The tragedy of a Border-Collie

by OctaafdeB

Mackenzie had a good life living with his parents. They love each other very much and love to spend time together. Then suddenly it all changes. What started out as a fun weekend ends in tragedy. Mackenzie loses his parents and is all alone. He has people looking out for him but for how long? Does he find a new family, will he fit in and does he manage to live with grief?

21. How to talk, What to say and a Adoption

''YES! I knew it. I was right and he was wrong, Ha! Should have listened to me pal!''.

''You know he can't hear you and that they probably recorded that episode about a month ago if not longer?

''Yeah, yeah. I know, I don't care. Either way, I guessed all the answers right. What do you think? Should I do audition to be a participant in this tv game show? I think I would do rather well''.
MacKenzie's mum looked at her husband, rolled her eyes and gave him a smile.

''Sure you would hun''.

''I can't believe the lack of trust I'm seeing right now'' he said back to her.

They sat together on their couch in the living room watching a game show on the television. MacKenzie's mum lay down with her head rest resting on her husbands shoulder. He sat extended and stretched out on the couch. It was a hour after dinner finished and it started to become dark outside. MacKenzie's dad looked around him.

''I Say. Where is the little gremlin?'' he asked.

''Probably running circles around the house or herding the ants in the backyard back to their nest'' MacKenzie's mum said not concerned.

''Hmm. I don't hear any yipping or barks coming from outside so no herding tonight. I better check if he's not stuck in the swing again or digging a hole from our garden to Mexico''. MacKenzie's dad proceeded to get up but was not able to as his wife did not budge.

''She'll be right. He knows when to come back inside'' she said, calming her husband and letting him stay with her.

''Oh by the way I did not forgot to invite the Heelers for the Barbie next Saturday. But to be clear, I am going to be the one who is in control over the snags on the barbie. Not letting anyone else, and I mean Bandit, coming near them. He will burn them''.

''yeah, nah. Stop overthinking that much. It will all be alright. How many people will come anyway?'''

''eighteen''

''oh. Those are a lot more people than I thought. By the way, did I told you that my new colleague who started working at the office, you know, Patricia's replacement, is apparently Chili Heeler's sister in law? Bluey's aunt?''.

''No you haven't. That's sweet as''.

The Border Collies then stopped yarning and then returned to watch the television. They were starring at the screen and did not pay any attention to their surroundings. The happy couple were enjoying their relaxing time. Meaning they did not see the kitchen door slowly open and close behind them as a young border collie sneaked into the room and slowly creeping on four legs towards them.
He was very silent and crouched towards his unknowing parents. His gaze did not leave them as he stalked them with an intense look in his eyes, the famous border collie stare. His tail starts wagging vigorously as he prepares his next manoeuvre as he reaches the side of the couch. Out of nowhere he then gives his loudest possible bark!

His parents are startled and fly up from the couch. His mum sits right up on the couch, clutching her paws in the pillows as his dad rest his hand on his fast beating chest. But MacKenzie isn't done yet. He jumps and lands right on his fathers lap causing the older dog to groan and scream in pain. MacKenzie just jumped, let's just say, on a sensitive area of his dad.

''Got you!'' he says happily and satisfied with his joke.
His dad gives him a thumbs up and laughs fake as he is still in pain, resting his hands on his crotch. With a squeaking voice he is able to just barely say: ''Good one you dag''.

His mum looks worriedly at her husband and then at her son. ''MacKenzie!, Don't sneak upon us like that. We are no sheep. And do be a bit more careful with your dad next time,'' then back to her husband ''are you alright dear?''.

His dad sits back up straight again and then grabs his son and hold him up as he starts to wrestle and tickling him causing the young border collie to giggle and laugh loudly. ''Awgghhh, thought you could scare your old dad and get away with it, didn't ya? You just got lucky there dag! I'm still stronger hehehe''.

MacKenzie's mum looked at the two playing. She smiled at the scene. This was a sight she never would get tired of seeing. Her family. It made her proud and happy. She remembered the hard and difficult times they had and the decision to leave their home country to start somewhere new. She remembered how difficult it was for her to make that choice but seeing how it was all worth it at the end made her happy. They had a better life, and not only for themselves. She was able to provide a better future for her little 'miracle'. Her only child.

She remembered how many years ago her doctor told her and her husband the news that they would never be able to get kids. And just before they moved to Australia she remembered how sick she suddenly became. How her husband came rushing from the farm he worked at and bought her to the hospital where they received the most incredible and unexpected news they ever heard; that she was pregnant. How unexpected it was and how happy they were. She looks at her husband now turning their happily screaming son as he playfully holds him upside down. She felt blessed at this sight. That despite what had been said, they were granted this happiness.

And yet… she had a bad, underlying feeling for years that she was given this temporarily in her life. Her guts told her to enjoy every moment while it lasts. Sometimes at night she had the feeling that the universe was telling her she would not enjoy this for long and that the universe had given her this miracle to enjoy as a gift. Like it was saying sorry for what was to come, as if something was about to happen sooner or later. When she tried to talk about it to her husband he would simply wave it away as rubbish or superstition. ''I will not feed the maggots until I see my grandchild getting married'' he would say to stop the conversation when she mentioned the word; 'death'.

So she just kept those feelings and thoughts for herself. The only thing she hoped for that if the universe was indeed planning to make her happiness short-lived, and her fear becoming true, that whatever was to happen, it would be her or her and her husband who were the ones the universe was after. She would not, and could not, loose her miracle or accepting that. She would do whatever she could to protect him.

She got snapped out of her thoughts when her son's tail hit her softly in the face. She blinks twice and looks up. Her husband is now standing up and swings MacKenzie through the air while he holds him. Like a helicopter he swings above his father's head as he screams in joy.
She gives her husband the border collie stare and as soon as he notices it, he stops and places MacKenzie, who is a bit disoriented, on the ground. MacKenzie laughs about it.

''Sorry luv, got a bit carried away'' he says to his wife.

She looks at him and then to her son. ''Alright Kenzie love. Time for bed''.

He looks at her. 'Awh mum. Already? I'm not tired yet''.

She laughs: ''You are a Border Collie! You never get tired'' She then smiles at him, puts her hands at her sides and frowns a bit.
''Come on kid. Brush your teeth and get to bed. Tomorrow is a school day''.

''okay mum''. He leans over and gives her a hug. She hugs him back and gives him a small kiss on the cheeks. ''Goodnight mum''.

''Goodnight MacKenzie'' she says as she pets his head.

He turns around and spots his toy rocket ship under the table and picks it up. He stretches his arm above his head and then 'flies' with the ship towards the bathroom to brush his teeth while making rocket booster sounds as he leaves the room.

''Ugh. Other kids get easier and quieter when they get older'' his father complains.

''Not our breed dear. You must know it. You are a hand full yourself'' MacKenzie's mum laughs as she picks up a magazine from the table to read.

''Speak for yourself mrs. 'I need to do forty household chores within an hour before going to bed'' he says back playfully.

She smiles at him, rolls up her magazine and starts to softly poke him in his sides. ''How dare you say that! Choo, choo. Come on, bring the little rocket man to bed, come on. Choo!''. He laughs as he follows his son. MacKenzie's mum did as she was told to do by the universe.
Enjoy every little family moment she could get and she was thankful for it as she looked at the loves of her life leaving the room.

She just wished that she would be able to enjoy this for so many more years to come…

-
Four years later:

MacKenzie slowly wakes up.
Although the last evening was hell, he had a good sleep actually. The bed was warm and cosy. He yawns and looks around him. It's dark. Pitch black dark. He shuts his eyes again and opens them again. It's still dark. Panic starts to fall over him. He shuts his eyes again and opens them again. He still can't see anything!

''What is going on? Am I blind?'' he says to himself in a bit of a panic.

Then he smells the room. It smells like roses and lavender. He then remembers where he is now. At Rad and Frisky.
And they have roll shutters in front of their window. He rolls to the edge of the bed and carefully feels his way into the darkness until he feels the wall. His hands then slide over the wall until he feels a switch. He flips the switch and the room is now fully lighted.
He breathes a sigh of relief and then laughs a little at himself about how stupid he feels that he thought he became blind. He turns around and indeed sees a shut roll shutter in front of the window. He flips a other switch with a arrow on it and the shutter now rolls up.

Slowly the light from outside peaked inside the room. MacKenzie looked out of the window. The room looks out on the frontside of the apartment building. He sees a small front garden at the front of the window that connects round the building to the back garden of Rad and Frisky. It was way smaller and only had two palm trees, two sun loungers and a lot of flowers planted in the ground. At the end he spotted a white bricked wall, that acted like a barrier between the apartment complex and the public road, with fences where he could see through. On the other side of the wall was a small road with parked cars on either side. He could spot Rad's car and his van on the other side. Across the road he saw a small park.

