself a bit, winking at them before the parents winked back in fashion.

All in all, Bingo Heeler seemed to feel better about everything and as soon as Bluey yelled, "can we play one game before bedtime" her tail wagged in response. She jumped in excitement from the suggestion and soon an idea popped in her head, one that could challenge Bluey's own imaginary games, "we can play Fantasy!"

Bedtime: that's when I realized how late it was once I looked out from the bedroom to see the purplish dark sky...post-storm. Soon it'll be completely dark.

"Alright, one game" the older Red Heeler nodded. Bandit whispered in her ear, suggesting the family order take out, which I guess she was okay for, this one time. It ought'a help us focus on the game the siblings have planned.

"Hurray!" Both Bluey and Bingo exclaimed, jumping up and throwing their arms in the air, "come on Dustin!"

I nodded, deciding to join. The family and I reenacted the story for playtime. Bingo played as Sebastian/Atreyu while Bluey took the role of various made-up characters for the impromptu session. Funny enough, Bandit acted as Atreyu's mount (his horse.)

"Grr, I'm the bad guy!" Bluey exclaimed, paws out...jumping in to scare Atreyu/Artax (Bingo/Bandit.)

Artax reels back, neighing loudly while Ateyu held on for dear life. Soon, Bandit breaks character and exits the scene without her. A moment later, he comes back pretending to be the fantastic dragon known as Falkor, grinning mischievously as he enters.

"Yay, it's the dragon!"

The five-year-old climbed her father again and he started "galloping" around the playroom just as the duo run into Chili (who was sitting on some pillows.)

"I am rock lady, feed me!" She said in a fake deep voice. Atreyu got off the dragon to pick up some rocks on the floor (which were actually plushies, heh) and gave them to "the rock lady."

"Ah yes, these are good, thank you, hero!"

"You're welcome, rock man!" Atreyu/Bingo smiled and nodded before leaving.

I stood from the sidelines, watching all of this go on. I've been narrating everything as the family plays it out...making it up as we went.

Eventually, Atreyu faces The Nothing as I finally jump in (playing the part of the Empress/Moon Child) and I plead Atreyu/Bingo to say my new name to save everyone.

The five-year-old (amusingly) shrugs and says "Moon Child" and everything resolves. I walk forward to congratulate her and Bandit, "you have the power of imagination to bring Fantasia back!" I explained as Bingo smiled as I looked down on her, "I believe in you" I added my own line meant for Bingo herself.

The pup breaks away and squeals...running around as Bluey joins her happy moment, "I brought back the world, it's saved!"

"Good job, Bingo-err I mean, hero!" Chili laughed as Bandit joined her side...followed by me. I continued to narrate the scene, "and they had many great adventures, with many more in the horizon to be made. The end" I said as the parents looked down to me. I could tell they had proud looks on their muzzles.

"Nice job, kiddo" the father said.

"That was sweet you did all this for them" Chili Heeler added.

Then, a surge of worry hit me, "so...what happens to me now?" I asked, referring to what happened in the park today. Both parents were confused at first but they quickly answered: "just try not to get in much trouble in the future, Dustin. We've all made mistakes, we move on from them. We take the lessons we learned to seed a better future for ourselves." Chili said, rubbing the back of my shoulder...reassuring me that things would get better.

"Yeh, kiddo. What happened today, it shouldn't have happened, but it did, and we're all here now together having a good time...that's what matters, mate" Bandit added.

I looked away...looking at how happy Bingo was now. Indeed, she felt a lot better thanks to my intervention and our support for her. Inside I felt a tinge of satisfaction, and then happiness. Bingo felt better and that made me feel better. That was enough evidence to convince me: I did something great for the family.

What I did for them spoke volumes.