Episode 13: Dangerous games...

Back in Cooperville...

Two Labrador puppies scampered from the Cooperville Toy, Treat & Toothbrush Emporium, squealing with delight.

"Quick Ben, pass it to me! C'mon, c'mon!" yipped the first puppy.

"Okay, stand back a bit then!" Ben laughed. "Ready Jerry? Go long!"

Jerry raced down the street as Ben flipped the shiny new Indestructoball high into the air. Flecks of slobber flew from the ball as it bounced once, then twice, and was caught by Jerry mid air before it could hit the ground again.

Both puppies yelped with excitement. "Cool!" Ben squealed, crouching into a play bow. "My turn now, throw it back to me!"

Jerry flung the Indestructoball back towards Ben as hard as he could, tripping over his own feet as he let the ball go. The last minute stumble sent the ball off course, and it hit the wall of a nearby building before bouncing two more times along the sidewalk, rolling to a stop well short of Ben.

"What was that?" Ben laughed.

"Do over!" Jerry yelled as he bolted for the ball.

"No way!" Ben yipped as he raced for the ball as well, crashing into Jerry and bowling him over into a squirming heap.

The giggling puppies wrestled for several moments before flopping to the ground to catch their breath.
"Hey flea breath, I think your watch is broken!" panted Jerry.

"I don't have a watch bug brains!" said Ben.

"Then what's that ticking?"

"Maybe your brain finally snapped!" said Ben as he leapt away from Jerry. Jerry sprang after him, tackling him back to the ground.

The puppies tumbled over each other, knocking into the Indestructoball and sending it rolling down the street. The loud ticking sound coming from the ball became faster as it rolled, and it headed for the mail box on the corner.

"Hey mister!" Ben yelled to the postdog emptying the mail box. "Can you please throw my ball back?"

"Sure thing kid." As the postdog stooped to retrieve the ball the ticking suddenly stopped. The ball exploded with a loud pop, knocking the postdog off his feet and sending letters high into the air.

With letters fluttering down around them the puppies stood in stunned silence for a moment, before leaping into the air, whooping with delight.

"That was awesome!" shrieked Ben.

"Let's get another one!" yelled Jerry, "and let's make it a big one this time!"

The two puppies raced each other back into the shop, almost knocking Dash and Chase over as they came around the corner.

"Watch it!" Dash snapped before tripping over the dazed postdog sprawled on the footpath. "What the halibut happened here...? Oh no!"

"What is it?" asked Chase.

"We've got a problem. I've got to get to a phone, now!"...

Episode 6: Meanwhile in Miss Kitty's Milkbar...

Meanwhile...across the street in Miss Kitty's Milkbar...

Chase Singleton strolled into the milkbar, springing lithely onto the closest barstool.

Miss Kitty looked up from where she was battering a batch of mice. "What'll it be Chase hon?"

"Gimme a full cream milk, but hold the milk please."

"All cream huh? Tough day hon?"

Chase shrugged and started to groom himself with affected nonchalance. Miss Kitty did not buy this attempt to appear casual, but decided to let it go.

"Here you go, full cream, straight up," she said, pouring the thick liquid into a tall glass in front of him.

"Leave the bottle," Chase mumbled as he licked his paw and rubbed it behind his ear.

Miss Kitty raised a quizzical eyebrow, but placed the cream bottle on the counter and went back to deep frying mice. The catflap in the front door swung open and a slender young cat sprang inside. Chase groaned and buried his face in his paws.

"Is this seat free?" the girl asked, skipping over to Chase's side.

"No," Chase snapped, "why can't you leave me be Misty?"

"I don't know, just thought you might need some company after a day like today." Misty replied, extending her front legs and scratching her claws on the carpet lined counter.

"Don't bother sis, I really don't want to talk about it, especially with you," Chase replied before turning his attention to the cream.

Misty sighed, then waved a paw at Miss Kitty. "Excuse me miss! I'll take a pot of extra strong nip tea thanks!"

Miss Kitty snorted. "If you're old enough for nip then I'm a snow leopard, nice try though."

"Oh come on, I'm practically an adult," pleaded Misty.

"Do you want me to lose my liquor licence? Why don't I give you a strawberries and cream milkshake, and then maybe I don't have to call your parents and tell them you're trying to pull the fur over my eyes?"

"Fine," huffed Misty. "So Chase, you ready to talk about it yet?"

"What is there to talk about? So I find out you've been secretly dating my best friend? So what? Why is my opinion suddenly so interesting?" Chase bolted down the last of the cream in his glass, then started to scull straight from the bottle.

"Gross!" Misty exclaimed. "And the interest in your opinion is because you don't seem to be handling the news all that well."

Chase burped loudly and slammed the empty bottle down on the counter. "If either of you really cared about my feelings you would have told me what was going on right from the start, or better still, not started seeing each other at all!"

"Oh that's nice Chase," Misty hissed, "so I'm not good enough to date your precious best friend Dash, is that it?!"

"Maybe I'm upset because Dash isn't good enough for you!"

Misty stared at her brother in disbelief. "What's that supposed to mean?"...