He jumped off the bed and carefully walked to the door. He opens it and gets immediately greeted by the smell of fresh cooking. His stomach starts to growl violently as the smell of toasted bread, freshly cooked bacon, eggs, pancakes and vegetables reach his nose. He has a lot of hunger. Not strange as his last meal were the two simple cheese and jam sandwiches he had for lunch the day before.

Carefully he walks down to the end of the small hallway that leads straight into the living room. He looks in front of him and sees the glass doors that lead into the back garden standing open. Rad is outside setting up a table and chairs. MacKenzie looks to the left into the kitchen and sees Frisky cooking.
Before he can say anything she suddenly turns around and spots him. She only can see the top of his head, eyes and muzzle sticking out from behind the corner looking at her. The look in his eyes tells her he's still feeling out the situation. She smiles and waves. ''Good morning MacKenzie''. She puts off her pink apron and walks to him. He keeps standing there, carefully keeping a careful eye on what is going to happen. Although he feels he can trust her, he remains suspicious and wary.

Frisky kneels down to his level. The way she looks at him calms him down a little. Although he might not know her very well, he feels save around her.
''Did you sleep well? Was the bed alright?'' she asks him.

MacKenzie nods. ''Yes. Yes it was. Thank you. It was…uh..very cozy and I had a good night sleep''.

She smiles. ''That is good to hear''. She stands up and puts her hands in her sides. ''Bluey's father was here yesterday evening and we decided to let you sleep so you could get some rest. But any minute now he will come here and we have breakfast together. I already made some things, but is there anything you would really love to have for brekkie dear?'' she asks.

MacKenzie doesn't want to be a bother, but he also feels like it would be rude not to ask for something. He thinks and then asks for scrambled eggs and ''Oh, and maybe it sounds strange but… could you roast some tomatoes and onions and wrap them in the bacon? It's… it's something my mum used to make. If you don't want to do that, that's okay'' he says softly.

Frisky smiles at him. ''No problem. Of course I can do that. Sounds simple and I have the ingredients here already. Now I never made it before, but luckily for you I like trying new stuff so that is no problem'' she said it with enthusiasm and then started working on it.

MacKenzie slowly, but on his guard, came closer into the kitchen and looked at what she was doing. His head could just see over the kitchen counter and he looked intrigued how she cooked. He used to do the same thing whenever his mum was cooking, didn't matter if it was for breakfast or dinner, or when his father was operating the barbeque. MacKenzie was fascinated by cooking, although he never tried it himself. He sometimes made simple things with his mother, but those were baking products like cakes, muffins and pies. His mum cooked with gas and fire on a stove and she thought it was too dangerous for him to cook with that. She had promised him to learn it when he would be older, but that would never happen now.
Frisky on the other hand did not use a stove or gas. Her pans were on a flat, black surface. She had an induction hob. Something he never seen before.

''How does that work? Where does the fire come from?'' he asked at some point to her.

She looked at him a bit surprised not really understanding what he meant. ''The fire? What do you mean?'' she asked.

''How can you cook and warm up the food without gas and fire?'' he asked again and pointing to the induction hob.

She laughed. ''Oh! This is a induction hob. Under the glass are heating conductors that get really, really hot and warm up the surface. So it doesn't need gas to make a fire. It just uses electricity''.

MacKenzie's eyes widened. ''Wow. This house is really high-tech!'' he said amazed.

''Nah, it's just modern. Nothing to fancy'' Rad said as he walked in and overheard the conversation.

''Good morning Mr. Heeler'' MacKenzie greeted him. Rad walked towards him and greeted him back. ''Good morning boy. Hope you are feeling a bit better after yesterday'' Rad said friendly.

''Yeah… i… try not to think about it'' MacKenzie said bravely. Rad and Frisky understood and did not go further into it. In MacKenzie's mind however he was still haunted by the events. He tried to stay focused on other things In the house and watching Frisky or helping Rad setting things up, just no to give his mind a change to imagine the faces of a evil laughing Boris or the creepy look of the death wannabe kidnapper.

After everything was set up, MacKenzie looked at the clock and saw it was 08:30 am. Just about then a buzzer went off, meaning that someone pushed the front door bell.
MacKenzie felt anxious. He was worried how the Heelers would think of him after what happened. Would they be mad? Would they scold him, ignore him? Countless feelings and thoughts raced through his mind. He was sweating and he felt his heart beating heavily. He pulled a little at the fluff on his chest as he watched Rad opening the door and hearing the Heelers approaching in the hallway outside the apartment.

Before they enter or see him, he sprints towards the bathroom and locks the door. He grabs a towel and sweeps the sweat of his fur. He sticks his tongue out and starts breathing heavy. For some reason he needs the extra oxygen as he is extremely nervous. He puts his ear against the door and hears them coming in. But to his dismay he also hears the 'other' Heelers walking in; Stripe, Trixie, Muffin and Socks who arrived at the same time as Bandit and his family.

''Oh no… the whole family is here. Great. Now they all can know what I did and what happened to me'' he thought annoyed. He sighs. ''A whole family that will be angry at me or make fun of me. Maybe both'' he thinks worriedly. He just sits with his back against the door on the cold floor tile, his head resting on his knees.

After a couple of minutes a knock is heard on the door. ''MacKenzie? Everything alright in there?''. It's Frisky.

''Yeah… I think so. I'm coming'' he quickly answers.

He gets up and looks at himself in the mirror with a confident look, eyes looking mad at himself, breast forwards and a finger pointing at his reflection. ''You can do this you…'' he stops midsentence as he looks at himself for the first time. His shoulders start hanging, his arm falls down and the confidence fades away as he looks shocked with raised eyebrows at himself.
He was just starting to look better and the scars from the car crash were disappearing. Now they were replaced by other ones. He saw a new black eye, his pink skin in his neck with a stab wound and missing fur. Frisky had put a plaster on his snout the night before without him realizing it, just behind his nose.
He notice some scars on his arms and legs and a bit of the fluff on his chest missing. He whimpers a little and then hears a whistle sound out of his mouth. He pulls his lips back and remembers his now missing molar. He was greeted by a big hole in his underjaw.

He did not cry this time. What was the point, he thought. He now had to face the Heelers looking like this. He gulped and walked towards the door and opened it carefully. He peeked outside and saw nobody. Carefully he walked to the living room as where he saw Frisky and Trixie in the kitchen, grabbing items to bring them outside. He looked in the garden. The youngest children, and Stripe, already had started eating.
He spotted Rad and Bluey sitting at the end of the table surrounded by some empty chairs. He then realised that he didn't see Bandit or Chili.
Before he could peek to see where they were he heard footsteps approaching coming from behind him. He wanted to turn around but before he could do so he was grabbed by two arms, embracing him. He then felt a face pressing against him.

''Oh am I glad to see you save here. We were so worried. I'm so sorry for what you have been going through'' he heard Chili say to him. It was her who had grabbed him from behind. He could only see her red arms wrapped around him. Next he sees Bandit coming from behind him and then standing in from of him. He kneels down to his eye height and looks a bit uncomfortable as not to know what to say exactly when he begins to speak. ''Hey mate'' he starts while scratching the back of his head.

''Look. I'm really, really sorry for whatever I said or did to make you feel uncomfortable and make you run away. Same goes for Calypso I had to say''.

MacKenzie looks back at him and feels a enormous wave of guilt coming over him.
Slowly and softly he speaks to Bandit as he rubs his feet against each other: ''No. it is me who has to apologize. I maybe overreacted a bit. But…but… *sighs* I don't know actually what to say. Sorry''.

Bandit looks at him and reassures him. ''That's alright. I think we pushed you a bit to hard to talk. But please MacKenzie. If you feel pressured and want to leave… lock yourself up in your room next time okay? Then I can tell when you want to be left alone''.
MacKenzie nods.

Bandit then continued in a sternly and fatherly voice ''I don't want you to go through anything like what happened last night ever again. You had us very worried and righteous so. You are lucky you made it out alive and safe. From what I have been told you could be kidnapped or even worse…dead!''

MacKenzie gulps. Hearing those words… he knew it and heard it before yesterday, but coming from Bandit was something else. He felt the ground beneath him grumbling. He felt like he was an enormous disappointment and betrayed Bandit.

''I don't know what I had done. How had I to explain that to your aunt and uncle? Think of them. Think of us. How do you think Bluey and your other mates at school would feel if you just disappeared, never hearing from you again?. Promise you never, ever do that again! ''.

