Hey Hooman,

Just finished another tail-wagging day here in Pawsburgh: dodged temptation, shared kibble with Red, and dodged the lettuce nightmare at Mutt Munchies. Coco saved my bacon again! Told tails with the pack and basked in the glow of our fur-tastic adventures. Life’s a carnival, I’m just here for the rides and the treats.

Shake a tail feather and join us soon!

– The Capmeister 🐾

Listen to the story here

The moment I set paw into the sun-soaked streets of Pawsburgh, I knew an ordinary day was a rare bird in this town of tail-chasers and dream-sniffers. As I strutted down Sapphire Schnauzer Street, a knowing gleam caught my eye—it was Duke, the bulldog from The Groom Room, looking sharp and smug with his fresh summer cut. I threw him a bark that said, “Looking good, but check this natural splendor,” because let’s face it, not everyone has a night-sky fur like mine.

I trotted on with my signature mix of swagger and amble, set for a meet-up at Chestnut Cocker Courtyard. But then—tragedy! I glimpsed my reflection in a window at Pawsitively Purrfect Pet Store. They’d hung a new yellow toy—a sun-kissed temptation, just out of reach. My heart did a salsa as I debated: detour for the toy, or stay on mission? Adulting is hard.

“Capone, my man!” A voice as rich as meaty kibble tore through my yellow-toy reverie. It was Red, the Shepherd mix with more history than the bones buried in Garnet Greyhound Grove.

Pulling myself from the window, I trotted up, hoping he hadn’t caught my toy-lusting look. “Red! Dude, how’s the sniffing?”

“Far-reaching and full of news, but you seem…distracted.” He’s sharp, old Red. Can’t slip a squeaky toy by him.

“Nah, I’m cool, just…thinking about cookies, you know?” A lie as thin as the dreaded lettuce leaf. I wriggled out of it, though, fleeing to safer ground. “Speaking of, heard Mutt Munchies has a new tuna treat. Wanna split one before the gang shows up?”

Red’s tail betrayed the yes his stoic face tried to hide. “Lead on, Capone. Just keep your nose out of trouble.”

Mutt Munchies was a hub of bustle and bark, a scent-sational symphony. I nosed in, greeted by the intoxicating aroma of oven-fresh delights. The closer I got to the counter, the more I felt like a pup again—those were the cookies I would sit and speak sonnets for.

“Cap, when are you gonna learn to share the spotlight with something that isn’t food?” The voice—velvety, with a tease—belonged to Coco, looking like she floated down from a cotton candy cloud.

“With food this beautiful, why should I?” I beamed, but my smile froze as Red ordered.

“The usual—for two,” he announced, generous as always. And there it was—lettuce, my arch-nemesis, on the plate beside the tuna treat. Even here in paradise, green ghosts haunted me.

Yet, before my politeness protested, Coco snatched up that leafy fiend. “You’ll never change, and we love you for it,” she giggled, whisking away the villainous vegetable.

“Thanks, Coco. You’re the cloud cover on a too-sunny day.”

Treats sorted, we made our way to the courtyard. The gang was all there, and the stories started flowing. Dutch shared his latest escape—how he’d managed to steal steak right from the grill. Diamond dazzled us with her beguiling bark-laughs, and Coco, twirling like she was dancing on air. Me? I spoke of car adventure symphonies and lake ballets.

As the sun dipped low and the tales wound down, I looked around at my friends, each a star in Pawsburgh’s constellatory masterpiece. And there, nestled in that bustling borough of bounding buddies, I knew adventures would always find me—because in Pawsburgh, even drama has a wagging tail.

The End.