good!

Balto leaned over and nuzzled Jenna lovingly. “Boy, if Boris could see us now!”

Tramp tilted his head. “Eh? Who’s Boris?”

Balto straightened up. “Hmm? Oh…heh heh…Boris. He’s kind of a fussy old goose who lives with me. It’s a bit strange to admit, but he raised me from a pup. I lost my parents when I was very young. And Boris, well, he’s always been there for me. But he sure does take some getting used to!” He laughed again.

Jenna rolled her eyes in amusement. She then leaned over to Lady, while Balto and Tramp traded a few tall tales, and quietly asked “So why do Joe and Tony call Tramp ‘Butch’?”

Lady smiled. “Well, Tramp has had many names. I suppose it depended upon which neighborhood he found himself in back in his free-wheeling days, and what kind of food he’d get from a particular friendly family. But I think he likes it here the most!

Joe came out of the kitchen carrying two large plates, each loaded with what seemed like a mountain of spaghetti, topped with plenty of large, round meatballs and red sauce. It smelled heavenly, and the dogs each took it in. Then, they commenced to sharing their plates, Jenna with Balto, and Lady with Tramp.

Joe and Tony reappeared from the kitchen. In Tony’s hands was a concertina, and in Joe’s, a mandolin. They struck up the romantic strains of O’ Sole Mio to accompany the dogs’ dining. Tony’s deep voice brought a romance to the lyrics…some of which he sung in Italian, and some in English…

Che bella cosa é na iurnata ‘e sole
N’aria serena doppo na tempesta!
Pe’ ll’aria fresca pare già na festa…
Che bella cosa na jurnata ‘e sole.

It’s-a now or-a never, come-a hold-a me tight
Kiss-a me my darling, be mine-a tonight.
Tomorrow will-a be too late
It’s-a now or-a never
My love-a won’t-a wait!

(etc.)

Balto and Jenna cocked their heads at the plate of food before them, not knowing at first what to do. They looked up at Lady and Tramp and found, to their surprise, that Tramp stuck his muzzle right into the pile of spaghetti, and pulled out a mouthful of strands. There was a goofy smile on Tramp’s face, and he slurped it right down, causing Jenna and Lady to giggle. The song played on.

Balto, following Tramp’s example, dunked his muzzle into the pile in front of him, and came up with a meatball in his teeth, his muzzle striped with sauce. Jenna tilted her head in wide-eyed surprise, and then leaned in close, licking Balto’s muzzle clean. Balto bowed his head, in his own particular coy manner, and smiled at Jenna. He then lay the meatball on the dish in front of her, and looked into her eyes lovingly. Jenna smiled, and daintily devoured it. And still, Tony and Joe continued their romantic song.

Joe leaned in close to Jenna, strumming his mandolin. He looked over at Balto, and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively as he nodded to Jenna with a big, toothy grin. Balto watched as the candlelight played on Jenna’s beautiful red and white fur, and in her bright eyes, and he was entranced.

Lady very properly took hold of one strand of spaghetti in her mouth, and commenced to a very genteel sipping of the strand, which soon disappeared with a dainty little chew. Jenna, who momentarily took her attention off of Balto to watch Lady do this, tried it herself. As the end strand emerged from the spaghetti, it whipped up and tapped her on the nose, leaving a dab of sauce. She was surprised as much by that as she was when Balto leaned in and gently licked the bit of sauce off her nose. She again looked at Balto, and they both snuggled close.

Tony’s deep voice, now in the Italian strains of their song, enrobed the scene in romantic warmth. Above them, the stars twinkled in the sky, and the candlelight caused shadows to dance and play off of the surrounding buildings. It was a night each dog would long and fondly remember.

The dogs had had a wonderful dinner, and soon were walking back into Veterans Park, where the picnic had earlier been held, to enjoy a moonlight stroll. The park was now relatively quiet, and empty of people and dogs. It was a magical night for them all.

Eventually, however, Lady and Tramp parted company with Balto and Jenna. They returned home, and Balto and Jenna returned to the farm outside of town, where the team was put up as guests for the duration of their stay.

CHAPTER 7
The next morning, after a proper breakfast, the team was gathered up by Gunnar Kaasen and now on the loading platform at the train station. In the distance, the train’s steam engine hissed as it occasionally vented pressure.

Rosy’s father was concluding affairs with the town officials, and then was approached by Darling and Jim Dear, who had come to see them off. With them were Lady and Tramp. “Goodbye, Mr. Johnson,” Jim Dear said. “It was an honor to have you all in town, and Darling and I are glad we had the chance to become friends.”

Rosy’s father returned the courtesies. “It’s been a pleasure. Everyone’s been simply wonderful! Perhaps you might find a way to come and pay us a visit sometime! I’m sure my wife, and my daughter Rosy, would love to meet you and your family. And please, bring your dogs! Everyone’s welcome in Nome!”

Jim Dear stroked his chin. “Hmm. It is possible. Perhaps on our anniversary. What do you think, Darling?”

“We’ll see, dear. Of course, I’ll have to shop for a nice parka and some snow boots!” They each laughed. Rosy’s father shook Jim Dear’s hand, and gave a warm hug to Darling.

Lady and Tramp stepped away, and walked over to Balto and Jenna, who were standing with the rest of the team. Tramp walked right up to Balto. “Well, Balto old buddy, I guess this is it.”

Balto smiled at Tramp, and nodded. “I guess so, Tramp. I’m glad we’ve become friends! And Lady, it was a privilege to have met you.” Lady smiled and turned her head away with a coy little giggle.

“We’re gonna miss you both,” Jenna said. “I don’t suppose we’ll ever see each other again, though.”

Tramp, ever confident, just tossed his head and grinned. “Weeeell now, I wouldn’t be so sure of that!”

A conductor came walking along the platform…“ALL ABOARD!” he shouted.

With that, Rosy’s father walked up to the team, and addressed Gunnar Kaasen. “Well, let’s get on board!” He gave a final wave to Jim Dear and Darling, and boarded the train. Kaasen walked the dogs over to a separate car, and whistled to them. One-by-one, they hopped up and into the car, and he stepped up behind them.

The doors of the car were shut, with a loud click. Then came the loud call of the train whistle and, slowly, with a long hiss, the chug of the engine, and the clank of machinery and connecting parts, the train began to roll out of the station towards the team’s next destination.

END OF PART 2