Bark and the wonderboy

He didn’t know why he was always in the backseat of a car, either going to, or coming from, Somewhere U.S.A.?  But, that is exactly where he found himself again.  In some ways, it is like a prison sentence without the toilet, it was just a lot of boredom.  At least for the time being, he still has his dog, “Bark”.  It never occurred to him that by naming him “Bark” it only trains him to do just that.

His mom is very patient with his only friend, but Dad has a very bad temper and everything Bark does, Dad yells at.  Dad always drives, and when he gets mad he can’t reach Bark, but that doesn’t stop him from trying.  It is a constant battle being waged in the confines of a mini-van.  Bark still gets Dad revved up. 

Sometimes he would sit on that little piece of real estate in the back and watch others going about their days and immersed himself into their families.  One time, the car next to theirs drove for over 30 miles outside his window.  During that immersion he imagined they were just around the corner from their house on a non-descript street.  Home meant having his own room with a pillow bed that Aunt Katherine made for Bark, at this foot of his bed.  His closets would be filled with toys.  Toys everywhere.  He would also have clothes.  So many different clothes to choose from.  The best of all was supper.  Sitting around a table with Mom and Dad, having a home cooked meal. 

He remembered the time, which he called the “Adventures of Bark”, when a family forgot their baby back at the last restaurant they’d eaten at. He barked so long and loud that it got their attention and they turned around to save their child.  Or the time Bark ate his homework.  I may have to save that one for later use, he thought.  Bark is truly gifted in ways his Mom or Dad could not see with their mere, human eyes.  Bark is quite hygienic too, the back of the van is spotless, and the floors look like they have been vacuumed.  Bark is now in his “maintenance” mode being opportunistically placed should anything fall from his cheese puff stained fingers.  Bark will be on it like a cheetah on prey.  Bark is a mixture of dachshund and Chihuahua (A Chu-wiener), and he loves to dig.  You can find him sleeping in a discarded tee shirt on the floor or burrowed into a bag left open.  Bark’s name is a fluke because he almost named him “Odie”.

Two days after his arrival in “Dad’s moving kingdom”, Bark started barking.  Everyone in the car assumed it meant he had to attend to doggy business.   Dad looked upon it as an impetus against his schedule, but pulled over to accommodate him.  On the second of these episodes, after getting back into the car, bark started to bark again.  “Now what?”  Dad said exasperated.

Just as we left the confines of the gas station and hit the open road, Dad saw the sign “next services in 96 miles.”  When his father looked down at the gas gauge, he knew he needed to fill up.  So, he turned us around and we went back to get gas.  Bark the amazing dog had shown his first superpower by warning us we needed gas.  He was like a “little odometer”, thus, the almost name of “Odie”. 

Also, along one long stretch of road his Mom called him “the wonder boy” which he took with pride because it fit perfectly for their name together.  Bark and the Wonder Boy”.  She called him “the wonder boy” because he was always “wondering out loud” with a steady stream of questions.  “Mom, is Bark an alien?”; “Mom, if Bark was an alien, which star would be his home?”   He would ask her all kinds of questions full of wonder.  Sometimes she would play along because she knew the endless boredom can be a cruel partner for a child.  This was usually met with scorn from Dad, complaining she should not fill his head with “make-believe nonsense”. 

Somewhere along the ride, Mom bought some yarn and knitting needles to make Bark a sweater.  The yarn was bright blue and also bought a bunch of yellow.  She was almost done with it and when that day came, Bark would have his super power suit.  It was all blue except for big, bold yellow, “B’s” on each side. 

Once donned, Bark would be formidable.  He wondered if it would make him run even faster than he already does.  When Bark gets running he is an amazing athlete.  The way he is low to the ground and his uncanny ability to turn on a dime while going full speed was a sight to see.  Maybe he would be able to fly with his new suit.  Everything was possible when he thought about it hard enough.  Bark also has ferociousness when, in full stride, he exerts a staccato-like breath with every stride.  It is as if the sound coming from his lungs were giving him extra momentum.  Yep, he thought, once he puts on the suit he will be invincible.  He asked his Mom if she could include a cape to help him fly.  “Wouldn’t it be magnificent if he could fly Mom?”  

“Only you could Wonder, Son”.  She replied with a laugh.

“Ha, that’s me, WONDERBOY!”  He shouted happily  while holding Bark up in a position to fly around.   

Bark and the Wonderboy were both exhausted from a full day of crime fighting and both were sound asleep in the back part of the travelling realm. 

“We can’t keep this up, it is hurting him.  He needs to lay his head on a pillow at night in his own bed, in his own room.  He needs friends.”  His Mother opened up as soon as she believed him to be asleep and unable to hear what she was saying.

“Oh, come on.  Really, we’re going to talk about this now, again?  You know as well as I do the work just isn’t there.” His father countered defensively.

“How do you know the work isn’t there, when all we are is driving.  We rarely stop.  Our money is almost gone and you’re still chasing, or running from your demons.”  She bravely stated.

“I’m just telling you once, give it a rest.”  He bullied back at her.

“That is all I have done.  No, not anymore.  I am his Mother and I see the effect on him.  He needs to be around friends, anyone.  Have you noticed that he sleeps all of the time?  This is time he can never get back.  We have been homeless for more than a year.  I say we stop in the next big town, take what is left of our money, and root.”  She offered.

“OK, OK, we can talk about a plan, but we stick to the direction until we can agree on something.  I know our son needs the things you talk about.  Do you think I don’t?”  He asked.

“Then we need to stop right here and now to have this powwow.  I will not allow you to bully your way anymore.  You must think about your family and right now that doesn’t appear to be the case.  So, stop the car.”  She demanded.

He pulled over to the shoulder of the road amidst endless row of corn, and turned off the engine.  He turned to face her, to let her know she had his full undivided attention.  So they talked.  With maps and money, they talked.  More importantly they came up with a plan!  It would take two days driving, in the other direction whence they came, to a town they both liked.  Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Maybe he could get work at the chocolate factory.  It would give them just enough to rent something small, hopefully furnished, while finding a full time job. 

In the interim there was one more thing they agreed upon.  When sunlight showed through the realms windows, they would give their Son a dog.  Hopefully one that is small, yet energetic and amazing.  What better time to get their Son his first new friend?  They both hoped it would give their son a bit of hope and happiness.  They also hoped it not do a lot of barking.