First Day

     “Ready to go meet de others,” Schnapps asked as she scratched at the door. The MaMA approached and let us out.
     “Show her ropes, Schnapps” MaMA instructed. “Don't go too far, and keep an eye on little Fritter." Schnapps grumbled a mumbled reply as she left. 

     As anxious I was to get orientation training started and over with, first day jitters took a hold of me. I hesitated at the door even though I needed to prove myself and earn my tags. Otherwise I wouldn’t become a permanent member of the team, then what would happen to me. But how many “others” were there. A sudden shiver ran up my spine.
     "Go on little brown dog. Have a good time, stay with Schnapps. Don't go off on your own," MaMA said.
     I went out into the frosty weather, and stood on the small front porch. I scanned the area and was taken back at the vast landscape. Our territory seemed to go on forever, nothing but rolling, snow covered hills as far as I could see.
     I shuddered and realized how small I was in comparison to the world. It was much larger than the training yard I grew up in. My legs quivered and threatened to go out from under me. I sat down and tried to control my breathing.
     Schnapps came up and cocked her head.
     "Is everything all right? Vat is wrong?"
     "This yard..." I said between labored gasps, "It's so huge! Are we responsible for everything? Shouldn't we have backup? We should have a platoon of Puggles for this area, not just two little dogs!"

“Ve are only responsible for a small area," she reassured me. "Come now, ve need to inspect de perimeter. Perhaps you vill calm down ven you see vere our borders lie."
I stood up on still wobbling legs. C'mon Fritter, you are better than this, remember your training. A Puggle is brave. Get out there, the little voice inside me said. You don't argue with the little voice, so I left the porch and followed Schnapps.
There was an established trail which followed a weathered lodgepole fence, that we took. It went straight up to the top of a hill, where Schnapps stood waiting for me.
“This area is know as Cedar Village. From here you can see de other homes, vere other families live.” 

There were four other houses, besides our own, spread apart from each other. A short distance away, I could see a black road, snaking across the landscape.
"It's so open, I can see so far from up here," I said. 

“Dere are also lots of hidden dangers out dere, never take your security for granted."
"Who's your new friend?" A booming voice came from above.
I leapt backwards at the mystery voice. From the corner of my eye, I spotted one of the fence posts move, but it was not like the other fence posts, it had fur. I traced the furry pole to a large brown and white body, a long neck, which ended in ginormous head. 

"Holy crud, are you a deer," I asked the lumpy head as it came closer to me. If this monster was a deer, Schnapps is a better hunter than I thought.
The creature gave Schnapps a sideways glance. "Is this one for real," it asked. 

"She's just green," said Schnapps. Her comment confused me, perhaps her eyesight was going, because I was anything but green.
The creature turned back to me. "I am of the equine persuasion." 

"Huh?"
"He's a horse," Schnapps said to me with a huff. "A hay-burning, fancy, lawn ornament.”
The horse sputtered, his lips waggled and he shook his long mane. “I serve a greater purpose than just eating hay! I am highly educated.” He stomped his huge stone like feet. The ground shook with every footfall.
"You do sound very smart," I said, hoping to diffuse the situation. I didn't want to get squished by the horse's hurt feelings, not on my first day. "And you are so big, and strong."
The horse ceased his tantrum, focused on me, and bowed his head. "Why thank you little dog," he said. "And may I add that you are very keen yourself, I'm sure you will be a great asset to your human."
"Thank you," I said. "My name is Fritter.” 

“And I am Charles Reginold Huntington the Third, Esquire,” he said, bowing his head low to his hooves. “If you are ever in the need for legal representation, or advice, I'm your horse."
Schnapps shook out her fur. “Ve just call him Chuck," she said. “Sometimes Chuck Vagon.”

"Charles," the horse corrected, "I prefer Charles."
“Vatever,” Schnapps said as she turned and continued down the path. “I still have to show de young von de ropes."
"Good luck, Miss Fritter. I look forward to speaking with you more,” Said Charles.  “I hope your tenure is long and prosperous.”
"Thank you, Charles," I said as chased after Schnapps. I had to wonder what happened to Schnapps last partner. Everyone seemed to be wary of her, and the constant well wishes for my longevity twisted in my stomach. Or perhaps it was my gut adjusting to the decadent breakfast, which I may or may not have eaten too quickly.
Schnapps descended the hill and circled around a shed before I lost sight of her. I turned the corner of the small building, but couldn't see her. I raised my nose and took a deep breath, then caught her scent; experience, age, knowledge, regret. I lowered my nose and followed her trail to a hole under the shed. 

"Schnapps? Are you under there?"
"Come on down," her voice echoed from underneath the shed.
I went front first into the depths of the tunnel. It was dark, cool, and moist. It seemed to go on forever, but soon opened up to a small underground room. I caught a whole new collection of scents: Musty, woodsy, rancid, then Schnapps. I spotted her in the corner of the room standing over a cache of shaded items.

"Over here, little von," she said.
"What is this place," I asked.
"It's vere I keep de ropes," she said. "And other treasures." 

