“Hey Mom, just another usual day in Spencerville. Crazy Vegas rallied the troops for Fat Russell post his tug-of-war defeat against a smug Husky. She trained him, got him a fancy combat collar, and guess what? They aced the rematch; Fur Tacos shrimp cocktails all round! Turns out, Vegas isn’t just my partner-in-crime, but Spencerville’s game-changer too! Gotta dash, another adventure awaits. – Lucky”

Listen to the story here.

Spencerville was bathed in the ethereal aura a soft summer sunset lends, the orange hues serenely merging with the indigo skyline. Sinatra and I were relaxing by the shimmering waters of East Bulldog Bay when Vegas stormed in like a gust of spirited wind. She had a wild worry in her eyes, an incredible urgency in her posture.

Vegas never came empty-pawed to East Bulldog Bay. But today, her prized rubber poker chips were nowhere in sight and in its place was an eerie silence that clung to her snowy coat. I traced her anxious gaze to see the English Bulldog, Fat Russell, slumped by his house – his signature cheery demeanor was replaced by a grimace.

Word had quickly spread across Spencerville. Fat Russell was unceremoniously stripped of his title at the Upper Collie Canyon tug of war Championship. The crown that he held for three consecutive years was now resting snobbishly on the head of an expat Siberian Husky. Fat Russell’s reputation was mauled, his spirit crushed, and his position in Spencerville questioned and Vegas, the eternal cheerleader she was, took it pretty hard. Witnessing her friends’ sorrow awakened in me, a sense of revenge the likes of which I’d never felt before. Vegas immediately started barking, her voice echoingthroughout Spencerville, announcing that she was now in the game.

I accompanied her to Pet Partners Pet Supplies, bought the most slippery rope we could find for the upcoming rematch. We then headed to The Tail Wagger’s Tailor, where a special ‘combat collar’ was ordered, the silver and black detailing reflecting the tenacity of our shared spirit. And Vegas was off to the Wagging Tail Bookstore to dig into literature about the art of tug-of-war.

In the following days, las Vegas trained relentlessly amidst the towering mountains, her zeal amplified every time anyone mentioned the event. Her tail wagged like a flag held high, a striking symbol of resolute determination. While we walked the streets of Spencerville, I’d hear whispers, a sense of awe in the air, as folk took notice of Vegas’s relentless mission.

Vegas’s revenge (for it was indeed a revenge plot now) became the talk of Spencerville. Each evening after a strenuous day of training, we would head to Fur Tacos and gorge on Shrimp Cocktails, the only indulgence that cheered Vegas up.

The awaited day finally arrived. A sweaty-pawed Fat Russell was fitted with the ‘combat collar’, bolstering his spirit. The rematch began. With Vegas’s relentless spirit guiding our friend, the tables turned dramatically. The Husky was left licking his wounds of defeat while Vegas’s and Fat Russell’s victory roars resonated across Spencerville. Revenge, my friend, is indeed a dish best served cold. Or in this case, with a side of Shrimp Cocktail!

The light of Spencerville glowed a bit brighter that night. Glanced through my back window, it was clear – Vegas wasn’t just a game-changer, she was THE game-changer.

The End.