It turns out that Sunny is as quick as she is smart. Pauline Wayne isn’t sitting there long before the dog returns, her barks echoing through the area. It rouses the girl, who scrubs at her eyes, groggy and half asleep. She asks, “what’s happening?”
“It’s okay,” says Pauline Wayne, despite the fact that the girl can’t understand. To emphasis the thought, she bumps her nose against the child’s shoulder. “It’s okay, my child. You’ll be home soon.”
Sunny runs into view. She stands at the edge of the dip, barking and raising a fuss.
The girl sits up the rest of the way. “It’s the doggy!”
People’s voices, then.
“This way! Hurry up, Henry! I think she’s got something here!”
“Bethy, I’m telling you, she’s just a dog! She’s found a rabbit or something, that’s it!”
“Well, I want to see either way!”
“Help,” shouts the girl. “You brought me help! Thank you! Thank you so much!”
The woman, Bethy, rushes to the front of the ridge. “Oh my God! Henry, there’s a girl stuck down here!”
Sunny makes her great escape.
Pauline Wayne stands up, shaking herself off.
Bethy gasps, “and a cow, too!”
But that’s Pauline Wayne’s cue to leave, and while the human’s are rushing around to help the girl, Sunny and Pauline Wayne are able to make their escape.
By some grace, the Room lets them go home after that. Pauline Wayne says her goodbyes to Sunny before vanishing back into her own time line, her own home. She is glad to be back in her home, and finally, finally, finally she’s able to get a hold of her nice long grass, on her pretty summer day.
She takes a large bite of the grass. It’s just as sweet as it should be.
And if elsewhere in the time line, there’s another Presidential Pet being called to duty, well, that’s sure not her problem now. In fact, Pauline Wayne figures that she’s deserve a good, long break!
Thankfully, the Room agrees, and when it opens up the next door, it’s far away, in another place and time, and two large tigers stand up, stretch, and heed it’s call.
Katelynn E Koontz – Author
