Hey Mom,

Saved Sammy and the beagles from another misadventure at The Howling Husky. Managed to teach them something about cherishing their inner “crinkle” and got everyone pizza to celebrate. Life as The Dogfather in Spencerville is never dull, and Daphne’s got my back as always.

Love, Jasperoni

>

I was lying in my luxurious sunbeam, the kind that pours in through the cracked window of my corner suite in Corgi Castle, when Roxie waddled up to me, her Snuffy Snout Boutique collar jingling like the death knell of a bureaucrat. She had the look—the kind that said she had news. Good or bad was yet to be determined, but it made my tail twitch in that way that hints at anticipation, half awe, half fear.

“Jasper,” she started, a curious mix of reverence and urgency in her voice, “we got a situation down at The Howling Husky Hardware Store. Sammy and the beagles got themselves into a bit of a fix.”

Leave it to those beagles, blessed souls they are, to get tangled up in some wild quest for a new adventure. This was Spencerville, after all—a nearly perfect patch of existence designed specifically for our kind, where our wildest dreams more often than not took residence alongside the freezer full of Bow Wow Burgers down at Pupperoni Pizza. But for a dog of my complex station, this meant stepping into the role of The Dogfather, a title not taken lightly, even in a canine utopia.

“Let’s take a walk,” I said, rolling onto my black-and-white paws, my Florida-shaped patch flexing as I moved. My nerves jittered like forgotten soda cans in the back of an old car—nostalgic but ultimately useless. Daphne, my ever-faithful Beagle companion, matched step with me as we strolled out. I could feel her tricolored warmth beside me. Solidarity; it’s a rare, expensive commodity, especially when you run with a pack like mine.

The street was alive with the scents and sounds of Spencerville; the unmistakable aroma of Yappy Yogurt wafted through the air, mingling with hints of artisan kibble from the Snooty Snout. We were halfway to the hardware store when the first light splattering of rain threatened my composure. I never did like the rain, much like how I loathe loud noises and peanut butter codes embedded in clandestine messages. A necessary discomfort.

Kicking through the door of The Howling Husky, I found them—a ragtag group huddled together, distress written across their wanton faces. Reo, Gus, Alfie, and those misadventurous beagles Nigel, Bonzi, Raffa, and Boomer. Sammy was in the center, holding a suspiciously fuzzy and crinkled contraption—I recognized it immediately. The two-headed sea monster. My own personal relic and prized possession.

“They wanted to take it apart,” Sammy began, voice trembling, “to see what made the crinkle.”

A wave of fury rippled through my fur, but it was more protective than punitive. It wasn’t just a toy; it was symbolic of my bond with my mom, the tangible marker of countless wild runs through forests and backyard chaoses. I could’ve growled, barked, even nipped, but understanding must start somewhere, even for a mob of beagles in paradise.

I trotted up, took the sea monster in my mouth, and set it down gently. “They don’t make crinkles,” I said, looking each of them in the eye, “they are born. We all have our crinkle inside us. Guard yours, nurture it.”

There was a collective nodding, subtle tails wagging in a hopeful acknowledgment. Alfie sidled up to me, capturing my attention with his soulful eyes. “What’s next, Jasper?”

“First, a round of Pupperoni Pizzas,” I declared, the mob lightening up. Food holds an almost mythical cessation of all hostilities in Spencerville. “Then we honor Katiebug, may her warm nose guide us forever. Right now, let’s head over to The Furry Friends Art Gallery—time our souls get some crinkle inspiration.”

We made our way out, an entourage chasing the sun despite the drizzle. I held my head high and heart full, knowing that even in this perfect oasis, it was our stories, our legends, that kept the essence of Spencerville alive. To each pup their own narrative—mine just happened to be gilded in loyalty and a side of cheese jerky. And that, I thought, glancing at Daphne at my side, made every crinkle worth it.

Share This Story: