“Happy New Year, Nippy!” shouted Badger up into the sky.
“It’s still Old Year’s Night. There’s still a minute left. It’s bad luck to wish me Happy New Year before it’s actually Happy New Year” grumbled Nippy Nimbus.
“Well, Happy Old Year then,” chuckled the Mystical Mutt.
“Why are you purple? I haven’t had any purple rain recently. And I think you’ve overdone it with the fur gel. You are totally spiky,” cackled the cloud.
“On a special night like this, we need to … erm… look our best,” Badger blustered.
“Well, if that’s your best, I dread to see your worst,” sneered Nippy.
“Quick, everyone,” said Badger. “It’s nearly New Year.”
The rest of the party gathered together in a circle and looked skyward.
Top Dog counted down from sixty.
Hamish joined in at fifty, along with the alley cats.
Cheryl and Dodgy Dave entered the count at forty.
Snif and Timmy chipped in at thirty seconds.
At just twenty seconds to go before the brand new year, Lennie and Louie linked paws with the others.
At ten seconds, the Earl put his arm around Badger and Pickle. They began the final exciting countdown.
“Ten!” they shouted.
“Nine … eight … seven … six … five … four … three … two … and one!”
“Happy New Year!” they screamed in delight to one another.
Around them, a cavalcade of fireworks exploded into the sky in a dazzling shower of sparkling colours.
“Happy New Year, Nippy!” yelled Badger “Can’t you give me a tiny smile, just for once?”
Nippy Nimbus shuddered and shouted: “I’ll make it my New Year’s resolution to smile just this once then. Now look, I have a surprise for you!”
As they all watched the feast of starbursts in the sky, balloons floated down from Nippy Nimbus. Badger peered closer. He was sure he had spotted a red and white polka dot parachute amidst the balloons.
Could it be? Badger thought hopefully. Could this really be ’Chief bringing me New Year cheer?
Cheryl pointed excitedly into the sky. “Someone’s arriving by balloon flight. Look!”
They looked on in awe as ’Chief landed softly on the grass, swaddling a bundle. Badger ran towards his beloved neckerchief.
“At long last, ’Chief, you’ve come home. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
But ’Chief wasn’t the only surprise guest at the party.
The neckerchief unravelled from its precious cargo to reveal none other than the gang’s missing member, and the long-lost friend of Pickle.
It was Pogo Paws, live, and in the fur.
Pickle was dumbstruck.
“Happy New Year, Pickle! It’s really me,” said Pogo Paws, a little dizzy from the flight.
The others stood back respectfully, waiting for Pickle’s reaction. Badger tied ’Chief back around his neck, tapped him and whispered “Thank you. But how could you leave without telling me where you were going?”
“For once,” explained ’Chief, “Otto was right. You wouldn’t have been able to resist telling Pickle that Pogo Paws was coming. It had to be a surprise. Sorry, Badger.”
“You’re back now, and that’s all that matters,” said Badger gratefully.
Pickle stepped nervously towards Pogo Paws. “Is it really you? Or am I dreaming?”
“It’s definitely me, Pickle. Pinch me. I’m real,” said Pogo Paws light-heartedly.
Top Dog, Dodgy Dave, Snif, Lennie, Badger and the others all cheered.
“Good to have you back, Pogo Paws. She’s been a nightmare without you,” said Top Dog.
“Are you staying? You wouldn’t leave me again, would you?” asked Pickle.
Pogo Paws looked at Pickle with longing and said: “I never want to leave you again, Pickle.” They hugged. The rest of the gang applauded and Badger said: “At last, the old gang is finally all back together again. Happy New Year everyone!”
The remaining drops of mead were passed around, and there was much celebration.
A peeved Otto floated around Badger’s head sighing heavily.
“Now that your beloved ’Chief is back, am I going to be consigned to your dusty old plant pot again. Badger?” he asked with a heavy heart.
“Oh Otto, you’ve given me so many laughs this short while, that I’d hate to put you back in the plant pot, but this mutt ain’t big enough for both you and ‘Chief. I don’t know what to do.”
“But you promised that you wouldn’t put me back in the plant pot if I got rid of the chicken pox,” wailed Otto.
Badger scratched his chin. He’d forgotten about the chicken pox, and a promise was a promise. All of a sudden, ’Chief started to wriggle around Badger’s neck and pointed towards Lennie.
“I know!” piped up Lennie. “Can I have Otto? Please? We’re stopping off in Turkey en route to Bangalore. Otto, isn’t that where you’re from?”
Otto nodded enthusiastically.
Badger looked sceptical.
“I’d look after him,” said Lennie eagerly. “I’d train him. And I’d let him out to fly every day.”
Badger looked at Otto. Otto winked at Badger.
“Okay Lennie, it sounds like a plan. And good luck with the training.”
Otto fixed himself firmly on Lennie’s head and tickled his nose with his tassle.
Lennie put on his best commanding voice and said: “Otto, sit!”