“Speak of the devil about dogs playing rugby! This is a massive coincidence.”

 

“Go ahead and give it a shot, Scamp.” Lady said in her awe at the chance. “You might even have the chance to have some more fun.”

 

“Go ahead and play and mess around a bit more. You know that you want to.” Angel said.

 

“Yes, I’ll go and send them an email now.” Scamp replied.

 

“On one condition…” Tramp remarked supposedly sternly, then turned it into a smile as he finished; “I also want to try out for the team.”

 

Scamp’s eyes lightened up more when his father said this, and thought that would be a really wonderful thing for both father and son to be on the same team. We could even work together to perfect our rugby skills. Scamp thought.

 

“I would love you to join, dad.” Scamp replied cheerfully. “With your streetwise experience, no battlefield is too tough for you, even if a sport like this is as physical as we see it.”

 

“Well, I’m not as fit or as young as I used to be, but I’m flattered anyway; thanks.” Tramp replied in slight amusement, then shook it off as he continued: “So go ahead and put me in your email to the club; then send it off.”

 

“Will do.”

 

Suddenly Scamp got an idea in his head right after he replied to his father.

 

“Alright, before I got and sign up, there is one thing that I need to take care of.” He whispered something to Angel, and within a few seconds they ran out the pet flap together.

 

“We’ll be right back!” They both called shortly after exiting.

 

Tramp, Lady, Annette, Collette, and Danielle all looked confused.

 

“I wonder what they are up to.” Annette asked her parents.

 

“Oh, we’ll find out in a minute.” Lady replied. “Just wait.”

 

“Ha-ha-ha!” Danielle laughed. “I bet they are going to get something going out of their love life. They will be lying down by the river and making nice sweet…uh…” She stopped suddenly when she spotted the stern but half-amused look on her mother’s face. She knew that Danielle had a habit of saying bad words. “Ah-ahh-hum…” Danielle chuckled nervously. “…sorry, mum.”

 

“You have really got to watch what you say, Dannielle.” Collette said to her in slight disapproval. “You’re setting a bad example.”

 

“Okay, I’m sorry.” Danielle replied. “I will try to watch my language from then on.”

 

Tramp just shook his head and smiled, then went over to the window to look out for when Angel and Scamp would come back, but he wouldn’t have to wait for long before they both came back through the pet flap, panting slightly. The five waited to hear what they head to say.

 

“We just went to see the Ex-JD’s to see if they wanted to sign up as well,” Angel remarked. “And Mooch, Sparky and Scratchy are interested.”

 

“They are going online to sign up right now.” Scamp added. “By chance we might even have a bit of company in the team.”

 

“Hey, that sounds like a wonderful idea.” Tramp remarked in delight. “I certainly believe that they both have the ability to qualify due to their streetwise experience. I know them well from my days on the streets, and they are very good. But don’t get your hopes up, son: All we can do is pray.”

 

“Yeah, let’s hope for the best.” Scamp replied.

 

“Well, go on then,” Lady said to her son. “Go and sign up before it’s too late.”

 

So Scamp exited to the study and went to sign up on his brand new iPad 2 that his parents bought him. Angel stayed with the others.

 

“You know,” She began. “Scratchy used to look terrible physically with all the fleas that he had biting into his fur. The constant scratching made him lose his fur and expose his skin. But since he got taken into care by his humans, he has grown his fur back and he is looking great now.”

 

“Well, I am really happy for him.” Tramp replied. “He probably had the worst flea infestation of the clan. I remember how he scratched constantly, and I knew that it wasn’t good for his condition. I can’t wait to see how he looks now.”

 

Meanwhile, Scamp was busy on his iPad typing his message on his Hotmail email address to the Amity Rugby Football Club email address. He also had his headphones fitted onto his ears because he was listening to music from his iTunes app. This one particular song was by Michael Bolton, called “Go The Distance”:

 

I have often dreamed

Of a far off place

Where a great warm welcome

Will be waiting for me

 

Where the crowds will cheer

When they see my face

And a voice keeps saying,

‘This is where I’m meant to be’

 

I will find my way

I can go the distance

I’ll be there someday

If I can be strong

 

I know every mile

Will be worth my while

I would go most anywhere

To feel like I belong

 

I am on my way

I can go the distance

I don’t care how far

Somehow I’ll be strong

I know every mile

Will be worth my while

I would go most anywhere

To find where I belong

 

Scamp thought to himself listening to the lyrics, and how they seemed to further inspire in this particular situation. Scamp knew where he belonged now with his family, but he could not help but think that he still wanted to have some fun all the same, because being at home did not give him much of a chance to get out. There was the odd stroll down the river with his father, but he wanted more than this. And now that he heard the lyrics of this song, it made him feel that his destiny would be fulfilled by finding a grand place full of joy, wonder and worship. Maybe the rugby field is the very place where I belong. He thought. This could be what I was looking for.

 

He didn’t think too much before he wrote a short speech in his email expressing why he wanted to play as well as the fact that this was his first time playing. He also mentioned that his father wanted to play, but he didn’t mention that he was THE Tramp or the Best-Street-Dog-There-Ever-Was, because he knew that Tramp was no longer what he used to be and he wanted to stop talking about it. So soon with all necessary words written, the email was sent off.

 

Scamp then went back into the living room and first met with Angel before the others.

 

“How did you go?” Angel asked.

 

“Very well.” Scamp replied. “Just wrote a short speech on reasons to play for both dad and I, and sent it off with no problems.”

 

“Great. I hope you get in.”

 

Scamp then had a thought.

 

“Oh, Angel.” He began again, speaking to his mate. “I just want you to know that last time I chose to live on the streets and turn away from pop, it almost destroyed our bond and I nearly lost you.” He was feeling like a scorpion stung him at the mention of that, knowing that he had let her down when it made her leave him indefinitely. “So if I get to play rugby, don’t think that I am going to let this get in the way of our love. I care about you and nothing and no-one is going to take me away from you. This I really do promise.”

 

Scamp’s touching words made Angel feel beside herself, and she just smiled and nuzzled him lovingly and she responded:

 

“Don’t fear, Scamp. I believe you. I know that you are, as I said before, decent and kind and how much you care for me. I care for you just as much and I will always love you.” She gave him a big lick, or dog-kiss, on his cheek, and Scamp returned it with an emotional smile. “So you go and play around and get active. This will be good for you: A chance to get outside and exercise yourself to benefit your health and fitness. That’s the beauty about playing this game.”

 

“I’ll bet it will be. Thanks, my love.” Scamp replied as he gave Angel another short embrace. Their bond had turned into true love, and Scamp was thinking about doing something for Angel to show how much she meant to him, but he could not think how. Dad will know. I will get his advice sometime. He kept this thought in mind before he would eventually turn it practical.

 

Angel then pondered to herself before speaking again, thinking whether or not streetwise experience might be essential to play the game. “You know, since you learned the tricks out on the streets, they might come in handy to play the game.”

 

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Scamp replied, seeing Angels point. “The speed and technique might come in handy in the backline. And the strength and endurance might be just what is needed to get those players to the ground and stop them from advancing.”

 

“I think that if you don’t have them,” Tramp replied, walking towards them from a separate room after being in earshot of the conversation. “It would be pretty improbable to play the game properly.”

 

“Yeah, your right, dad. But I think

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