The Rightful Heir by Jefferson Knapp Page A

picked him up and he licked her nose. “I’ll see you when I get home.”
    The dog barked with excitement. Jessica didn’t know he was counting on being alone all day so he could go to his kingdom. She put him down and headed for the road as the loud hum of the school bus got nearer. Mac ran up to the fence and barked as she closed the gate. The muddy yellow bus stopped and opened its door. He watched the last of his owners leave for the day.
    â€œPerfect!”
He ran to the other side of the yard and started barking, “Zeus! Hey, Zeus! Come here!” It was still foggy as the sun rose. He looked over toward Zeus’s house but could see only slow-moving stretches of fog and a pinkish glow from the yardlamp. He waited by the fence. Out of the fog the large, black Doberman Pincher charged him.
    â€œYou called,
Your Majesty?”
Zeus teased.
    â€œZeus, oh boy am I glad to see you!” The pug stood on his hind legs and rested against the chain link fence. “You gotta help me get out of here! The owners are gonna be gone for the whole day and I need your help in finding my kingdom.”
    The Doberman stared at him a moment. “Eh, what else do I have to do today?”
    â€œGood! Help me find a spot to dig where they won’t notice.” Mac ran to the corner of the fence along the far back side of the house and Zeus followed. “This looks far enough away.” He started to dig the soft, wet earth with his front paws, Zeus digging twice as much in seconds. In no time they completed the escape tunnel. Mac made sure the dirt was scattered and not in one pile, then slipped under the fence and out the other side.
    â€œWelcome to freedom, little friend.” Zeus smiled at the dirty-faced pug.
    â€œAh, now let’s see here.” Mac looked down the foggy road. “That boy took off down that way, right?” His front foot pointed south.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œSo…I guess we head that way!”
    The two of them walked through the fog to find the kingdom that had been waiting to meet their fallen king’s son.

    â€œS O WHEN IS HE COMING, King Benjamin?” a bushy-tailed squirrel asked eagerly.
    â€œSometime today, I hope. He did seem excited. And I told him where to find us.” Benjamin looked at the animals gathered ‘round. He loved being in their company. He loved being their king. Then Felix the fox said something that reminded him of thestressful part of his job.
    â€œWill we be able to get my friends in Persly’s Woods today? That
thing
is still out there!”
    Benjamin didn’t have much of a reply. “Hopefully Mac will show up soon, Felix.” The boy sat on the floor and rested his head against the seat of his throne. His jeans felt stiff and cold. They were taking a long time to dry. Then he remembered the school bus! He pulled his cell phone out of his backpack and looked at the time. “Oh, no! The bus will be here any second!” He jumped up, grabbed the pack, and ran out of the cave. “Bye, guys!” he called over his shoulder, his water-soaked sneakers squeaking loudly.
    â€œGood-bye, Your Majesty!” Roscoe shouted.
    Benjamin ran through the dark tunnel and heard the hum of the bus getting closer.
Oh, please wait for me!
    Al stopped the bus at Benjamin’s mailbox and waited a few seconds, staring at the Biggs’s front door, then honked twice. Benjamin heard the sound echo through the tunnel. As he neared the entrance a thought occurred to him.
What if they see me pop out of the fox den?
Al honked the horn a couple more times. “No! Wait!” Benjamin yelled, but it was too late. The engine roared and the bus rolled past his house. He finally reached the entrance and the sticks sprang up. He scrambled out of the hole and jumped onto the soggy road, glimpsing the tail end of the bus as it disappeared around a bend far down the road. He bent over to catch his breath.