Part Twelve: A Good Friend

Walden spent most of the next day sleeping. Upon waking up, he saw fleas everywhere he looked. It took him only a second or two to recognize where he was. “Bedlam,” he whispered. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

“Neither did I,” came a familiar voice from behind him.

Walden turned around. With a big smile, he replied, “Hey ya, Febes!”

“Hey yourself, Walden. Or, should I say, Wally?”

Walden shook his head. “Nah,” he said, “I like Walden. That’s my name.”

For the next few minutes, Febes and Walden talked. Febes explained that she found Walden because of Puck. She had gone searching for Walden and found Puck along the way. The older flea told her that he had seen the young flea down at Pond. Febes also told Walden all about the tabby cat and how she had convinced the cat to take her to the rabbit’s warren after learning about it.

“I kind of had to make a deal,” she explained. “Let’s just say that she is no longer to be a host of our kind.”

Walden wasn’t sure he understood completely, but he didn’t ask. Febes suggested that they go see Walden’s parents atop Thor and that he gets something to eat. Walden agreed instantly.

The reunion between Walden and his parents was a sweet one, all in all. They did scold him, and they made him pledge that he would not leave their side again any time soon, but the hugs and kisses he received from them was more than enough to make up of the punishment.

Walden accepted the consequences, and he apologized. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I won’t ever do that again.” Then he told them all about what he did, where he went, who he met, and most importantly, what he learned on his epic yet terrifying journey into Backyard. One of the most interesting things he had learned, as he would explain, was that fleas can float, and they can hop across water.

But that was hardly the most important lesson that the young flea had learned that day. “More than anything,” he added, “I learned that a good friend won’t lead me to disobey my parents.” Then, he said, “From now on, I’ll be spending all my time with Febes. If she hadn’t come looking for me, I don’t know where I’d be. She really is a good friend.”

Walden’s parents agreed as they gave their son one final hug before telling him that he could go find Febes and play. Walden let out a big sigh of relief and then turned and started down Thor’s back. After a few steps, he stopped and looked back, saying, “And you don’t have to ever worry about me leaving Dogville again.”

His parents smiled and nodded. Walden turned and headed off. As Walden pushed through Thor’s thick fur, he smiled. It was good to be back atop the best host in the world. “Okay, Febes,” said Walden under his breath, “where are you? We’ve still got a lot to talk about.”

It didn’t take long for Walden to meet up with Febes, his very best friend in the whole world.  And once he did, he didn’t leave her side for a very long time.