Jacky Tales: A Lonely Pup’s Revenge

Hi, guys.

I have to tell you that Mom really upset me this past weekend. I’ve never been so hurt. She invited friends to our house and then shut me in her bedroom with Dudley. It seems some humans are afraid of puppies. Can you imagine? I did threaten to bite a human once, okay twice, but that was because I thought I was protecting Mom one time, even though she didn’t see it that way, and the other time, a kid tried to hit me with a stick, so I was protecting myself. Mom says biting is always wrong, that she will protect me if I need protecting. Anyway, I’m a little bouncy, but I’m a darling puppy, with lots of kisses to share. Apparently, some humans don’t enjoy puppy kisses. Again, can you imagine? So Mom locked me up in her bedroom. She came to check on me a lot. And when Grammy and Poppy got home from their old folks date night, which was pretty early, because, well, they are quite old, not as old as Dudley, but old all the same, they came and rescued me to take me home with them. But the damage was done. Mom had shut me away and my feelings were hurt. Being the good-natured pup I am, I chose to forgive her right away. Don’t tell her, but really I just missed her so much that I couldn’t stay upset…that time.

The very next day can you believe that she left me again? It was too much. She and Daddio left the house and I was so excited to go with them that I began dancing circles at their feet. That’s when she pointed down at me and told me to stay. My ears dropped. My tail uncoiled. Stay. She told me to stay. She was leaving me. My heart broke into a thousand pieces. I ran to the couch in front of the big window and watched as the car drove down the road away from me. Dudley didn’t seem to mind. He doesn’t care when she leaves us. He just sleeps like he always does. He’s ancient and very grumpy.

This time when she came home after what seemed like hours, I was done with her. I ran to the small bathroom and peed on the floor. That’ll show her, I thought. She’ll understand how hurt I was. Enough was enough. She explained to me that she was only gone for a short while to have lunch with a friend and go grocery shopping and I should not be upset. She explained that she couldn’t take me because it was too hot for me wait for her in the car. All of her words fell on deaf ears. I didn’t care to hear a word she said. I turned my back on her and went to sit with Daddio. She kept calling for me to come see her, but I ignored her. Once I walked toward her, but then turned halfway and went to Daddio again, staring at her all the while so she would know I was ignoring her on purpose. She bribed me with chicken. I ate it, because, well, it was chicken and who can say no to chicken, but I didn’t wag my tail in gratitude. I would not give her the satisfaction.

Later, she took me to the bathroom for a nice warm tub bath. I allowed it, because I love baths, but I didn’t play in the water. I even allowed her to give me my bath massage, and she felt so guilty that she gave me extra ear and foot rubs, but I did not wag my tail and I tried to remember to keep it uncoiled to show my disdain. I made sure my after-bath zoomies were subdued. I couldn’t help myself but to have a few zoomies because after-bath zoomies are the best fun. Then Mom disappeared and I became afraid that I had made her so sad that she had decided to run away from me. I sat in the big window staring at the empty yard and cried. She was nowhere to be found. Daddio came and got me. He took me to find her and I was very much relieved, but not so much that I forgot to be angry. I turned and went back to my couch to sulk some more.

After a night’s sleep, I awoke to a new frame of mind. I snuggled up close to Mom with my head under her chin. When she woke up, she kissed my head and I rolled over to give her access to my chest for a nice scratch. All is right with my world now. This morning she remembered to take me with her in the car to the store that sells plants and dirt, which means I in fact did teach her a lesson. I think she will never leave me alone again. I’m sure of it.