The Animal Hotel

THE ANIMAL HOTEL1

Chapter 12

The sky was growing dark.  The colors of the sun were brilliant orange with a hint of red indicating a change in the wind was about to happen.  The once green leaves are now turning golden yellow, orange and brown and blowing in the wind.  Yes, the wind.  It always seems to be blowing on the prairies.  3

In the distance you can make out the silhouette of what was a beautiful two-story house.    The once colorful exterior is now faded to weathered gray.  The four front windows which once had little children looking out with wonder are all shattered and open to the elements of Mother Nature’s wrath.  The steps that led many a guest and family member into the warmth of the home are now broken and falling apart.4

To the many people who pass by, this is just another run down and abandoned farmhouse.  A sight becoming far too common to many farm families. 5

But if you take the time to really look at this old house you will see a magical transformation of another kind take place.  The stillness of the day becomes a lively adventure for mother natures other creatures by night.  The wild animals of the prairies have come to make the old house a place of adventure.  6

Hello, my name is Lucky.  I am a dog.  My mother was a Great Pyrenees mountain dog and my father was a Miremma mountain dog.  Basically, my parents where great big, white, long-haired dogs trained to protect farmer’s cows, goats and sheep from predator like coyotes.7

I remember the day that my new owners came and picked me up.  It was a pretty warm day.  My original owner loaded me and two of my other brothers in the truck in our own little two-foot compartments with wire doors and latches.  We traveled what seemed like a long time.  Then we stopped and he opened the doors to our compartments and let us stretch our legs.  Unfortunately my brothers didn't’t like traveling in the truck because it made them feel sick.  8

Then all of a sudden a young five year old boy and seven year old girl appeared.  They were pretty nice and so where their parents.  We played for a while in the truck and the next thing I knew I was being carried into their sport utility vehicle going for another long ride.  I was pretty scared to leave my brothers but at the same time there was a gentleness from these new people that made me feel safe.  When we stopped I couldn't’t wait to get out and go to the bathroom.  It didn't’t take me long to realize that this was going to be my new home.  9

Thank goodness it was another farm home and not the city.  Not that I don’t like the city it’s just that I need to have my freedom to run and explore.  These are things that city dogs just don’t get to experience as they have to be tied up or sit in the house all day.  I need to be outside. 10

Over the years I grew up to be a great big white long-haired dog just like my mother and father.  I loved to run and go on long walks.  My new owners said that I wandered too much.  But for me this is when my adventures begin.11

I have been traveling many directions but this one night I decided to try going north.  As I was out on my evening romp I ran across the old farmyard just a mile or so down the road from where I live.  Wow, what a neat place.  There are many old broken down grain and hay wagons that used to be pulled by horses.  Rusty old machinery that hasn't’t worked for 20 years cluttered the yard.  Old grain bins were spotted throughout the yard yet only one was actually worthy of holding grain.  12

The trees had been planted by man in a horseshoe shape around the yard.  They were very old but the one that stuck out in my mind was the one closest to the road.  It had seen many a season and now stood with two solitary branches making a Y shape.  Almost like it was pointing to the old house.   Just then I looked up and seen this great building which I later got to know as the Animal Hotel.  13

I wandered up to the weathered grey building.  With apprehension not knowing what I’d find my nose was telling me that there were many other animals who visited this place.  As I sniffed my way closer I found an entrance.  I tried to peeked though a crack in the door.  What I seen was absolutely  amazing.  14

There stood a fox wearing a purple dress made of cotton with white frills around the neck and sleeves.  The purple seemed to go well with her red fur.  Upon her head she had a puffy hat like the ones worn in the old days.  Perched on her long narrow red snout with a black nose at the end was a pair of round wire rimmed eye glasses.  15

I was trying to be very quiet but the broken down steps began to creek.  All of a sudden the steps began to groan and make all kinds of weird sounds no matter how quiet I tried to be.  I took a small step forward and the fox turned and smiled at me watching her.  16

“Welcome, welcome to the Animal Hotel”, said the fox in her high pitched voice. “My name is Mrs Fox and I am the manager of the hotel.  Would you like to come in and take a look around.”  17

Her voice was very welcoming and warm.  She instantly gave you this feeling of being a friend.  So being very careful not to slip on the steps I entered the lobby.18

The lobby was very still and quiet.  I approached the big desk where Mrs. Fox was waiting for me to come closer.  On the counter was a small bell like the ones you would find on a little kids bicycle.  Behind the counter was a bulletin style cork board with a whole bunch of porcupine quills sticking in it.  Over in the corner was an old high back chair and couch.  It looked pretty soft and comfortable.  It was brown in colour and was covered with a cotton like fluff like the kind that blows off the weeping willow trees.  19

