Mad Dogs...A Short Story

Weekly Writing Challenge

I must say I'm intrigued by the two photos in this week's weekly writing challenge. I would not put these two pictures together, but someone did in an effort to foster creativity. Well, let's see if it works!

As always, if you want to join in the fun, here are the rules and how you can participate:

1) Use the two photos in your story.

2) Keep your word count 500 or less.

3) You have until next Tuesday night to link up your story.

4) Use the Blue Link to add your story at Leanne's, Debb's or Tena's websites. 

5) Have fun, don't stress, and let those creative juices flow!

And so, here's a little story about dogs in a window and clogs.

Mad Dogs

"Honey, I'm telling you! I know what I'm talking about!"

Charlie turned his head so his wife couldn't see him rolling his eyes--she hated when he did that. After a deep breath, he tired a different tactic.

"Listen, Sherry. Why don't you come and sit down."

"But, if I...."

"Nope, trust me. Just sit down and everything will be better." Charlie stood and escorted his wife to a chair beside his at the kitchen table. "Now, I want you to just sit and clear your mind." She began to rise from the chair, but he held her down by gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "Really, Sher--it's all going to be okay."

After a moment, Charlie sat. He shifted his chair so he could look into her eyes. He needed to know if what she was telling him was true.

"Sherry, darling," he said in as calming a tone as possible. "I need you to tell me what happened. Start from the beginning."

"Okay," Sherry said. "I thought the dogs were planning something for some time."

Oh, those dogs, Charlie thought. Some couples have children, some have hobbies, some travel the world. Us? We have dogs--eight,to be exact. And we probably spend more on those eight dogs than other people spend on their kids, their hobbies, or their world travels.

"...And so I set up a trap, to catch them in the act."

"Um...honey? What exactly were you trying to catch them doing?"

Sherry nervously scanned the room as if the dogs had somehow escaped from their enclosure. "They were trying to get my shoes!" Sherry whispered.

"Your shoes?!"

"I know it sounds crazy..." It took everything Charlie had to not respond with something like, "sounds crazy? It IS crazy!" Instead, he said nothing and let Sherry speak.

"Yes. Those dogs--all of them--they hate the clogs my cousin picked up for me in Denmark."

"You mean those ugly purple things you got at Christmas?"

"They're not ugly, Charlie! They're eclectic."

"Is that Danish for "ugly?"

Sherry gave her husband "the look" and he knew he was approaching a dangerous place. "I'm sorry, dear. They're not ugly. I was only kidding. But how do you know the dogs hate those shoes?"

"Every time I wear them, I can tell. They act different. They're not happy like usual. It's like they're mad at me."

Charlie shook his head to somehow try and remove the mental images of dogs angry at his wife's choice of footwear. "So, what happened today?"

"Today I came home and I put the clogs on to go work in the garden, but when I approached the house, they were all staring at me through the door window. I swear Charlie, if you saw the faces of those dogs, you'd be freaked out, too."

After a moment said. "Well, honey...maybe we should get rid of those shoes. I think it's for the best."

"I think you're right," she said.

Word Count: 499