Chapter 10: The Moment Part Two

Everyone got into the red family car and Wendy showed Chilli the place where she would be taking them out for lunch. After a short drive they arrive at their destination, a Japanese restaurant called Izakaya Kura. Chilli parked her car and everyone got out and walked inside. A white female German Shepherd got them checked in and walked them over to a table with 4 chairs.

"What will we all be having to drink?" The waitress asked them with a smile.

"I'll have some green tea please and some spring water for the kids." Wendy replied to the Shepherd.

"Iced Tea will be fine for me thanks." Chilli also replied.

"Okay, I'll get these over to you soon. Here are some menus and enjoy the food!" the waitress said as she wrote down their drinks and walked away.

Chilli, Wendy and the kids picked the menus and looked through them to decide on what to eat.

"Wow, all this food looks delicious." Shaun said flipping through his menu.

"Yes, it does, I don't know what to pick." Chilli replied in agreement.

"Well whatever you choose, don't worry about the price, It's my treat." Wendy spoke.

"You sure?" Chilli said, making sure it was okay.

"Yes, it's fine, anything for my best friend." Wendy replied with a smile.

"Thank you, Wendy, you are too kind." Chilli Said happy.

"Yeah thanks Ms. Wendy!" Shaun told the Chow Chow. "Thank you, Mom." Judo replied to her mother."

"You are very welcome dearie." She replied to the kids.

After looking at the menus for a bit longer, The German Shepard came back with their drinks and asked if they were ready to order.

"I will have a House Salad." Said Wendy. "Can I get the Tofu rice bowl?" Judo said. "I'll take some Prawn Udon please." Chilli asked. "Spicy Chicken Ramen for me!" Shaun asked with his tail wagging.

The waitress wrote down everything they wanted and said it would be out when it was ready.

"Shaun, I didn't know you liked spicy foods." Chilli asked, surprised by what he ordered.

"Yeah, I love spicy stuff! There's this restaurant that my Uncle Rad takes me and my mom to sometimes where I first had hot food." Shaun replied, remembering the first time he got to eat something spicy as he told everyone his story.

(2 years ago)

Rad, Amy, and Shaun sit at a table in a restaurant called Hot Wok, talking with each other as they wait for their food to be ready. A few minutes pass and their food arrives and they all start enjoying their food.

"Uncle Rad? What are you eating?" Shaun asked, wondering what he ordered.

Oh, it's roast pork with curry sauce. Would you like to try some? It's kinda hot to let you know." Rad replied to his nephew.

Shaun nodded and Rad took his fork and put a bit of pork on it with the sauce. Shaun took it, put it in his mouth and chewed. Quickly he swallowed it and started fanning his mouth.

"Ah! It's hot!" He said with his mouth open trying to cool it off.

"I told you! Drink some water!" Rad told him while Amy chuckled a bit at her son's reaction.

Shaun grabbed his cup of ice water and gulped down half of it before setting it down.

"I did warn you mate." Rad said laughing while going back to eating.

"Yeah, I know… Can I have some more? It's really good actually." Shaun replied, his cheeks still slightly red from the heat.

Amy and Rad chuckled again as he put some of his food onto Shaun's plate.

(end of flashback)

After Shaun finished his story, everyone laughed and smiled while he scratched the back of his head.

"But at least now it doesn't bother me." He said just as the waitress came over to their table and gave everyone their dishes.

While they all ate, Judo looked over to Shaun and smiled. "Hey, Shaun? Can I try your ramen?"

Shaun was surprised. "You sure? It's really spicy."

"Yeah, maybe I'll like it" Judo said with a blush on her face.

Shaun noticed this and also blushed. "O-Okay here." He said as he twirled his fork to get some noodles on it and handed it to Judo. She took the bite and her face changed, telling everyone it was definitely spicy.

"O-oh yeah, it's g-got some heat, but it's r-really good." Judo said trying to fight back the heat from it.

"Here you go Judo this should help." Wendy said giving her daughter some of her tea.

Judo took a couple of sips and started to feel better. "Thank you, mom. And thank you, Shaun." She said, looking at him, wagging her tail.

