Hey everyone, here's the next update. It's going to be a longer chapter. Because of the length, I've made the final chapter a two-parter. Enjoy!

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Chapter 21: Saying Goodbye, Part 1

That same night, I dreamt.

All I could see were stars…and I was floating. It was as though I was floating in space. There was a humming sound…it kept rising and falling in pitch. From the humming, I could hear a distant voice ring in my cone-shaped:

One more day.

After that was said, the stars began to dim as colors started taking shape on the horizon as if daytime was coming…

I woke up, wiping my dog eyes before I adjusted to the light. I moved my head slightly left to see the sun just above the tree line. It's morning, that much is clear. I finally sat up on my bed and rubbed my head and ears, "one more…day? S-so…this is it…"

I realized that I forgot about the "countdown" and that today would be the last time I would stay in this world…supposedly of course. I sighed…nodding to myself, accepting this revelation.

Sure, I was starting to like being here…enjoying my time ingratiating myself in Bluey's world, but it was definitely time to go home. I still had a family of my own…friends…my world to get back to. Does it hurt that I must go soon…of course it does, and it's not like I can bargain with whoever sent me here either.

I was totally sent here…and now that I have learned what it means to give to your family and make the most of them…that meant I shouldn't waste this last day. I'm going to make the most of it.

And so, I jumped out of bed and left the guest bedroom and soon heard voices down the hall: it was the sisters.

It's the weekend, which means they don't have to go to school. They're in their bedroom: brushing each other's fur.

My entrance gets their attention as they wave and smile. I waved back a bit, but then the thoughts from earlier soon come back. Does this mean I'll never see the Heelers again?

My face soon darkened as the girls noticed. They tilted their heads to the side in a curious manner, "Dustin, is everything okay?" Bluey asked.

Should I even tell them? Would it be right? No, I shouldn't, it'll spoil everything. Then again, how selfish is that of me? They deserve to know; the family needs to know!

I soon shook my head to dispel my thoughts…ultimately deciding to save it for a later hour.

I smiled again, "it's alright" I spoke in my heavy Aussie accent. I sat down beside them, joining in. I helped brush Bingo's fur while Bluey helped brush mine (I'll admit…it's pretty matted…I must have tossed and turned in my sleep a lot.)

Eventually, Chili Heeler walked in to see us in the middle of the room between the two beds. The mother came in with a smile and announced, "time to eat, girls."

Excited (and starving) the two siblings jumped up and followed Chili out as I followed behind. We make it to the table where Bandit is plating the food, "morning, squirts, how'd you sleep?"

"So good!" Bluey responded with drawn-out enthusiasm.

"I dreamed I lived in a castle!" Bingo added.

"I guess I dreamed I was in space…" I softly said.

"Sweet!" Both girls said in unison before I chuckled.

Chili helped us get situated as Bandit and his significant other sat down. As we ate breakfast (or brekkie) I thought about telling the family…finally telling them that my time with them is coming to an end; however, when I got their attention and they waited for what I had to say…I hesitated…

I said this instead: "I appreciate all of you and what you do. You're all role models to me" I said wholeheartedly as the kids smiled at each other.

"We're models! Hehe!" Bingo giggled, throwing her arms out just as her sister nodded.

The husband and wife looked at each other…briefly giving faint looks of concern, but they soon dropped the expressions and carried on with their breakfast soon after.

Once we're done with brekkie and I helped clean the table…Chili stopped me once we're done cleaning, "Dustin, are you alright?" You could tell her looks that she is deathly concerned for me (wow…was I really that obvious?)

She put her paws on her hips, quietly demanding to know the truth. But, before I can spill the beans, Bluey comes in…running towards me, "Dustin, we're going to play four in bed, we need a fourth!"

Chili decided, for now, to drop her slight scrutinizing behavior and motioned me to follow her daughter, "go on, hun."

