Forgetting Something
“Okay, gang! Time for the final checklist check for this, the first Wilde-Hopps Clan Vacation Extraordinaire! Luggage!”
“Check!” answered Nick from Judy’s right.
“Snacks!”
“Check!” Alex called out next from the seat behind Judy, the wolf for once not keeping his snout buried in a book.
“Phones and chargers!”
“Check!”
“Wallets!”
“Check!”
“House keys!”
“Check!”
“Toiletries!”
“Check!”
“Books and maps!”
“Checkity check, Carrots!”
“Sense of adventure!”
“In my other pants, Mom!”
“Excellent! Then we are off!”
Nothing happened, the minivan remaining stationary and off. A few seconds more and Judy looked down to where she’d been trying to turn the key in the ignition, only to find her paw grasping empty air.
Not saying a word, Judy unbuckled, hopped out of the vehicle, and began the long walk back to their house for the car keys. She could feel the laughter-choked stares of the fox and wolf the whole way.