第44章你是我生命中的阳光（14）
&dayJoewentofftocollectthewiredfundswhileNandthekidsshtheirpossessitodecidewhatcouldbetothesixpiecesofbaggagetheywereallowedonthebusandwhathadtobeleftbehind。OrdinarilySnoopyed，butnowhereyesfollowedeverymoveofNandthe，ahempausedtothink，evenforaminute，Sheidlehand，askiouched，tobeheld。
“Sheknows，”Jodisaid，gher。“Shekhingawfulisgoingtohappen。”
&ravelers’Aidrepresentativearrivedtotakethebelongingsthey’tpaatiohriftshop。Ani，hewascaughtbetweenbeingsympathetigpractihelookedatSeenisreally，”hesaidgently。“Maybeyoujusthavetofigureshe’shadalonglifeandagoodone。”Whennobodyspoke，hetookadeepbreath。“Ifyouwant，youleaveherwithmeandI’llhaveherputtosleepafteryou’vegone。”
ThelookedatNancybutsaidnothioodtherewasn’taheydidn’twaharderoherbyprotesting。Nancybowedherhead。Shethoughtofallthewalks，alltheromps，allthepiics，allthetimesshe’dgookissthegoodnightandSnoopyhadliftedherheadtobekissedtoo。
“Thankyou，”shetoldtheman。“It’skindofyoutooffer。Butno，edfirmly，“Snoopy’spartofthefamily，agiveupoher。”Shereachedforthetelephonebook，lookedup“KeheYellowPages，andbegandialing。Scrupulously，shestartedeachcallwiththeexplanationthatthefamilywasdownontheirluck。“But，”shebegged，“ifyou’lljustkeepourlittledoguntilwedawaytogethertoFortWayne，Igiveyoumywordleasetrustme。Please。”
&erinaryic，whichalsoboardedpets，fiheTravelers’Aidrepresehemtotheplacywasthelasttosaygood-bye。ShekookSnoopy’sfrostedmuzzleinherhands。“Youknowwe’dneverleaveyouifwecouldhelpit，”shewhispered，“sodon’tgiveup;don’tyiveup。We’llgetyoubaise。”
OnFortWayoppsfoundamobilehometorent，ohersgavethemhisoldcar，sisters-in-lawprovidedpotsandpansandbedlihereturheiroldsdNandJoefoundjobs。Bitbybitthefamilygotitselftogether，butthecirclehadapainfulgapinit。Snoopywasmissing。EverydayNancytelephonedadifferentmovingpany，adifferenttrupany，beggingforarideforSnoopy。EverydayJodiahroughthedifshe’dhadanyludshehadtosayno。
ByMarch，they’dbeenbaFortWaynesixweeksandNandespair。ShedreadedbearingfromWyomingthatSnoopyhaddiedoutthere，neverknowinghowhardthey’dtriedtogetherbaeday，havihielephoartmentofAnimaldtoldthemthestory。
“Idon’tknowwhatIdotohelp，”thedireannamedRod，saidwhenshe’dfiI’lltellyouthis:I’msuregoingtotry。”
&er，hetoohadexhaustedtheobviousapproaoopywastoofrailtobeshippediedbaggageentofaplane。Aprofessionalanimaltransppahereast。Shippingpaoberesponsiblefupfromhislatestdshookhishead。“Iwishtheold-timePoillience，”heremarkedtohisassistant，Skip。“They’dhavebroughtthedogback。”
“They’dhavepassedheralongfromoher。Itwould’vebeenaPuppyExpress，”Skipjoked。
Rodthoughtforaminute。“Bygolly，thatmaybetheaamapandalistofaersinWyoming，Nebraska，Iowa，IllinoisandIndiaelephoning。CouldheenlistenoughvolutogetheraPuppyExpresstotransportSnoopybystagesacrossfivestates?Wouldenoughpeoplebelieveitmatteredsoforalittleseventeen-year-olddogtobereuhherfamilythatthey’ddriveahundredorsomileswesttopickherupandanotherhundredorsomileseasttodeliverhertothedriver?
&er，RodcalledtheTopps。“ThePuppyExpressstartstomorrow。Snoopy’se!”hetoldNantly。
TheanimaltroloffiRshadvoluobeSnoopy’sfirstdriver。Whesidetheic，thevetbundledSnoopyieraothecar。“She’sgotacold，”thevetsaid，“sokeepherwarm。Medidinstrudthespecialfoodforherkidioheshoppingbag。”
&helittledogoaherhand。Snoopyplacedherpawinit。“You’rewele，oldgirl，”thevetsaid，shakingit。“It’sbeeakingcareofyou。Thebestofluesafely!”