Bandit looked with a disapproving face at MacKenzie while saying that. Bandit did not like to do it. He felt awful. He was rarely angry or rarely had to correct his children. Not that it never happened of course, but it didn't happen often that he had to talk with a stern voice like this to Bluey or Bingo. His mum, and especially his dad, did it often to him and his brothers when they were young for often no justified reasons. Every bit of annoyance they had was turned into a lecture to one of their children when they did something they did not like. He therefore sworn when he became a father to only be sternly correct to his children when really necessary. He now felt that this was one of those times he had to do it.
But he did not like it. Especially because he basically did it to someone's child who just went through a traumatic experience. But he was now also responsible for his upbringing and therefore he had to tell him that what happened yesterday could never happen again and that MacKenzie should think with his brain and not on emotion.

He looked at Chili. She did not say anything but her eyes told him it was enough of that and he knew that MacKenzie would understand. Chili still hadn't let go of MacKenzie. It was hard for her. She had a rough night as every moment she spent awake she would think about MacKenzie being robbed on the streets, just like her mum was robbed all those years ago. The thought that history almost repeated itself but without anything dying this time, made her night very short as she had spent most of it awake. She was not only embracing MacKenzie at the moment, but it felt for her like she was also embracing her mum.
Bandit looked at MacKenzie who had his head hanging down and looked at the ground. It was obvious he felt ashamed. Bandit therefore quickly changed his tone and softly laid his hands on MacKenzie's shoulder.

''Hey look mate. I know you are sorry and I and Calypso are sorry. We are all just very, very happy that you are still here and that you are save and well. I…. we… ya know? We didn't wanted to lose you as well'' with that Bandit leans in and embraces MacKenzie to.

After a while Bandit and Chili let go of him. MacKenzie looks at them both. ''I understand and I promise to go upstairs next time. Sorry for what you have been going through. I just…just wasn't thinking. Sorry'' he says.

Bandit pats him on the back. ''The important thing is we talked about it. We made promises and understandings. Now a other thing, I made an appointment with the dentist tomorrow afternoon for you. He can fix your molar. By the looks of it, it can be saved''.

MacKenzie's tail wagged and he smiles as he hears that. ''That's a relief!'' he says.

''I know. And I thought he could only whiting teeth as he is Rad and Frisky's dentist. Now, let us go outside and eat some breakfast and stop the others from waiting on us. I'm hungry'' Bandit said.

They walked outside in the garden. MacKenzie felt a bit nervous as he was expecting disapproving or angry looks at him. But he never got any. He was greeted friendly and welcoming. He realised that the children weren't told anything about what happened and the adults knew that he and Bandit had talked and they weren't going to interfere. They were genuinely happy that he was safe with them.
He sat down next to Bluey as she invited him to sit next to her.

''Morning Kenzie. What were you thinking?'' she said at an instant as soon as he sat down next to her.

''Huh? I don't know what ya talking about?'' he said nervous. Did she found out and how?

''Well… to have a sleep over at aunt Frisky and Uncle Rad and not asking me to join of course?'' she answered back in a joyful tone.

MacKenzie sighed in relief. She didn't know. She thought he was just having a sleep over.

''Well…well'' he stammered and pressing his fingers at each other. ''It just happened and I forgot. Sorry?'' he said nervous.

Bluey laughed. ''It's forgiven Mac and cheese. So long as you promise that you will ask me to join a next time''.

''Okay and don't call me that'' he said annoyed back, causing Bluey to laugh as she starts to eat.

The family started eating and talking. MacKenzie thanked Frisky for the dish she made at his request. It was something so simple and not even a big thing, yet every bite reminded him of home and his mum and that was enough for him to think it was the best thing in the world. He let Bluey do the talking to him as she talked about everything she did yesterday at school and at Judo's place. Not any the wiser what he had been going through. It didn't bother him. He liked listening to her and it was a great distracting. Also it meant that he wouldn't had to talk.
After breakfast everyone helped cleaning up and then the family played a football match together.

MacKenzie, eager to join, tried to play to. But after already a couple of minutes he had to give up as the pain in his body became to much for him. He also noticed that he started to get out of breath fast. Probably because he hadn't been playing any kind of game for the last two and a half months, he thought. He was annoyed by it as normally he would never had problems with running or playing games and sports, but because of the crash he still had pain and was recovering and now he was losing his condition to. He therefore just watched frustrated how the game went and sat next to Trixie and Frisky who weren't playing either. After a while he joined them into cheering for both teams as they didn't choose sides.
Bandit said they had to choose, they told him to shut up.

After the game they went swimming in the community swimming pool behind the garden. It was a big pool as it was shared property and shared owned by the apartment building that Rad and Frisky lived in, as well as six others. Same buildings, all surrounding and closing off the pool from the outside. This was something MacKenzie could enjoy as he could get in the pool and swim a bit. He finally found something he could do, although with one arm and two legs as the other arm still did not do much. But he could dive, swim and have fun with the others. He even could be part of a game where everyone just threw a ball at each other to catch. With one arm he could do that and he did not have to run. He was just, like the others, enjoying himself and for a moment had not a care in the world.

After the ball game, the adults decided to relax back in the garden, with Stripe leaving behind to watch the kids, as the children stayed in the pool having fun. MacKenzie, Bluey and socks were making whirlpools. They were floating and laughing as they circled around for a short time. MacKenzie couldn't remember the last time he was having so much fun and when the last time it was that he went for a swim.

Then he suddenly remembered. It hit him like a blow from a hammer. It was the day of the car crash. When he went to his parents to the beach and he swam with them in the sea. When his father tried to surf after not doing that for years and failed miserably. How he and his mum laughed about that. Silently he broke the formation and swam to a corner of the pool. He let his arms rest on the grates on the side and then rested his head in his hands.

Bluey noticed that the formation was broken, stood up and looked around, arms in her sides. ''What happened'' she wondered to herself. She then spots MacKenzie in the corner. She doesn't understand what is going on and swims to him.
When she is close to him she taps him on the shoulder but get's no reaction back from him.

''Kenz. Is there anything wrong?''.

He sighs. ''No Bluey. Nothing is wrong. I just don't want to play anymore'' he answers her.

''Oh ok. Do you mind if I join you?''.

He is surprised when he hears that. She doesn't wait for an answer but joins him and stands in the same position as he is. Arms resting on the sides and head buried in them. They both stand there together for some time in silence next to each other. He watches her face as she is faced towards him. She has her eyes closed and just sunbathes. MacKenzie feels awkward at first but then relaxes. The troubles in his mind and his sad feelings from just a couple of minutes earlier are fading away. Is it because of her? Is it her presence that calms him? he wonders all of that before relaxing and closing his eyes himself. Not falling asleep, just listening to the wind, the birds, the rustle of the palm tree leaves, the zooming of insects and the sounds of splashing water against the side.

Stripe looks up from his phone to see what the kids are up to. He spots Bingo, Socks and Muffin playing and on the other side sees Bluey and MacKenzie sunbathing on the edge. Seeing the latter makes him smile as he shuts off his phone and closes his eyes.
It reminded him of something. He dreams off and thinks about his last relaxing holiday with Trixie, just nine months before Muffin was born. They spend their holiday in New Caledonia. They were not like Bandit and Chili who went on sight seeing, city trips and exploring museums. They went on holidays to party, eat and drink the good food and relax on the beaches and at the pools. He remembered how they spent the time together, how they laughed and had fun. The parties, the long stays at the beaches and the amazing restaurants and cafes they visited. How all that changed since they got kids, and how their relationship had changed he suddenly thought.

He opened his eyes again at the shock of that last thought and started to overthink. He absolutely loved both of his daughters and never would wish he never had them. But he couldn't help but wonder if his relationship with Trixie really had changed. He remembered what Bandit said to him last night: ''If you talk like this to Trixie every time I can understand why…. Nevermind''. What was it that Bandit wanted to say. He didn't think much of it then, but now he did. He started to think even harder. He remembered Sock's teacher who asked him and Trixie with a bit of concern on a teacher-parent night if everything was okay between them at home.
His children walking away every time he and Trixie were just squabbling. Did people really stare at them when they talked to each other in the supermarket or at the mall getting things or was it because how they talked to each other? He started to get worried. Was his marriage failing and did he not notice that? He shook his head to get the bad thoughts out of his head. ''No. There is nothing between us!'' he said to himself.

''Uncle Stripe?'' he suddenly heard. He turns his head and sees Bluey and MacKenzie standing next to him.

''Oh, sorry Bluey. Was a bit distracted. What is it?'' he said friendly as he sat up right.

''Can MacKenzie and I go to the creek? Is over the other side of the building and could you say that to dad so he knows where we are going?''

Stripe looks at both of them. He saw that they both had shaken of the water of their fur next to where they had come out of the pool. ''Yeah that's okay Bluey. I tell your dad were you two are going. Dry yourself both off with a towel first and be back before lunch time'' he said friendly.

''Thank you Uncle Stripe'' Bluey said.

''No worries. Be careful and no funny business!'' he shouted at them as they left.

