“Shh… Don’t let anyone know, or they’ll come up with something else for me to do.”He sent her a teasing smile.
“Don’t worry.I won’t say a word.”
“Is the last patient here?”
“No.They called.They’re running a few minutes late because of the weather.”
“No problem.”
He moved to his office and checked his email.There wasn’t anything there that couldn’t wait until tomorrow.Now if only the last patient would arrive, he could leave early.
Ding.
He reached for his phone.There was a message from his brother Michael.
One of the puppies Candi was caring for has run away.Last seen at Merry Kringle’s house.Escaped out of the back yard.No sign of him since.
His phone continued to light up with messages from his family.Everyone was going out, looking for the puppy named Tank.
Colin’s fingers moved over the screen:I’m at work, but I’ll get the word out.
He stepped out of his office and moved to the reception desk where everyone gathered at the end of the day.Jane, Mary, and Tyler were there.He told them the situation.And then he messaged his brother for a picture of Tank.He forwarded it to all of his staff.
“Where are they looking?”Tyler Jones asked.
“I think here in town.The puppy was at Merry Kringle’s when he ran away.If you can just keep a look out on your way home, myself and my family would greatly appreciate it.”He headed for the door.
“What about your last patient?”Jane called after him.
He paused in the doorway.“If they make it, call me.”
He’d left his pickup in the parking lot.He wished he had a flashlight.Even though it was just after four o’clock, it was already dark out.He turned on the flashlight app on his phone.
“Tank!”He took his time, looking for little footprints in the snow.
He wasn’t the only one out searching.He could hear numerous voices calling out for the puppy.Pride for his hometown swelled up in his chest.The people of Kringle Falls always pulled together.
Ding.
Ding.
His phone kept blowing up with messages from his family’s group chat.Everyone was out searching.It was a good thing, because it had started snowing again.Tank was too young to be out in the snow for long.
A while later, after not finding any sign of the puppy, Colin’s phone buzzed.He checked it for the umpteenth time.It was his mother warning everyone not to stay out in the cold for too long without taking a break.She was a worrier.She invited everyone home for some chili and fresh-baked bread to warm them up.He messaged back that he would stop by later.He didn’t want to stop the search.
His phone dinged again.It was a message from his younger brother Justin.He’d checked the area around the Kringles’ house and found no sign of Tank.Colin continued searching between the pet shop and the vet clinic.Still nothing.
Buzz.
It was the office.He answered, hoping that someone had brought in Tank.Instead, they were letting him know his final patient of the day had arrived.With a resigned sigh, he let them know he was on his way back.
Ding.
He checked his phone.It was a message from Candi:Tank has been found.He’s at home.
Ding.Ding.Ding.Ding.
His phone started to blow up with more messages from family.It took him a moment to see there was a message for him.Michael wanted him to come over and have a look at the pup.He messaged back that he would be over as soon as he saw his last patient.He turned and walked as fast as he could through the new snow without falling.
