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Bandit was in the middle of a hospital room and there was just a bed in the middle of the room with some machines on both sides. As he got near the bed he could start to identify his father, he looked weak, barely breathing and with his eyes closed. Bandit ran to the side of the bed and got down on his knees to be at his father’s face level. “Please Dad not now. Ya haven't met your granddaughter yet, please don’t leave me” Bandit begged, crying and sobbing uncontrollably while he grabbed the paw of his father desperately with both paws.
Bob turned his head to see his son and opened his eyes “Bandit…”. Bandit looked at his father with tears in his eyes but a hopeful gaze. “Yeah, Dad?”. Bob raised his hand to caress his son and wipe away his tears. He was about to say something when he suddenly fell silent and dropped his hand. Bob closed his eyes and stopped his breathing. “Dad? Dad!?” Bandit desperately shook his father's paw, searching for some response but nothing came out of his father.
Bandit’s world became darker and started to stagger, his breathing became faster and faster. “DAD?!” Bandit yelled, squeezing his eyes shut as more tears spilled out of them. Bandit wakes up shaken, with tears in his eyes and covered in his sweat. It seems like it was all just a nightmare but even if it was just a dream, it was the worst time to have it.
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Less than an hour ago, Bandit received a call from his young Brother Stripe. Stripe’s voice was agitated and stuttering like when he was a child when he panicked. Bandit's smile faded as he heard his brother's words. Their father had an accident on the stairs and got seriously hurt. He and their mum drove him to the hospital as fast as they could. Their father is ok but he is now in intensive care. Bandit insisted Stripe go to the hospital but Stripe told him that the doctor made it clear that visits were prohibited at these times and given the situation. Stripe promised to call Bandit as soon as he heard back from the doctor and was given permission to have more visitors.
As soon as Stripe hung up, Bandit could feel how he was losing stability. He would have fallen if it weren't because his wife there to hold him. Bandit could feel how his world was collapsing and everything seemed darker. He started to hyperventilate while his grip on his wife became tighter. “Babe, are you ok? What happened?” Chilli asked his husband, guiding him to the couch so he could lean back. “I…Stripe…Accident…Dad” Bandit couldn’t even talk, all that came out of his mouth were murmurs. Chilli helped Bandit to calm down and wait until his breathing stabilized.
Bandit explained everything to Chilli. He was about to go to the hospital for his father even with Stripe's warnings but Chilli convinced him not to do it because it could complicate things more. “But, What about mum?!?” Bandit complained while walking from one side of the room to the other. “Stripe is there for her, they would be fine,” Chilli said trying to calm down her husband. “But, what if he-“ Bandit covered his mouth with his paws before completing his sentences and started crying just thinking about the idea. Chilli noticed this and went to her husband.
“Babe you heard what Stripe said, he will be fine. You will receive the call from him and will go to the hospital to visit him.“ Chilli said as she grabbed her husband's hands from his mouth and held them in hers. Bandit was still sobbing but calmed down thanks to Chilli words. “Ya are right, he will be fine. ” sobs “Ya are the best know that?”. Chili chuckled a little bit at Bandit's comment “I know”. Chilli wiped his tears with her hand and gave him a little smoochie kiss. “So what do we do while we wait?” Said Bandit with his characteristic smile.
“I know, it’s a little early but I think it's better to go to bed. So ya would be rested to see your dad” Chilli smiles when she sees her husband going back to being the same as always. Bandit nodded and went behind Chilli to their bedroom. A little sleep couldn’t hurt anyone, right? Right?!?
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Bandit looks at his alarm clock, it's 3:23. It’s too early but he won't go back to sleep, that's for sure. Bandit checks his messages, and 0 new messages. A shiver runs through Bandit's legs to his head. Bandit could feel his anxiety increasing, so he decided to take one of Chilli sleeping pills that the doctor prescribed for her.
Bandit walked to the bathroom and started to search for the pills but no luck. Bandit gave up and recharged in the sink. He looked at himself in the mirror, bad choice. Bandit has been always told that he looks like his father, even with some differences like their colour furr. This small memory is enough for Bandit to be suddenly bombarded with memories and moments with his father, everything he was about to lose. Bandit tries to look behind him in the mirror to avoid seeing his face. The first thing that Bandit looks behind him is his stupid mullet, the damm mullet.
Bandit has kept the same haircut since he was 10 and he avoided everyone who says that he cut it off for the same reason, his father. They decided to cut his hair exactly the same when the mullet became quite famous in the eighties; since then they both have been with the same haircut for more than 2 decades, not as long as Rad but still kinda impressive.
This bunch of emotions and memories overwhelmed Bandit. He starts to hyperventilate and tears begin to spill from her eyes. “Not know…” Bandit said sobbing trying to control his breathing. Bandit looks down at the sink, in an attempt to counter the overstimulation. He closed his eyes, spilling tears in the sink. He opened them and the first thing he saw… scissors.
Chilli wakes up because of the noise that comes from their bathroom. She immediately notices the emptiness on the other side of the bed and looks at the light coming from the bathroom. She stands up with difficulty thanks to her pregnant belly. She walks to their bathroom quietly and hears the sound of the water running.
“Babe are you okay-“ Chili stops herself when she is surprised by the scene she has in front of her. Bandit is cutting off strands of his hair as dark blue hairs fall into the sink and are washed away. “Ummhm… Hi Chili” Bandit waves at Chilli with his free hand nervously. “Bandit, what are ya doing?” Chilli stops rubbing her eye and walks to Bandit. She pulls Bandit’s hand away from his hair and takes the scissors from his hand. “What happened?” Chilli asked. Bandit sighed “I panicked because my hair remembered my dad so I cut it, sorry,” Bandit said embarrassed without looking at Chilli.
