ear. “Like Dusty?”
“No.” Kodi fired back. “I told you she’s nice. But she’s just not what I want.”
“Well then, continue on with your story.” Balto nosed Kodi onward
“Okay, well, anyways they kept trying to get me to admit that I liked her, and finally I guess I just snapped. I don’t remember what I said really, but when I finished I saw the look on Kirby and Ralph’s eyes.” Kodi lowered his head ashamed. “And it was then that I knew that Dusty was standing behind me, but when I looked, she had already run off …” Kodi remained silent for a long moment, waiting for his father to speak, all the while keeping his eyes hidden from his father. But finally the silence couldn’t be held any longer and Kodi raised his head to his father.
Balto looked deep in thought. “I see.” He stated impersonally.
It’s now, it’s got to be now that he’s going to yell, Kodi thought. He could just feel his fathers scorning brewing up, the air becoming tense with the hatred. Then, just when Kodi expected the articulated thrashing of his life, his father shrugged his shoulder and sighed unemotionally. “Well, I don’t really know what to tell you. I’m just … shocked and disappointed in you …”
“What?” Kodi whispered, and almost leapt out of his subconscious skin. His jaw hung nearly to his paws.
Balto scrunched his face up in an unusual turn. “Were you expecting me to be angry or something? You just messed up, that’s all. And I know that you have problems when it comes to girls”
Kodi’s stared with a paralyzed look of fear. “N … no I, I don’t”
An unsure eyebrow raised, Balto carried on, “Kodi, you do. I remember when you vomited on that one girl’s paws.”
“How did you know?” Kodi stated accusingly.
“Kodi,” Balto sighed. “The entire town knew about that. It’s a small world. And I want you to know that if you ever need any help with talking to girls,” Balto winked, “That your old man is right here to help you.”
In some way Kodi felt very disgusted; but there was also some minor tinge of anger brewing. “No, no, I don’t need any help I’m just fine. Besides, not that many girls in Nome like me. I’m not exactly a big tough male dog, Not exactly what a girl’s looking for.”
“Kodi,” Balto said unequivocally shaking his head. “You’re very handsome, and there are a lot of fine girls in Nome that like you.”
Then, from off the side of the boat, catching both father and son’s eye, a clearly recognizable form stepped into view. Dakota ambled along towards the plank of the boat and set his front paws on it. “Yeah Kodi, I mean I can probably name off ten of them right now.”
Kodi glanced at his father with an embarrassed grin, searching to know if he should be smiling. Balto never met his eyes, but kept looking at Dakota. “Dakota, can’t you see I’m having a conversation with Kodi?”
Just at that moment Dakota’s paws landed on the deck of the boat and he ambled with a cocksure stride to his father and brother’s side. “Yeah, but I had to be here when you gave Kodi and new one.” He winked at Kodi and sat. “Besides, who better to tell Kodi about all the wonderful girls that like him.”
Kodi grinned uncomfortable. “No girl likes me.”
Dakota laughed mockingly. “Yeah, and I’m not actually standing here.” He padded his front paws against the deck of the boat to make his point. “And you’re wrong Kodi, lots of girls like you.”
Balto and Dakota both looked at Kodi with a condemning eye. Kodi turned, obviously embarrassed beyond a rational state. “Oh come on Dakota, stop it.” He laughed nervously. “You’re making me blush.”
“Kodi,” Balto poked fun at. “Dog’s don’t blush.”
“Yeah Kodi,” Dakota agreed. “Quit making up excuses to chance the subject.”
Kodi glared at his brother. “Hold on here, what are you doing out here? Dad’s trying to have a father son conversation with me, and you’re out here interrupting everything.”
“Well,” Dakota stated puritanically. “I just wanted to ask you if you heard anything about the Alaska 500. And if not, then I’m here to tell you all about it. I’ve been reading the flyers all over town.”
Kodi laughed and shook his head. “You can read?”
“Yeah.” Retorted Dakota
“Yeah Dakota, I do know about it, and I’m already entered.”
