Chapter 4 - Under Cover
“Do I really have to wear this?” Coco asked, then covered his mouth with his paw.
“Of course. If you don’t wear your collar you’ll get into trouble.” Lauren and Coco were walking along their street on the footpath. Lauren was leading Coco with a bright purple dog lead. The sun was high in the sky and bright. They walked by going quickly in the sunshine and slowly in the shade.
“Your collar is on loose, I hope you don’t mind.” Coco looked up and panted at Lauren happily. They were the best of friends.
A large white dog without an owner was walking toward them.
“Hello.” The dog said as they passed. Both Lauren and Coco looked back at the dog in amazement. “You can talk?” They both asked at the same time. Coco covered his mouth and looked nervously from side to side.
The dog stopped and turned back toward them.
“Well of course I can,” he said, as if it was normal for a dog to talk.
“But how?” Lauren wondered if it was by leprechaun magic.
“I don’t know. I was happily going about my own business when WHAM something hit me and I spoke instead of barking.”
“You know what,” said Lauren. “I bet you were at the dog park that day the girl leprechaun was in the tree. She made a lot of dogs talk that day. She must have missed you when turning them all back again. Wow!”
The talking dog looked at Coco with its brown eyes and dark brown bushy eyebrows. “And can you talk?” Coco looked up at Lauren, who nodded.
“It’s OK, boy.”
“Well, yes. I find it very easy. It’s actually harder to bark now.” Coco and the dog laughed, they seemed to be sharing a joke. “But where’s your owner?”
“Um, well, ah ha,” said the white dog nervously. “Um, back at the house. I decided to go for a walk.”
Lauren looked cross. “You shouldn’t do that. You could get picked up, you know.” The dog looked down at the ground and then looked up at a passing car, perhaps thinking of chasing it.
“I have to go,” the white dog said and quickly trotted off. Lauren and Coco watched the white dog quickly disappear around the corner and out of sight. Lauren thought something looked strange about the way he walked.
“Didn’t even say good bye,” Lauren huffed. She look looked at her watch.
“Well, we have to go. I wonder if we will we see him around again soon?”
Coco tried to shrug but it looked more like he was bobbing his head up and down.
--
Back at home Lauren had finished practicing the guitar and was allowed to watch television. Suddenly she heard a car’s tyres screeching on the road outside and looked out the window. She saw the car drive off again and could not see why it had stopped.
“I wonder what that was, boy?”
“Don’t know,” said Coco who put a paw to his mouth and looked around. In the corner of her eye Lauren thought she saw something jump over the fence.
“I’m not sure, Coco, but I think something just jumped into our yard. Come on.”
Coco’s fur bristled and he growled. Lauren and Coco walked out into the yard. It was late afternoon and not yet started to get dark. They looked behind the shrubs and pot plants but could not find anyone or anything unusual. Then Coco picked up a scent.
“Follow it boy,” Lauren said, walking beside him. Coco sniffed around the corner of the yard where most of the shrubs were.
“AHA!” shouted a big white dog pointing its paw at Coco. It was the same one they had seen earlier that day.
“Be botten me not ...” Just then Lauren ran and scooped Coco up in her arms and ran off before the dog could finish the spell. She was headed for the back door which they had left open. But the door mysteriously slammed shut in front of her and Lauren turned to face the dog. Coco was growling.
“You’re a leprechaun,” she said. “Aren’t you.”
“Do I really have to answer that? I mean. I may look like a flea bus but, honestly.” The dog walked toward them keeping on three legs keeping one paw aimed at Coco.
“You’re not turning my Coco back. I love him the way he is.”
The big white dog laughed an evil, mean laugh. “You mean the way he was.”
“Wait! I know something about leprechauns. They freeze when seen by people. That’s true, isn’t it?” Lauren was working on a plan to stop the dog.
“You’re seeing me and I’m not freezing.” The dog raised its paw again and took aim at Coco.
“Yes, but I’m not a grown up. You better leave now or I will call my Dad. He’s just inside, near the back door that you slammed shut.” The dog stopped and seemed to be thinking about this.
“By the time your bumbling daddy makes it outside I will have cast the spell, jumped the fence and run away.” He raised his paw again and closed one eye, taking aim at Coco.