"Y-Your welcome." Shaun replied blushing and looking away, his tail wagging as well.

Wendy and Chilli smiled at their kids and rolled their eyes as they went back to eating. As everyone finished their meals Chilli felt her phone vibrate and she took it out to see who messaged her. It was Bandit and he was replying to the picture she sent of Shaun and Judo earlier.

Bandit: I'm glad to see the kids having fun, especially Shaun.

Chilli: Yeah, me too. We need to do something special for Shaun later. Today is Amy's birthday and he felt down this morning, but we talked it out.

Bandit: It is? Poor kid, I think I have an idea. Me and the girls are gonna be heading back home. I'll pick it up on our way back.

Chilli: Pick up what?

Bandit: I'll get something special for Shaun so he can celebrate his mom's birthday. I gotta start heading out now. I love you, Babe.

Chilli: I love you too Hun. See you soon.

She put her phone away and saw everyone was finished eating. Everyone stood up and Chilli left a tip on the table for the nice Shepherd waitress. Wendy paid for everyone's food and walked out of the restaurant and back to the car. Chilli started the engine, pulled out of the parking lot and made the way back home. After a short drive, she pulled into the driveway of her home in the cul-de-sac and got out of the car along with Wendy, Judo, and Shaun.

"Thanks again for the food Wendy. We all enjoyed it." Chilli told Wendy.

"Oh, you're welcome, dear. It was fun spending time with you and Shaun." Wendy replied.

Soon after they got home, Bandit also came home, pulling Bingo and Bluey in a wagon and holding a bag in his other hand.

"Looks like Bandit's back. Judo and I should be getting back home too. Goodbye Chilli." Wendy said while walking back to her and her daughter's house next door.

"Bye Shaun!" Judo said looking back at him and waving.

Shaun was mesmerized by the way the light looked on Judo. "S-see you later." He said looking away and smiling.

When Bandit and the kids got closer, Bingo and Bluey jumped out and ran to greet Chilli and Shaun.

"Hi girls! I've missed you!" Chilli yelled out as her kids ran up to her and hugged her.

"We missed you too Mum!" The Heeler kids replied as they hugged their mom.

"And you too Shaun!" They said as they went to hug the Husky.

"Of course, I also missed my big blue fella." Chilli said as she walked up to Bandit and kissed him on the lips.

"Gross!" All the kids said in unison and gagged.

Bandit and Chilli laughed and rolled their eyes before they all entered the house. When they got inside, Bandit told Shaun to wait in the living room. He and his kids went into the other room.

"What is he doing?" Shaun asked Chilli confused.

"Don't worry, you'll find out soon." Chilli replied, not wanting to spoil what her husband was doing.

Sure enough, Bandit yelled out for Shaun to close his eyes and he did as Bandit, Bluey, and Bingo came back into the room.

"Okay Shaun, open your eyes." Bandit said to him.

Shaun opened his eyes to see Bandit holding a cupcake with a candle on it.

"A cupcake?" Shaun said, tilting his head.

"Yeah, Chilli said it was your mother's birthday and I told Bluey and Bingo about it, and they agreed it would be a good idea if you were to celebrate it for her. Like a remembrance of her and her memories." Bandit explained while handing Shaun the Pink frosted cupcake.

He took it and looked at it for a while before starting to cry. Everyone pulled him into a group hug before he spoke. "T-Thanks, everyone. You are the best family I could ask for, he said through his tears, wagging his tail gently. The rest of the Heelers smiled and wagged their tails as well before ending the hug. Shaun looked back at the cupcake again.

"Can I take this to my room and blow out the candle there?" he asked.

"Sure sweetheart." "Yeah mate, go ahead." Bandit and Chilli replied.

Shaun took the cupcake up to his room and shut the door. He sat down and placed the cupcake on his desk. Looking at it and trying to find the words to say.

"Happy birthday mom, I hope you're up there and know I'm okay and being taken care of. I love you so very much." Shaun said to the cupcake as one more tear came down his muzzle. He wiped it away and blew out the candle.