* * *COUNTDOWN: 15 DAYS TO LA/XC-6 * * *
Beagle Man came home from Montauk at the end of September with all sorts of complaints about his back and his right shoulder. He tried to blame it all on me — as usual: You know, “all that tennis ball throwing, all that stick throwing.” But the real reason for the aches and pains — and don’t tell him I said so! — is that he’s not exactly a teenager anymore. All right — he goes to the orthopedist, who tells him the absolute
worst thing he can do for his bad back and shoulder is to sit in a car and drive for long periods. So what does Beagle Man do? He actually asks the doc what he thinks about our plan for a 3-week cross-country road trip!!! From what I hear, the guy all but laughs him out of his office! So . . . BAD NEWS! It looks like LA/XC-6 is a bust! Everyone’s bummed. No two new states (Indiana, Arkansas) for Matt. No Bourbon Trail for Greg. No Albuquerque and Grand Canyon and Las Vegas for Robby. All that planning wasted, for Mom. But then Beagle Man gets an inspiration! Instead of his 6th cross-country road trip, it’ll be a fly-and-drive! He’ll still be behind the wheel for the short hauls (like Louisville-Indianapolis-St. Louis), but he’ll fly for the longer ones (like St. Loo to Albuquerque). So . . . GOOD NEWS! LA/XC-6 is on again! But wait. Wasn’t I supposed to be the co-pilot, just like on LA/XC-4 and -5? And aren’t I not allowed on airplanes? So . . . BAD NEWS! I can’t go! I have to stay back with Mom! Sure, I know Ricky was trying to remind me that life on the road isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, for a dog (Some Questions I’d Ask If I Were Kemba) — but that’s when I was still included. Now that I’m not allowed to go . . . I really, really want to! Not fair. Not fair at all.
Beagle Man and Ricky always have a lot to say, so I’ll just pipe up in The Duck Dog Speaks whenever I can.
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