“Really!” Dakota flew to his feet, tail wagging. “That is so neat. You have no idea how lucky you are to run on a team.” Dakota suddenly grew sullen and let his ears droop to the boat deck. His tail fluttered down. “I wish I ran on a team. That would just be the neatest. All the fame, all the prosperity, all the girls.”
“You keep mentioning girls to me.” Kodi barked, growing tired of his brother. “But I’m telling you that none of the girls in Nome like me.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Said Balto with a hint of superiority. “I know I’ve seen a few girls looking at you before.”
“A few,” Dakota laughed heartily. “I would bet that nearly ever girl in Nome has thought of you at least once.”
“No.” Kodi turned his face away, embarrassment eking up through his fur. “Not every girl.”
“Just about.” Dakota rolled his eyes to the top of his head like he was thinking deeply. “There’s Maggie, Molly, Lady, Ginger,-”
“The Pomeranian?” Kodi asked.
“Yup, then there’s Coco, Missy, Tasha, Bo …”
“Bo? Who’s Bo?” Asked Kodi.
“You know that one girl who lives over by the tailors?”
“The real fat one?”
“Yeah,” Dakota said above normal, pleased with Kodi’s description of her. “She has a thing for you. Next time you pass her by, you may want to take a look at her eyes and see how she’s looking at you.” Dakota paused for a moment, scrutinizing his brother over “You are no good with girls are you?”
Kodi scrunched his eyes in irritation towards his brother.
“But never mind that,” Dakota cut in on the strange moment of silence. “You’re going to run the Alaska 500. Any girl in Nome will be all over you. I just can’t imagine how excited you must be. The adventure, the fame.” Dakota paused and let his morose posture tell how sad he was that he wasn’t on a team and that his owner was too young for any real adventure; which was what Dakota craved more than anything.
“Well,” Balto said after another moment of long silence. “I suppose we all better be getting to bed like good little pups. Some of us have to get up early in the morning.”
Kodi stood unwillingly. “Yeah, I suppose.”
“Yeah.” Dakota agreed, already moving towards the edge of the boat. “I got to get up early to frighten Mr. McZee’s when he goes to his outhouse.” He grinned and turned around to see the reaction he’d get.
Balto gave Dakota a dissatisfied glare. But Dakota didn’t heed him as he stepped down onto the plank and off the boat.
Kodi began to move after his brother when his father moved up to his side and whispered into his ear. “If I were you I’d leave Dusty alone for a few days. Eventually she’ll forget about it and you can make an apology. But until then don’t make a scene with yourself … and Kodi, if you need any, advice,” Balto winked. “Don’t be afraid to get some from your old dad.”
Kodi felt slightly awkward, but smiled and said. “Okay.” Then he bounded off the boat into the ice cold snow and turned towards town along the trail that suddenly existed under his paws. His brother walked along slowly as Kodi bound up to his right side. Dakota glanced over at his brother, and then continued on without a word towards the golden glow of Nome.
“So were you serious about all those girls that like me?”
Dakota raised his right ear with an inquisitive sparkle in his grin. “Yeah.” He stated bluntly, almost sounding tired. “You need to really start looking around you more. Especially now that you’re running in the biggest race around, every girl’s going to want you, and every guy’s going to want to be you. You’re going to be a hero.”
Silence escaped Kodi as he continued on towards town. A new prideful feeling flowed through his veins, made his hair stand on end, and a very warm feeling stream up through his cold paws. His eyes closed and opened in ecstasy. Nothing could hurt him now for he was going to be a hero; he was going to run the race and win. He was going to be the winner. The Golden Collar would be his.
8. A Prelude To The Beginning
The boiler room retained a deathly silence that expounded every little wheeze, snort, or movement anybody made. Kirby, long gone and asleep on his back with his paws dangling in the air above him, rested in the corner he had fallen asleep in snoring loudly every third or fourth breath; never did he breath in any sort of rhythm that would let the others rest peacefully
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