Camden, London.
The outside was rarely quiet. But it was as quiet as a tennis ball with no one to play with it. But the only sound that came was the screech of metal. AndâŚsniffling? The sniffling was none other than the fastest pup in Camden.
Spotted white fur. Black markings. Black collar with a yellow stripe. One cut on his ear. And no hind legs. Delgado Dalmatian. One of Delilah and Dougâs 99 puppies, and the self-proclaimed âfastest pup in Camdenâ. The pup was attempting to hold in what could definitely be described as crying while trying to carry his prized wheelchair via his mouth.
Once at the large complex - 101 Dalmatian Street - he pressed a forepaw to the scanner. Once it beeped green, he headed inside. Delgado watched the others.
The other Dalmatians didnât notice. Except for one. Same fur pattern. Black ears. Blue collar with a tag shaped like a molecule. Dawkins. Delgado trudged, clearly attempting to hide his wheelchair behind him without getting any raised eyebrows.
ââŚuh, Dawkins?â Delgado asked, looking away. Dawkins turned to look, mentally noting the fact that Delgado looked like he was mere seconds from breaking down crying.
âYes?â he asked, trying to keep his voice level despite the concern for his brother snaking through.
âCan you help me head to my room? PleaseâŚ?â The way Delgado said âpleaseâ was definitely a giveaway that something had happened.
Dawkins obliged, letting Delgado climb onto his back, Delgado putting both forepaws on his head. Dawkins turned to pick up Delgadoâs wheelchair, freezing for a moment at its damaged state, but composed himself enough to get on with picking it up. Dawkins methodically walked upstairs to Delgadoâs room, the pup sniffling. Once inside, Dawkins set Delgado and his wheelchair down, gave him one last look of âyouâre going to be okay, I promiseâ, then walked out.
The room looked like a racerâs dream. Racing posters everywhere, even a treadmill. Delgado looked at his wheelchair. It wasnât broken. It was smashed. Irreparably smashed. As if someone threw it down, stomped on it repeatedly, then ran it over until it could barely be fixed. Throwing himself onto his bed, Delgado let it out. His body shook with each sob he released.
Back in the living room, it was as if a switch flickered on inside Delilah, Doug, Dolly, Dylan, Dawkins, Diesel, Dante, Dimitri 1, Dimitri 2, Dimitri 3, Da Vinci, Dallas, Destiny, Deja Vu, Deepak, Dee Dee, Dizzy, Dorothy, DJ, and the Puppy Ensemble as a whole. A âone of our own needs usâ switch.
Immediately Delilah and Doug headed right upstairs, the other Dalmatians hot on the parentsâ tails. Reaching Delgadoâs room, Delilah knocked, forepaw connecting with the door a few times. She did it again. Deciding that now wasnât the time, the matriarch of 101 Dalmatian Street opened. She looked inside. The nurse dog froze. Maternal instincts kicked in as she rushed right to Delgadoâs side, his crying reduced to whimpering. âDelgado?â she asked. âHoney, are you okay?â Delilah and the other Dalmatians turned to the source of Delgadoâs anguish. Delgadoâs wheelchair. Dallas looked sick. Dimitri 1 reeled back. Dolly held both forepaws to her mouth. Dylan stared at the wheelchair in complete horror. Delgado lifted his head from his tear-soaked pillow, turned to his relatives, then put his head back down. Delilah went into mom mode quickly. She placed a single forepaw on Delgado, gently pushing him to her. Delgado buried his face into his motherâs fur, his crying starting up again.
âSh, sh, shâŚâ she soothed, cradling Delgado in her forepaws, holding him against her chest.
Dawkins looked at the smashed wheelchair. âThis looks intentional.â he noted, backing up a little.
Dead silence from the family, the only sound being Delgadoâs whimpering.
Then Dollyâs voice came out. Loud. Angry.
âWhat?! You mean someone destroyed his wheelchair?!â she snapped, eyes blazing.
âDolly, letâs calm down for a-â Dylan cautioned. Dolly cut him off. âNo! I am NOT calming down! Some idiot wrecked Delgadoâs wheelchair on purpose!â she snarled.
Now it was the other Dalmatiansâ turn to be angry.
âThatâs so cruel!â piped up Destiny.
âI donât treat the kid too nice, but I ainât stoopinâ that low!â snapped Dimitri 2, Dimitris 1 and 3 nodding in agreement.
âEveryone, we can think of getting back at whoever destroyed his wheelchair after we help him.â Doug called out. âRight now, your mother and I need some time with him. Weâll be back after weâve calmed him down.â
The pups complied, then left, talking amongst themselves, minds set on helping Delgado.
Once back inside, Doug turned to Delilah and Delgado. Sitting down near him, he watched Delgado sob. Doug exhaled. Expression softening at the sight of Delgado looking so heartbroken, he gently ran his paw down the pupâs back.
âBuddy, can you look at me?â Delgado complied, teary eyes staring into Dougâs. He let out a sniffle. Delgadoâs chin in his paw, Doug wiped away a stray tear. âIâm so sorry for your wheelchair, Delgado. But I have an idea. Maybe we can get you a new one. How does that sound?â Delgado did nothing for a split secondâŚbefore he crawled over to Doug and gave him a hug. Doug returned the hug, and Delilah joined in. A second later, the other pups joined in. âThanks, Dad. And you too, everyone.â Delgado managed to say.
No matter what, through rain or shine, there were moments where the Dalmatians would be there for each other.
Always.
This was one of those moments.














