The Puppy Who Cried, "Stick!" and Then Was Redeemed

 There once was a puppy who would go off on long walking adventures with his two long suffering companions.  At first all was well and a smooth and steady pace was achieved, but soon, the puppy would begin to have doubts about the route.  Perhaps he should have eaten more breakfast.  Perhaps that acorn over there would be a tasty morsel to add to his morning repast.

And so he would lurch off the path, dragging his companion with him to nip over and lunge for an acorn only to be told to "drop it."  That was the worst.  To feel the acrid bite of the acorn on your tongue, that first crunch, and then, "Drop it."

But, it had to be done.  He dropped it.

So he looked for sticks.  And found them.  They were everywhere.  They littered the entire path as it was a forest path and was not swept with any regularity.  Over and over his companion had to bend down and pull bits of stick out of his mouth and he could see that she was not happy with this new turn of events.

I am standing holding some sticks, Coach is sitting in front of me and is looking off to the right.

And yet, he did not care.  For the lure of the stick was too great.  He could not pass it up. Even in the photo at the end of the journey when his companion held out some sticks to show what he had gathered and how he had slowed them down with his thoughtless chewing, he still yearned for them. Looked for them.

I am standing holding some sticks, Coach is sitting in front of me and is looking at the camera.  His eyes are glowing.

He was confused.  Should he walk fast? Or should he follow his instincts and eat sticks?  What should he do?  What did his conscience tell him to do?  What would he do when no one was looking?  That was the question.

Later when his companion was in the shower and he was in the dressing area, he snoozed lightly looking out from under the curtain and into the main shower room.  Two older Hispanic ladies approached from the pool area.

"Hola, perrito!" the one lady said to him, trying to engage him in conversation.  Coach looked at her.  This was it.  What would he do?  Then he got up and moved into the shower area and away from the two ladies.

Later the older lady saw his companion and apologized saying, "I tried to talk to your puppy when you were in the shower, but he was so good.  He wouldn't do anything.  He just got up and moved into the shower away from me.  He is much better behaved than I am!"  She laughed.

"He sure is!" Her friend added loudly.  Then they both laughed.  His companion patted Coach on the  and said sweet words to him.

Coach standing with a smile on his face with a smile. He is in coat.

He knew then he had made the right choice.  It was going to be a good day.