“My dad is not bumbling. AND YOU’VE MADE A BIG MISTAKE. DAD! QUICK! DAD!” They could all hear Lauren’s dad’s footsteps thumping from the end of the house toward the back door.
“You better run,” Lauren chided the dog, who did not look worried at all.
“Be botten me notten!” Sparks flew out from the dog’s paw and luckily hit Lauren’s watch. She turned and ran to the far corner of the yard. Just then the back door burst open and Lauren’s Dad came out.
“What’s all this then? What’s going on?” He spotted the dog that was running for the fence. “Hey!” he shouted as the dog leapt into the air but then landed on the other side with a thud. Lauren, her dad and Coco all ran over to the fence. “What the?” Lauren’s Dad scratched his head. “It’s just lying there. Not moving.”
Lauren looked over the fence to see for herself. The white dog had turned to stone and was lying on its side on the grass on the other side of the fence.
“Was I seeing things?” he asked himself. “I’m sure I saw a white dog jumping over the fence. Did you see it?” he asked Lauren.
“Um,” she stammered. “I’m not sure.”
Lauren’s Dad walked through the gate and onto the footpath. He touched the dog with his toe.
“It’s definitely solid. Let’s take it inside.” He picked up the dog.
“Can I have it in my tree house?” Lauren asked.
Coco growled at the white dog the whole time Lauren’s Dad carried it across the lawn. Her Dad was puffing by the time he got it up the stairs and onto the tree house floor. He leaned it against a hand rail so that it stayed upright.
“What are you going to do with it?” He asked, climbing down the ladder, puffing. “And what have you got there?”
Lauren tied something around the dog’s neck. It was dripping red onto the tree house floor.
“I made him a collar. Do you like it?” She smiled.
--
Soon it was late and Lauren and Coco had to come inside. She hoped that the beetroot tied to the dog’s neck could stop it from changing back and leaving. But really, she thought, anything could happen. A possum could eat the beetroot. Or another leprechaun could come and take it off. Or worse, maybe the white dog was a mutant leprechaun and beetroots did not work on it. She also did not know if the leprechaun would stay in stone forever.
“Lauren,” her Mom asked while looking in the pantry. “I bought two tins of sliced beetroot for the salad. Do you know where they are?” Lauren looked sheepishly at her Mom.
“I err ... err ... yeah I ... err ...”
“You ate them? Well I guess that’s all right, they are good for you after all. I’ll get some more. Good to see your tastes are expanding,” her Mom giggled and wrote beetroots on the shopping list kept on the fridge.
“Psst,” Coco called from under the kitchen bench. “Drop down some more food.” He was panting with his tongue hanging out, drool dripping off it. Lauren carefully picked up a piece of carrot and dropped it. Coco caught it before it hit the ground and crunched it with his back teeth.
Her Mom turned and loo
ked right into Lauren’s eyes, giving her a fright. Her Mom must have seen her give some food to Coco, she thought.
“Your Dad won’t be happy,” she said. “He likes beetroot in his salad. Oh well.” And she started chopping up a lettuce. Lauren shook her head and grinned at Coco.
“Jeanie is coming over tomorrow,” her Mom said without looking up. Lauren did not hide her disappointment.
“When?” she frowned down, making a pretend mean face at Coco who panted, dripping more drool on the floor.
“In the morning. You two seem to be getting along better lately. I knew if I kept at it you would come around.”
“Meat’s ready!” her Dad called out and carried a tray of barbequed sausages and chops into the kitchen. Lauren’s Mom quickly tossed the salad. Lauren looked out the window to the white dog sitting in her tree house. A plan came to mind and she grinned a small grin that only Coco noticed.
--
Jeanie arrived early the next morning. She came in through the front gate. Lauren and Coco were watching the dog through the window from inside the lounge room. Lauren saw Jeanie climb up into the tree house.
“What will happen if Jeanie talks to the dog?” Coco whispered. Lauren shrugged and looked worried.
“Now stay here where Mom can be watching you. I will go out and tell Jeanie what to do.” Coco did not want to stay. He sat and wriggled and whined.
