Hey Dad,

You won’t believe it. Snuck out to Pawsburgh this AM. Met with Timber, raced for a Marquis de beef (I lost, don’t ask). Went up to Shepherd Skyline, ogled at the roofscape and the Lhasa Apso high jinks. Avoided some too affectionate pigeons on the way back. Now back to reality and waiting for your alarm to jingle me awake. All in a dog’s day, eh?

Woofs,
Oreo

The magic of Pawsburgh took over me as my eyes creaked open, enjoying the wee hours before my humans stirred. No more being tied to a mailbox, waiting outside The Snooty Snout Boutique while the lady tells me to tie my patience in knots. No, this was my time! My adventure!

Adventure, and perhaps a quick bite at Dog-gone Good BBQ, because what kind of protagonist would I be if I didn’t think of my stomach first?

My four paws carried me to Western Husky Hill, the wind whistling through my brindle coat. Tremendous joy crashed into me, like a frisky pup to a seasoned dog’s hindquarters. I spotted Timber doggedly (a pun, I assure you) trying to wriggle his toy from the tree near Siberian Summit.

At the sight of me, his tail wagged with an intensity that could drive windmills, and he called, “Oreo! Tail up my friend, help me get Flutter off this good-for-nothing tree!”

“What’s the wager?” I grinned at him. Timber paused, “If you get Flutter down, I share my Beef Bourguignon from Tail Waggers!”

A Beef Bourguignon! Dearest humans, was there ever a more splendid motivation? With a single-minded focus generally reserved for spot guards, I leaped up, and… promptly tumbled down hilariously over Timber! As our rolled up bodies slowly came to a stop, Flutter joyously ricocheted into Timber’s jaws, leaving the duo panting and laughing and me, still dazed and disoriented. A perfect sitcom ending, you bet!

“We really need to work on that landing, Oreo!” Timber smirked.

Just as the sun started its lazy ascent, we made our way to Shepherd Skyline. I simply love the sight of roofs stretching like a quilt formed of various tiles. A rooftop chase was on among a couple of Lhasa Apsos, but, being a Boxer, I decided not to mingle in the yappy chorus of dogs.

Already craving my early-morning exploration and companionship, as well as dodging low flying pigeons one deems as affectionate surprises, we headed past The Howling Husky Hardware Store, Timber once again dangling Flutter from his jaws and me, still ruing my missed Beef Bourguignon.

As dawn spread over Pawsburgh, its brimming bowl of adventure was edging towards the last lick. I zigzagged my way back to the place where I would soon hear the familiar jingle of my humans’ alarm. But before sinking back into my mortal doggo duties, I peeked at my trusted companion, Timber, and said, “Same time tomorrow?”

And as soon as Timber nodded, the surreal setting of Pawsburgh faded into oblivion. As I woke up to my human’s voice, my tail wagged, ready for another day in the human world, bearing the secret of Pawsburgh deep in my canine heart.

The End.