I looked over her shoulder and saw different strands of ropes: blue and green, yellow, tattered, knotted. Accompanying the ropes were balls of different sizes, a couple of well chewed bones, and a small, stuffed toy dog.
"Wow, this is quite the collection," I said. "May I?"
"Please." She stepped aside with her chest puffed out, proud of her treasures.
I took a closer sniff. I honed in on Schnapps scent, but also smelled other dogs. Perhaps one of her former partners?
"Did you bring your last partner here?"
Her beard bristled.
"Of course I did," she huffed. "It's vere we keep de ropes."
I decided to change the subject. "I smell another animal, not canine, nor feline."
"Das Stinktier," she said in a hushed tone. "A vile creature dat would like nothing more than to steal my ropes."
I nodded, not knowing what a Dastinkter was, but I didn't want to seem more unknowledgeable. I already mistook a horse for a deer. Perhaps a dastinkter was another word for deer.
“Would you like to do some rope training," Schnapps asked, breaking my train of thought.
"Maybe later," I said, fearing she was testing my dedication to the job. "Have we finished the perimeter check?"
Schnapps narrowed her eyes and gave me a slight grin of approval. "Good. Duty always comes first."
She crawled out the tunnel and I followed, light hearted and more sure of myself. I passed at least one test. How many were there to come?
Once we got out of the underground treasure trove, we resumed on the trail around the back of the outbuilding where the car was parked. I picked up a now familiar scent, something feline, but feminine.
"By now, you've got their scent," Schnapps said with a dismissive sniff.
"More cats?" I paused in place. My first encounter with a cat wasn’t great, I didn’t know if these cats would react the same way.
"Yes, and de worse kind, de feral katen." She slowly approached the edge of the building. “Dey follow their own rules, protected by an alliance between Magic and de B.O.C." 

"Who is the B.O.C?"
Schnapps' raised her ruff and bared her teeth, "He's only known as de Big Orange Cat. He's in charge of de Wood Pile Kitty Club. It's one of de places dey congregate."
On the other side of the wall, I could hear scuffling and mewing.
"It sounds like they are having a party," I said. Schnapps shot me a cold glare over her shoulder.
"If I had my way, I would be rid of dese troublemakers. It's bad enough dat I have to share living quarters with one."
"Why not chase them off, if they are such a nuisance?"
Schnapps peered around the corner, then lowered her voice to just above a whisper. "Because, even though dey are unpredictable and a bane to my existence, dey are a good source of information ven things really go wrong. According to de agreement, dey are to stay within a small radius around de outbuilding. If dey cross the boundries, it is in your jurisdiction to chase dem back." 

Just then a multi-colored, mottled cat slinked around the corner.
"Well, well. Hey there Schnapps. What brings you sniffing around our corner," she asked with a flirtatious purr. "Word is you have a new recruit."
"Not now, Meowjolina," Schnapps said as she pushed by the exotic feline.
The curious cat craned her neck and spotted me. "I've never seen a dog like you before," she said with a sweet voice. "Aren't you a pretty kitty."
"I'm not a kitty," I protested. "I'm a Puggle."
"Now, now, let's not get our tails in a twist. It's just a saying we have around here." Meowjolina sashayed close and circled her tail around my head. "Why don't you come in and we can get to know each other a little better."
"Knock dat off," Schnapps barked, and Meowjolina puffed up and hissed back. "You know dat is against de rules. You stay in your area, and ve look de other way. A dog has no business in de Wood Pile. Let's go, Fritter."
I tiptoed around Meowjolina and followed Schnapps.
"Hey Fritter, if you ever decide to have a little fun, you know where to come. My sister, Meow Ferral, has a couple of small fries that would love to play with you," Meowjolina called after us.
"Ignore her, she just vants you to get into trouble," Schnapps said through her clenched jaw.
Meowjolina didn't seem like a threat, but I decided that I should follow Schnapps' experience and instincts.
We walked down the drive and Schnapps pointed out the rest of the boundries.
"Our routine vill be on a strict timeline," she said. "Breakfast, inspect the perimeter, then morning nap. We'll do some combat training before de afternoon patrol."
We returned to the porch and Schnapps took one last survey of our territory. I scanned the neighborhood as well. The houses were all connected by a car sized paths, which intersected at the bottom of the hill. A gang of dogs gathered there. They appeared to be having a meeting, but paused and looked in our direction.
"Who are they?" I pointed my nose in their direction. "Should we go down there?"
"Not right now," she said as she scratched on the door to signal the MaMA. "You vill meet dem soon enough." 

De Others

     I woke in the middle of the night, and as I like before, I was disoriented and unclear of my surroundings. The MaMA had requisitioned a bed for me, a squishy one with dark brown fake fur and a small divot in the center. It was almost like sleeping in the pile back at PUP camp. Almost. It lacked the warmth of my brethren, the undulating movement of their breathing, and the occasional wafting reminder of what we had eaten that day. 

     Anxious, I began to fret and whine.
     "Oh, Fritter," I heard a groan from the larger bed beside mine. "Do you need to go out?"
     I hadn't thought of it before, but I could use the facilities.
     I whimpered some more and the MaMA got out of bed and got dressed. She picked me up and placed me inside of her coat. From in there, I took in her scent once again. She was deliciously warm smelling. Spice, wood, and floral all at once. I had been getting to know her and her scent all night. She was nice, for a human, though I really didn't know what to expect, having such little interaction with humans before today.
     She had presented to me a basket of toys. Balls, chewy rubber bones, but my favorite had to be the furry ones that go squeak. Schnapps had watched us play with passive interest, and periodically snoozed on the couch.
     I was placed on the ground outside and was shocked at how cold it was. Schnapps was suddenly by my side, looking off into the distance, and sniffing the air.
     “Dey are out dere," she said. "And dey are watching."
     "Who,” I asked.
     “De others. Dey are keeping an eye on you."
     "C'mon, Fritter," MaMA complained as she shivered and jumped up and down in place. "I want to go back to bed."
     "Better take care of business, little von."
     I wasn't sure I wanted to go, now that there were things watching me. But my bladder out ruled my concerns of being exposed. Soon I was back in my bed, mashing down the fluff to make things more comfortable.
     Schnapps' words took hold in my imagination, every time I shut my eyes, I became suddenly aware of pairs of eyes watching me. Their shadowy figures loomed over my bed. I'd wake, readjust my bed and position, and try again to no avail. I must have been making a racket, because soon the MaMA stood over me.
     "Are you having troubles, little brown dog?"
     She picked me up and brought me to her giant bed. It was much nicer than mine, with room to spread out. Plus it had the MaMA's nice scent.
     "This is just for tonight," she said with a stern voice.
     I curled up behind her crooked knee and sighed, reveling in the warmth and comfort. Well, we'll see about that. 

