Hammy the Hero

As police officer, Joe Smith, glanced at his watch for the millionth time in this final half hour of his shift and scribbled notes in paperwork he files on a daily basis, his mind drifted to the news report heard earlier in the evening.

"Compact Flash has struck again.  I am outside the home of the latest victim, who miraculously fought against the jewel thief and received only a few scratches.  I tried to speak with the victim, but he was too shaken up to tell me his story."

The reporter continued,

"As this once quiet and peaceful neighborhood - Porcelain Lakes - well knows, Compact Flash is infamous for stealing only diamonds and pearls - "compact" in what he is after - and fleeing the scene in just a few minutes - in a "flash."  The street I am standing along - Magenta Avenue - has suffered the worst from Compact Flash, with a robbery every night last week.  Police warn all residents to keep their doors and windows locked securely and to be vigilant at all times."

Joe's mind raced.  Had he locked his doors and windows securely?  His house was the smallest home on Magenta Avenue, but still all the doors and windows!  His wife was in the city for a weekend-long corporate convention.  Their ten-year-old daughter was spending the weekend at a friend's house, luckily not in Porcelain Lakes.  Their six-month-old German Shepherd puppy, Hammy...

"Hammy!"

A sleepy growl came from the floor next to his desk.  Hammy had been with him on this shift.  Joe sighed in relief.

Joe's boss, Sergeant Gray, urged him to go home after a long shift.

"Joe, go home.  It's midnight.  You're exhausted.  Your shift is down to paperwork.  The next round of on-duty police officers are more alert than Ham, and he is a German Shepherd!  Go on.  Get some sleep!  Your mini-vacation starts now," Sergeant Gray spoke now with more energy.  (Then again, he was sipping on his next who-knows-how-many cup of coffee.)

Joe straightened up his messy desk and thought "Mini vacation?  It's Saturday now.  I have to report back on Monday for my next detective shift.  Oh well.  I won't argue the notion."  He gathered his badge, felt for his gun on his gun belt, and grabbed his wallet and keys.  The jingle sound of the metal keys stirred Hammy into a whined yawn and half-open eyes.

"Come on, Hammy.  It's time to go home.  You - and I - can collapse in bed soon.  Come on, boy."

Hammy was not exactly the textbook definition of the German Shepherd breed.  True he had the color and size of a standard German Shepherd, yet his personality seemed to be stuck in infant puppy mode.  He was eager to please and put a smile on the faces of his whole family.  He was as cuddly as a teddy bear.  He barked only to get attention.  All of his play toys and reason to keep active were indoors.  His only walks were for potty breaks after major meals.  Hammy did not like being left alone.  Hammy did not at all like challenging exercise.  In fact, he preferred cozy comfort over too much activity.  If a German Shepherd is naturally inclined to guard and protect at any expense, Hammy, well, not so much.  His place within his human pack was well defined - be cute, be loved, be taken care of.

Thirty minutes after leaving Police Headquarters in the town of Cedar Woods, Joe and Hammy arrived home - a beautiful, dark-red brick, two-story, six-bedroom large home which had been lived in by every generation in Joe's family.  The house was in fact listed as a historical landmark in Cedar Woods.  Joe didn't always feel comfortable coming home to a dark, historic landmark after a long shift, especially when his family was not home.  This very late night seemed unusually dark.

"Home at last, Hammy," Joe said with a yawn as he pulled into his driveway.

Ham, too, let out a lazy yawn.  Yet when he was let out of the car, something deep within his German Shepherd instinct sharply woke up.  Something was off about his house that he needed to investigate...to protect.

Ham dashed toward the front door and barked wildly.  Every house light on Magenta Avenue was turned on within seconds.

"Hammy!  Stop it!" Joe yelled out.

When he approached the front door, Joe noticed that it was ever so slightly open.  He was too exhausted, though, to quickly realize what Hammy sensed.

As Joe unsuccessfully fumbled for the entryway light switch, Ham's internal radar skyrocketed.  He growled deeply and paced toward the base of the spiral staircase.  He growled angrily and his eyes focused on something only he could see.

A nervous voice spoke from the staircase.

"G-Good boy.  I-I'm..."

Joe found the switch.

"Freeze!!  Drop your bag!  Put your hands up in the air...Now!!"

The strange man, within two feet of Hammy, slowly let go of the bag he was carrying...and quickly reached for his back pants pocket.

Ham pierced the tense air with a screaming bark and lunged for the strange man, baring teeth that looked more dangerous than the man's weapon and Joe's gun.

"Down boy!" Joe ordered as he slowly approached the terrified man.

"So you're..."

"Yes!  I'm Compact Flash!  I was about to steal your diamonds and precious pearls!  My gun is just a toy!  Honest!  Arrest me, arrest me!  Just get me away from your dog!"

The beautifully soft colors of the sunrise dawned.  The last of the police cars drove off.  The last neighbor to thank Joe and hug Ham for his fearless courage and protection walked back to their house.  Joe sat on the step just before the front door.  Ham was falling fast asleep in his lap.  Joe laughed lightly.

"Hammy, you saved the day!  And now you are back to being my puppy.  Hammy the hero."