In the other corner of the lobby stood a water machine.  Well actually it was a calf feeding pail.  The kind that used to have a nipple attached for feeding calves.  But this one had three spouts rather than just one.  Around the bottom of the pail were three smaller bowls that could be filled from each of the spouts on the pail.  20

Just to the right of the water machine was a mysterious dark door.  There seemed to be a slight bit of light coming from under the door along with the faint sound of laughter.  Last but not least,   in the middle of the entire lobby was a grand staircase.  It was the kind that wound its way up and up and up until you couldn't’t see the top.  The railing was magnificent crafted wood with large round spindles.  Amazingly all the spindles still remained in tact but the steps which had boasted a red carpet runner had been well worn and tattered.21

Mrs. Fox quickly come around to the front of the counter and extended her paw.  My first instinct was to simply shake her paw but then I realized this fox was quite sophisticated.  So I gently took her paw in mine and slowly bowed and placed a small kiss upon the top.  “Oh, you are such a gentleman.” she said with a slight giggle in her voice.  “You are definitely new here aren’t you?” 22

Trying not to be seen as a big white beast I replied with a soft growly voice. “Why yes ma’m.  I have never been here before.  What is this place anyway?” She smiled every so slightly and began to tell me all about the animal hotel. 23

“The animal hotel was established many seasons ago.  I would say at least 15 years have past since the humans lived here.  It didn’t take long for mother nature to reclaim this old house which opened the doors to many a tired wild animal to come and rest.  Soon more and more started to make this their home.  We have had many a welcome and not so welcome guests at the hotel.”24

It was at that point that I began to get nervous at the thought of the not so welcome guests.  I couldn’t help my wild imagination thinking of great horned beasts and vicious coyotes.  It sent shivers down my spine.25

Before long the room was growing ever so dark.   I needed to get home.  So I bid Mrs. Fox farewell and promised her that I would be back at first light for a full tour of the hotel.  She said that would be very good and was looking forward to it.  26

The best thing about being a big dog is that I can run real fast.  And although I wasn't’t afraid of the dark or anything like that, I found myself home within minutes.  But like my father and mother my night job was really just beginning.  I lay with my head slightly out of the doorway  of  my own warm straw house so that I could hear and smell any predators that would enter the yard and spook the farmers livestock.  But I just couldn’t stop thinking about the hotel.  As I was out on my regular night patrol of the cattle, I found myself working my way back north to the animal hotel.27

I was at the edge of the old yard when I heard this strange noise coming from inside the hotel.  I cautiously approached the main steps when I heard the terrifying sounds of Mrs. Fox being attacked.  I could not stand here any longer.  I had to go inside and see what was happening and try and save Mrs. Fox from whatever was harming her.  So I swiftly ran up the steps, placed my front paws on the rickety door and pushed as hard as I could.  The door slammed open with a huge bang making everyone look my direction.  28

Not to my surprise was “Killer” coyote standing over Mrs. Fox with his white fangs showing and drool dripping from his jowls.  He was just about to deliver one last swift bite to the neck when without even thinking I leaped at “Killer” and wrestled him to the ground.  He was no match for me.  Within seconds he knew he had met his match and retreated slowly to the doorway.  “You haven’t seen the last of me stranger.” he said as he quickly turned and disappeared into the darkness of the night. 29

I walked over to the door of the hotel and gave one last glance outside to make sure that “Killer” had actually gone home.  I then turned my attention to Mrs. Fox who was looking pretty beat up.  I wasn't’t sure what to do when all of a sudden a young curvaceous bird came running in.  She was very attractive wearing a blue feather dress with long black sleek feathers from her head.  “Come quickly,” she said looking at me.  “Mrs. Fox is in need of a doctor.  Can you wait here with her and I will go see if Doctor Duck has checked into the hotel for the night?”  Without waiting for me to answer, she flew out of the lobby and up the grand staircase out of sight. 30

Mrs. Fox looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said, “Thank You Lucky, I am ever so grateful that you showed up when you did.  But I thought you weren't’t coming back until morning?”  I looked her in the eyes and wiped away her tears with my paw.  “I don’t know why, but for some reason I was out on my usual night patrol when all of a sudden I found myself on my way back here.  I heard your whine and came running as quickly as I could.  Who was that no good for nothing anyway?” I said.  In her weak voice Mrs. Fox looked at me and said, “That is “Killer” coyote. He has been trying to “relieve me of the burden” of running this hotel. After my parents died I became the sole heir to this hotel. This place is the hottest joint around. He just wants it to make money.”  I began to worry about this “Killer”.   I asked, “has he ever done anything like this before?” “No,” she said “but now that he has, he is never welcome in this hotel ever again. You sure kicked his butt out of here”31

