Now What?

Now What?

Too slow to stop it happening, Joe watched in open-mouthed horror as Muttley grabbed the newspaper that was dangling from the letterbox. The dog sank his teeth into the rolled up tube shape, pulled it, and ran down the hallway.

“Muttley, no!” Joe shouted. His Dad would go ballistic if another newspaper was shredded to unreadability.

And speaking of his Dad, he could hear him now, talking to his sister, Helen.

“Go and have a look, see if the paper’s come, would you Hel? There’s a special article today about the company and I’m dying to give it a read.”

Joe felt the blood drain from his face. Why had he let Muttley into the hall at just that moment. Two minutes later and there would be no problem but now....

“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.” Helen appeared from inside the kitchen. “Paper’s not here yet, then?”

Joe beckoned his sister to follow him into the sitting room. The sound of shredding paper could be heard coming from behind the sofa, as Muttley digested more and more of the news in print. Both approached the sofa and peered over the back of it. Muttley growled warningly. He was not going to give up his new-found toy too quickly.

“Oh, no.” Helen looked at Joe. “Dad was waiting for that.”

“What am I going to do?” Joe wailed. “He already threatened to get rid of Muttley last time.”

Helen chewed at her lip, thinking, then smiled. “Use your brain, Joe! There’s an easy solution to this.”

“What? Take Muttley and leave home?”

“No, stupid! Go and get the bicycle out of the garage. If you’re quick he won’t know a thing!”

Joe slapped the side of his head. Why hadn’t he thought of that? “I’ll just start clearing....”

“No! Go now and be as quick as you can. I’ll keep Dad from coming in here and you can clear it up later.”

Joe sneaked his way into the garage and climbed on to the old bike. It was filthy, covered in cobwebs, but he couldn’t waste time cleaning it. At least none of his mates would be around so early to see him .

Bursting in to the shop, Joe was dismayed to see there were no papers. Now what? The next shop was several miles away. There was no way he’d be able to make it there and back before the dog’s crime was discovered.

And then he saw the man behind the counter, reading a copy of the newspaper he so desperately needed. Joe walked up to the counter.

“Have you got a copy of the ‘Sunday Voice?’” he asked.

“Any over on the side? If not then we must be out of them. There’s some article about a local business and demand was unusually high.”

He’d have to explain. “It’s my Dad’s company. The newspaper was delivered and the dog beat me to it. Can I have your copy? Please?”

The man looked at Joe, looked at the paper, then back at Joe again. “Seeing as I’ve virtually finished it, I’ll sell it to you.”

Joe leaped on to his bike and pedalled for home. He dropped the bike in front of the house and pushed his way through the door, only to come face to face with his Dad.

“Joe?”

“He held out the newspaper, hoping his Dad wouldn’t notice the bike outside.

“Good lad,” his Dad said, heading back into the kitchen.

Joe gave a sigh of relief. He’d have to put the bike away, hide the torn up paper, but it had worked out fine.

"Muttley!" Joe called to the dog as he went in to the sitting room.“You and me...we've got to have a serious talk!”