…

Bluey took me to the parents' bedroom where Bandit was playing with Bingo on the bed: throwing her up and down like a ball. Upon noticing us, the two stop and wag their tails, "hey, Dustin, alright!" The father said enthusiastically.

Once we all got situated in the bed (lining up in order from left to right) we inspected our current positions: it was Bandit, Bingo, me, and then Bluey to the far right of the mattress.

"Ready?" Bandit asked.

"Ready!" The three of us answered.

Bandit gave a slight sheepish look, "ah cheese and crackers…this is gonna hurt a bit…" he said to himself.

We started singing in unison: "there were four in the bed and the little one said"

"Roll over, roll over!"

We all, in synch, began rolling our bodies left as we sang: "so they all rolled over and one fell out!" As soon as we sang the last part, Bandit fell off the bed and hit the floor face down. Ouch!

The girls giggled as I cringed at that, that had to hurt. The adult Blue Heeler recovered soon after though…throwing his arms out as if he's ready to catch the next dog to fall from the bed.

"There were three in the bed and the little said" we looked over to the red dog who sang in a high-pitched opera voice, "roll over, roll over!" Sure enough, Bingo rolls out of bed and is caught by her father before they laugh in unison.

Now it's just Bluey and me…I guess I'm next to fall off the bed, heh. Sure enough, we started singing again and I looked over to the Blue Heeler (who had a smug look on her face.) I tossed and fell off the bed!

I yelled as I fell. I expected Bandit to catch me…

But I kept falling…

By the time I realized I was falling for far too long, it was too late. I was falling through a void…similar to what happened to me just before I ended up in Bluey's universe.

I began panicking…realizing what all this means!

"N-no! This can't be! You said I'd have a WHOLE day left! This is too soon! Stop…stop!" I exclaimed loudly.

Before I knew it, however, I heard voices: it's Bandit and the girls. I had been screaming since Bandit had caught me. Bluey was watching from the edge of the bed (wondering why I was such in a state of panic.) Bingo felt scared by my reactions too, and she covered her face with her paws…looking away. Bandit Heeler sat up and tried to snap me out of my trance, "Dustin, snap out of it, kiddo!"

I stopped, finally coming to my senses before I looked around. Everyone was looking at me…tears were falling from my face, and it looked as though I had gone pale for a moment.

I pulled away from the group, shaking my head before attempting to walk away. The father lets me…focusing on diffusing the situation and calming his two daughters first before following me out the door.

I was stopped right by the top of the stairs as Chili came up…

"Is everything alright!?" She asked, her voice was filled with concern for what had happened.

"Dustin?" Bandit showed up at the top of the stairs…essentially "trapping" me between the two parents. I continued to cry, but soon the two dogs comforted me by bringing me into a tight hug. I eventually calmed down, realizing all this time they (of all people) deserve to know what is coming…

"Bandit…Chili…" I began wiping a tear with a paw, "I had a vision…today…is…my last day in this world…" both were still…realizing what this meant, "I'm returning to my world once the day ends…"

They had a look of shock, and soon it was accompanied by sadness from the news. They didn't even need to ask or wonder why (in their hearts they believed what I said to be true.)

"Oh Dustin…" Chili muttered…you could see the water in her eyes. Bandit also, lightly nodding his head in understanding as we three sit down on the stairs, "that's why you acted all strange, mate…"

"You wanted to tell us this morning…didn't you?" Chili added.

"Yeah…" I sighed, pulling away to see them both. I looked up to see the distraught faces of Bluey and Bingo…they couldn't take it: they ran to their rooms in sorrow. I soon gave a confident face, however, and I looked back to the adults, "I want this day to be the best it can be…for everyone." They nodded in agreement.

Then came the issue regarding the sisters. The three of us decided to talk to them about it. At first, they seemed inconsolable, but I soon approached Bluey/Bingo from their door and sat down next to them. They were hugging each other, burying their faces to hide their tearful appearances. My arrival inspired the duo to look in my direction. I had a more comforting look on my face, one that managed to calm them down as if I were their parents.

