Pssst. It’s me, Asa. Come closer. I need to whisper because I don’t want Chuck Billy to hear. While he continues to recover from surgery, Chuck Billy has trusted me to be in charge of neighborhood patrol. Easy, right? I’ve walked up and down our street countless times spreading cheer. But something happened this weekend that never happened before. I was unwittingly made an accomplice to a crime!
Let me explain. Dad and I were walking down the street like we always do. Ok, I admit I was a little distracted wagging my tail greeting all the Chipmunks while trying to remember to heel. When I realized Dad paused to take a gourd from a bucket on the side of the road. Did he just steal a gourd?
Before I could bark “leave it,” Sawyer, the dog who lives at that house, was darting across his yard barking at us. I panicked. I tried to diffuse the situation by jumping and twirling at the end of my leash, hoping Sawyer would join me in my happy dance and we’d all laugh over Dad accidentally picking up his gourd. Instead, Dad started walking faster, and hustled me away while still holding the ill-gotten gourd! Does that make me an accomplice?
Worst yet, was Chuck Billy’s suspicion that Dad and Mom were planning a heist true? I know he found their insistence on wearing masks while running errands lately was weird. Could it be all those times Dad wore his mask to the grocery store, he was really preparing to steal this gourd? If so, what a shame he didn’t wear a mask on our walk! I’m certain Sawyer recognized us! Even more troubling, we returned to the scene of the crime on our afternoon walk and Dad took another gourd! This time there were no witnesses present, but Dad glanced up and waved at their security camera. Once again I tired to diffuse the situation by doing my best kangaroo impersonation at the end of the leash, but to no avail. Dad would not listen to my command to “drop it.”
Should I go on the run with Dad until things quiet down? But I’d miss Mom! Wait, is Mom an accomplice too for receiving the stolen produce? Does the entire family have to go into hiding now? I guess I have no choice but to alert Detective Chuck Billy to begin an internal investigation into this incident. Hopefully he’ll go easy on Dad and myself. Maybe I should take the blame to protect Dad? I sure hope he doesn’t fire Dad from neighborhood patrol. Although to be honest, walking with Mom is way more fun because she sings with me…and has never taken a gourd from a bucket on the side of the road.
Chuck Billy’s Verdict: As usual Asa was not paying attention to detail. This isn’t the first vegetable Dad took! He’s taken tomatoes, radishes, and zucchini from that very same bucket throughout that summer. More importantly, what Asa also neglected to notice was the “Free Take One” sign next to the bucket. But don’t tell Asa! I’m going to let him sweat it out a bit more before revealing the truth. That will teach Asa to pay attention when I put him in charge of neighborhood patrol!
