Poor Angela, trapped in the kennel and no one to rescue her. Her sister-in-law Vonda suspected she was in trouble somewhere, but had no interest in helping the dizzy little bitch. The kennel mistress, gardener, and the head cook, they all knew what was up, and were reveling in the young woman's discomfort. It looked like a long day was in store for Brandon's little waif of a wife.
Brandon had called his day off early. He wanted to get home and see what Angela might be getting into. He was certain nothing was wrong, but he had a sixth sense about those things. Angela was going to get in trouble. He just knew it. His a.m. conversation with his sister underwrote his anxiety. He and Vonda had talked on the phone. Brandon didn't want to hurt Angela, but after listening to his sister's comments, he'd come to the conclusion his wife needed to be taken down more than just one or two pegs.
Together he and Vonda had devised a plan for Angela, a plan that would make her a better wife, and make everyone around her happier. It called for some immediate intervention.
After their little powwow Vonda had begun to put the first part of their plan work. She had no idea where Angela was, but she was certain Angela wouldn't be going upstairs for quite a while. Thus armed, Vonda put three of the female servants to work clearing everything out of Angela's closets and bureaus.
Moreover, though Angela had tacitly agreed to let Vonda arbiter her attire, She knew Angela would never accept wearing anything her sister-in-law selected. To avert a crisis Vonda had already gone on the Internet and ordered a completely new wardrobe. Vonda smiled as she thought about what Angela's reaction would be when she saw her new digs. The new attire was designed to help give Angela an entirely different perspective on who she was, what her new place was going to be in the household, and how she was going to treat and be treated by all those around her. Vonda knew it would have a stunning impact.
Out in the kennel the sun was moving slowly, ever so slowly across the sky. Every minute, every second was an agony of pain. Angela's pale skin was unused to this type of torment. Nothing anywhere offered the least respite from her discomfort. The ground was hard. The air was hot and dry. Every movement brought little clouds of dust. There were tiny pebbles all over the unforgiving surface soil. She found no escape from the merciless little sores they inspired. At first she thought she could take her hands and wipe away the brittle little stones to create an area of softer soil, but to her chagrin, the more she wiped the more irregular the ground became. She tried sitting against the fence, but that lost its appeal as the irregular diamond shaped metal spaces only scraped hard against the skimpy cloth that covered her back. Yet sitting away from the fence wasn't any better since it required repeated changes in posture.
In desperation she rubbed the dog shampoo on her most exposed areas. Within minutes she realized that was a horrible mistake. The shampoo dried into a hard plaster that served as only to stimulate the affects of the torrid rays of the sun. Oh how she cried. Her poor soft, matchless skin was becoming red, wrinkled, and scarred. She felt terrible. She was like a rat in a trap. Worse, she knew this was all her own doing. The dirt, the flour, now the dog shampoo was all because of her own perverse interest in trying to embarrass and make fools of others. Oh,if only Brandon were here. If she ever needed anyone, she needed him now.
Brandon got home a little after 2:00 p.m. At the Entrance to the front door he asked after his wife. Everyone he spoke to had no any idea where she might be. Vonda had been busy planning their next party. None of the maids had seen her, though Mary said she had seen her outside with Bernard in the garden. When Brandon asked Bernard the only response he got was that she had been outside, gotten her clothes wet, and had gone inside to dry off. Brandon checked with the garage, but none of the chauffeurs had come into contact with her. Brandon finally gave up, he thought he'd make a trip to the kitchen to see if he could grab a snack before supper.
When Brandon reached the kitchen he could smell the delicious aromas of freshly baked bread, recently dipped donuts, and slow roasted beef. With a few flattering remarks he was able to connive a couple of Beatrice's sugar coated donuts. As a last parting comment he asked if she had seen Angela at all that day. "Oh, by the way." He began. "No one seems to know where my wife might have gotten to. Have you seen her today at all?"
Beatrice responded. "Well yes, Miss Angela was here earlier around 10:30 a.m. She made a terrible mess of the pastries. She got flour on herself from head to foot. Left in quite a huff."
"Do you know where she went?"
Beatrice made a pretense of giving the question thoughtful consideration. In truth she knew exactly where Angela had gone. "I think she said she was going to the kennels. She said it would be more discreet to clean up down there out of the way, than run around the whole house covered in flour and top soil."
Brandon commented. "Top soil you say?"
"Well yes" Was the cook's reply. "She'd been outside in the rose garden with Bernard where she had made a mess."
Brandon's curiosity was piqued. He wondered if Angela had made it to the kennels. After chewing on a piece of cheese, he finally set off for the kennels. He doubted if Angela was there. She was a little fearful of the dogs, and she wasn't very fond of Betty, the groom either.
Brandon made for the inside of the kennel. The dogs were all barking and dashing in and out of their runs. He stopped at the first run where Annie, his favorite, a black lab retriever, was pushing up against the gate wagging her tail.
"Hey Annie" Brandon called out.
Annie jumped at the gate in delight.
"That's my girl" said Brandon. "What a good girl your are!" Brandon gave Annie a chunk of the cheese he was munching on. Then he proceeded down the rest of the kennel. Everything looked ship shape. The indoor runs were all clean. The dogs were all scampering in and out. Water was in all the dishes, and where there was supposed to be food there was food.
Reaching the end of the indoor area Brandon thought he would just turn back around and head back into the house, but something was nagging at him. Instead of doing a 180 he walked on to the end and started around to the outside. It was a beautiful day, a little warm, but generally speaking just the kind of day he liked. Light fluffy cumulus clouds wafted across an otherwise clear blue sky. That's when he spied her. She was huddled at the far end of the third outdoor run. He couldn't be sure from the angle but he bet she'd been there for quite a while. Brandon called out. "Angela!"
Angela looked up and saw Brandon. She started to cry. Lurching up slowly from her cramped position she called out to him. "Brandon help me. I got trapped in this dog run, and I've been here nearly all day. Brandon, please hurry."
Instantly Brandon was at the outer gate. Opening it quickly he stepped inside and scooped her up.
Angela cried out in pain. The sun, dirt, pebbles, encrusted shampoo, her sides, the creases between her joints. Angela couldn't tell which hurt the most.
Brandon let her down so she could stand. Meanwhile the outer run gate door clanged shut.
Angela cried. "OH, Brandon, now we're both trapped in here."
Brandon looked at her askance. "What are you talking about?" He turned around and lifted an unseen rod, and the gate slid open as if by magic. "Angela these gates aren't intended to keep anything inside but the dogs. Here look. Did you see the rod here sandwiched between the gate and the fence post? All you had to do was lift the rod and the gate swiftly opens. Here try it yourself."
Angela reached out and tried the rod. As if by magic the gate opened. If she ever felt stupid or foolish before, it was nothing compared to the way she felt at that moment.
Brandon asked. "When you came down, didn't Betty show you how this worked?"
Angela responded. "No one was here when I came down. I was alone. I couldn't find anyone so I thought I'd go into the run and rinse off before going back to the house. Then I got inside and couldn't find a way out. I went outside, and then I got caught outside because the metal door closed off the inside of the run from the outside. Oh, Brandon I've been out here all day. No one came. I cried out, but every time I called the dogs started barking. No one heard me. Brandon I'm so tired.
Brandon was very solicitous. "There Angela. Let's get you inside. We'll get a couple of the girls to clean you up and straighten things out. Then we'll get you off to bed. I'll call the doctor and see if we can't get this sunburn cleared up. Actually it doesn't look too bad. I think a cool bath, some aloe, and some rest will do you a world of good."
Together they walked toward the house. Angela a cringing, limping, humbled mess, and Brandon the proud heroic husband.