Chili and Bandit looked on, both knowing that I was more than ready to be like them when I returned home to my world.

"I know this is sudden and…there's so much I could've done with you guys. I mean…I'm kind of bummed that I can't play cricket with the boys after all…"

I stopped myself…taking a deep breath, "I can't promise that I'll be back, so…let's make the most of the time we have left girls…think of it as though I'm heading back to Canada…because I am. I wouldn't want to go home like this."

They stared into my brown eyes and saw the encouraging smile I had for them and the family, "goodbyes are tough, they're not easy…and you certainly won't forget them. But think about all the time I have left…why spend it all sad and in the dumps? Why don't we celebrate this like I'm going to go and do greater things for the world?" I suggested.

That comment seemed to inspire Bluey. Sure enough, that creative genius that dwelled inside her seven-year-old mind began to blossom again, and she turned to her younger sister. A smile began to creep up, and Bluey nodded in agreement to me, "yeah, Dustin's going back to Canada after all! We can celebrate like they're moving up a grade!"

Bingo nodded eventually too, liking the okay, "okay…" then she smiled too. Both kids stood up and raised their paws in the air as I jumped back in surprise, "graduation!"

…

And so, the girls turned the playroom into a mock ceremony: with small colorful chairs that filled the aisle. Animal plush toys were evenly placed around to create the illusion of an audience. Bandit and Chili were sitting amongst them while Bluey stood across from everyone. She had a rolled-up piece of paper in her light-blue paw that was held by a rubber band. Bingo was in the background playing the stereotypical "Pomp and Circumstance" on a small Bluetooth speaker (missed opportunity to have called it Blueytooth…heh.)

And so there I was…walking down the aisle wearing a colorful bathrobe to represent your usual graduation gown. I would usually laugh at the absurdity of it all, but I decided to get in character for the sake of good fun. I slowly inch my way through…moving with such grace and integrity that I could swear that (for a brief moment) I felt like I was reliving my graduation day again…heh.

I finally made it to Bluey at the end of the passage and she hands me the rolled-up paper, "congratulations student, you passed!" She said cutely, wagging her tail.

I suddenly spun around and held the "diploma" up as high as I could and I gave the biggest, most adorable, smile you could ever see in your life. Bandit and the others stood up and clapped for me before I bowed in earnest.

After all of that, what better way to celebrate graduation than to go eat lunch? Well, turns out…Chili had a place in mind for such an occasion.

And so, we got in the family jeep and made our way through the suburbs. We arrived at the center of a small boardwalk where there are plentiful shops and restaurants to go around. We ate on a patio overlooking the bustling street: with pedestrians and cars going about their day.

Bandit ordered a small appetizer for us all and it wasn't long until we got our delicious entrees! Since I was much younger and smaller currently, I decided ordering from the kid's menu would suffice (especially since it would be unfair to order from brunch when the girls would be having something else entirely!)

Eventually, once we're done eating and the check is paid, we walk through the cobblestone street. The summer sun shone down on us. Perfect blue skies filled the air (the kind of beautiful skies you see when you're in a coastal town or city.) It was hot but manageable…actually it felt nice.

I realized that back home (in my world) it was still winter…and there was snow on the ground before I left. I guess I ought to get used to that again…

I ought to take Julie and my future daughter somewhere tropical. Heck, why not bring them here to Australia!? I bet they would love it like I have!

Anyway, an hour passed, and the parents decided we should return to the Heeler residence. I gave one last look to all the dog people milling about on the street…knowing it would be the last time I would see them.

"No one is going to believe me back home about all this…" I chuckled in my high-pitched girl voice as I sensed Bandit patting me on the back as a sort of encouraging gesture. I look up at him and shrug, "who knows, maybe everyone back home gets dumped in this world for a day or something."

"Then we got a REAL problem on our paws for sure."

"Ditto."