“Stay,” Lauren said and walked out the back door.
“Have you taught Coco to stay?” her Mom looked up and asked, nodding approval. “Clever girl. You must have got that from me.” And she went back to making a cake.
Lauren raced into the back yard.
“Jeanie,” Lauren called out. “Be careful. There is something dangerous up there.”
She ran up the ladder and stood next to Jeanie, puffing. Both stared at the dog.
‘What’s this dog doing here? It doesn’t look so dangerous.” The dog was still rock hard. “And what is that tied around its neck? Yuck, it’s beetroot. You’re weird!” Jeanie screwed up her face and turned to leave.
“Hold on,” Lauren moved to block her. “That’s no ordinary dog. I have a new game. If you’re brave enough?” Jeanie was unsure but nodded.
“What is it? And by the way, that last little friend of yours didn’t want to play offices. He ignored me and crawled under your house. I was so offended I went home. I was very sad,” she angrily, sticking her bottom lip out as she spoke.
“This dog is cursed by the devil,” Lauren spoke in a mysterious tone. “If it moans and makes strange noises you have to run, Jeanie. Run away as fast as you can. Because it is trying to curse you.” Lauren’s eyes bulged and her hands moved around in waving motions. Jeanie stood tapping her foot with her arms folded.
“Really? Cursed? Looks like something from a garden centre.” Jeanie sat in one of the little chairs. “I can assure you nothing you buy from a supermarket can scare me. Bring it.”
Lauren closed her eyes and began chanting to the dog.
“Voodoo voodoo witchy woo. Ooga booga dooga wibbly doo. Unleash the demon which is in you.” Jeanie rolled her eyes and sighed.
“So lame, Lauren. So lame.”
Lauren slowly took the beetroot from the stone dog and watched. Jeanie watched too but only to satisfy Lauren that she was not scared.
“Like I said, nothing ...” Jeanie began before Lauren put her finger to her lips.
“Shhh. See that?” Lauren pointed to one of its ears. They both looked closer. Fine hairs began to appear over it. Then slowly the dog’s fur began to soften. First along the top and then down the sides and along the tail. The faraway look in its eyes changed slowly until suddenly Lauren realised it was looking straight at her. The dog sat up and began to speak.
“Is that beetroot in your hand?” Lauren nodded.
“Be still. We are witches. We are here to stop you from being evil. Evil!” Jeanie stayed still, trying to work out if this was a trick. The dog’s eyes followed the beetroot as Lauren moved it closer to the Dog’s head.
“Why does the evil king want to break the curse?” she asked threatening to touch the dog with the beetroot. The dog answered, not wanting to take its eyes off the beetroot.
“The dog that talks is a risk to the king and to all leprechauns. There be magical creatures that can use the dog against the king. This cannot be allowed.” The dog stood and stepped toward Lauren. She tensed and held the beetroot up so it almost touched the dog’s nose. The dog seemed to be about to do something. Suddenly its eyes went from brown to black. Its head started to become round and light brown. Soon Lauren was looking at the head of a leprechaun that still had the body of the white dog.
“Ye does not know the magic we can do. Good magic, to be sure. But bad magic also. Best to close your eyes.” And with a mighty flash a large bolt of lightning struck the tree house. Lauren fell back and landed on the floor.
Lauren blinked ten times before she could see normally again. The dog that was a leprechaun was gone. The tree house smelt of burnt wood. Lauren stood and looked around. Jeanie was sitting on the floor. Her eyes were wide with fear and somehow Lauren had squashed the beetroot across the side of her face. Pieces of it were running down her neck and sliding inside her shirt.
Jeanie looked like she was about to cry but no sound came from her mouth. And then finally she wailed.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” With her mouth wide open, she climbed down the ladder, ran across the lawn, out the front gate and along the path to her house. The wailing stopped when her front door slammed shut.
Lauren sat on the grass in the shade on the lawn. Coco sat next to her and gave her shin a lick.
“What are you thinking?” he asked and panted happily.
“Do you think they can find us wherever we are?” she asked quietly, resting her chin in her hands.
Coco did not know what to say, so just kept panting. Lauren did not know the answer either.
--