While Stripe was away in this thoughts, Bluey had opened her eyes and stared at MacKenzie. She wanted to talk to him, but not here. And she knew he wanted to talk but not here. She then thought of their both shared favourite place; the creek.

She asked MacKenzie, disrupting him from his relaxing moment if he wanted to visit the creek. He had looked at her and just said yes. Now they were going there. They walked through the gate between two apartment buildings and walked to the front side where the cars stood parked. Bluey let MacKenzie to the park he had seen that morning when he looked out of the window of the guestroom.

''But the creek is not here'' he protested, as he thought Bluey would ask Stripe or Bandit to take them there.

''Hihi. That is what you think'' she said. ''This park is the start of it! When we walk down this path we end up on the other side of the waterfall of our creek'' she said.
She knew where to go and guided them further into a side path of the park.

-
Meanwhile at the pool, Bandit returns and shouts.
''Kids, if you want something to eat, Aunt Frisky made sandwiches''. When he heard the kids repeating him, screaming ''SANDWICHES!'' he looked satisfied when they got out of the water and run to the garden of Rad.

He spots Bingo, Muffin and Socks. He then turns around and looks at the pool expecting two more kids. But to his surprise they don't show up. He looks again and notice them missing.

''uh… Stripe?''

''Yeah mate?''

''Where are Bluey and MacKenzie?''.

''Away''.

''I can see that. Do you know where they went?'' ''Yeah. The Creek they said''.

''Oh okay. Thank you''. Bandit turns around and is about to walk back to the garden when Stripe's answer hit him. He turns around again, now looking furious at Stripe. ''Excuse me? Did you say the creek?''.

Stripe looks surprised at the reaction.

''Yeah. The creek. That is what they said''.

''Mate. The creek is a walk from about an hour from here! Why did you allow them to go alone to there!'' Bandit says angry.

''Well… they asked politely. And besides, if you walk across the street to that little park there, there is a route that leads to the big park and you walk alongside that creek. It's only a fifteen minute walk then''.

Bandit sighed frustrated. ''Stripe, you should have send them to me to ask for permission and so I could go with them. They should not go alone. Bluey is my kid and MacKenzie is my responsibility.''.

''Relax big brother. I told them to behave and be carefull''.

''Oh that helps'' Bandit said sarcastically.

''Don't worry. MacKenzie is a good kid. He won't do any harm to her or… other things''.

''Oh I know that. I'm not worried about him. I'm more concerned about what my daughter is planning''.

Stripe wanted to defend himself. ''Bandit, they are old enough to go out for a walk on their own. I just thought they needed some alone time together''.

''At their age, come on Stripe. Don't be naïve!'' Bandit said back.

''Stripe! What is it this time you've done?'' both heard a annoyed Trixie say as she walked towards the brothers.

''Stripe gave my daughter and foster child permission to go out on their own to the park'' Bandit said frustrated.

Trixie looked angry at Stripe. ''Jesus Stripe, why the fuck did you do that?''

''WHAT?! How could I know that you both don't trust those two being alone together?'' Stripe said as he stood up and now looked pissed.

''IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT!'' Trixie shouted back in his face. ''It's once again you not thinking about consequences. You wouldn't let Muffin walk on her own to a public park or public mall without supervision?'''

Stripe now looked a bit nervous. ''n..nnn…nooo.. No. No of course I wouldn't'.

''Then why allow your niece? It's not about them together, it's about their safety!. You know what almost happened to MacKenzie last night! There are creeps walking around looking for children AND YOU LET THEM GO UNSUPERVISED! How dumb can you be?'' Trixie was spitting in Stripe's face as she said that furiously at him.

''Exactly my thoughts'' Bandit added. He then turned around and walked to the gates. ''I go after them. Trix let Chili know I will be back soon. I have my mobile with me.''.
Trixie nodded to Bandit.
Stripe wanted to ease the tension by making a joke: ''Is it fully charged this time? He he''. He should have kept his mouth shut as the joke was not appreciated at this time.
Bandit and Trixie looked with so much anger at him that it looked like he was caught in a thunderstorm. Bandit rolled his eyes and walked to the park.

''It was just a joke. Didn't mean to hurt any feelings'' he said, more to himself in a soft voice then to anyone else.

''Stripe Heeler… You are such a….such a…'' Trixie said as she was pinching the bridge of her muzzle. She sounded annoyed and done. She bolded her fists. She wanted to hit him, but she knew she should not do that.

''Honey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…'' Stripe said in a pity voice.

''Oh you never mean to but every time somehow you know how to fuck things up. Why can't you…''

She stopped talking when she suddenly heard some sniffles. Both of them turned around at the same time and saw Socks standing at the entrance of the gate of Rad's garden. Her eyes red and watery as tears were falling from her cheeks. Her parents turned into a state of shock and stood there forgetting what they were doing and with widened eyes.

''Oh no. no no no no no. Socks pumpkin. There is nothing. We are not fighting'' Stripe quickly said as he walked to his daughter.

''Honey, we were just squabbling. It's nothing to be worried about. Mummy and daddy are not angry'' Trixie quickly added as she too walked to her youngest daughter.

Socks turned around before her parents could hug her and quickly ran away from them, crying as she ran towards her aunts Chili and Frisky who were inside in the house. Stripe and Trixie looked at each other with worried faces as they both felt gilt on their shoulders.
They did not say antything but they were thinking the same.

-
Meanwhile Bandit followed the path in the park that lead to the creek. He was not worried about both pre-teens doing funny business as Stripe said, but he was worried about their safety. Bluey not knowing what almost happened to MacKenzie and the latter in still a emotional state. He did not want someone to take advance of that or that hey would walk in to danger. It was always his biggest fear and yesterday that almost became true. He was sweating and puffing as he tried to catch up to them.
He could follow their trail as in the mud and the sand he would see their paw prints and would find pieces of shedding's of blue and black/white fur along the path.

Finally after a record walk of his life time, he was at the point he knew they would hang out. He was standing above the little waterfall in the creek. As he looked down he finally spotted them. They were sitting below the waterfall in the water, skipping stones across the creek.

Bandit was still recovering from his sprint and tried to catch his breath before announcing his arrival. He did not intended to be mad, but just wanted to say he heard from Stripe that they were here and that they could stay here, but that he also would be here with them. He was actually happy and proud that Bluey had told where she had gone to and not going somewhere without telling someone.

When he felt like he could talk again, he turned around. A naughty smile then grew upon his face and his tail began to wag as he thought of an idea to tease them. He wanted to scare them, just playful. So he quickly hide after some rocks. He spotted a small stone and picked it up. Just as he was about to throw it in the bushes to distract them so he could sneak up from behind, he heard MacKenzie say something.

''Hey… Blues.''

''Yeah?'' Bluey said as she skipped another stone.

''Can I be a nuisance and ask… well… can we talk?''

Bluey dropped the new stone she just picked up and looked at him as she gave him a smile. ''Yeah of course!''.
They both walked to the side and sat at the waterside. Bandit also dropped his stone and came a bit closer to hear what he was about to say. His curiosity growing.

Bluey took MacKenzie's hand and stared in his face. ''Before you say anything, I want to apologize.

MacKenzie looked surprised. ''What for?''

''Well. I know you wanted to talk to me, and I said you could always come to me, but when you came two nights ago i… you remember. I send you away. I should not have done that. Sorry''.
''That's alright. You already said sorry for it and I should have known that it was not the right moment'' MacKenzie said reassuring.

''No! It was. It wasn't the right time if I was seriously ill or someone in the family. Not because I was just tired of Chloe's extreme games and therefore grumpy. I should have be nicer when you finally wanted to speak''.

MacKenzie looked guilty. ''Bluey to be honest. Maybe I just wanted to talk that night, but I forced myself to talk the whole day. And… well maybe I wouldn't tell you everything that night I thought to myself later. What I am saying is… I think I can and really want to say what is on my mind''.

Bandit wanted to squeak as a little girl. Finally MacKenzie wanted to talk about his feeling. Then he got overwhelmed by a sad feeling. MacKenzie wanted to share it with his daughter and not with him and Calypso. He wondered why, but decided not to think to much of it and focus on what he had to say.

Bluey scooped a bit closer to MacKenzie. ''It's okay. If you don't want to talk that no problem. I mean, you have to be okay with it yourself. Do not feel forced to do so''.
MacKenzie sighed and was struggling to find words. Bluey noticed this. ''Just say whatever you want and how you want it. I will not judge you. Never''.

This was the reassurance MacKenzie was looking for.
''Ever since the crash i… I feel like I can't be happy. No I say that wrong. I can and want to be happy but I don't think I am allowed to be''.

Bluey looked confused. ''Who says that you can't?''.

He looks at her with a tear in his eye. ''I AM!'' he says in an almost desperate tone.

