New Family in Town

It had been a quiet Saturday morning for the Read household. Jane and the kids were still asleep, and David got a chance to try out some new recipes for dinner. He checked his watch; it was after 8. David set down his bowl of cake mix and walked outside to grab the paper. As soon as he set foot out the door, he caught sight of a huge moving van in the driveway across the street.

"Morning, David!"

David looked over and saw Ramon standing by the fence.

"Hey, Ramon! What's going on over there?"

"Looks like we've got new neighbors."

A golden retriever bounded out of the house, a small purse in its mouth. A young girl around Arthur's age raced after it, calling out the dog's name. An older girl helped the father unload boxes, as a young boy rummaged through the family car for various groceries. David and Ramon heard a yawn, looking behind at the tired face of Jane Read.

"Morning, hon." Jane yawned again, stretching. Witnessing the scene across the street, she perked up.

"New neighbors, huh? We should go over and see if they need any help."

"Um, sure babe. I'll just go get the kids," David replied, walking back to the house.

After grabbing Arthur, Kate and DW, the Reads walked over to meet the family moving in. Pal giddily ran behind them, sensing the new dog. As they approached the driveway, the girl who had been chasing the dog looked at them, calling for her father. A large man of about forty stepped off the truck, his dark hair wet with sweat. A full beard adorned his face, and red cheeks filled with joy as he spoke.

"Howdy! How you folks doing?"

"Great! We're the Read family; we live across the street," David replied.

"Bob Parker!" Robert extended his hand, which David and Jane took in turn. Turning to his daughter and motioning her over, he said, "This is my daughter Emily."

"Hello," Emily waved.

"Well I'm David, this is my wife Jane, this is Kate, and that's Arthur and DW."

"Nice to meet you two," Jane smiled.

Robert laughed, "Well, there's more of us inside! Come on in!"

As the Reads followed, Robert added, "Nice pup you got there, son! What's his name?"

"Pal," Arthur replied.

"Looks healthy. You must take good care of him."

"Thank you."

As Pal sniffed around the yard of his new neighbors, he felt the fur around his tail being blown on. His tail sticking up in alarm, Pal spun around, staring into the bright brown eyes of a fellow canine. The retriever licked Pal instinctively, cleaning him behind the ears, Pal shuddered away from the older dog, who nudged him.

Pal barked, "Get away! Why were you licking me?"

The retriever barked back, with a feminine drawl, "You need to take better care of your coat, little one. Doesn't your owner bathe you?"

"Only if he catches me," Pal replied proudly. The older dog scoffed.

"Pups."

"I'm Pal, by the way."

"My owners call me Ludo."

"Nice to meet you, Ludo! I'm sure you'll love it here, there are plenty of friendly dogs around this area!"

"Oh, joy…" Ludo trailed off. Another dog came racing from around the back of the house. He was smaller, no older than Pal, with a shiny gray and black coat. The newest arrival ran around Ludo, the older dog sitting back, before eventually sniffing Pal excitedly.

"Well, hello there," Pal greeted. Satisfied with his sensory findings, the terrier came to a stop next to Ludo.

"Is he yours?"

"No," Ludo replied indignantly, "he is not mine. Go on, Yapper."

As Ludo nudged him forward, the terrier went closer to Pal. Sitting down, he panted excitedly at Pal, who awkwardly barked, "I'm Pal. What's your name?"

The squeaky-voiced pup replied, "Do you want my full name or my short name? My full name is Yapper-Spaniel! But my friends call me Yapper or Yap for short!"

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Yap!"

"It's great to meet you! I bet we're gonna be best friends! Do you want to see my special bone!? I brought it with me from the old house! Come on, follow me!"

As Yap led Pal to the backyard, Ludo huffed again. Getting up, she stretched as she strolled into the house, nudging her young master. The boy knelt and rubbed her fur. Looking up, he said to Arthur, "By the way, this is Ludo in case you haven't met her yet."

Ludo barked at Arthur, softly swaying her tail.

"She's friendly, you can pet her if you want."

Arthur bent down with a smile on his face, patting Ludo softly on her head. As he moved into rubbing her snout, Ludo tilted her head into his hand, allowing him to reach back, scratching behind her ears.

"Wow," Neil laughed. "She really likes you."

"I happen to have a way with animals," Arthur commented.

"I bet. Do you have any pets?"

Ludo barked at Neil, her eyes trailing back to Arthur.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"How does she know?" Arthur asked.

"Either they just met, or she can smell it on you."

Ludo barked again, and Neil laughed, "I guess it's both!"

Jane and David sat in the dinning room with Robert and Caroline Parker. Eight chairs had come in first, alongside the family couch and dinner table. Besides Neil and Emily, the Parkers had four children: Terry, the oldest, Katelyn, born after Neil and Emily, and Sarah and Jake, who were twins. Neil and Emily were twins as well, both being eight years of age. Katelyn was six, Terry was eleven, and Sarah and Jake were four.

Jane proposed, "It's been so nice getting to know you both. You all should come over for dinner tonight."

Robert barked joyfully, "I've got a better idea: why don't you guys join us for dinner at the Italian place downtown? We'll pay for you guys!"

Jane and David stuttered, David replying, "Oh, no. We should be the ones showing our hospitality. After all, you're the new neighbors, not us."

"Aren't you?" Robert smirked.

"He doesn't take no for an answer," Caroline interjected. "We insist. We'll get together at eight."

"Sounds like a plan," Jane smiled.

After the Reads had left, the Parker family received more help in the form of friends and extended family. Around lunchtime, Jane looked out the window, commenting,

"It'll be nice having another family in this neighborhood."

"Definitely," David replied from behind his paper. "Arthur and DW could always use more friends."

Arthur walked across to the Parker's house, finishing off the BLT he had for lunch. DW straggled behind him. As he approached, he caught sight of Neil, and waved him down.

"I thought you guys could use some help."

"Sure thing," Neil replied. "Just grab a box and come in."

Arthur looked at the neatly packed boxes, sizing them up. Grabbing one of medium size, he hoisted it up and strolled into the living room. DW peeked at the boxes, grabbing a small one and following Arthur. Ludo lay just outside the door, resting, and Yap raced in and out of the house.

Coming to a halt behind Neil, Arthur laid his box down. Neil waved to a woman helping his mother put away dinnerware, and to a man helping his father assemble the entertainment center.

"That's my Aunt Jess, and my Uncle Chip," Neil said. Arthur nodded in reply. A girl with short black hair ran up to Neil, pulling his ear, and racing off giddily. Rubbing his ear, Neil chased after her out the door. Arthur and DW were hot on his heels, keen on finding out who this new girl was.

"No fair!" she squealed, laughing as Neil tickled her furiously.

"This," Neil started, "is my cousin Victoria. Vi, this is Arthur and DW."

"Pleased," Victoria breathed out, "to meet you."

Arthur took a step back at her black and red attire. When she noticed, Victoria looked down at her dress and smirked.

"Don't tell me you're a Lakey."

"Don't tell me you're a Mountaineer!"

"Wait, I'm confused," Neil said.

"School rivalry, cous," Victoria grinned, grabbing Neil's shoulder.

DW extended her hand.

"Hi, I'm DW. Any enemy of Arthur is a friend of mine."

Victoria laughed and shook DW's hand.

"Charming little sis you've got. Don't worry, Arthur, was it? I don't bite."

Victoria passed Arthur on her way back inside the moving van, patting his back.

A/N: This series, called "The Return" is gonna to consist of several small arc-shots (two-three chapters). Part 2 of this will be the dinner. And then the next Arc begins. Read and review and take back our fandom.

TUC Will Return.