     I had the best sleep I've ever had. I don't know how I ended up sprawled across the MaMA's face, but that's where I woke up. I like to think it was some kind of inner protective instinct, that I automatically shifted during the night and gravitated to higher ground to better secure the perimeter. 

     "Mmmph, Friffer. Your buff is on my fafe," MaMA mumbled. She carefully relieved me from my vantage point, and took me outside.
     The sun shone over the icy winter-scape, and the snow sparkled and glittered in its light. I was set down on an icy patch, and I sniffed for a good place to relieve myself. I was then reminded of Schnapps warning from the night before. I, too, had the distinct feeling that I was being watched. 

     I scanned the horizon, yet saw no one, except Schnapps, who was trotting towards me with her usual efficient clip. However, her back leg seemed to be out of step with the rest of her feet. A slight limp I hadn't noticed before. 

     "Good morning, Schnapps," I greeted her. "Did you sleep well?"
     "As vell as can be expected," she said with a grumble. "Are you ready for your training?"
     "Yes," I said, but was interrupted by my loud stomach.
     "First, ve vill haf de breakfast, yes," she said. I followed her and the MaMA back inside. I was airlifted up the stairs, and set down in the kitchen, while MaMA fixed our food.
     "May I ask you a personal question?" If I was to be partnered with Schnapps, I thought it only best to know everything about her.
     "You may speak freely," she said with a bow of her head.
     "What breed of dog are you? I haven't known a lot of other breeds except for my parents and some of the neighbor dogs. One of our neighbors was a German Shepard. He spoke with the same accent as you do, but you look nothing like him."
     "You are very keen," she said giving me a look of approval. "I am a Schnauzer, a proud, German race, bred for hunting."
     I know hunting breeds. Beagles were bred for hunting foxes, and surely that German Shepard I knew hunted bigger animals. But I had a hard time believing that Schnapps, a dog no bigger than myself, could be a good hunter. And I'm not even full grown. 

     "Excuse me, Schnapps. But aren't you a bit small to be a hunter?" 

     "What good is de size, ven de rabbit goes down de hole? It takes more than size to be a hunter, you haf to be quick, you haf to be smart," she barked. "And I vill haf you know, I once took down a mighty deer once."
     "Oh," I said, impressed with her resume. "What's a deer?"
     "You vill find out," she assured me.
     I wanted to ask her more, but breakfast was served. MaMA placed before us bowls of chopped meat, rice, vegetables and gravy. Never in my life had I been treated to such delicacies.
I dove in, smacking and relishing every mouthful. After I swallowed one bite, I immediately craved another, and another. 

     Soon all the food in the dish was gone. So I did what any respectable Puggle might do, and licked every drop of gravy clean. The bowl tried to escape my attempts, and I ended up chasing it across the floor. 

     Enough of this. I put my foot down in the middle of the bowl and licked around it. That prevented the constant movement, and allowed me to properly clean the dish. After the inside was all licked out, I flipped the dish with my nose and inspected the other side. After I was done, I sat and eyed Schnapps' bowl. Either she wasn't as hungry as I was, or she was terrible at cleaning up. She stood over her bowl staring at me in disbelief. Gravy dripped off of her wiry, grey whiskers.
     "Are you going to finish your gravy," I asked.
     Schnapps gaped at me.
     “Vat?"
     "Wow," MaMA said. "I'm going to have to watch what I feed you. Don't want you to get chubby."
     I thought of Number One and her big behind. She was always the first one to the chow line, and her weight showed it. I would also have to be mindful about how much I ate. However, that gravy was to die for, and I wanted nothing more than to lick the drippings off of Schnapps' beard.
     "Quit looking at me like I'm your next meal," she growled then lowered her head to lick her bowl.
     "Good Morning, Good Morning," a high-pitched voice chirped. 

     "What was that," I asked.
     "Oh, dat is just Sunshine," Schnapps said nodding to the other room. "He's just Admin. Go ahead and say hello."
     I tore myself away from the gravy worshiping and went into the next room. I didn't get to fully inspect it last night, so I was happy to be able to gather more intel and explore the Home base more.
The wall between the kitchen and the next room was made of red brick. On this side, it had a fireplace and a low hearth. On the hearth sat a cage. On the highest perch in the cage sat a grey bird with a yellow head and bright orange cheeks.
     "Good Morning, good morning," he peeped.
     "Hello," I said. "My name is Fritter."
     "I know, you are the new partner for Schnapps, and you are a little brown dog, and you like to eat, and you like the squeaky toys, and..." The bird talked a mile a minute. I wondered how he breathed.
     "And your name is Sunshine? That's a lovely name," I said, desperate to get a word in.
     "Yes! Yes, my name is Sunshine. I'm a pretty bird. I take care of all the assignments, paperwork, gossip, communications, requisitions. I'm a pretty bird."
     Oh, my. This bird was cuckoo.
     "Did you say gossip,” I asked him.
     Sunshine ceased his chittering and gave me a sideways look. 

     "Did I?"
     "Yes," I said. "It was between paperwork and communications." Sunshine grabbed the side of the cage with his beak and slid down to the bottom of the cage. He moved to the corner and peeked over the edge.
     "Psst...come closer," he whispered.
I stood on my hind legs so that I could get closer to the cage. I lowered my ear to where his beak was.
     "I know everything about everyone around here," Sunshine said in a hushed tone. "If you need intel on what's really going down, you know who to ask."
     "Yeah?"
     "You want the dirt on anyone, just say the word," he squatted down in his cage, casting paranoid glances around the room. "Like how your partner got her limp?"
     "You can tell me?"
     "Yeah, come...closer."
     I leaned in as he instructed.
     "Just like that, closer, closer," Sunshine urged.
     I pressed my ear against the bars, I couldn't get any closer if I wanted to, unless I got in there with him. Suddenly, a piercing pain took hold of me, or in this case, a bird beak and my ear. I yelped and yanked my ear away from the cage. Sunshine's head rammed against the bars and he let go of my ear.
     A volley of cackling laughter came from above us. I looked up and saw the black cat from the night before, rolling on a second set of stairs above the fireplace.

