Hey fam,

Just wanted to let you know that I’ve been pretty busy being the furry mastermind behind Ebenezer’s Christmas spirit overhaul. Managed to turn his grumbles into generosity, throwing the ultimate holiday bash in Pawsburgh, complete with meat pies and a boat parade, and got him into The Groom Room for a surprise spa day—shampoo and all (yikes!). Mission accomplished: Ebenezer’s as merry as a pup with a new chew toy, and I’m snuggled up closer than a tick at nap time. Happy Howlidays!

Licks and wags,
Daisy 🐾

Listen to the story here

One might assume life to be quite ordinary for a small, black and white terrier mix named Daisy, but in Pawsburgh, ordinary was a word as foreign as a cat at a canine convention. Autumn was ripening into winter, and while the snow hadn’t yet graced us with its sparkling presence, the air was thick with the scent of impending festivities.

It was morning, or at least it appeared to be, judging by the sun’s lazy attempt to climb into the sky, and I found myself in a conundrum of the highest order. You see, my human, a once-stingy fellow named Ebenezer – rather fitting, I suppose – had recently found the spirit of giving buried beneath years of penny-pinching and humbuggery. However, he struggled with the execution. That’s where I entered the picture, nudging him along, with my metaphorical paw and occasional literal one.

Our mornings typically commenced with a visit to Pawsburgh, where soft whispers of merriment cut through the chilly air. Squirrels performed acrobatics with unwarranted enthusiasm above my head, but today my furry quarry was neglected for the gravity of my mission: to embolden my owner’s newfound generosity.

I trotted my way to Pomeranian Park, meeting with my conspirators, Max and Whiskers. “Right,” I began, my voice undoubtedly rich with a playful lilt despite the seriousness of the topic. “It’s high time Ebenezer hosted the Christmas banquet. He has the means, but barely the will.”

Whiskers, preening on the frozen bench, simply nodded, sunlight glittering on frost that adorned his whiskers like Nature’s jewelry. Max’s tail thumped against the ground like a drumbeat. “Daisy, your optimism is contagious even to this old soul. Lead the way!”

Our planning paused only to indulge in a quick game of tug-o-war with a crinkly toy some mischievous puppy had left behind, and to scarf down the occasional salmon treat that I had rather cleverly hidden in my coat for sustenance.

With our course set, we paraded through the town. Our first stop, the Doggie Diner, where I convinced the chef—a portly beagle with an innate flair for pastries—to donate a veritable mountain of meat pies for Ebenezer’s event. “My dear Daisy,” he said, chuckling between breaths, “your charm outshines your mischief. How could I say no?”

Evening had begun its slow descent by the time we reached Harrier Harbor, where I cunningly orchestrated a boat parade to honor Ebenezer’s change of heart. The sea dogs barked in accord, their boats adorned with twinkling lights that reflected off calm waters.

The heart of my strategy lay unfurling in quaint Pawsburgh locales. Mastiff Meadows would host a Yuletide festival, and Fetch! Toys and Treats agreed to provide toys for all the children.

The pinnacle of the plan was scheduled to unfold at The Groom Room, a meticulous plot devised by myself to trick Ebenezer into a spa day. The sight of shampoo made me shudder, but it was a small price to ensure my human’s transformation was impeccable from the inside out.

On the night of Christmas Eve, after a day filled with laughter, generosity, and plenty of salmon treats, my tail wagged a testimony to a tale reformed. I nestled close to Ebenezer, his heart finally as warm as the fire crackling in the hearth.

I may detest bathtime, but even more, I abhor a heart that’s cold. And in Pawsburgh, amidst the camaraderie of my peers, I had orchestrated a holiday miracle, turning my miserly master into the talk of the town, generous as Old Saint Nick himself. With every bit of my terrier tenacity, I had stitched the blank spaces of our lives into a grand yarn of friendship, love, and dogged determination.

The End.