"The Last Morning"
It had been 30 years since the events of Bluey, and Snickers, now a confident adult, was a well-known news anchor for ABC News Queensland. Every night, he delivered the headlines from the South Bank building, but this morning was different. As Snickers sat down for breakfast, his tail wagged excitedly.
"Mum, the breakfast is so good!" he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm as he looked at Vikki, his mother, with a bright smile. His younger brother, John, was sitting across from him, enjoying the same meal. Vikki returned the smile, her heart warmed by Snickers' happiness.
"Glad you like it, dear," Vikki replied softly, her eyes twinkling.
Snickers' mind was preoccupied, though. A small, inexplicable concern lingered at the edge of his thoughts. He looked across the table at John, his brother, and his smile faded slightly.
"Hey, what makes you concerned?" John asked, noticing the subtle change in Snickers' demeanor.
"I don't know why, but..." Snickers hesitated for a moment, then spoke earnestly, "Stay safe, my brother."
John smiled, brushing off the worry with ease. "I will. Don't worry about me, mate."
Snickers stood up and gathered his things, ready to head to work at the ABC News headquarters. He gave his family one last wave, unaware that this would be the last morning he would ever see his mother and brother alive.
Three hours later, John and Michaela decided to head into the city. They had planned a shopping trip at Uptown, a six-floor shopping complex that had been a Brisbane landmark for 25 years. Michaela's electric hatchback hummed quietly as they made their way through the streets of the CBD. For two hours, they wandered the mall, picking up items for themselves and for Vikki.
As they headed back to the car, John dialed his mother. "Hi Mum, I've got everything you asked for. We'll be home soon."
Vikki, back at home, smiled at the thought. "See you soon, dear," she said before hanging up.
By 11:45, Michaela checked the time on her phone and realized she was hungry. "Let's grab some food," she suggested.
John agreed, and soon they were seated at a cozy restaurant in the CBD. A young waitress, a Beagle named Jolene, approached them.
"May I take your order?" she asked with a cheerful smile.
"Prime rib on the bone with mushroom sauce for me," John said.
"And I'll have meatball spaghetti," Michaela added. They ordered their drinks, and Jolene confirmed their order before leaving them to wait.
As they sat there, John noticed Michaela looking uneasy. "What's wrong, honey?" he asked with concern.
Michaela hesitated, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't know why, but... while you were on the phone with your mum, I had this terrible feeling that something bad was going to happen."
John leaned forward, trying to reassure her. "There's nothing to worry about, babe. We're all fine."
Michaela nodded, but her heart couldn't shake the nagging sense of dread that had washed over her.
After they finished their meal, Vikki met them at the restaurant. The three of them sat together for a while, chatting and laughing. But soon, they decided to head out. As they drove through the city in Michaela's hatchback, the weather changed dramatically. By the afternoon, dark storm clouds blanketed Brisbane, and torrential rain flooded the streets, turning traffic into a chaotic snarl.
At the same time, Pretzel and Calypso were heading back home in Pretzel's electric SUV, also caught in the worsening storm. The rain had eased slightly by the evening, but the roads were slick with water, and danger lurked beneath the surface.
As the clock struck 7:00, both cars – Michaela's and Pretzel's – had exited the CBD. They were now driving through the wet streets of The Gap, the suburb where Bluey once lived. Visibility was poor, and the roads were treacherous.
Unbeknownst to John and Pretzel, the rain-soaked roads had caused hydroplaning. In a split second, John's car lost control, veering into the opposite lane. At the same time, Pretzel's SUV skidded uncontrollably in the other direction. Neither driver had time to react.
The two vehicles collided violently in a horrific crash. The sound of metal crushing, glass shattering, and the thunderous roar of the storm echoed through the night.
John Dachshund, Michaela Lee, Vikki Dachshund, Pretzel Chihuahua, and Calypso Shepherd were all killed in the crash. The news of their tragic deaths would soon sweep across Brisbane, leaving their loved ones, including Snickers, to grapple with unimaginable grief.
Later that night, Snickers sat in the newsroom, preparing to deliver the evening headlines, unaware of the tragedy that had unfolded. His mind was still on the breakfast he shared with his family that morning, the warm smiles, and the excitement of the day ahead.
But soon, Snickers would learn the heartbreaking truth—that morning was the last time he saw his mother and brother. And as the weight of that realization would crash down on him, he'd realize just how fleeting and fragile life could be.