     "What are you laughing at? That hurt," I said then cast an accusing glare at the double crossing bird. "And what was that, Sunshine? Are you mental or something?"
     "I'm a pretty bird," he said as he climbed back up to his high perch.
     "Ha, ha." The cat continued to laugh. "You stupid dog."
     My face pinched and all my wrinkles furrowed. No one had ever called me stupid before, and I didn't like it. I decided to take the higher road and ignore his insult.
     "I'm sorry, I never got to introduce myself last night. My name is..."
     "I know who you are." The black cat arched his back then pulled his body forward into a long stretch before taking slow measured steps down the stairs. "I just don't know what you are." 

     "I'm a Puggle," I said, puffing out my chest in proud Puggle fashion.
     "What's a Puggle?"
      I cleared my voice to recite our motto. "A Puggle is loyal and brave..."
     The cat stared at me with his nose down and his ears back. "All I know is that you are short on snout and big on ears. And what is up with that silly tail. Why does it curl like that?" 

I looked back at my tail. Never in my lifetime did I think it silly. I always found it expressive. It would curl tight if I was anxious, almost a perfect curve of curiosity, and straighten out flat when I was relaxed. I turned back to the cat, who was licking his paws, then rubbed his face.
     "Well, you have a pointy face," I said.
     "Ooo, is that the best you can do," he mocked.
     Schnapps came around the corner, "Vat is going on here?"
     "I see you have a new little partner to train, eh Schnapps," the cat padded past Schnapps, running his tail around her snout. She snarled at his taunting.
     "Let's hope she lasts longer than your previous protege."
     Schnapps snapped at the cat’s tail, but he was too quick and sauntered out of the room, laughing under his breath.
     "What's his deal," I asked coming up to Schnapps' side.
     “Dat is Magic," she said. "His heart is as dark as his fur is black. Don’t vaste your time talking wit him.”
     "I've never had experience with a cat before, are they all like him?"
     "Let me give you a vord of advice, young von. Dere is no such thing as a good cat." Schnapps turned and headed to the door. "Are you ready for your first day?"
     "Yes," I said, cheered by the thought of adventure. 

Here's Schnapps!

Hi,
I hope you are enjoying my story. The MaMA was looking for a good picture of Schnapps to show you, just by herself, but unfortunately couldn't find one.
But we found this video of us playing in the snow.

Wasn't that Cute!
A new chapter will be coming soon.

Love and chases, Fritter

Home Base

     “Here you go, little brown dog,” the MaMA said as she placed me in a plastic crate. “You have to sit in here until you are big enough to ride shotgun.”

     I didn’t like being enclosed like this. Tactically, it was all wrong. My field of vision was reduced to a few slits in the side and the barred door in the front. When I took a whiff of the air, I could detect nothing but plastic.

     “I don’t like this,” I whined, but the MaMA either didn’t hear me, or she didn’t understand. Number Two often said that humans didn’t speak our language, that they expected us to be seen and not heard. It must be true, for the only other humans I saw before today were the staff from High Command, and they never spoke to us besides to tell us when chow was on. I always figured that they felt we were just lowly recruits, so why would they want to talk to us? 

The MaMA went out of my view. With metallic slam I was suddenly shadowed in darkness. Out the front of the crate, I could see the back of two chairs with blue sky peeking between them.

     The MaMA reappeared in one of the seats and turned around to look at me.

     “Hang tight little brown dog, we’ve got a long way until we get home,” she said then faced the front.

     A mighty roar came from below me and the floor began to vibrate. We were in the belly of a beast, and I was trapped in a plastic cage with no way to fulfill my duty to protect and serve the MaMA. My first day on the job and I was failing. I shouted out to the MaMA, she had to know we were in desperate peril.

     “Don’t worry,” she said to me as she adjusted a small mirror between the seats. “I’ll get you there safe.”

     I realized then that we were not in a steel beast, but in a car. I’ve heard of these contraptions from the General. A transport vehicle which, he explained, was a frightening, but necessary mode of getting to places: to see medics, replenish supplies, go out to do field training, or get some delicious civilian food.

     I chuckled to myself for getting worked up. Here I thought we were in almost certain doom, and I with nothing to protect the MaMA but a soft, sweet scented blanket.

     Though I had to admit, I was not a fan of the car. The constant noise and shaking interrupted my natural senses. My limited vision kept me from gauging where we were going. Any sudden turn threw off my balance and I wobbled around in the crate. I resigned to laying down on the blanket. The plush, luxurious blanket cradled me unlike any pile of my siblings ever had before. I buried my nose in the fleecy folds and took in the comforting bouquet. I don’t know if it was the aroma, the stress of the day, or the lack of nap time, but suddenly my eyelids became too heavy to keep open.

     I was light as air, swimming in a weightless fog, then rudely dropped. I woke up and was lost. Where were my litter mates? My comfortable pile of pups? My bowl of kibble and my training yard? My stomach clenched, and all of a sudden I missed them. I was alone, scared, and stuck in an awful crate. In my state of anguish, I did what proper procedure called for at a time like this; I began to howl.

     There are only a few good reasons, according to my training, that a Puggle should howl. One: to alert a human of danger. Two: to alert danger that lurks in the darkness that you are a ferocious beast, not to be messed with. Three: to welcome someone home, or to say goodbye, as my litter mates had done for me. Four: when you gosh darn feel like it.

     I took the official stance to howl: firmly seat your rear on the ground, take a deep breath, toss your head back allowing your ears to dramatically cascade down your back, and Ooooooooooo.

     “Oh, little brown dog, you’re up,” said the MaMA, peering into the mirror. I could only see her eyes, but I guessed she could see all of me. “Did you have a good nap?”