Bluey wants to ask why he doesn't allow himself to be happy or why he thinks that. She even wants to say that he shouldn't feel like that. But she keeps silent. She knows that he is the one talking. She is afraid that if she asks to many questions or interrupts him, he will stop.

MacKenzie is silent for a while and then continues talking.
''After losing my parents I have felt so much guilt. Why them and not me? Or why not all together or why could they not survive? Was it my fault for not deciding what to do that day so they had to come up with ideas. If I had said the aquarium or the zoo or just about anything else, they would never had picked the beach and the botanic gardens to visit. Then they would not have been hit by that drunk driver''.

MacKenzie was quickly removing the tears that formed in the corner of his eyes as he continued.
''I have been plagued by nightmares. Ones that relived those last moments. How my mum saved me because she embraced me whole and kept me save from the flames. Dreams where others judge me and hate me because I survived, even you Bluey. Then the ones that pretend that they are still alive and nothing happened are the worst along the nightmares were my entire family is talking shit about me and that I should feel ashamed of being alive and now living with you and your mum and dad''.
He sighs as he rest his arms under his head. He looks the other way, feeling embarrassed about sharing his dreams.

Bluey stays silent again for a while. When he stays silent to long, she decides to speak.
''MacKenzie, I would never ever hate you for surviving. It's the other way round actually. I am really, really happy that you did survive. So does everybody else. I can't think about how sad and mad I would be if you weren't in my life no more. There is no one in this world that is mad at you. Not even your parents! I don't know if they are still out there somewhere but if they were, I would for 100% know for sure they would be relieved that you are still alive. And I know for sure they wouldn't mind you living with us. Your family didn't. Aunt Mabel was happy about it''.

MacKenzie looks with a sad face at her. He searches in her expression any signs of doubt, lies or pity. But he can't find them. He only sees trust, self-confidence and a look in her face that says everything will be okay. She smiles a bit at him and therefore he can't help but smile a bit back.

''For real life?'' he asks with a soft voice?

''Yes for real life!'' Bluey says back.

They keep silent again for some time as MacKenzie suddenly continues just about when Bluey wants to say something again.
''It's not just that you know''.

She looks at him and waits till he continues. But he looks at her with a look in his eyes that ask for permission to continue. She nods. ''What is there more?''.
He sighs and then looks at the waterfall.

''Where to start. I feel like a nuisance for saddling up Calypso and your dad with me and my life. That they have to do everything and that I am just standing there. I feel mad at my family for not taking me with them and leaving me behind here alone. I feel confused about my future where I have to live and how to be guided through my life. Everything I knew, my routine, my life has been taken away from me. And there is no one I can be mad at''.

''How about that drunk driver?'' Bluey asked. She felt stupid as she didn't want to interrupt.

Luckily MacKenzie did answer and did not stop. ''That is the weird part. I want to be mad at him. I should hate him even! But… for some reason I don't feel anything for him. I never seen him, I don't know where he is right now, I never talked to him. I know what he took away from me… but how can I be mad at something I never seen or heard?''.
He then looked at her.

''Bluey. Be honest with me. Has anyone told you that I ran away yesterday?''.

Bluey looked surprised. ''Walked away… no…no. They haven't? What do you mean with walked away?''.

MacKenzie started sobbing. ''I did. I'm sorry.''

''They only told me you were invited by Uncle Rad for a sleep over and I thought that would make sense because you two were already bonding and that you maybe needed a change of space for a day'' Bluey said.
Silence followed again.

Bandit meanwhile bit his nails. He lied again to Bluey because once again he did not wanted to make her feel worried. He was now worried for the consequences. He knew that she would find out about the truth one day, but not this soon. He now only knew she would use this against him someday.

After a while MacKenzie continued. ''I ended up at your uncle because he picked me up from a police station''.
''Where you arrested then?'' she asked.

MacKenzie shook his head. ''No. They saved me. What happened was… i mean the reason i walked away was because I recognised Calypso''.

''Of course you would. She had been our teacher since we were six''.

MacKenzie shook his head again. ''No from before that. A other dream I was having was not necessarily a dream, but more a… how do you say that. A repetition of an event from the past. My past''.
Bluey looked with a curious face at him.

''When me and my parents just moved to Australia I left a place I knew and grow up in. I was two, but I was just about to get familiar with everything and then everything changed when we moved. The only solid rocks in my in my existence then were my mum and dad. When we lived here for one or just two weeks, me and my mum went to a shopping mall. I went onto a slide and… please don't laugh because it will sound stupid and silly''.

Bluey rested her paw on his knee. ''No no. It won't. You can tell me''.

MacKenzie looked thankful at her. ''When I came down from the slide I couldn't find her. The only person I knew in this, at the time, strange surroundings in a strange country was her and she was gone. I was convinced she… she'' he gulps as he starts to fight against new tears coming up. ''she abandoned me''.

MacKenzie picked up leave from the ground and blows his nose in it. ''Suddenly… this strange woman came to me and asked me If I was alright. She reassured me me that my mum did not abandon me and we found her. Turned out my mum was standing at the exit of a other slide, a wrong one. But years later I always forgot that last part and struggled with the idea of my mum or dad or both ever abandon me. That is why I always wanted to be near them. Why I still hold their hand until I was ten wherever we went. So they could not. And some years ago I suddenly remembered while playing with Jack and Rusty the part of the kind lady who told me that my mum hadn't abandon me. Now get this… just some days ago the whole thing went through my head again. And I could now remember who that lady was. It was Calypso''.

Bluey's eyes widened. ''No… she helped you back then? That is amazing''.

MacKenzie looked a bit sad but also had a little smile. ''Yeah she is. But for some reason I went crazy. I accused her of lying. I said to her that she promised me all those years ago I wasn't abandoned, but no for some reason I felt I was. The worst part is that she doesn't even remember it so she did not understood why I was mad and that made me angrier. And therefore I ran away. Because I could not deal with those emotions. It was stupid of me''.
Bandit heard it and now finally understood what the outburst was about.

''So… therefore you ran away and bumped into me when you left the house? Was that why that happened?'' Bluey said connecting the dots of yesterdays events.

MacKenzie nodded. ''Sorry about that again''.

''No. It didn't hurt'' she quickly said. ''What did you do after and where did you go?'' she then asked.

MacKenzie sighed again. ''I just ran not knowing where to go. I ended up on the other side of the town at a supermarket. I felt guilty and bought a cake for Calypso and your dad as a way of saying that I was sorry''.

''That's nice'' Bluey said in-between.

''What wasn't nice is that I lost my way and ended up in a slum. I got robbed and beaten up by a thug. That is why I now mis a tooth and have these new bruises'' he pulled his lip down and showed her the whole in his mouth. Bluey gasped at the sight.

''No… oh no. That's horrible. I honestly thougth that you got those new bruises becasue you fighted with Skippy or something in the wild''. She tried to make a joke to make him feel a bit better and it worked. He laughed a little inbetween the tears about that remark.
She continued then: ''So that is how the police found you and brought you to uncle Rad?''. She strokes his back as she feels terrible sorry for her. He hadn't told her the rest but wanted to save her from the further details so he just confirmed that. Then she asked ''Can your tooth be fixed?''.

''Yes thank dog. Your dad has made a appointment for me at a dentist to fix it… that's another thing that bothers me. Sorry to say it. But it's your family.''

Bandit frowned and pricked up his ears even more to hear it even better what was about to be said. Bluey stopped stroking MacKenzie's back and also frowned. ''What is it with my family?''.
''Don't get me wrong, I don't mean anything nasty with it. There is nothing wrong with you, your dad or anyone else. Especially not with you. You are all lovely people, wonderful people and I am so grateful for the love and care you and your family give me and… that is what I'm not getting. Why do you all want to help me? A stranger, a other dog breed, a foreigner basically. What can I ever do to give all that back? Your mum, your uncles and aunt they give me so much and do so much for me'' tears were starting to swell in his eyes again. ''and I can't do anything back for you all. I only caused havoc yesterday and i feel like i betrayed your dad and hurt your mum. The only thing I'm causing you all is stealing your time, attention, dedication and make you all feel worried about me. I have no family and what I have didn't want me. Why didn't my family want me and why is your family treating me as family?. I just don't get it''.

Bluey wanted to answer but he continues.

''And then there is just the frustration I have about my future. What will happen to me? Where and with who do I end up as foster family? I know the truth. I have only a limited time I can stay with your family and in Calypso's care. It's the uncertainty that eats me from the inside. And then there is my stupid jealousy on top of that as well'' he added.

''Jealousy? For what?'' Bluey asked in surprise.

''I'm jealous on you Bluey. Well, not only at you. Also at Jack. And Rusty. And Muffin, Coco, Winton, Chloe, Indy, Lucky, Lila, my cousin Rupert, just everyone'' he answered.

