A short story by Erika M Szabo
Mary and
Michael enjoyed a peaceful life in their cozy countryside home. The spacious
backyard and few acres land flourished. Their two large German Shepherds, Tucker and Hazel, took
their job seriously, vigilantly overseeing the chickens, geese, and ducks that
wandered freely in the expansive backyard. Michael had been
raising and training the two dogs since they were puppies, teaching them to
patrol the property to ensure safety and protect their animals from predators,
whether they walked on four legs or two.
Their neighbors
were like-minded people, appreciating the uncomplicated and serene lifestyle
their environment provided. No one was bothered by the early morning chatter of
roosters or the lively songs of birds. The bleating of lambs and goats
contributed to the natural symphony that welcomed them each day.
Mary sat on the
porch, enjoying her morning coffee and the serene beauty around her, feeling
thankful for the life they had created together. It was a stark contrast to the
city's hustle and bustle, but it was their own slice of paradise, and they
wouldn't trade it for anything. Michael soon joined her, carrying a plate of
freshly baked scones. While enjoying their breakfast, they talked about
what they would do for the day. They chose to spend the morning working in the
vegetable garden and then enjoy a peaceful afternoon reading and unwinding
under the shade of their prized walnut tree.
As the day
progressed, Mary and Michael's tranquil life was unexpectedly interrupted by
some unsettling news. Their neighbor, George, drove into their yard on his way
to town and asked, "Have you noticed anything missing from your property
recently?"
"No, why
are you asking?"
"Well,
five of my chickens vanished from the coop this morning, and Charlie said two of
his were gone yesterday."
"It might
be a stray fox or coyote. They're common predators around here," Mike
suggested.
"I doubt
it. I talked to Joe down the road, and he mentioned two of his ducks went
missing without a trace the day before yesterday. I'm heading to town to
discuss it with others. You coming?"
"Absolutely!"
Mike replied enthusiastically, kicking off his gardening boots and stepping
into his sneakers.
They drove into
town and heard similar stories from other neighbors they met at the Pub.
“It can’t be a
coyote or a fox. There weren’t any feathers or bloodstains around the
henhouse,” one man said.
Another farmer
added, “It’s like the birds just disappeared into thin air.”
A stocky man
exclaimed, "One of my piglets disappeared three days ago, and I haven't
heard a peep. Even my dogs were quiet all night, and those monsters usually
wake me up a few times a night because a leaf falls off the tree or an owl hoots
nearby."
George, while
scratching his stubble, concluded, “Now that you mention it… My dogs were
strangely quiet all night. It’s definitely a two-legged thief, and the dogs
might even know who it is. We need to keep watch!”
Everyone was
anxious and uneasy about these strange events, as nothing like this had ever
happened in their peaceful community before.
When Michael
got home, he sat on the porch with Mary telling her about what he learned in
town. Just then, the mailman pulled into the yard with his small white car, and
getting out, he walked up the steps and handed a stack of envelopes and
newspaper to Michael. “Beautiful day,” he smiled.
“Can I get you
a cup of coffee?” Mary asked.
“Thank you, but
I have to go. Lots of mail to deliver,” the mailman turned and started walking
down the steps. “Enjoy your afternoon.”
As he drove
down the driveway, Hazel and Tucker followed the car. They usually followed
every visitor’s car or truck until they reached the road and turned, but this
time they stopped halfway. They stood looking down at something and Hazel let
out a short bark. “Wonder what they’ve found,” Michael said and walked toward
the dogs.
The dogs standing over a piece of raw meat drooled but didn’t touch it. They were trained to start eating only when they heard the German word, essen (eat).
Michael picked
up the meat and took it up to the porch where Mary sat, waiting to find out
what the dogs found. “I bet this meat is spiked with something to make the dogs
sleep,” Michael mused. “The neighbors said their dogs never barked the night
their livestock went missing.”
“That dirty weasel!”
Mary shouted. “So, he’s the thief!”
“This is no
proof, we have to catch him in the act. I'm going to stay awake tonight,"
Michael resolved.