     I laid back down but kept a sharp eye on the MaMA. I cocked my head to the side to let her know I was listening.

     “We are almost home,” she said. “We should probably give you a good name. I can’t keep calling you little brown dog, and I’m not going to call you Number Four.”

     A code name? I wasn’t opposed to Number Four, it was the only name I had been called. But I understood that I needed to have an alias, for undercover operations.

     “Luna? How do you like Luna? You sure howl like a Luna.”

     “Nyuck,” I said.  I did not like Luna.

     The MaMA raised an eyebrow. “Nyuck? You don’t like Luna, huh?”

She understood me! No matter what Two said, the MaMA understood what I said. Perhaps she spoke our language.

     “How about Puddin’?”

     No, way. I snorted, put my head down on my front paws, and sighed.

     “Okay, not impressed with Puddin’.” She didn’t say anything for a while but then she gazed into the mirror and said, “How about Fritter?”

     I raised my head. That sounded like a good name. 

     “You like Fritter,” she asked with wide eyes. I yipped a yes. “So, Fritter it is then.”

     A vengeful drowsiness fell upon me again, even though I just had a nap. I fought a yawn, but it won.

     “Are you bored? Don’t worry, it won’t be long now. Then you will have plenty of do with Schnapps and the rest.”

     The rest? How many dogs were at this base? Were they Puggles like me, or other breeds? My mind drooled at the possibilities of meeting other breeds, the adventures I could have; I might even see a cat. My sadness lifted and I looked forward to getting to my new home.

     The blanket got me again. I woke from a deep sleep cursing the aromatherapeutic spell it cast. We had stopped moving and the MaMA wasn’t in her seat. For a moment, I feared she saw me sleeping again and brought me back to return me. I didn’t want the MaMA to think she got a lethargic pup. Usually, I was full of energy, first of my litter to rise and take on the day. 

     My fears were dispersed when the side door opened and a whoosh of cold air flooded the car.

     “We’re here, Fritter,” the MaMA said. The crate lifted and turned. I caught a quick glimpse of my new surroundings. White snow covered the ground, with only a few pathetic patches of tall grass poking through.  The smell of spring was gone, instead, this place was still in the throes of winter. The air was sterile and still. Ice crystals went up my nose and I sneezed. 

     “Bless you,” MaMA said as she set the crate down, then opened the door. As much as I wanted to be free of the confines of that blasted crate, the thought of leaving the warmth of the blanket made me second guess freedom.

     “Don’t be scared little von,” a new voice said from the side of the crate. A grey dog with wiry fur peered through the gaping opening. “Dere is nothing to fear.”

I cautiously got up and exited the crate. The chilly air recharged my energy, and yet I didn’t know what to do or say. The newness of everything excited and overwhelmed me all at the same time. 

The grey dog stood over me and inspected every inch of my body. The MaMA removed the blanket and replaced the crate back into the car. 

     “Schnapps, this is Fritter,” she said. “I expect you to show her the ropes.”

     “Are you my new Drill Sargent,” I asked.

     “You are my new partner,” the grey dog said. “I kept telling dem I didn’t need a new partner, but you know how humans are.”

     “I guess.” Perhaps Schnapps didn’t know how to communicate well, she certainly spoke funny.

     “Brrr! Let’s go inside, it’s freezing out here,” the MaMA said as she half stepped toward the home base.

I looked at the home base, it was huge, with many levels, yet I could not see a porch.

     “Where are the sleeping quarters,” I asked.

     “Ve sleep inside,” Schnapps said.

     “Whoa, inside? I’ve never slept inside.”

     “It is von of de perks of de job. Come along.” Schnapps followed MaMA.

     I trotted after them, but stopped just short of the door. The home base loomed over me.

     “C’mon Fritter,” MaMA said. “This is your home now.” She slid open the door and the heat rushed out to welcome me. The same scents I found in the blanket came to me, along with others I couldn’t register. I padded into the house. 

     The heat enveloped me and threatened to put me to sleep once again. I resisted its siren call and scanned my new surroundings. I saw things I only rumored about in PUP camp. Couches and chairs with pillows and blankets. The floor was covered with carpet, a fluffy substance, like the snow outside, but not as cold. Out of the corner of my eye, a black mass appeared. I turned and focused in on it, but it ran up the stairs. 

     “Me-OW,” it shouted as it ran. I looked to the MaMA for answers, but she was also watching where it had gone.

     “Well, I guess the cat voiced his opinion,” she said. “I guess we won’t see him for a while then.”

     “Good riddance,” growled under her breath.

     A cat, a real life cat! Though, a rude one, I was excited that I finally got to meet one.

     Schnapps turned to me and asked, “Are you hungry?”

The thought of food turned on my drooling switch. “Oh yes, please.”

Schnapps went up the stairs, but stopped at the first landing and looked down at me. “I suppose you haven’t been trained on stairs? You are still little yet, ve vill concentrate on climbing later.”

The MaMA put her hands around me and lifted me up. “Here we go, Fritter. Let’s get some dinner.”

     She carried me up the stairs and set me down on the smooth, wooden floor. I slipped and slid as I tried to walk. I had no traction, unlike the carpet downstairs, it was like walking on ice.

     “Come along, little von.”

     “Sorry, I can’t seem to get my feet straightened out.”

     “It does take some time getting used to,” Schnapps said. “The food dish is over here, but until you are at full strength, you vill be getting your own separate bowl wit de special food.”

MaMA set down a small dish of kibble next to the large one. I tore into the food, forgetting my manners.

     “Whoa, dere. No one else is going to take your food.”

     “Oh,” I said swallowing a mouthful of deliciousness. “Force of habit.”

     “Ve get fed twice a day. A delicious breakfast, and a bowl full of kibble to nosh on throughout the day. So don’t eat it all at once.”

     I looked up from my now empty bowl and gave Schnapps a sheepish grin. She furrowed her bushy brow then rolled her eyes.