Bluey did not understand. ''But why are you jealous?'' MacKenzie turned his face away, ashamed of what he was about to say. ''You all have a sibling or siblings. None of you are alone. But I am''.
Bluey looked puzzled at first but then seemed to understand.

MacKenzie continued; ''Everyone in our class has a brother or sister except me. When we had that sibling sport contest at school that Calypso organised last year were everyone could take his sibling to compete against other sibling pairs. I had no one. I never felt so locked out of anything. Calypso understood that quickly thankfully and had arranged for Captain to be there. Nice surprise and we had fun but still I felt left out. And when others couldn't play after school or in the weekends I was always alone. You had, and still have, Bingo to play games with at home. I was depending on others wanting to play with me. I had nobody. And now… I even feel more lonely then all those other times.
All those memories I made with my parents all these years. Every day we were together, every struggle, every advise, every holiday, every talk, every vacation, you name it. Everything we shared and talked about, all emotions we shared. They are all my memories now for me alone until the day I die someday.
No one to share it with. Yes I can talk about it, but you weren't there to experience it. I don't have a sibling to talk about shared memories, to look back on things. Or to share my grief with''. MacKenzie sounded really, really depressed when summarising his feelings.

''But you can share your grief with me'' Bluey said.

''I know Bluey, and I am thankful for that. And I can share it with others to. But… it's not the same as doing it with some who also really knew and knows what you have lost. It was not just mum and dad, it was my life''.

They were silent again for a while. Bandit in the meantime thought about what MacKenzie said. He never realised until now that it was true. His parents weren't getting any younger or healthier. How long would they still be around he wondered. But If they were gone, he had both of his brothers to share fond memories with. And Bluey had Bingo had each other when he and Chili wouldn't be around anymore. Oh how he sometimes back in his youth could kill and hate his brothers. Sometimes even today how he could strangle Stripe for his actions. But now he felt a feeling of gratitude that he never felt before. That they were never to be truly alone. Bandit understood MacKenzie better with every word he said.
And just like MacKenzie, he had trouble keeping it dry. He had been crying and did his best to keep quit so not to be heard. He then heard MacKenzie talking again:

''Every time… every fucking time I think I'm over it about what happened and that I can life in peace and get some rest to work out my future… all those dreams and feelings come back to taunt me every time! Every time when I think I checked off all stages of the grieving progress your parents explained to me, I return right back to step 1. It's not stopping that grieving, it's returns. It always goes back full circle and I want to step out of that. That's why I am so ashamed of myself. I can't get over it and I let you, your parents, my friends, my family down. Why can't I just move on and forget about it all and life a normal, mentally healthy life as everyone else'' he said as he started to sob and break down.
Bluey rubbed his back again and held his paw as he continued crying. Bandit really had the urge to come down to comfort him and to assure him everything would be alright. But he knew this wasn't the moment for him to pop up.

When the sobbing became less, Bluey talked: MacKenzie… I can tell you and assure you that me and my family do all of this out of love and care for you and your parents. Not because we feel that we have to. I know for a fact that your mum and dad would never want to abandon you, never would they do that. They are also not mad at you. What happened was never your fault and no one could have predicted that, that could happen. Please know that your aunt and uncle thought it was the best for you that you would stay here. They did that out of love. I understand your jealousy about siblings. I never thought of it like that and if I knew I would have asked you to come over more often.
I just now realised how privileged I am to never have to experience that''.

MacKenzie listened to her as she was now holding both of his paws. He looked at her. Thousands of different emotions went through him. He felt his hearth pumping aggressively again in his chest, his legs were shaking.

Bluey continued with her soft and carrying voice: ''Forget that grieving progress and that check list you are keeping. Grieving is something you always will do and experience in life, that's normal. You have to life with that, just like that. And it's not wrong! You have to accept it and when you do that, then you can start living your new life. And in that new life there will be still place for your grief and your parents, but it won't take over your dreams and emotions anymore. Also… I can't tell you or make promises about the future but one thing I can and will promise. Whatever happens, we always will be best friends forever and I will always be there for you! I… i… *sighs* it's difficult for me to tell you otherwise about any of that. Perhaps Calypso or my dad would do that. But I won't. I listened to you and I understand all of your feelings.
But me just agreeing or repeating that those thoughts you have are not true or wrong, won't help. I can say it over and over again, but your mind will…excuse my German…Fuck that up. Because of your emotions. You are the one that has to convince yourself that those thoughts you have are wrong and not true!''.

They looked at each other. Bluey was breathing heavy. She told him what she thought and for her it felt like she said the thing, but she was still scared of how MacKenzie would react to it. She looked at him and saw how his chest was coming up and down in a heavy manner. She heard him breathing and saw in his eyes that he was thinking about a thousand things probably.

''Kenzie. I know what you need'' she said.
She then bends over and hugs him. Her rest resting against the side of his head. Her arms wrapped tightly around him.
MacKenzie snaps out his thinking progress. He looks at what she does. Then he hugs her back. He starts crying again, but she won't let him go.

This is what he needed indeed. This was the first time that he got a proper, lovingly hug and he felt that. Of course after the crash he was hugged by family, Bandit, Calypso, Chili, Frisky even but always coming from them as comfort to him. He never had hugged back and let it happen to him. When he hugged someone it was done as a form of saying thank you. Like when he hugged Bandit. But this hug with Bluey. It wasn't meant for loving or sharing emotions like he had when hugging his mum or dad. But now he received and returned that kind of hug. It was indeed what he needed.

He had done it. He finally shared everything that was on his mind. He shared it with the person he felt the most comfortable with and she did not only listen and did not interrupt him, she also went straight to the point. No one can magically fix his emotional state but himself. He needed someone to tell him that straight. He finally knew how to move on and to life with it he thought. And he finally lost a bit of guilt for what happened that day.

Bandit looks at them and decides that it's time to leave them alone. He stands up and quietly walks away. Not to far, as he want to make sure the return home. He just keeps a distant forward to be back earlier. He is filled with proud at his daughter.
He never knew she would be such a excellent listener, talker and so mature for her age. How she dealt with the emotions and knew what to say and do. He could never do that. She got that from her mother, that is for sure he said to himself.

Meanwhile MacKenzie and Bluey were still hugging and embracing each other. Bluey felt her shoulder becoming wet from the tears of her friend, but she did not care. He had to let it all out she thought. After some more minutes MacKenzie quieted down and slowly let go, which meant she did let go to. She looked at him and give him a smile. ''Better?''.
Between the still small sobs, MacKenzie laughed. ''yes. Thank you''.

He picked up a stone and then skipped it across the water. ''Thank you Blue. That really did help me. I finally shared everything that was on my mind and what you said… you are right''.

''The best part is, you don't have to go through all of this alone you know''. He nodded at her.

''I think we should return before the others get worried'' MacKenzie said. Bluey nodded. ''Yeah, you are probably right''.

They stood up and climbed up the waterfall. Bluey looked at the broken leaves and thought to herself that it looked like someone recently had laid there, but didn't think to much of it. They were walking back and enjoyed the nature around them. Suddenly she felt MacKenzie grabbing her hand and for the rest of the walk back home they were walking hand in hand. He did not really know why he did it. It felt safe, just like he would take the paw of his mum or dad as he walked with them. He then knew that he felt safe around her and could trust her. That is why he did it.

Bandit arrived back sooner then them and told Chili. Frisky and Rad that everything was ok, that they were coming and that they didn't know he was with them the whole time. He asked them not to say anything as he would explain everything to them later. He then noticed that Stripe and his family already left and asked Chili what happened. She said she would explain that to him also later.

When they returned they were greeted and ate from the sandwiches that were left over. Bandit just casually asked them how their walk was and they answered that it was fine and just spent some time at the creek. Which was a part of the truth.
Some time later they said their goodbye's to Rad and Frisky and MacKenzie kept thanking them for letting him stay over and for picking him up from the police station. When they returned back home, he and Bluey spent some time working on their homework. Bluey helped him with some math problems and how to find solutions for them as he missed those explanations at school. When they finished it was time for dinner. MacKenzie asked, to Chili's surprise, if he could watch and help. She agreed happily and made him peel the potatoes and cut the onions. Together they cooked a wonderful meal. The rest of the day was spent with fun games and a movie. Bluey, still not completely over her fear of movies, sometimes grabbed his hand when a scene became to exciting. He let it happen.

The next day was a relaxing day for MacKenzie, Bluey and Bingo spent in the garden. They were playing games, doing puzzles and all kind of activities you can do outside. Chucky joined them as Lucky was at football training and he was left alone and bored. MacKenzie enjoyed the day as it was just relaxed and calm. He had slept well, he wasn't emotional and he was having fun. He really thought and felt that sharing his emotions and fears and finally talk about them yesterday with Bluey helped. He hadn't felt better in months.

