A spring breeze tickled Hope’s butt and she zoomed
by her brother. “Whee! Proper catch me! What a fun place this is!” The two made
a big loop, rounded a corner and headed back toward the house, as fast as their
puppy legs could barrel them. Proper crashed into Hope when she brought herself
up short, eyes fairly popping out of her head.
“Proper,” she whispered. “What is that?”
Ahead of them stood the largest dog they had ever
seen. The puppies dropped their ears and their tails. They poked forward with
their noses, trying to smell some sense of the situation. Hope inched closer to the giant.
“Hello, Sir.”
She sniffed as she approached. “Oh,
I’ve met your scent on my Emily! It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Hope, and this
is my brother, Proper. We’ve just arrived.”
The giant dog padded over to them. His head is
bigger than all of me, thought Hope. He was golden. His big ears drooped
down the side of his face, his nose was fat, and that thick tail! Woosh! Hope ducked as it wagged.The puppies
circled around him, their own tails tucked tightly between their legs, wiggling
like caught fish.
“Puppies! I love puppies!” said the big dog. He
poked his fat nose up Hope’s hoochie, and snuffled, “Girl.” Hope did a modest
body curl, air-licking and grinning. The giant flipped Proper right over,
getting a snoot full of his winkie. “Boy,” he proclaimed. The big yellow dog
flopped down on the ground and rolled onto his back.
Hope and Proper thought maybe, just maybe this huge
dog might be in possession of a milk bar like their Mother’s. They bounced over
to investigate.
“Oh, no, little ones! Sorry to disappoint! Here,
check out my teeth; there may be a bit of leftover breakfast hanging around.
You’re welcome to anything you find. I’m Driver, by the way. Most everyone
calls me Ol’ Uncle Driver. The humans started that. I’m not actually anyone’s
uncle. Silly humans.”
Hope and Proper licked Driver’s gums and stuck their skinny
snouts practically clear down his throat. It was fascinating in there. Like a
big cave, with bits of sticks and a blade of grass or two. Hope even found a
little piece of biscuit way in the back.
***************************************
hug your hounds and wish me luck
(And, by the way, I'm wearing The Big Pink Thing.)
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying it already!
ReplyDeleteKristy
me too, me too! (not wearing the pink thing but enjoying the writing!)
ReplyDeleteL
Oh how exciting! I can't wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Patience.
Good for you. I'm saying I am going to be more serious about my writing, but here you are doing it!
ReplyDeleteyay! (and do I see St Opie in there,too?)
ReplyDelete