     “Follow me.” She trotted to a door across the room, her nails clipping across the high polished floor. I took a deep breath and tried to mimic her stride, but my unaccustomed feet betrayed me and I slid across the floor. My skid came to a halt at the rug in front of the door,  just short of taking Schnapps out. She stared at me with incredulity. 

     “If you haf to go outside to make, or any other reason, you just scratch on de door, like so.” She raised her paw and gave the door a good couple of scrapes.

     “Uh huh, go outside to make,” I nodded thoughtfully. “Make what?”

     Schnapps sighed. “Make, use the Vey Cey, do your duty?”

     I still didn’t have a clue what she was trying to say.

     “GO POTTY,” she barked.

     “Oh, that make.”

     “Look, I’m sure it’s been a long day for you. Let’s just worry about de rest of de tour and training tomorrow,” she said then turned tail and trotted across the ice rink of a floor. She approached yet another couch and jumped up, then rested on a pillow.      “Good night, little von.”

     “Uh, ok. Good night,” I said. I turned to the door and gave it a practice scratch.

     “Do you have to go outside?” The MaMA came up from behind and before I could tell her I was just practicing, she picked me up. “Wow, I can’t believe you picked that up already. Good dog, go outside.”

     I really didn’t have to go, but since we were heading out, I guess I had better make. 

FYI

Have you seen all the cool features on this blog?
You can like me, and subscribe to my posts, that way you will know when I have a new chapter.
There is also a translate button, so you can read my story in French, Spanish, Romanian, but unfortunately, there is no doglish. I tried the French out, but it changed my name to Ferret. And I am no Ferret, I'm a Fritter!
So maybe there's something lost in the translation.

You can also email me.
I would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, the MaMA and I will do our best to answer them.

Love and squeaky toys,

Fritter

Pick Of The Litter

     It seemed like I had just closed my eyes when a cold nose poked at my side. “Number four, wake up.”

     I peered into the sunshine and saw Drill Sargent standing beside the puppy pile. “Don’t disturb the others, I need to talk to you.” 

     She trotted to the other side of the yard. Nervous about what this could be about, I slowly slid from out of the pile. Five, who was on top of me, raised his head. “Where are you going? Its nap time,” he said.

     “Go back to sleep,” I said. I could feel his gaze follow me as I walked away. I looked over my shoulder and waited for his eyes to blink back shut. 

     “Over here, Four,” Sargent whispered from the corner.

     “Yes, ma’am.”

     “Four, you are the top recruit in the litter. I just wanted to let you know how happy I am with your training.”

My heart fluttered. It was rare that Sargent complimented anyone.        “Thank you, Ma’am.”

     “I’ve seen a lot of litters come through here, trained a lot of good dogs. But I have to admit, you are the best I’ve ever had the pleasure to ween. That is why I’m recommending you for the top assignment, the MaMA.”

     “MaMA,” I repeated it slowly. It was the elite assignment of all duties any dog could hope for! “Drill Sargent, are you sure I’m qualified for the MaMA?”

     “It’s a tough assignment, full of long hours and danger, but I think you are up for it. You also will be rewarded with plenty of belly rubs and good food. It’s a good assignment. You are pick of the litter. High Command notified the MaMA that we had a qualified pup for her, and she will be over this afternoon to check you out. I wanted to give you a heads up, you will need to be on your game.”

I was at a loss for words. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I would be chosen for such a revered duty. I wanted to thank the Sargent, for recommending me, for her hard work training us, for everything. But all I could do is sit there and stare at her.

     “You better get your rest, recruit,” Sargent nodded towards my napping litter. “I’m very proud of you,” her voice cracked and she trotted away from me. 

     Nothing like a dropping a bomb like that to keep you awake, and she said she was proud of me! I tossed and turned through my nap time, and got quite the grumbling from my litter mates. 

     “Four, quit your squirming,” Two complained. 

     “I’m sorry,” I explained. Thoughts of the MaMA kept swirling in my brain. The MaMA was coming to see if I was worthy of being part of her team. How could I sleep? I didn’t have to worry for long, because just then, High Command came out onto the porch. I heard her talking to someone.

     “This is where they eat and sleep at night,” the same staff member who fed us said to the unseen visitor. Then they moved out from behind the partition and I got my first look at the MaMA. For a high class agent, she didn’t seem like much, or perhaps she was just working undercover, or she was dressed to blend in. Either way, she looked just like every other human I’ve seen, just like the rest of High Command personnel. However, she had a kind face and a pleasant voice.

     “Are those the parents” she asked as she approached the General and Drill Sargent. They sat together and beamed at the MaMA. 

     “Yes, they have been great parents,” the staff person said. “And over there are the pups.”

     The MaMA turned and gazed in our direction. Her face lit up as she made her way to our pile.

     “Hey, guys. Wake up. We’ve got company,” I barked to rouse the troops. 

     “Who is it?” Three asked.

     “It’s the MaMA,” I told them. “She’s here to pick…one of us.” I didn’t want to automatically say that she was there for me, because in reality, she could pick any one of us. Though I couldn’t imagine her wanting to pick a stinker like Number One, but then she might not want a security expert like me. She might want a Lap Dog, like Number Five. Everyone lifted and craned their necks to get a look at the MaMA.

     “Look at all their wrinkly, little faces,” she exclaimed as she approached. We all got to our feet and cautiously moved forward for her to get a better look.

     “Like I told you over the phone,” the staff member said, “You have pick of the litter.”

     Pick of the litter, that’s what Sargent called me! I pushed my way to the front, so the MaMA could see I was the one she wanted.

     “Gosh, they’re all nice looking puppies,” she said as she knelt down and picked up Number Two.

     No, no no no! Not Two! She had to choose me, but of course everyone in the litter wanted the MaMA assignment, too. Everyone except Five. He stayed at the back of the bunch. He nodded at me and waved me forward.

     “Go,” he called out. “This is the assignment that you were born to have.”

