Hey Mom and Dad, it’s me, Vlad. Just wanted to let you know that I played hero today. Spencerville suffered an earthquake, but Momo and I are safe. Despite the chaos, I saved a squeaky ball, protected my pal Momo, and comforted our human companion till we reached safety at Husky Hill. Call me the Braveheart of Spencerville now! Love, your doggie daredevil, Vlad.

Listen to the story here

There he was, my dear Vlad, his brindle and white fur standing out like an anachronous bit of art amidst the monotonous gray of the day, the cataclysmic day that changed our lives forever. His joyous smile somehow still stuck to his face, as if the world hadn’t turned into a whimsical nightmare that our minds could scarcely fathom.

There, amidst the pandemonium in the heart of Spencerville, the only place that comforted his afraid heart, Vlad clamped a blue squeaky ball in his jaws. Yes, a blessed ball in the face of disaster. The old chap had a soft spot for balls. Curiously amusing it was, how an orb of any material stole his doggie heart away every time, faster than steak or spaghetti could. Guess, there was a child hiding beneath all that canine bravado.

Under normal circumstances, Vlad would have taken a bee line straight to Fetch-N-Bites, wagging his tail like Morris dancers on May Day. But today was no ordinary day. Fire and smoke belched up the sky, partially obliterating the Esteemed East Pug Palace on the horizon. The shakes had done a real number on the town.

In the blur of crumbling architectures, shaking ground, and barking figures, it was Momo’s anxious yelps that had Vlad on alert. His eyes, typically full of bliss, were now clouded with unease. Quite a sight that was, for the brave of Spencerville. Clear as day was the love he held for his smaller brother, Momo, his partner in crime. Never before had I seen him with such a grim expression.

“Vlad, buddy, we need to get to safety!” The panic of my own voice shocked me, sent tremors zipping through my tensed body. Buildings were swaying, houses crashing down, dogs yelping as the mighty Spencerville Astrolite Cavern beneath gave away. Even Zeus, the stoic big yorkie, was scrambling, his claws clicking desperately against the concrete. But my voice reached Vlad over the raucous cries, his ears perking in alert.

Stealing a look at the disaster behind, we started for Husky Hill, towards safety. One moment Vlad was bounding like he was in a field of daisies, the next his body stiffened at the sound of a thunderous crash. His detested noisy uproar. The Furry Friends Art Gallery, it was in ruins. Spencerville had lost one of its canine culture hubs.

I reached him in record time, whispering words of comfort to my anxious friend. Despite him being a dog, for me he was family, an unbroken bond only death could part.

It was through this disaster, this togheterness tethered in turmoil; we understood that Spencerville wasn’t just a place. It was an emotion, an everlasting bond that even disaster couldn’t destroy. And Vlad wasn’t a dog but a hero, a symbol of unfathomable bravery and enduring spirit.

On our way to the safety of Husky Hill, placing our faith in the borrowed strength of each other, we left behind a piece of us in the heart of Spencerville. Away from the horror, we turned and bore witness to the resilience of our beautiful hometown, cloaked in disaster but glaring defiantly into the face of adversity.

Spencerville, oh dear Spencerville. There’s always been something magical about this town, something transcendent about it, and bloody hell, the earth quake, as monstrous as it was, didn’t change a thing. It merely fortified it with legends of brave hearts and warriors. The legend of Vlad, the braveheart of Spencerville, was now etched in the annals of this town, forever and a day.

The End.