When the afternoon was almost over, Bandit called for MacKenzie and took him to the dentist. Now MacKenzie wasn't afraid of the dentist, but he sure wasn't a fan of her either. He was sitting nervously with Bandit in the waiting room when the dentist, a big grey-white Alaskan Malamute, called for them. She was a joyful and kind person, easy going and she put him at ease. He did not hate her, he just hated the job she was doing.

He lay down in the dentist chair and tried to think off over things. But when he spotted the big needle with anaesthesia in the corner of his eye, he cramped up. His put his nails in the chair and started trembling. The malamute dentist tried to relax him, but to almost no avail. Bandit had to be there to calm him down as the dentist grabbed his underlip and stick the needle in his gums.

MacKenzie felt the sharp needle and he had to control the urge to chomp his muzzle shut. When the needle was removed it left a bitter and nasty taste in his mouth. He smacked his lips a few times until he suddenly couldn't feel them anymore. He couldn't feel a thing anymore at all. He became a bit worried about this but the dentist told him it was fine and that it was something that was supposed to do. He tried to talk but noticed he couldn't.
The anaesthesia had effect his speech and he could only mumbling and drooling. Bandit chuckled a bit at the sight of it.

For the next hour the dentist was working hard to restore his molar and placing it back. A painful devise kept his muzzle wide open and an assistant hung over him with a straw in his mouth to suck up his saliva from the back of his throat. It was anything but comfortable. The dentist pulled and pushed hard on his muzzle and the deafening sounds of the machines going in and out were almost like a torture. But as fast as it started, as soon it was all suddenly over.

''Ta-da!'' the dentist shouted in glory when she, without a warning, removed everything out of his muzzle and he could move freely again. She held a hand mirror in front of him and he looked. It was back. The gap was gone and his own molar, who had been preserved, was back.
He looked normal again. He began to wag his tail as he was really happy at the result.
He wanted to thank her but he still wasn't able to talk thanks to the anaesthesia so he just shook her hand for two minutes. The dentist laughed and gave him instructions how to brush and keep the molar clean and warned him that the anaesthesia could still work for another six hours before fading away. At that point MacKenzie couldn't know that he would need his speech back sooner and that six hours was too long to wait…

-
When Bandit and MacKenzie arrived back at the Heeler house it was already dark outside. They walked in and sat down, just in time for diner. Chili had made a bowl of soup and a vegetable smoothie as he could not chew right now. She told that Calypso had called and wanted to visit MacKenzie if he was alright with that. He nodded that it was alright. Then after Chili had told Calypso that she could come over, MacKenzie realised he barely could talk now. He figured he just had to write everything down on paper like Dougie.

When they finished their dinner, the family was busy cleaning everything up when the doorbell rang. Bluey opened the door and was greeted by Calypso.
''Hi Bluey!'' she said cheerfully as he walked in ''Hi Calypso! Welcome in our humble castle'' she said joke fully.

''Why thank you very much'' Calypso answered back.

MacKenzie walked in to greet her and so did Bandit and Chili. Bingo meanwhile stayed in the kitchen a bit longer as she was busy reading the list of ingredients on the cans of beans in the cupboards.

''Hi MacKenzie. How are you doing?'' Calypso asked him.

He tried to answer but he could only babble something unintelligible. Calypso looked up in surprise.
''We went to the dentist about two hours ago. The anaesthesia hasn't gone over yet I'm afraid'' Bandit explained to her.

''Oh I see. Well that shouldn't be a problem. What if you write down what you want to say MacKenzie?'' Calypso asked. He nodded and they sat together on the couch. Bluey sat with them as she was just very curious what was going on.

''Bluey, leave them alone'' Chili said.

''But mum. I just want to see what….''
She got interrupted when the doorbell rang again.

''Oe. I get it!'' Bluey said as she jumped from the couch to the door. She opened it, curious to see who would stand at the other side.

When she opened the door she was surprised by what she saw. In front of her stood a dog of middle height with a black face, white fur with black markings and spots. Almost a border-collie, but not exact. She then remembered his breed. He was a stabyhoun. But it was what was standing behind him that drew her attention and make her tail and ears droop. It gave some spooky vibes. The front of their house was surrounded by three police cars and six police officers. A blue government van with bars on the windows and some government officials and she even spotted a old Volvo with a journalist in it with a scary and mean smile on his snout. It looked from a distance if his snout was covered in bandages.

She stood there in astonishment as what she saw when the Stabyhound coughed. She looked up at him.
''Is this the house of mr. Bandit Custard Heeler?'' he said in a serious tone.

Bluey nodded yes.

''Get your dad for me then please'' he demanded from Bluey.

Bluey walked back to the living room.

''Uhm… dad? There is a scary man at the front door that wants to talk to you'' she said a bit scared.

Bandit immediately stood up from his chair and walked to the door. When he saw what Bluey saw his jaw fell open.

''What is the meaning of all of this?'' he demanded to know.

''It looks more intimidating then it is and should be, I agree. But it's just standard government procedure that they should all be there If anything goes wrong. And with that I mean when you go out of bounds. It's my insurance of safety'' was the answer he got from the dog standing at his front door.

''What are you talking about? Who are you?'' Bandit said with frustration in his voice.

''My name is Friso Fries. I work at the Brisbane national child safety services council, responsible for the securement of children's safety in families and foster families. We also make sure they are safe by doing regular check-ups at all schools, in- and outdoor playgrounds and day-cares''.

''So what? What brings you here?'' Bandit wanted to know.

''Well Mr. Heeler, I got the responsibility to make sure that young mr. MacKenzie Collie, born on the 24th of October 2018 in Richmond, Tasman New-Zealand to parents Joshua Martin Collie and Charlotte Border. Who, as you may know have recently and tragically pasted away. Where was i… oh yeah. I got the responsibility to make sure he gets the care he needs and ends up in a foster family that takes good care of him or a adoption family''.

''Oh. I understand. So you come to check up with him them to see how he is doing?'' Bandit asked. In the meantime Chili had walked to the door as well to see who Bandit was talking to.

''Not precisely Mr. Heeler. I heard a thing or two about what happened in the last months and I have decided to speed up the process without your or miss. Calypso Shepperd's involvement''.

Bandit and Chili looked at each other. ''What do you mean with speed up the process. Which process?' Chilli asked.

''It means that I have found a good person that wants and can take care of MacKenzie and who will adopt him. Which means that we (he points with his thumb to all the people standing behind him) are here to pick him up immediately and bring him to that person as he is clearly not safe with you unfortuanlly''.

Bandit's jaw felt open from shock after hearing this and Chili gasped as she put her hand in front of her mouth. Bandit began to shout: ''WHAT DO YOU MEAN. EXPLAIN YOURSELF!''.

Friso laughed. ''Come on Mr. Heeler. This tone of aggression is a new reason I can now add to the list why you are not capable of raising children''.

Bandit's blood pressure raises dangerously high after being told that. You couldn't insult and hurt Bandit more than by saying something like that. Friso continued. ''According to what I've heard you let MacKenzie walk alone in a slum, he got robbed and extremely beaten up. Then he got almost kidnapped by a molester. Where were you? Why did you allow that to happen? Why did you not call the police to report his missing?''.

''I did look for him for hours! And I tried to call the police but the pig did not want to take it seriously, hung up and said to call back two days later!'' Bandit said in desperation.

Friso ignored him and continued. ''Then we have the charges against you and your brother for the abuse of a journalist at a funeral (Chili now looks at Bandit as she did not heard that one before), dangerously driving on the high way and driving close to the place where his parents died on that same highway… do you like torturing a kid like that Mr. Heeler?'' Friso asked.

''YOU LITTLE BASTARD!'' Bandit yelled out as he had enough of these false accusations. He walked threatening towards Friso.
Then the police officers who were standing in the garden sprinted forwards and pressed Bandit against the wall of his living room.

''My suspiciousness about you being a aggressive man are hereby confirmed'' Friso said without any emotion in his voice as he looked at Bandit being hold down by two police officers who handcuffed him.

''Bandit!'' screamed Chili. She wanted to get close to her husband, but a female officer demanded her to step back.
Now Calypso, MacKenzie and Bluey all walked in the room to see what was going on. When Friso noticed them he pointed at Calypso.

''And you!'' he screamed at her.

Calypso bounced back at the tone and placed her paw on her chest. ''M…mmm… me?''

''Yes you! I trusted you. We all trusted you. You said you were sure that this man could take care with you of an orphan. Turns out you were wrong. I gave you three months to look for a good home for that orphan, and that time is almost over. You still haven't done anything to find a good home for him. You even let his family fly back to the countries they live and allowed them to abandon him here!'' Friso shouted at Calypso.

