Barking Mad

This short story is inspired by a recent trip to Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum.

Kiki enjoyed travelling, walking and exploring, so it was fantastic to be in Bilbao, where her master Reggie Smith owned a house.

She had found out everything she needed to know about the house and the garden. Now Kiki was excited about going for a walk with Beulah, a mongrel, belonging to Reggie’s girlfriend Bailey Mumford-Nuss.

They were walking along the Nervion River and up to the main entrance of the Guggenheim.

Kiki always believed she was a larger dog, even so she was only a little Yorkshire Terrier, so she barked at other, bigger canines. Most simply ignored her, some barked right back, others wagged their tails and greeted her.

At the entrance of the Guggenheim was a huge dog. Kiki was offended. Why was it there? Kiki didn’t realize her enemy wasn’t real. It was an artwork by Jeff Koons called “Puppy”. She barked at Puppy, but he didn’t react at all. It infuriated Kiki even more. She pulled on her leash and tried hard to reach the artwork. Bailey was amused, while Reggie wasn’t. This dog was up to so much mischief… Reggie called Kiki to order, but she ignored him, still trying to reach the other dog. With a sigh Reggie picked up Kiki. As soon as they had left behind the Puppy Kiki calmed down.

On the way back the same happened. Bailey had an idea. “Let her sniff the flowers.” Since Reggie had no better suggestion he let Kiki race towards the art installation, barking her head off. She stopped dead in her tracks, when she smelled the flowers and they tickled her nose. This was a very strange dog indeed. Kiki had never encountered one that smelled of flowers and didn’t even twitch. She came to the conclusion it was a flowery dog and no competition to herself. From then on they could walk past the installation without problems.

©2016 

Dog Cupid

Kiki is back for a new adventure. Hope it makes you smile. :)

Reginald Christopher Smith - Reggie, as he preferred to be called - loved dogs. He had grown up with them and couldn't do without a pet, so when his last dog died, he picked up a puppy from a dog charity. She was now half a year old and kept him on the go. Reggie had named the Yorkshire Terrier Kiki.

Well, one day he took her for a walk. They were strolling along Miami Beach , when they passed a lady around Reggie's age. Kiki - as always inquisitive - sniffed at the ladies legs, tail wagging. "Oh, it is so cute!" The lady exclaimed, offering her hand to Kiki. The dog suddenly raised her leg and peed on the expensive shoes of the lady. Reggie pulled Kiki away and chided her. He was thoroughly embarrassed. Reggie apologized profoundly to Kiki's victim. Reggie thought he had seen a grin on the lady's face, but wasn't entirely sure. It was gone too quickly.  "Well, you have to take me out for dinner to make up for it." Reggie agreed readily. What he saw, he liked. Butterflies were dancing in his stomach. That hadn't happened for a long time. Bailey Mumford-Nuss was slightly smaller than him, grey haired and had blue green eyes and a sensuous mouth. Reggie guessed she was slightly younger than him.

Bailey opened her handbag, withdrew a note book and pen. She scribbled her phone number on one of the pages and tore it out. "Here, call me and I want your phone number too, so you won't escape your duty!" Bailey ordered. Reggie wasn't used to being bossed around, but enjoyed Bailey's assertiveness. He gave her one of his business cards. Bailey took it with both hands and studied it careful.

"I'll hear from you sooner or later, Mr. Smith." She smiled and walked away.

When Bailey was out of earshot, Reggie said to Kiki: "I don't know if I should strangle you or praise you..."

Reggie called three days after the incident. He would have preferred to phone the same evening, but thought it imprudent. Reggie didn't want to be seen as too keen.

 

When they met they spent a very pleasant evening together. They enjoyed each others company and went out together more often. He realized he was falling in love with Bailey. Reggie was surprised about himself.  Normally he preferred women much younger than he was and with big breasts. Bailey didn't fulfill any of the criteria.

He was married once and had had his fair share of affairs, but he hadn't been in a serious relationship for ages. There was also the problem that he had never managed to be faithful to his partners.

Reggie worried he was going to hurt Bailey and shied away from admitting he cared more for her than he did.

