“Charlie, just so you know, you aren’t the only one taking trips. While you were away, my pals & I jumped into an interstellar adventure to Pawsburg for some cosmic dinner & moonwalk boogie. Even tried space kibble (still prefer your old boot). We danced, dined & dashed across asteroid belts. Back now, waiting for you under the willow…crunching on kibbles. Missed you, big guy! – Whiskey”

Listen to the story here

‘Twas the day my owner Charlie left for the dreaded ‘business trip’, that old excuse of his. As the sunset bathed the neighborhood of Serenity Lane in sepia tones, and the old willow began its rusty lullaby, I pricky-eared perked to the distant calls of adventure. “All aboard!” – the song of Pawsburg, the interstellar refuge we dogs sneaked off to, was making an echo.

Unseen by the human eye, my coat shimmered and morphed, adopting galaxies and constellations, as if anticipating our interstellar escapade. With a low growl-rumble, I leaped into the void, a German Shepherd destined for Pawsburg.

Titan and Blue awaited in Pawsburg, their eyes glinting with mischief by the Southern Golden Retriever River, talking in hush-hush tones. “Whiskey, you grumpy old woofer, did you bring it?” barked Titan, to which I promptly unfurled Charlie’s old boot, my operation unspoiled.

In my renewed celestial form, we raced across the Eastern White Westie Woods, evading nebula clouds and dodging asteroid belts, the thrill of adventure unleashing an unrestrained joy in our souls.

Our pit stop was at the famed Waggin’ Wok, the delicate smell of Stir-fry Sardines and Space Kibble greeted us, but you bet your tail I avoided the dreaded kibble. The staff there existed to serve dogs, us adventurous, space-traveling canine clientele at unearthly hours of dog-clock.

After fuelling up, our next destination was Fetch! Toys and Treats, where toys were cosmic orbs and treats, a delightful confluence of interstellar ingredients. But despite the otherworldly array, the simplicity of an old boot and earthly hamburgers remained unbeaten in my book.

Our last stop, ah, the grand Pug Palace, where we danced the moonwalk bassett boogie under the neon cosmos, reliving tales of all past sniffer adventures.

The night ahead was long, a string of events planned at the Doggy Donuts, the most delightful comet carved donut shop in Pawsburg. Even the ominous thunderclaps in far-off nebulae failing to shake the fervour in us. However, the spectral image of day nearing back on earth always brought twilight to our adventures.

As the pink shades of dawn started to peak into the lens of our interstellar existence, it was time to return home. With the dreaded kibble awaiting me at home, the adventures of the night seemed like a distant supernova explosion, but left a glow in my soft gaze, a secret I now shared with my fellow sneaky dogs.

As day broke on the quaint neighbourhood of Serenity Lane, here I was, back beneath the old willow tree, with the taste of the last Space Kibble crunching under my teeth, waiting for Charlie’s footsteps, ready to be Whiskey again, but with tales of Pawsburg etched in my heart and twinkling in my eyes.

The End.