“I’ll stay up
with you,” Mary said, quickly forming a plan. “We’ll sit on the porch hidden by
the rhododendron bushes. Tonight is the full moon, we’ll see if anyone comes to
the property.”
“Sounds like a
plan!” Michael smiled. “Let’s do it.”
That evening,
Mary and Michael settled on their porch, Tucker and Hazel lying at their feet.
To fend off the cool night air, they wrapped themselves in blankets, sipping
hot tea from a thermos and nibbling on snacks. Meanwhile, the dogs remained
vigilant, their sharp senses attuned to any potential threats in the air.
They sat
quietly, their eyes scanning their surroundings. The idea of an intruder
sneaking into their tranquil neighborhood and robbing their neighbors was
disturbing. Hours slipped away without any hint of suspicious behavior. The
only noises were the natural ones—crickets chirping, owls hooting, and leaves
rustling every so often. Suddenly, Hazel perked up, sniffing the air and giving
a gentle snort. Tucker rose, his fur bristling. Mike placed his hands on the
dogs' heads to keep them quiet as they detected faint footsteps.
Michael kept a
firm grip on the dogs, determined not to let them bark and reveal their hiding
spot. The sound of footsteps intensified, and soon they saw the shadowy outline
of a man pausing beneath the walnut tree. Mary and Michael exchanged anxious
looks as the figure stepped into the moonlight, moving toward the fenced area
where the henhouse and pigpen were located. "Hazel, Tucker, pay
attention!" Michael whispered to the dogs, capturing their focus.
The dogs stood
attentively in front of Michael, their eyes locked onto him as he softly
commanded, "Track. Tackle. Hold. Go!" The dogs stealthily moved
through the shadows of the flowerbeds toward the fence, where the man was
struggling with the gate's lock. Just as he managed to unlock the gate and step
through, Tucker sprang forward with incredible speed and brought him to the
ground face down.
The man yelled
in terror and attempted to crawl away, but Tucker pinned him down, growling,
while Hazel bared her razor-sharp teeth just inches from his face. Paralyzed by
fear, the man didn't dare move. Michael and Mary quickly approached with a
flashlight, and when they illuminated the man's face.
"Well,
would you look at that!" Michael remarked. “Mailman in the daytime and a
chicken thief at night.”
"Wait,
please, let me explain!" the man pleaded.
"There's
no need for an explanation right now. We've caught you in the act,"
Michael stated firmly.
“But wait!” the
mailman begged. “Paul, who owns a restaurant on Main Street, made me do it. You
see, I lost a lot of money playing cards and borrowed from him, and he said I
could pay him back in livestock. I had no choice.”
"So, Paul
thought he could serve us our own livestock for dinner, huh?" Mary huffed.
"I'm calling the police," she said, pulling her phone from her
pocket.
Michael put his
hand on Mary’s arm. "Hold on, don't call them just yet. We'll contact them
in the morning, along with the neighbors. Everyone needs to know, and Paul has
to pay for his crime too."
"But..." Mary glanced at her husband, concern etched in her expression. Michael winked at her before giving orders to the dogs. "Tucker, Hazel, behalten, uhr (keep, watch)!" he commanded while Mary turned her head to hide her smile.
Hazel sank onto
her stomach inches from the man’s face, eyes locked on the thief, while Tucker
stretched across the man's back, growling whenever he attempted to move.
"Let's go inside," Michael said, wrapping Mary in a hug. "He's not going
anywhere, and we can have a nice breakfast."
"I have a nice piece of liver in the fridge. I'll cook it for the dogs," Mary whispered, glancing back.
"They deserve it," Michael smiled as he watched Hazel swish her tale and a long drop of drool landed on the man's face. He was too scared to wipe it off.
Erika M Szabo
Erika loves to dance to her own tunes and follow her dreams, introducing her story-writing skills and her books that are based on creative imagination with themes such as magical realism, alternate history, urban fantasy, cozy mystery, sweet romance, and supernatural stories. Her children’s stories are informative and educational and deliver moral values in a non-preachy way.