Just then I heard a noise coming from the staircase.  It was Doctor Duck with his little black leather duffle bag.  He waddled around the corner and gasped. “Oh my, Oh my.  Mrs. Fox just lie still now and let me check you over.” he said.  As he pulled his tiny stethoscope from his bag he listened to her heart while the beautiful Miss Bonita the blue bird gathered up old rags with her beak and brought them over to the Doctor.  32

Doctor Duck said, “You are one lucky lady, Mrs Fox.  That was one nasty bump to your head and that bite on the back of your neck could have been a lot worse.”  Mrs. Fox looked at Doctor Duck and smiled. “Yes Doc, if it weren’t for my new friend Lucky here, I’m afraid to think of what might have happened.  He saved me from “Killer” coyote.  “Killer coyote!” exclaimed Doctor Duck.  “Was that good for nothing animal killer around making his demands on everyone?  I thought he had disappeared.”  Said Doctor Duck.  He then turned and looked at me, “Please, call me Doc.  Thank you for saving Mrs. Fox.  If there is anything I can ever do for you please don’t hesitate to give me a call.”   “Well Thanks You, Doc.  Killer might be gone for now, but I’m afraid that he had that look in his eyes like we haven’t seen the last of him yet.” said Lucky.  33

Chapter 234

The next evening I checked all the cows and the goats and set off for the Animal Hotel. What I found was that I had missed a wonderful party with prizes and trinkets and live music. But they said that they were having another party later on in my honor. “You saved Mrs. Fox’s life, you deserve to have a party in your honor.” Said Mr. Porcupine pulling a quill from his back and with a special gracefulness he folded it into a key.35

It was a fine party indeed, and in my honor yet, it was wonderful. There was a band called Country Coons live and there was a bartender selling drinks and handing out tickets for a draw for a Foxy Root Beer jacket.  I got three free drinks from the bartender and two tickets.  My new favorite song from that night was I’m A Country Coon.  It goes something like this:36

There’s city coons 37

There are country coons 38

Guess which one I am 39

I’m wild 40

I hunt 41

I’m a pest 42

I’m prey43

I’m a country coon 44

Without shame 45

There’s more to it but I should get on with my story.  The party was going great until Guess Who showed up; that’s right, Killer Coyote.  I don’t think he knew I was there, but he and his pack of abandoned dogs and other coyotes quickly took Bonita the blue bird and Doctor Duck out of the room unnoticed.  I followed them and found out that they were going to hold them for ransom. They wanted full management of the animal hotel and $20 in human money (human money is worth 2 times more than animal money). I ran back and told the others what I overheard, and within a few minutes we had a plan. 46

Me, and about three others were going to run in while some gophers and raccoons distracted them.  We would free the hostages and get them out then everyone would join in and chase them away, with a little luck.  47

The plan worked very well, though miss Bonita was a little frazzled at the fact they were rescued so fast, in fact Killer had not even delivered the ransom note yet.48

The next day was the 25th annual ‘Gopher It’ Contest.  The idea was that there would be different events that gophers had to pass to get to the next level.  There were 9 levels and ten contestants. (All gophers) In the first level they had to retrieve the stones. There were nine stones, so whoever did not get a stone was out of the contest.49

The second level was an obstacle course and whoever got the lowest time was out of the contest. 50

The third level was the game Gopher Trap the first gopher trapped was asked to leave.  51

The fourth level was the gopher to lift the least amount of weight was out of the contest. 52

The next level (the fifth) was a clover-munching contest the gopher that ate the least was asked to leave.  53

The sixth level was racing around the hotel. The contestants had to do six laps.  The last gopher to cross the finish line was eliminated from the contest.54

The seventh level was the gopher that jumped the least distance was eliminated from the contest.55

*The Game gopher trap was a game witch you had to get around the course without getting trapped.  56

The eighth level was a swimming competition. For underground creatures they could swim pretty well.57

The ninth and final level was a combination of everything. The winner of each event in the level was marked down. The gopher that won the most events and contests from that level won the whole contest.  58

For the finale of the contest all the contestants except the winner had a race through gopher holes and if you popped up the wrong hole there was someone there to whack you over the head with a stick, the first gopher to pop up the right hole won.  One of the gophers, Bozo was a very stupid gopher, had to be taken in to see doctor Duck after being knocked out for a few hours.59

After the contest there was a party with root beer gardens and they announced the winner of the Foxy Root Beer jacket and were going to draw for a Hot Dog Brewery hat. 60

