F3-Cycle 36-In a Blender

~The prompt for this week, my first time, was to write a story with two buddies, Dean and Jerry, where Dean is the "straight suave guy" and Jerry is the "bungling buddy," in less than 1000 words. Hope you like it!~

Partners in Crime

They both heard it at the exact same time. The pitter patter of those tiny little feet dancing along the edge of the fence was undeniable. It was time for the hunt. While Dean trotted out of the patio rather gracefully, Jerry sprinted behind him, ears flying and legs akimbo. He tripped in the doorway and thrashed on his belly for a second, sliding up next to Dean, panting hard.

 “Alright, Jerry, you just sit here and watch, and I’ll show you how it’s done.” Dean stopped them a few yards away from the target. “It takes an immense amount of talent and skill to be successful. You’ll never get what you want if you don’t learn to control yourself.” Dean asserted his dominance over Jerry for a second longer before getting down to business.

Dean lowered his belly to the ground, slithering slowly along the dead grass, his paws barely making a sound.

“Yeah! Go get him, Dean! You show him who is boss!” Jerry’s barking was incessant.

“Jerry!” Dean growled. “You’re ruining everything. You’ll scare him away prematurely if you don’t shut up, and then what will our people think?”

“Sorry, Dean, you’re right.” Jerry laid down, his tail now still, and his face lain on top of his paws. He just got so excited sometimes, he couldn’t help it.

The squirrel was now watching them both closely, acorn in hand, as still as a statue. Carefully, Dean resumed his process, inching closer and closer, his eyes glued on the prize. He knew he would win it; he was the master of this game. Jerry was learning from the best.

Jerry perked up once Dean was all the way up against the fence, sitting up tall and openly staring down the squirrel. Every time the creature moved, Dean moved with it, and the bigger dog on the other side of the fence made Dean the more attractive opponent. The squirrel was trapped.

“Jerry!” Dean called softly. “Come here and spot me on the right, I don’t want him getting away.” Jerry sauntered over happily, his tongue flopping out of his mouth.

“I’m here, captain!”

“Here’s the plan: I want you to jump on the fence and scare him this way, hopefully he’ll fall, and then I’ll catch him.”

“You better be fast! Remember the last one that got away because you were too--" Dean cut him off with a sharp growl and put his snout on top of Jerry’s, daring him to say more. “Sorry, boss” Jerry said quietly. “Let’s go ahead with the plan now.”

“Alright, on my count.” Jerry watched, excited, for Dean’s tail to wag three times.

Once given the signal, Jerry leaped up and barked his most menacing bark at the petrified squirrel. Coming alive, the squirrel leaped to the side, but missed the edge of the fence and tumbled down on top of the grass, now at Dean’s mercy.

“I got him!” Dean leaped over to the squirrel and chased him as fast as he could. Dean’s back fur stuck up as he tried to intimidate the squirrel, backing it into a corner. Desperate for escape, the squirrel dashed from side to side and then back again, so quick it was a blur, but Dean expertly anticipated its every move.

Jerry sat not far away, cheering on Dean, barking encouragement as loud he could as he watched Dean volley with the animal, hoping for his partner’s success.

The squirrel made the mistake of trying to climb back up the fence, and on its first falter, Dean jumped up and pushed him down with both of his paws, and then crouched down, eye level with the exhausted squirrel. The squirrel used the rest of what little energy it possessed to try to climb back up again, now its only possible escape, but failed. The last thing it remembered was Dean’s teeth encasing its body for several chews until the squirrel hung limp from his smiling mouth.

“Yeah!” Jerry leaped up on his hind legs and cheered! “Wooo! Go Dean! You got him!”

“Let’s go.” Dean said out the side of his mouth, and with Dean leading the way, they ran their victory lap back to the patio door.

One of their owners was sitting at the patio table, watching them come in. Placing the squirrel at her feet, Dean and Jerry sat panting vigorously and beaming with pride, waiting for their owner to see the great gift they had presented to her. When she saw, their owner screamed because she was so overwhelmed with happiness.

She yelled praises at them for a long time, pointing to the squirrel and then their faces with great excitement. They had never seen her this happy. She opened the sliding glass door, and shoved them inside, leading them to their cages, thanking them loudly all the way. She was so grateful; she even gave them both congratulatory pats on the noses before locking them up and going back to examine her present with great enthusiasm.

“We did well, Jer. Thanks for your help.” Dean took a long drink of water and lay down, exhausted, in his crate.

“Oh, you’re welcome, Dean! I’m just glad we made our owner so happy!” He was panting wildly and finally threw himself down on the floor, his belly flopping over to the side. “I had so much fun, and you were awesome! We should do it again as soon as we have the chance!”

“Of course we will.” Dean agreed.