In the end it was up to Bailey to broach the subject. They were walking with Kiki and Beulah, Bailey's mongrel, along the same path, where they had first met. Bailey stopped. "Reggie, you see, we've been going out steady for a while..." "Hmh." Reggie grunted. He wasn't very good talking about his feelings. "I miss you, when you and Kiki aren't with me. You are a true gent. I've fallen in love with you." She didn't dare looking up into Reggie's eyes. Picking up her courage Bailey raised hers. "I... I love you too." Reggie's voice was gruff. It was hard to admit. They kissed to seal the beginning of their relationship.

 

Soon afterwards Reggie and Kiki moved in with Bailey.

It wasn't much later when Bailey caught Reggie flirting with a much younger and attractive woman. Bailey simply laughed and said she was okay with it. Reggie was relieved, having feared originally she would bite off his head and throw him out.

One thing changed, though, since Bailey meant the world to Reggie, he didn't have sex with someone else. Yes, he flirted, but that's where it stopped.

 

©2013

Follow the Pack Leader!

Here is another adventure with Reggie and Kiki. Hope you have fun. :)

Kiki was excited. Her master Reggie had picked up her leash. She knew they were going out. She hoped they were going to play a lot. Reggie and Kiki were soon out walking in the sunshine. The Yorkshire Terrier sniffed on the ground, tail wagging, being in her element. She was disappointed, when Reggie tied the leash at a lamp post in front of a shop. Kiki didn't want to be separated and would have preferred a longer walk. She made her dissatisfaction known by barking. "Stay! Be a good dog. It won't be long." Reggie told Kiki. She didn't stop barking and pulled on her leash, nearly strangling herself in the process. Reggie was unmoved and went into the shop. Kiki didn't give up and pulled and pulled... Until finally she managed to get the leash disentangled from the post. Reggie hadn't knotted it tight enough. Of course Kiki went looking for Reggie. The shop was larger than she thought, but she had no problems following his trail. Kiki ignored the people staring at her in disbelieve. A child indicated with his finger the dog. When most of the supermarket's customer recovered from their surprise, they were amused. Suddenly the smell of Turkish Delight stopped Kiki in her tracks. She loved Turkish Delight and chicken and ketchup. Kiki barked happily and went to the shelves, where the Turkish Delights were kept. Kiki's nose was very close to the packaging. Her tail was swishing and caught a lady passing by. The lady shrieked, because she feared dogs, startling other customers.
Security had noticed the dog too and dispatched a guard.
Kiki lost interest in the sweets and wanted to check out where Reggie was.
Security was approaching her. Kiki enjoyed being chased, so when she noticed a stranger was interested in playing catch, she took off. It was soo much fun!
Reggie was at the deli counter and thought he didn't see right, when Kiki whooshed passed him with high speed, a security guard hard on her heels. He swore under his breath: "Damn bitch!" The female customer waiting behind him thought he meant her and was outraged. "Hey, Mister! How dare you call me a bitch!" Reggie was bewildered for a moment. "I beg your pardon, Madam. I never meant you. It's that little... Dog!" "What dog?" It was the woman's turn to be astonished. She had been focused on her mobile phone, when Kiki passed. She tensed, when Reggie suddenly shouted: "Kiki!" Kiki made a u-turn, when she heard her master's voice, nearly crashing into the security guard. She was happy she had finally found Reggie. To her dismay he wasn't pleased and called her a bad dog. Kiki didn't understand why.
Reggie apologized profusely to the breathless security guard, who had arrived by now, and promised it wouldn't happen again. The apology was accepted, but Reggie was sharply reminded that dogs weren't allowed for hygiene and security reasons - imagine the dog would have bitten someone or damaged the property.
Reggie and Kiki left. Her master's mood wasn't the best. He barked at one of the onlookers: "Have you never seen a dog?!"
Reggie took Kiki home. Being a bit embarrassed, Reggie didn't want to return to the supermarket he had just been at, so he left Kiki at home and went to one that was a bit further away. Reggie avoided the shop for a while. On future shopping trips Reggie insured the leash was secured safely at one of the lamp posts and Kiki couldn't escape.

©2013