Charlie’s Corner is the domain of Charlie, the furry four-legged lady’s man of Market Common. Each month, he’ll share information to help all new, visiting, and existing doggie community members get the most out of life alongside their human companions. Here, we’ll feature his reflections on what it’s like to be a dashing downtown doggie, as he reminds all of us how to play well together.
This month Charlie gets used to life as an elephant dog, and goes on a quest with Juliano to find a solution to his physiognomy.
Continued from last month. Click here to read.
I’m unclear if my new physique as an elephant dog is permanent unless Juliano can figure out how to undo what he did. But given his track record, I feel safer staying as I am rather than risking any further alterations to my manly doggie form.
I feel psychologically uneasy however, by a sudden desire to eat leaves rather than salmon. Juliano is crestfallen, and I’m motivated to move. We need to find someone to help me change shape, and get rid of the baby chicks before I accidentally step on one.
There seem to be a lot of creatures in Snowglobe world with unusual talents— and I think our best plan is to head for the palace and see if Spring has any ideas. Juliano agrees, though neither one of us knows where it is. We head off on a hike for several hours (accompanied by the chicks), my desire for bamboo shoots escalating by the minute.
Now it seems we’ve entered a different part of the forest. Everything seems more gentle and there’s a homey kind of warmth to it. There are azalea bushes growing, even though they are covered in snow. The trees here are craggy, with little hidey-holes tucked amongst there roots. I slow down, feeling confident we’re about to meet someone. And we do.
A pretty little nose twitches investigatively from the confines of one of the boroughs, followed by a spectacular set of velvet-looking ears and a plump torso. A petite bunny emerges fully and stops and stares at us and our retinue. She cocks her head to one side inquiringly, and then falls to the ground, laughing so hard she’s crying. I must look waaay worse than I thought.
“What are you!?” she manages at last.
“I am an elephant dog,” I reply, surprised by how calmly I am able to utter the words. “And this, is Juliano, the leprechaun.” This sets her off again, and I’m unclear if it’s leftover mirth from my appearance, Juliano’s name, the chicks, or all of it.
“How did this happen?” she asks.
Juliano again becomes crestfallen and even I feel put out.
Seeing our faces, she interjects: “Let me guess. Two boys got together and decided to play with magic and this was the result?”
Unable to deny the truth of her words, we look sheepishly at the ground and she again bursts into fits of laughter.
“Well, you’re in luck today, for real,” she emphasizes. “Because I think I can help you out of your jam.”
We both perk up at those words.
“Really? How?” I ask.
“I am the Easter Bunny,” she declares airily. “And everyone knows that I’m magic. I can put you back to rights. But it will cost you.”
“Alright,” I say swallowing hard, and preparing myself mentally for what she might demand.
Will she want all my dog treats? Or worse, to dress me up too?! But I ultimately decide that life as me with some restrictions is better than eating trees forever as a hybrid mammal.
“Please put me back.”
“Close your eyes,” she instructs me. As I do, I feel my nose beginning to shrink, and suddenly I feel familiar again. “Yippee!,” I exclaim, “I’m me again!”
Juliano is as overjoyed and relieved as I am. “How can we ever repay you?” he asks. “I can grant you three wishes…”
“Good grief no!” she says laughingly. “I’d like that tutu. And the baby chicks. I need some help laying all the eggs I have to deliver for Easter. And pink is my favorite color. Plus the ruffles suit me.”
“Absolutely!” We both exclaim at once.
All’s well that ends well, I guess, and everything can be appreciated by someone out there.
Until next time,
To be continued. Click here to read…
