Baum, L Frank Oz 41 Yankee in Oz

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Ev." "Guess you're right," sighed Tompy sinking back against the cushions,
"but I still think my Dad can swing a deal with the space outfit. He's a real
pushover for dogs, especially smart dogs like you." "Oh, come now, I'm not
all that smart," answered Yankee. Far from convinced that Tompy's plan would
work out, he lifted his nose to sniff the night air and tried to determine
what kind of countries spread out below. Their return had been so quiet,
neither Tompy's mother nor father knew that their missing son was back home.
In gloomy silence they were having breakfast when a familiar clatter of feet
on the stair made both jump up. "Tompy, you're safe--you're home!" gasped
Mrs. Terry as he and Yankee charged into the dining room. "The whole town's
been searching and searching for you. Where, oh where have you been?" "Oh,
Oz, Ev, and every old where!" cried Tompy lifting his mother off her feet with
his hug, while Yankee bounded over to Mr. Terry, sat down, and gravely
extended his paw. "Well, hi, boy, where did YOU come from?" Dropping his
napkin, Tompy's dad drew the terrier closer. "Same places I did. This is
Yankee, the space dog who made the moon orbit a few days ago. I found him and
he found me and we came back together. Oh, Dad, can we keep him? Can we, can
we?" "Whoa-ho-wait-a-minute." Plopping down in his chair, Tompy's father
tried to make head or tail of all these amazing statements, but with Yankee
barking hysterically and Tompy talking a mile a minute, he finally gave up,
took a quick swallow of coffee and sat back to beam at them both. Indeed, his
mother and father were so overjoyed to have him home again, nothing else
seemed of any importance. But later, over a quickly prepared second breakfast
of sausage, griddle cakes, and syrup, the strange story was finally all
straightened out and told. A chair had been drawn up for Yankee and they kept
filling and refilling his plate til he was in danger of bursting. "I had a
dog like you when I was a boy," confided Mr. Terry, taking it for granted that
Yankee would understand, which, of course, he did. "Best darn dog I ever had,
too. Could beat any two dogs in town, and smart--I tell you--" "RRRuff,
gr-uff!" retorted Yankee, jumping down from the chair to move nearer to this
discerning new friend. If Tompy's mother and dad were at first a bit
skeptical about their amazing adventure, the ruby tie clip and dog's gem
trimmed medal finally convinced them that it was true. Yankee's picture had
been in all the papers, with a record of his orbit and the sad news that his
capsule had been lost. "The Navy and boys at the base have about given you
up," Mr. Terry told the space dog giving his ear a tug. "What a whale of a
welcome is waiting for you!" Yankee nudged Mr. Terry's knee, as much as to
say, the welcome he was having now was all that he needed. I know you will
be pleased to hear that everything turned out much as Tompy had hoped that it
would. Yankee was flown back to his base for a check-up and then to the Cape
for further ceremonies and honors. The story of his orbit and safe return was
played up in papers all over the world and he even appeared on television. It
was all quite flattering but the bull terrier as the weeks passed began to
miss Tompy more and more and he took but a half-hearted interest in
proceedings. He did enjoy the medal presentation, for Tompy and his parents
were invited and he had a brief reunion with the boy who had traveled over Oz
and E-v with him. At the suggestion of Tompy's dad the whole story had not
been told, merely the fact that Tompy had been carried off by a hurricane and
had come down upon Yankee and his wrecked capsule in a northern Jersey lake,
and how the two had found their way back to Pennwood together. Tompy's
description of the lake was so vague that after combing northern New Jersey by
helicopter the search for the wrecked capsule had finally been abandoned. If
any of the Navy or space men were to read this story, they will know why and
what really did happen. After the medal presentation, Tompy's father had a
long talk with the Naval Officer in charge. Though sympathetic with Tompy's
desire to keep the famous space dog, he felt that Yankee's place was still
with the space program. Just as he was on the point of a complete refusal,
Tompy bethought himself of the Red Jinn's jug, which he luckily had tucked
into the pocket of his sport coat. Without taking the jug out he quietly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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