Chapter Sixteen
Jovan
After my trip away, we’d both come to the conclusion that we had something worth trying for, and we’d even had a little day at home. As a daddy, it would seem that I would get used to the two different sides of my little. Not every daddy shared both of those with his little, but I was fortunate enough to have found someone who was a match for me in every way. At least every way we’d explored together so far.
Our plan had yet to be employed, but we were ready when it was, and that took a lot of tension out of day-to-day life. Helped us to communicate better on other matters, and now that I’d added Ernie to my membership at Chained, we usually managed to get there once a week, sometimes to play and others just to visit with friends. But this weekend, we had other plans.
“I’m still not so sure about this.” I added a pair of jeans to my duffle bag and looked around for anything I’d forgotten. “The others will have more training. It might be embarrassing.”
Ernie continued packing, adding the custom-made outfit and headpiece. “It’s not a professional event. There will be lots of amateurs there, and we’ve been practicing, haven’t we?”
Yes, they had. Ernie and Zoe had been the talk of the dog park as they stayed outside the fenced area practicing the tricks they’d been working on. A town about eighty miles away was holding a pet parade and mixed-breed trial. I’d been so busy at work, trying to make sure I put in my share of hours so others could be on call for the weekend, I wasn’t real clear what they’d been up to, but they were very proud of themselves.
“We could go to the lake? Zoe loves the lake.”
“Daddy, you’re going to make Zoe think you don’t have any faith in her. You’ll make her sad.” He thrust out his lower lip inthat adorable expression that melted me every time. “Or is it me? Do you think I couldn’t get her ready?”
“I have faith in you. And in Zoe, but she just doesn’t have a lot of experience in doing specific things on command. Must I remind you of the Pup-Pup incident?”
“That’s not fair. You know she hasn’t done it since. I’m convinced she had a psychic moment and did it just to get us together.”
While we went back and forth, the dog turned her head to whomever was speaking, like watching a tennis match. And, in the end, I caved, of course. My little and my dog were a team and they were capable of anything. Of course, that was the worry…anything.
But off we went, stopping along the way to get burgers, without bun for Zoe, arriving just in time to sign in. I trailed behind the two of them as we were escorted to the contestant’s area. My bag was still in the car, but Ernie’s backpack, holding all his equipment for the day, went along with us.
There were other dogs. Hundreds of them. And owners, some of whom looked like they belonged at a professional show and others who didn’t seem to have the least bit of control over their critters. Big dogs, small dogs, every color found in nature and many that were not found in nature on dogs. “Did they dye them?” I whispered to Ernie. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
“They have washable dyes. I was reading about them, but I thought they didn’t think they were dignified.” He was digging out the outfit he’d had made for our dog. A little dress sort of thing with a fluffy tutu attached. And a tiara. Dignity did not seem to be an issue, although I didn’t comment. I was directed to a bench along the side, while those who would be walking the dogs in the parade lined up. The town itself had a sign that said population 2100, but from the crowd they were drawing in from far and wide, there were many more people here today. Theparade portion of the event had nearly all the pets in costume—some owners even matching. They made their way around the high school football field in all their glory, twice, while a panel of judges across from the stands made notes and conferred. Zoe in her tutu was adorable, but the winners were clearly the results of months of effort. A dog that looked like a shark—very realistic too. One small mutt that not only was dressed as a bird but somehow seemed to be floating a few inches off the ground. These people were serious. I hoped Ernie wouldn’t be too disappointed when they got no awards.
After the parade, they came to find me for a snack and then they were gone again. They didn’t seem in the least bothered by not winning for their outfit. If anything, they were just happy to be here, Ernie grinning and Zoe’s tail going a mile a minute.
It seemed a lot of those who were there had only come for the parade and to socialize because those who lined up for the talent competition—my name for it—was a much smaller group. The emcee explained they would have to complete an obstacle course and then show a trick completely their own.
Oh, no way! Zoe probably would be too big for some of the obstacles, and a unique trick? I sat through the first couple of dozen who managed the obstacle course with different levels of success then were led through variations on sit/lie down and other far-from-unique tricks. But they were cute. All of them, and, sitting there in the sun, I was glad we came. Most of the pets were through by the time Ernie and Zoe stepped up to the obstacle course. To the best of my knowledge, the dog had never even seen an obstacle course, but to my shock, she completed it like a champ. Ernie clearly had some secrets from me. Then…time for a unique trick. What would it be? And when did he practice all these things? While I was at work, obviously. No wonder they both looked smug when I got home.
“Zoe,” Ernie ordered. “Ready?” She stood, legs splayed apart, for all the world as if she knew what he’d asked. “Go!” And before my astonished eyes, Zoe raced across the field to the opposite side and returned with Ernie’s backpack. She opened it—don’t ask me how—and withdrew Pup-Pup, who she ran over and gave to me.
I didn’t know if the trick had any value, but I was wiping tears of laughter and poignancy from my cheeks.
My family. Silly, funny, and the best ever. I was just glad this hotel accepted dogs because Zoe was going to be sleeping with us tonight, something we didn’t allow often anymore due to…nighttime activities. She’d earned it.
Chapter Seventeen
Ernie
I loved my new job. I really did. My first evaluation had gone amazingly, and I got a small raise out of it. The people were great. Heck, even the coffee was good. But like with any other job, no matter how much a person loved it, there were stressful days, and today had been one of them.
It began with a faulty fire alarm that had us evacuating the building three times before noon and ended with one of my coworkers falling and being unable to get up again. They were going to be okay, which was great, but that didn’t change the fact that by the time I was ready to go home, I wasput a fork in medone.
I shot him a quick text on my elevator ride down.Daddy, I’m coming home now.
We’d already decided that this was ahis placeday because it was going to be raining, and Zoe did better with the rain there than at other places. Not that anyone would describe her as doing well with any rain. She hated it.
Can’t wait to see you.
I smiled at the phone. Heading to the bus stop, I counted down the minutes until I could be home and let go of the day.
Zoe and Daddy were outside when I got there, and her tail went wild the second I came into view. “Hey, sweet girl, you sure know how to make me feel loved.” She went to lick my face, and I dodged it just in time. I knew it was her sign of affection, but I was not a fan.
