> Title: A collar without a leash
> Word Count: 601
> Created for the Tropetember Event - Reunions
I was playing chess with Alice when I got the call. I had been winning, my next move would have won but it didn't matter, we abandoned the game after the call.
My phone had gone off just as Alice had moved her queen. Taking my pawn.
"Sorry Alice, I need to take this." I told her apologetically.
"No problem, It'll just give me time to switch around a few things" she reaches for my pieces, I fend off her attack with my empty hand. Giving her a playful glare, I tap the green button on my phone.
"Hello, who is this?" There's a pause before they answer.
"Uh, yes, hello. My name is Nick and I think we have your dog" My mouth drops, Alice is staring at me, confused.
"What does the dog look like? Is it a jack Russel wearing a blue collar? Is that how you got my number? What's the name on the collar? Is it Molly?" I'm rambling now. Alice had stood up and grabbed her phone and car keys.
The phone was silent for a second, I was scared I'd lost connection.
"Ok, uh, yes she's a jack Russel, her collar is more grey but the colour may have faded? Her collar says her name is Molly and yes that's how I got your number. I live at llanfair, number 14 on Llwyn-y-Gadair." He finished.
My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear the car starting outside or Alice calling for me to hurry up.
"Ok, right. Thanks for calling me, can we come and see her now? Are you home?"
"Yes I am, come right away" the phone line went dead. I grabbed what I thought I'd need, phone, dog leash, treats. I was practically running out the door and into the passenger seat with excitement and hope.
Molly had been missing for two months, 3 people had phones stating they'd found her only to be wrong.
I plugged my phone into the audio aux and selected my most recent playlist, Zombie by the cranberries. It was only going to be a short ride but I needed the distraction.
My leg was jiggling and jumping around. My nerves were bouncing, they might have actually found her! My heart was pounding so hard I couldn't hear the music.
We arrived at the house around 5:20pm.
It was a small terrace house. One door, 3 windows. I knock on the teal door. A short man with ginger hair answered the door.
"Uh, hey I'm Ben. We're here to see if you have my dog? The jack Russel."
His stocky face lit up. "Ah yes, come on in!" He opened the door wider. "She's in the kitchen"
She's lying in on a navy sofa. She jumps up as she sees me. We run to each other, she leaps into my arms. Her fluffy coat tickles my face. I breath deep, my head mushed deep ito her fur. She’s yapping and licking my forehead. I laugh as tears trickle down my face. Molly shuffles around in my arms, sniffing at my pockets.
“Oh molly, yes here’s the treats” I grab the bag from my pocket. Molly scoffs them all down. A smile lights up my face. I have her back, the happiness boils inside of me. I hug her all the way through our chat with Nick, I hug her all through the ride home, I don't let her go, I won't let her go.