Bluey looked at her teacher who was clearly broken now as tears were forming in her eyes.
''Miss. Shepperd, you're teachers license will be on hold for the next six months. You are still allowed to teach but from now one with a supervisor from our council in the classroom to keep an eye on you. After those months we will evaluate if you are allowed to keep your license''.

''Noo! You can't do that. She is the best teacher in the whole world!'' Bluey said angrily defending Calypso.

Friso walked up to Bluey and screamed in her face ''Shut up you and don't interfere, brat. Adults are speaking now!''.

He heard a growling sound coming from behind him. ''Don't you dare shout at my child! What kind of children's councillor are you? Shouting at children! You should be fired. Get out of our house!'' Çhili screamed at Friso as she run to her daughter to comfort her. MacKenzie stood frozen in fear as he did not understand what was going on. Did he caused this? Did he understood that rightly?

Bingo then walked in to see what all the commotion was about. As soon as she set a foot in the living room her face turned into horror. She saw her sister and her teacher crying, MacKenzie frozen as ice and her father being handcuffed with one police officer holding him down.

''Dad!'' she screamed as she run towards him. ''What are you going to do with my daddy? He did nothing wrong!'' she said to Friso.

Friso kneeled down to her level. ''I'm sorry kid. Turns out your father isn't as good in parenting as he thinks he is and we thought he was. Now tell me, and be honest little girl. Did he ever hit you or touched you somewhere he shouldn't touch you?''.

Bandit felt like a big dagger was stung in his back and twisted around in his spine with every word that was said about him. He felt like a big truck drove over him. His integrity was questioned, his honor was besmirched. A feeling of sadness and anger came over him like he never felt before. His face turned red from anger and steam hot tears fell down from his left eye. The straw that broke the camel's back was the accusation of him hitting his own children of touching them inappropriately. Something he never would do, could do or ever thought about doing to do made him turn into a Hulk.

He screamed and managed to throw the officer of his back. He then storms towards Friso and runs into him, knocking him down on the floor. Chili then jumps on Bandit, trying to calm him down. ''You only make it worse dear!'' she says desperately.
Then a taser is being fired, hitting Bandit in the middle of the big dark spot on his back, knocking him down as he falls face down on the floor. Chili screams as she grabs Bingo who is now in tears and covers her eyes from the scene.

Friso stands back up and removes the dust from his fur with the palm of his hand. ''Right I have seen enough''. MacKenzie then runs to Bluey to comfort her as she is now panicking. ''MacKenzie. What is going on? What is all of this? What did my dad do?''. MacKenzie, still not able to talk shrugs his shoulders and looks just as confused and scared about what is going on. They grab a hold of each other and slowly try to walk to the other side of the room.

Friso then turns to MacKenzie. ''Alright Borderboy. Time to meet your new family. I'm convinced you can't wait to meet them and leave this hell house. Am I right?''

MacKenzie shook his head as tried to say no.
''Ugh. You just don't know what you want. Kids…'' Friso said frustrated. ''If you don't want to go then just say so!'' he then said.
MacKenzie tried desperately but still could only drool and mumble words that no one could understand.

''I see… to afraid to talk. You have said enough with that and it makes me clear what kind of environment this house is. You just can't wait to leave'' Friso concluded. Again MacKenzie tried to make clear that wasn't the case.

Suddenly two government officials walk in towards MacKenzie and grab him by his arms and start dragging him away. MacKenzie is startled by this and protests by resisting and moving violently. But the two government dogs are stronger. He tries to protest but the aesthesia is still too strong for him to be able to speak. Bluey cries out in desperation as she doesn't want him to go and runs behind him and gets a hold off MacKenzie. She grabs his arms and holds them tightly.
He grabs her hand aswell in hope she can free him from these two dogs that are carrying him away. They look at each other confused and scared.

''Let him go girl!'' one of the dogs demands from Bluey.

''Never!'' she screams.

The other dog, tired of the situation, grabs Bluey firmly and pulls her away with force. She rips some of MacKenzie's fur off as she is pulled away, trips over her own feet and hits her head hard on the edge of the side table. She falls down unconscious.

''Bluey!'' everyone screams in terror, even MacKenzie although it sounded muffled.

Friso grabs a pen and writes in his notebook. ''The house has dangerous furniture that is not child friendly'' he mumbles.

Chili and Calypso then try to free MacKenzie but without success. They to are pushed away. They see how MacKenzie gets dragged away while he protests and gets pushed in the blue government van. The dogs step in and immediately drive away with him.
The last thing they see of him is his tear and scared filled face starring at them as he disappears out of sight.
By now the neighbours had come outside to see what the commotion was all about.

Chili has a lot of mixed emotions and doesn't really grasp the situation. But when she hears Bingo crying again, she immediately turns back around and runs towards her. Bingo is holding the paws of her sister, who is still unconscious.

''They killed Bluey and dad!'' Bingo shouts angrily and in frustration.

''No. No honey. Bluey is not dead, and dad is neither. Your sister hit her head very hard, she will wake up soon''. Chili looks at her daughter and picks her up while also comforting Bingo. She then spots the blood on her hands that is dripping from Bluey's head. Nothing serious, just a minor scratch. But still enough to worry a mother.
Bandit then wakes up and growls. Friso turns around and walks to the front door. Before he leaves he had one final thing to say:

''Mr. and Mrs. Heeler. For now you are allowed to take care of your daughters (takes his notebook and reads from it). Bluey Christine Heeler, born 1st of October 2018 and Bingo Bongo Bingus Heeler the second… I should have you arrested for giving her that name. Born the 28th of February 2021. But a weekly family group session and a two weekly individual talk sessions with you and your kids will be mandatory. Failing to show up will result in a fine. Also expect unannounced checks by security officials to make sure your children stay save in this household for a period of two years at least! If we notice any type of unsafety or abuse they will go to foster families before you can blink. I wish you a pleasant evening and good night''.
He walked away to his car and left. A police offer freed Bandit from his handcuffs and then they to drove away. Within two minutes all the government officials had left.

Bandit and Chili were not just hurt by these words. They were heartbroken, deeply offended and confused. Years of doing their best for their children, giving every bit of love, attention and more they could give. They were always told they did great and thought so. Now they were being told they were basically not capable of being parents and that the government would watch them.

They hugged each other and then quickly turned to their children. Bingo was now crying in Calypso's lap as Bluey still laid knocked out on the couch. Nobody knew why this had happened and wherefore.

Then the neighbours; Pat, Janelle and Wendy walked in as the front door was still open to ask and see what just happened. But at seeing the sight they decided to help first. Bluey was giving care by Chili and slowly woke up feeling nauseous and having a small concussion. Chili brought her to her bed to rest. Bingo was reassured by Bandit that everything was alright and that nobody got hurt. He was lying again, but he had to calm her down somehow.
The emotions got the upper hand of her and she fell asleep, tired and emotionally drained.
That night she would sleep with her parents. Janelle and Wendy cleaned up the mess meanwhile and made some tea to calm the family down as they started to tell what happened and what was being said. Nobody understood why this happened and how it could happened.

''That council jumped to conclusions to fast. They had to talk with you at least first to understand what happened'' Patrick said with anger after hearing it all.

''I… I just don't understand. We did nothing wrong and it all happened so fast.'' Calypso said.

''I don't think so. Besides the fact that I feel my hearth has ripped out of my body, I'm worried about MacKenzie. He is also a victim of this bureaucracy. God knows where they are taking him to. They don't understand him or what he needs'' Bandit added. He right now had a serious and painful headache.

''They hurt me, my husband, our foster child and our own children! Safety council for children that hurts children, what a fucking sick joke!'' Chili said with anger.

''There must be more behind all of this. No way they would interfere this soon''. Patrick said.

''Mistakes. Were dumb people work, at lot of dumb mistakes and conclusions are made because they think they are smart. That Friso guy is just hunting for a quick promotion. There is no conspiracy behind all of this Pat!'' Janelle said to her husband who rolled his eyes.

Wendy turned to the Heelers. ''We will help you go through this. I can contact my ex-husband. He may be a dickhead, but he is a very good lawyer. I will help you to sue them, making sure they stop investigating you and bring MacKenzie back. What they did was not even legal. I'm sure of it and they are so wrong. So wrong. You are great parents, never let anyone say otherwise!''.

''Thank you Wendy'' Chili said. She then looked at Calypso who was broken and not saying anything. ''Are you alright Calypso?'' she asked. Calypso did not turn to her. She kept starring at the wall. ''No. I don't think I am''. She said back in a emotionless tone.

Later that night when they tried to go to bed, Chili and Bandit did not sleep much as the physical and mental scars were still open. They mostly just listened to the silent breathing of their youngest daughter in-between them. Bandit was hurt.
He felt like a failure of a father. He was angry about what they done to his daughters and he was concerned about MacKenzie. ''How did we end up in this mess and how do I ever get us out if this?'' he mumbled about fifty times to himself that evening.