[Erratum: "To the airport, you deracinated plebe!" she fairly shouted at the back of Muffy's bowed grey head," should have read "...at the back of Norma's bowed grey head" my husband points out. Sorry for the interruption.]
That small whine, little more than a sign, was Shorty's last. The oxygen supply in the trunk of the car having been exhausted, and in the turmoil of the accident Shorty having been forgotten, the challenged dog expired, his destiny of changing Muffy's life not yet fulfilled.
(Or was it?...)
Muffy opened the violin case, which was, surprisingly, empty, and stuffed the warm body of Shorty inside. Had Shorty had the full complement of legs, his still form would not have fit. As it was, though, all but Shorty's tail fit nicely into the case. Fortunately, Muffy had a machete at hand, and with one smart hack, she lopped off the inconvenient appendage. |