Chili sighed in relief “Thank god Is just the hair, ya didn’t hurt yourself right?”. Bandit shakes his head, a little surprised that Chili would even think that. “Good” Chili said, wiping the tears from Bandit’s face. “Are you mad?” Bandit said worried. “What? No, why would I be?”.
“Because I cut my hair and now it looks awful,” Bandit said, pointing to his hair in the mirror. “Mhmm” Chili thought for a moment. “Well if that is what worries you I could help”. Chili sits Bandit down on the toilet “I am not a professional but Brandy and I used to cut our hair all the time when Dad wasn’t home”. Chilli starts cutting his hair, trying to shape it to make it look decent, including what little is left of the mullet.
“I am sorry,” Bandit said with shame in his voice. “Babe, you need to understand that this is completely normal. You need to stop apologizing for having emotions” Chilli said in a warm tone. “I know but it’s still difficult to not feel bad for the things I do.” Bandit said, playing with his fingers, “That’s why I am here to help you.” Chilli said in a warm voice while playing a little with Bandit's hair. Bandit chuckled at Chili's action “I love you Chili sauce”. “And I love you too”. Chilli stops cutting to look at Bandit for a second. “Mmmph”
“You know, I think you look pretty good like this,” Chilli said, looking at his husband. “You think so?” Bandit said, his tail starting to wag, “Yeah, mullets went out of style anyway,” Chilli said while cleaning the rest of Bandi’s hair from the floor. “Really?” Bandit said surprised. “Yeah like 2 decades ago!” Both laughed and shared a quick smoochie kiss. “Now let’s go back to bed, I need to sleep”
When they both go to bed, Bandit checks his phone. 4:12 and a new message “ Hey Bandy, I don’t know If you are asleep but you didn't answer when I called you so just to let you know that dad is ok and you can visit whenever you want.” Bandit smiled as he felt the anxiety leaving his body. “Well like you said, Dad is ok”.
“Told ya, wanna visit him?” Chilli said already in bed. “Nah, he probably also needs to rest too” Bandit left his phone next to his bed and snuggled next to his wife. It doesn't take long for both of them to fall asleep.
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It was 12:47 when Bandit and Chilli arrived at the hospital. Upon entering the hospital room they found a Blue Heeler with one ear drooping asleep in a chair. “Wait babe look at this” Bandit said in a teasing voice and got closer to his brother. “Wakie wake my sweet stripy it’s time for school,” Bandit said in the worst imitation of his mother ever created. “Eeh?? 5 more minutes mum…” Stripe said still sleeping. Bandit lashes out loudly at his brother's reaction, which makes him wake up. “Eeeh?!? Oh, Bandit and Chilli you are already here…” Stripe said while rubbing his eyes and stretching.
“So how is he mate?” asked Bandit. “He is fine, he just broke a leg and an arm nothing serious. it was more the scare of the moment, but he will be in physical therapy for 3 months at least.” Stripe explained in a tired voice. Stripe stared at his brother as if analyzing him “ Hey Ban, did you cut your hair or something?” Stripe asked while pointing at his brother. “Oh, this? Yeah, I had a little incident last night so I cut it.” Bandit explained a little awkwardly. “Thank goodness, that haircut looked awful honestly,” Stripe said in a teasing tone. “It did?” Bandit said now a little worried
“Anyway come with me to the room, I was waiting for Rad but I think he would take a little more time” Stripe signalled for them to follow. When they got to the room they found Bob talking to his wife while he was lying on the bed connected to some machines and his foot elevated. “Hey, Dad!” Bandit yelled to his dad. “Hi Bandit, how have you been son?” Bob said looking now to his son “Eh good I guess, how have you been?” “I have been better honestly but aside from this pretty good,” Bob said pointing to his broken length, both dogs chuckles.
“Hi Mr Heeler, I hope you get well soon,” Chilli said while standing next to Bandit. “Hi Chili, I hope so too! Hey, don’t mind if I ask you, how's that little ankle biter been?” Bob said pointing to Chili’s belly. “Pretty good the doctor said she will probably be born in May,” Chili answers while rubbing her belly and Bandit gets close to her to hug her.
Now that his son is in his field of vision, Bob stares at his son. “Hey Ban, did you make something with your hair?” Bob ask. “Oh yeah, I decided to cut it, you know, to change a little” Bandit replied, a little nervous. Bob stared at Bandit until he spoke “Well it takes you a time! Finally, I am free!” Bob said in a teasing tone to his son. “Quick Christine, hand me the scissors. I would cut this once and for all” Bob said, stretching his good hand to his wife. “Not here Bob but I would gladly do it when we get out of here”. Nana replied in a warm voice.
“WHAT?!?” Bandit asked, very confused. “I thought you loved that haircut, it was the only reason why I didn't cut it before!” Bandit said. “What? No! I didn’t like that haircut. I was going to cut it a month after I did it but you did it too. You were so excited that we combined haircuts and who was I to say no to my pup?” Bob answered his son. “This changed everything,” Bandit said with overly exaggerated expressions. All in the room laughed. Sometime later Rad arrives at the hospital and asks the same question and gives the same reaction, then Pat, then Joshua, and all of Bandit’s friends. The conclusion is the same, no one liked that mullet.
The end.