Poetry & Gabriel in Scotland - Chapter 3: Home Again

Chapter 3 – Home Again

They spent the next day lazing about the house.  The three little boys were off from school for the weekend.  They all played together.  Little did the boys know that Gabriel used to be the snowman they built each year back in Maryland.  It was a secret Poetry and Gabriel giggled about between themselves.  Poetry was more than happy that Gabriel was a dog now because now they could go on adventures together.  Little did they know the next day would bring a new adventure when one of the boys was reading aloud from his Lassie Come Home book.  It seems there was a Collie named Lassie back in the 1930’s who was sold to the Duke of Rutling so that her owner could pay his rent.  Lassie actually belonged to his son, but it couldn’t be helped.  The father had lost his job in the mines and he had his family’s welfare to think about.  The boy was heartbroken because Lassie would always wait for him outside the school’s gate every day.  But it wasn’t long before Lassie was once again waiting for him.  She’d escaped from her pen.  After being taken back and escaping a couple more times, the new owner took her from Greenall Bridge, England where they lived all the way to his castle in the north of Scotland—more than 500 miles away.  That should put an end to Lassie’s attempt to return home, he thought.  But no, it didn’t.  Fascinated by the story Poetry and Gabriel looked at the map in the book of Lassie’s journey.
  

Artist:  Susan Jeffers

She’d come right through Glasgow.  Wouldn’t it be fun to see where she traveled through the city—and where she’d been caught by the dogcatcher.  But they couldn’t hold her—she was so desperate to get back to the little boy she jumped out a window to escape.  Gabriel agreed except he said, “As long as we don’t get caught by the dogcatcher!”  Poetry assured him she had her ways of escape.  “But is it very far?”

“Yes, it would take too long to walk it and get back by night, but luckily the Mr. of the House goes to Glasgow every Monday.  We just need to sneak into his car.  Do you think you can keep quiet for an hour?”

“Sure, and if not, he’d probably have to keep going and we’d have to spend the day there anyway.”

“Good!  Then all we have to do is make sure we’re up early so we can hide before he gets in the car.”  

The next morning they were up bright and early for their breakfast.  The Mrs. of the House wondered why until she saw Poetry and Gabriel standing at the back door.  “Oh, I guess you’re ready to go exploring again, are you?  Just be home before dark this time.  You know how I worry.”

Poetry meowed her consent and the door was opened for them.  They headed for the car.  “Drat!” Poetry meowed.  “I forgot….how are we going to get into the car?”  The return trip would be easy.  They’d just have to wait by the car.  The Mr. of the House would be displeased to find them there, but he’d bring them home, of course.  But that brought another dilemma.  How would they get out once they got to Glasgow?  While Poetry was pondering that, Gabriel noticed that the driver’s window was down.  “Do you think you could jump in, see if you can pull the latch to open the door, then push on it enough that I can squeeze through?  Maybe he’ll just think he didn’t close the door well enough.”  

“It’s worth a try.”  Success!  They were both hunkered down on the floor of the back seat when they heard the Mr. of the House mutter, “Now how did that happen?  Were the boys playing in the car again?”

Gabriel and Poetry had to hold back their giggles.  They didn’t want to get the boys in trouble, but they knew by evening the mystery would be solved when the Mr. of the House saw them waiting by his car.  So they were off.  After an hour the car came to a stop.  They waited until he left the car, then looked to see if the coast was clear.  

“You know, Poetry, we’ll have to unlock the door to get out.”  

“Don’t worry.  I’ll just push the button before we close it.”

“Good thinking.”  

So between the two of them they got the door opened, then once safely closed again, they were on their way. 


©CathyGilleylenSchultz

Chapter 4:  Glasgow Here We Come