The next morning I woke up in my doghouse and I wasn’t really sure how I got there. My owners had woken up and were doing chores. The kids were playing on the bale stacks at the back of the yard. I got up and trotted over to were they were playing. They hugged me and petted me and asked were I had been wandering to, of course, they couldn’t understand me. They smiled and played with me some more. That night I faced Killer for another time, and hopefully the last.  61

Chapter 362

A snitch had come by to tell us what he knew. He told us that Killer was planning a big overtaking. It seemed that Killer had an endless range of plans to get the Animal Hotel from Ms. Fox. This time he had his gang of miscreants with him. Not only were they coyotes, but they were cougars that had meandered south, wolverines that had managed to migrate to our area, and other vicious animals that had found their way from somewhere else. But we were ready. If the Animal hotel was to be the Armageddon and we were to be the Good, then they were to be the Evil.63

What were we to do? We had nothing. No way of scaring them off, no weapons to frighten them away. If they were to overtake the Animal Hotel we would become slaves to ‘Mr. Killer’. Who was going to stand for that? Not I. 64

We sent messengers to every corner of the Grain Belt for every available animal to come to our aid. We began preparation. The Hotel was going to hold a lot of animals and every inch was to be taken up by some kind of animal. As more and more animals came we began building our traps. We made ready our few defenses, and began a treacherous 4 days of labor and planning. Were our keen wits to be enough to stop Killer?65

As dusk fell we heard howling and we knew to make ourselves ready, as it would be a long night. Killer led the pack, twenty-five in all, to the fence surrounding the yard. The fence was hardly a feat for the cougars to jump and the wolverines to dig under. The coyotes and other animal at Killer’s paw were able to slip beneath the barbed wire; we knew it wouldn’t keep them out, but it slowed them a little bit. 66

The first to fall for one of our traps was a coyote, which didn’t seem that bright. Then we began to step out of the hotel, one by one, I was first with Ms. Fox after me. Killers goons began to get distracted by our growing numbers and didn’t pay enough attention; at least ten of them fell into a trap or two. I could see their fear grow as the larger animals began stepping out, some of which were coyotes, and we also had one cougar on our side. 67

As the fear and the tension grew, as well as a storm, they advanced upon us more and more of the pack of goons began to fall into our traps until only a few of the opposition remained in play.  Our plan was working great and it looked like the tides of battle were on our side. I watched as Killer fell into a trap the gophers made, but he got out of it. There was only a handful of opposition out of a trap when it happened. A lighting bolt flashed across the sky striking a tree nearby, and it burst into a flaming inferno. 68

Most of the animals fled the scene, squawking, barking, and squeaking. Everyone fled but Killer and me. 69

As the flames danced across the yard, our duel began. Killer leapt at me, I ducked. He lunged at me again, and he struck me in the nose. I sprung towards him and we were rolling on the ground. I felt his heavy breath on my face, and I heard a SNAP!! A branch from the tree that was aflame landed on top of Killer and I struggled free. As this happened I noticed that the fire was almost out! The other animals had been hauling water the whole time we had been fighting. 70

As the blaze was put to an end, smoke billowed into the clearing sky, and the rain stopped. I looked over to the limp, and lifeless Killer, still as a stone. He was dead. A cheer rose up from the crowd of animals. We had saved the hotel. But was the hotel really saved? What happened when another power-hungry animal came to take the hotel over? Would we be able to save it a second time?71

Chapter 472

A wisp of dawn filled the crisp, morning air, as I awaited the wakening of my master. She leaves really early in the morning to go to work in the big city. 73

I was sitting there, waiting and waiting. Then a light turned on in the house, and I knew she was awake and would be making sure I was not out gallivanting. Little did she know that just a half hour ago I was at the Animal Hotel; my night went something like this:74

It was about nine o’clock-ish and when I began to make my way down to the hotel, I walked along the side of the gravel road and then, all of a sudden, I realized I was running into the field along the side of the road. Deeper and deeper into the field I went, until I came to a hole in the ground. It was a den, a fox den. 75

I must have fallowed my nose there, but my senses told me there was danger lurking nearby. I heard whimpering; it was coming from the den. I went in and I found three fox pups alone inside.76

Why were they alone? I took each one, one at a time to the hotel. Mrs. fox gave them a room and Ms. Bonita looked after them while Mrs. fox and I talked.77

“I know, well I guess I knew their mother”, Mrs. fox said with a tear in her eye. “She would have done anything for them”.  78

“Its alright, as long as they are here they will be taken after well,” I consoled her, “They will be fine. Now, we need to find out what happened to their mother. Killer is dead, so that rules him out. Who would want to kidnap their mother?”79

