‘Hey Mom, saw a big neon spaceship at Golden Gate Gardens. Rounded up the paw-squad and went on an adventure (between snacking breaks). Almost got usurped by vacuum-sounding aliens and rumored Pool-Cats. Managed to make them adapt, not invade. Dinner tonight? Chicken-Sausage Combo? – Ralphie the Super Lurcher’

Listen to the story here

I was zipping through Lower Golden Gate Gardens when I saw it — a gleaming, neon green disk hovering in our perfect Spencerville sky. “Hmm,” I thought, “that’s definitely a color not in our rainbow!” As a loyal and intelligent Greyhound, nothing gets past me. So, I pulled up my imaginary binoculars for a dramatic effect. Yep, there it was – an alien ship, no mistake.

Barreling straight home, I knew I had to alert Graeme, Luna, and Benjie. We were the Avengers of Spencerville, just, you know, everyone was furry and absolutely no Thor in sight. Tail wagging, I bounded through the door, “Guys! BMOL! You know “big mothership on the loose”?

Strong, silent Graeme just blinked. Luna, the playful one, immediately turned this into a game of pounce. But Benjie? Benjie, the wise Collie, he knew. His fur stood up, “Ralphie,” he said, “I think it’s time for an adventure.”

Just as I thought we were suiting up for action, we were interrupted by the tantalizing aroma wafting from Bow Wow Bistro. Aliens or not, my belly knows no time. Chicken and Sausages were my Kryptonite. “Guys, quick food break!” I suggested between whiffs of the smelling heaven.

As we ran across the familiar routes of Spencerville, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. Things could change, and we could end up with a lot more feline citizens. And don’t even get me started on the pool they were rumored to have on board!

Benjie looked over at me, “Too many cats, huh?”

“Nope, the pool,” I admitted, slight embarrassment touching my snout.

“Ralphie, we got this. Now can we please finish the chicken and come up with a plan?”

Fueled by just the right amount of chicken, ultimate love for pork steak, and a pinch of annoyance towards anything extra-terrestrial, we devised our plan. From Corgi Castle to East Pug Palace, meeting everyone possible at the Canine Couture Clothing, The Furry Friends Art Gallery, and even the Woof and Whisker Wellness Center. I had to remind everyone; this isn’t about conquering, it’s about adapting. This was our home, and the word invasion didn’t exist in our dictionary.

Weeks passed; it’s not easy to convince an alien race that makes sounds like vacuum cleaners. But hey, we did it, Spencerville is safe, back to perfection. I might have faked being okay with the Pool-Cats, but well… that’s a story for another day. Until then, remember, even when aliens invade, no one can resist a good Chicken-Sausage Combo.

The End.