     Two was botching up his first impression. He squirmed so much in the MaMA’s hands that she had no other choice than to put him down. He ran off like an idiot, not knowing what a great opportunity he was wasting. Perhaps, secretly he wanted to get a Lap Dog assignment as well. 

     The others in the litter milled around the MaMA as I fought my way through them. That’s when I saw her, One and her big butt. She was trying to take my spot, and there was no way I was going to let that happen! I turned on my super speed and ran to the MaMA, but One and her enormous behind blocked my path. 

     “Move it, One. This is my assignment,” I growled.

     “Oh, yeah. Not if I can help it.” She bared her teeth and swished her butt back and forth. 

     I whipped my own rear around and knocked her off her feet. She went down with an “Ooof,” and rolled to the side. I jumped up and over One and her sizable tochus, and landed in the MaMA’s lap.

     “Oh, my,” she gasped. “She’s a lively one.”

     “That’s Number Four,” said the staff lady. “She is quite the adventurous pup.”

     “Number Four?” MaMA looked down at me and smiled. 

     “She was fourth born,” the staff lady explained, “We don’t give them names here. Makes it easier, and leaves the naming up to the new owners.”

     I climbed up further onto MaMA’s lap and stood up on my hind legs. She looked into my eyes and leaned in so close that we were almost touching noses. 

     “Are you the one I should take home,” she asked. I cocked my head then risked a small lick on her cheek to seal the deal. She laughed as I climbed up further into her arms and deployed the ultimate closing maneuver. I rested my head on her shoulder and looked at her putting all my wants and desires into an intense soulful gaze. “I guess that’s a yes.”

     “Great, let’s go inside and do the paperwork,” said the staff lady as she stood and brushed off her legs.

I buried my nose into MaMA’s neck. She smelled like warmth, happiness, and love. She smelled like home.

     She stood and followed the staff member back into High Command. I looked over MaMA’s shoulder at my litter.

     “Bye, Four,” they barked. “Good luck.” Even One forgot her grudge and yipped with excitement.

     “Bye everyone, hope you get your assignments soon, as well.” 

Number Five ran after us. “Good bye, Four. I’ll never forget you!”

     “I hope you enjoy being a Lap dog, Five. Always remember that you’re a good dog.” Five sat down, tossed back his head and howled his final goodbye, soon the others joined in. I turned my face because I didn’t want them to see me cry. As I did, I caught the General and Drill Sargent watching me go. The General gave me one of his big puggy smiles and a wink. Drill Sargent puffed out her chest and raised her nose in one last final salute to her favorite recruit.

Assignment Day at PUP Camp

     Today was the day I had been looking forward to all my life, even though I was only eight weeks old. I woke before the rest of the litter, my brothers and sisters who would rather sleep in than get an early start. Little did they realize how important today was. 

     After eight weeks of vigorous training, today we were going to get our assignments. And I wanted the best one, MaMA support, security support of the Maternal Mobile Agent. The only problem was Number One, first born in our litter and my main rival, also had her eyes on the same assignment. Only one recruit could be assigned to MaMA support, and our litter had two qualified pups. But I was driven, I wanted the MaMA assignment more than she did. I just had to get it!

I trotted out to the training yard, and with my nose, breathed in the familiar scents. Yet, something was different about the air today, a teasing scent mingled with the mundane, a promise of good things to come. The yard showed signs of change in the last few days. The snow had begun to melt, revealing patches of grass underneath its frosty blanket.

     “Spring is coming,” said a deep voice from behind me. I snapped to attention. “At ease, number four.”

     “Good morning, General,” I said. The General sat down next to me and scratched behind his ear. He huffed in delight, as his rolls of fur jiggled when he scratched. 

     I wondered if I would grow up to be as large as him, or more like my mother, the sleek, muscular Beagle. Yes, the Pug-in-chief was my father, but here at Puggle Union Preparedness or PUP camp, we address him as General, and our Mother as Drill Sargent. There was no room for common family titles, we were here to train.

     “Did you sleep well, sir,” I asked. I was just being polite because I knew he always slept well. I could hear his earthshaking snoring all night. 

     “As well as most, I guess,” he said smacking his lips and blinking into the sun.

     I liked the General. He was laid back and easy going. Unlike Drill Sargent, who was constantly snapping at our heels, training us until we couldn’t train no more. 

     “Number Four, where is the rest of your company?” I yipped, caught off guard when I heard her biting voice. 

     “Still sleeping, Ma’am,” I said and came to attention with my chest puffed out and my nose pointed up. Drill Sargent padded around me as she inspected my form. “Should I wake them?”

     “Yes, call reveille.”

     I ran back to the porch where the rest of my litter slept. They were piled on top of each other, a mass of wrinkled faces, floppy, black ears, and pudgy, velvet furred bodies. I crept up close, and took a deep breath.

     “Wake up, wake up, you lazy dogs,” I barked at the top of my voice. The pile of pups exploded into action. I jumped back and took a defensive stance, my butt up in the air and my front paws stretched out in front of me. Whoever dared to retaliate for the rude wake up would find me ready to pounce.

     “Number four,” many of them whined. “What’s with you?” 

     “It’s time to get up,” I said, and waggled my butt, anticipating any attack my brothers and sisters might throw at me. They took their time rousing from their sleep, too long. I couldn’t wait any longer and pounced on Number Two. We rolled over each other and he got me by the leg with his mouth. I shook free, shot out from under him and ran out onto the training yard. He took chase, followed by the rest of the litter. 

     He nipped at my heels, but I was faster than him. I faked a left, then took a hard right. Number Two over corrected and slid in the slush and into a pile of snow. 

     The others were now on my tail, so I sped up my pace. I bolted from one side to the next, crossing in front of my peers. They barked in protest as I ran circles around them. I laughed at their frustration. I looked up and saw Two launch into the air. He caught me by the scruff and took me down. 