“What if they killed her,” Mrs. Fox said with panic all over her face. “Wait a second! She was going out with this guy-fox, umm, ohh, what was his name? I know! His name was Alabaster! She started going out with him after her husband, Matt, died.”80

“Okay, we’ll have to talk to him,” I said. “We have a mystery to solve.”81

We walked to Alabaster’s den. It looked quiet, but he was home. 82

“I have no idea what could have happened to her. If she had any problems she would have told me. We were good friends,” He said as he pondered what might have happened to Abby, the fox’s mother. “I don’t get it. I know she was struggling with her being a single parent after her husband died. She was trying to take care of her pups and earn enough to keep then fed. I helped her whenever I could. Like I say, we were good friends, and hopefully she’s still alive.”83

He offered us a cup of tea and we talked for a while longer; all the time, you could tell, his thoughts were on Abby. By the way he talked about her, you could tell he liked her very much.84

We left Alabaster’s den and strolled back to the hotel to report to everyone what we found out.85

Bonita was waiting for us with a snack; a tray of meat sticks and a bowl of beef broth to dip them in. 86

“We know she was having trouble with money for the pups, so maybe she got involved with a weasel,” Mrs. Fox said. 87

“Perhaps. But which one?” Bonita chirped.88

“I don’t know. We might have to see if we can get some information from someone.” 89

“Well, we could talk to Gobo the gopher, maybe he will know something, or someone.” Dr. Duck suggested.90

“Nah. He won’t tell us anything.” Bonita said.91

“Yeah, he would just alert others about us.” Mrs. Fox added.92

“Well then,” I put in, “We might have to go undercover as people looking for a loan for something.” 93

“We could make it look like we needed money,” Mrs. Fox suggested, “And that we wanted it from the biggest weasel”94

“Well then, when and where do we apply for the job?” Dr. Duck quacked. 95

Chapter 596

We crept into an abandoned yard not far from the hotel. There we saw a weasel with a licorice pipe in his mouth. 97

“Lets talk to him,” Bonita suggested. 98

We silently moved towards the weasel.99

“Who are you?” He said to us with a suspicious look on his face. 100

“We are just some animals interested in getting a loan,” I said, as naturally as possible. I had never been undercover before.101

“Well then, you came to the right place,” The weasel said with a sneer. “I happen to have a few contacts who could set you up with the best offer around.”102

“Then you are just the guy we are looking for,” Said Dr. Duck with the perfect voice for this kind of operation. He would make a great actor. 103

“Alright then, lets start with an introduction,” The weasel replied. “My name is Neevil, but everyone around here calls me Shifty. Who are you?” 104

“I am Nita,” Bonita said. Her undercover name was a little similar to her real one, but it was no big thing.105

“I am Danka,” Mrs. Fox said. Her real name was Danka anyways but hardly anyone actually knew it. 106

“I am Lucious,” I said, hoping it wasn’t too close to my real name.107

“All right then, what exactly are you looking for then?” Neevil said. I noticed his beady, dark, little eyes. 108

“We want some money, but we want a good deal.” I said in a gruff voice.109

“Alright. Fallow me.”110

We fallowed Neevil to a building where only a little bit of light showed beneath the bottom of the door. 111

“Hey Noto! I got a bunch of animals here looking for a good deal”  Neevil said with a sly look.112

“Alright! I’m coming!” Came a loud, scratchy voice. “Bring them in.”113

Neevil gestured to us to go in, and we did. To our surprise, sitting on a stool behind a cherry-wood desk, sat a little weasel with a piece of his left ear missing. On either side of him stood two large beasts of weasels. They were so huge I could hardly believe my eyes. 114

“What kind of a deal do you want, and how much money do you need to acquire from me?” Said the little weasel. 115

“Before we get into that kind of stuff, whom else have you ‘helped out’ lately?” Dr. Duck questioned.116

“Why would you like to know?’’ The little weasel replied.117

“Oh, just wondering what kind of references you had,” Dr. Duck quacked back.118

“I ‘helped out’ this little fox, a few coyotes with debts. You know, the usual.” The weasel squeaked. 119

“All right then, lets get to business. What kind of a deal are you willing to cut us…………………120

By the end of the night we had managed to get a $50 (human money) loan from Noto, the little weasel. We got information about Abby and learned that she borrowed $50- human money- from Noto. When we asked him about how she paid him back, he changed the subject.121

“Abby must have got a loan from him and was unable to pay it back, so he kidnapped her,” Mrs. Fox had a greatly detailed hypothesis. “Noto is waiting for there to be a big hubbub so he can deliver a ransom.”122

“That makes sense,” I said “I think you are onto something”123