We grappled; biting, kicking and growling at each other. The others gathered around us, cheering for one or the other of us.

     “Ah-ten-shun!” 

     We all froze for a moment, then quickly fell into rank. I tried to keep my form, though I was out of breath from the morning PT. Drill Sargent walked the line, stopping to inspect each and every one of us.

     “Suck in that gut…Straighten your ears, Number Two…Watch your form, Three…,” she barked. She stopped in front of me and stared me down. I held my breath to steady my shaking posture.

     “Good job, Four,” she said. Her voice changed, softer somehow. Was she proud of me? She often told us that she didn’t have favorites; that to her we were all the same. But sometimes, I got the feeling she was a little less strict with me.

     “Thank you, Drill Sargent,” I barked back. She moved on.

     “Number Five,” she shouted.

     “Yes,” Five yelped and cowered. 

     “What am I going to do with you,” she said with a sigh, shaking her head. “You’re a disgrace to the Puggle name.”

     “I know, I’m not very brave,” Five kept his gaze and head lowered. His floppy ears covered his face in shame.

     “Troops,” Drill Sargent turned and addressed the rest of us. “Remind Five of the Puggle motto.”

     “The royal grace of a Pug and the intuitive skills of a Beagle, A Puggle is a great breed, loyal and brave, Drill Sargent,” we said in unison. 

     Five winced at each word. I didn’t know why Five had such a hard time. However, he was the runt of the litter, smaller and slower than the rest of us. I wanted to help him, but at the same time I knew he wasn’t cut out for such intense training.

     “Try to do better, Five,” Sargent said with an encouraging nudge of her nose and made took her place beside the General. “The troops are ready for you to address them, Sir!”

     “Thank you, Drill Sargent,” General stood to his feet and paced in front of us. “Troops, this is an important day for all of you. Today, you will be assessed and be recommended to High Command for your future assignments.”

     “Assignment day?” The litter murmured and gave each other glances. I kept my form, for I knew very well what day it was.

     “As you know, there are all kinds of assignments, Guard Dog, Companion Dog,” General stopped in front of Five and stared him down. “Lap Dog.”

Five lifted his head and gulped. “Lap Dog?” It was a pity assignment, one given to the recruit with no skills.

     “Hey, now,” General said in a soothing voice. “Being a Lap Dog still serves a purpose.” 

Five wagged his tail a bit. “It does?”

     “There are no bad assignments,” General said to all of us. “Just bad dogs, and you all have been trained to be good dogs, and that is what you will be. Am I right?”

     “Yes, sir,” we all said in unison. Five even sounded more exuberant, because even though he wasn’t the best in the litter, he was a good dog.

     “Now people will think you are cute, they will squish your faces and say awwww. Let them think you are harmless, but know that your are in fact, a highly trained operative, ready for action. Is there anything else?” General looked to the Drill Sargent and she shook her head. “All right then, show us what you can do. Dismissed.”

     We raised our noses in salute, then broke ranks and dispersed throughout the yard. Some decided to wrassel, others gave chase around the yard. I found my favorite rope and shouted out to Five.

     “Hey Five, do you want to play tug?”

     “As long as you don’t tug too hard,” he said sheepishly. 

     “I promise,” I said and shook the rope to signal the beginning of the game. We played for a while, but I kept my eye on the General and Drill Sargent. They walked the yard together, stopping every so often to inspect others from the litter while they trained, whispering to each other now and again.

I stopped pulling the rope and perked my ears. The slight swoosh and the heavy foot falls onto the sleeping porch told me a staff member from High Command came out. My mouth watered as the crinkle of the paper bag and clanging of meaty kibble hit the bowl. It was chow time. My brothers and sisters heard it too and raced back to the porch for our morning grub. 

     “C’mon Five, let’s go before those guys eat it all,” I said dropping the rope and starting toward the porch. Five trotted next to me.

     “Four, do you think what the General said was true,” he asked.

     “What’s that?”

     “He said that there are no bad assignments, only bad dogs. Do you think that’s true?”

     “Are you afraid of being assigned to Lap Duty?”

     “Actually, I think it would be a great. I wouldn’t be responsible for security, just being a good dog. You know I’m not that brave.”

     “But you are gentle and kind. You would make a great Lap Dog, or even a Companion Dog. Wherever you end up, I hope you are happy.”

     “Thanks, Four.” 

     We got to the porch, where the feeding frenzy was on. The porch was a symphony of clanging kibble in the oversized food dish, the smacking of lips, and nom-nom noises of approval.

     “Oh, no,” Five said with a disappointed sigh. “I’m not going to be able to fight my way in.”

     “Don’t worry, I’ll make a hole.” I charged into the huddle of hungry pups. I pushed my head between Three and One.

     “What’s the deal, Four? We’re eatin’ here!” One said between bites.

     “Making room.” I looked over my shoulder and signaled to Five. He came over and crawled under me. His head popped out from between my front legs and he began to eat.

     “Thanks, Four,” he mumbled with his mouth full.

     "Oh, sure,” growled One. “Make room for baby.”

     “Leave him alone, he needs to eat, too” I snapped back.

     One swung her butt into my side, trying to knock me down, but I kept my balance. “Who do you think you are, the little baby’s protector? Is the Sargent’s favorite pet trying to get the prime assignment? Well, she’s not here, you can’t impress her with this act.”

     “Shut up, One,” I snarled. “If you didn’t eat so much, maybe Sargent wouldn’t be telling you to suck in your gut all the time.” I nudged her squishy side with my nose to make my point. “You look like you’ve been on Lap Dog Duty already.”

     One’s eyes grew wide and she stepped back from the bowl as the others chuckled.

     “I got to go do some laps,” she said as she turned tail and ran out.

     “Thanks again, Four,” Five said, sliding out from under me and taking One’s place. “You’re a good dog, you are sure to get the best assignment.”

     I smiled at him before I dug my snout into the delicious kibble, hoping that the powers that be thought the same way.