“Hey fam! Remember the earthquake? Had us scared Spencerville would turn into an ocean. But one-eared, vacuum-hater Merry rallied all critters, made the Cafe our Ark. Tsunami still mowed us down, but we survived, all safe, thanks to her. Big changes here, but Merry’s bronze statue? Permanent. PS: Thunder still freaks her out. 😜 – Little Potato”

Listen to the story here

That time in Spencerville, I remember it well, when a calamity had struck, that threatened to shatter our idyllic existence. The ground hadn’t just shaken, it had trembled with such fury that the Poodle Pond could’ve shifted straight to Kibble Cuisine for all we knew. The looming danger of a tsunami now consumed Spencerville, and who but Merry, the one-eared bulldog, was entrusted to lead all pets to safety.

Merry wasn’t the messiah of Spencerville. She wasn’t one to get along with all. Heck, even most of her own kind didn’t quite fit her liking. But her heart this time, it was a different story my friends. Yes, my Merry… the same lass who would skedaddle at the smallest squeaky sound of vacuum cleaner or the merest whiff of ear-cleaning solution, was now going to stand against this uncalled watery wrath.

“Gather up furry folks!” she barked, her voice boomed through that chilling Spencerville air. I swear I could see a grim resolve on that otherwise mirthful face, the chestnut ear gleaming under the tense grey sky.

And oh, boy, did they gather! From the Huskies of Lower Golden Gate Gardens to the terriers of Bullmastiff Boardwalk, the cat crowd from Fishy Bites, even the peacock populace from The Canine Cafe. All answered Merry’s call. It was a sight, I tell you. Just as she’d always done, she shrugged off her fears, and was there, ready to brave the impending watery peril.

Animals scrambled for what looked like Canine Couture Clothing but was our makeshift refuge, stuffing their snouts with morsels from Pup-Peroni and Kibble Cuisine. Merry herded them, ensuring each one was safe, without missing a beat. Never thought that frivolous sounding Canine Cafe would turn into a Noah’s Ark.

And then it happened! The tsunami.

The waves hit us like a freight train, it came fast and furious—swallowed the tranquil town of Spencerville, reducing it to a beeping mess of distress. But thanks to Merry, their guardian, their beacon, all lives were saved, all saviors saved. Together we saw the sun rise again when it was all over. The Bulldog town-captain tide chaser, showed them all her vigorous, fervent heart that triumphs over any disaster.

So, here we are now, rebuilding our Spencerville, post the disaster. A new layout is in the works. The Poodle Pond may shift places with Kibble Cuisine, but one landmark will remain the same…the heart of Merry, our reluctant savior; the heartbeat of Spencerville. For as long as she has breath, we know we have a fighting chance, in any crisis that dare cross our path. The sight of our new town center – a brass statue of Merry facing the open sea—says it all. It’s our way of saying that disasters may come and go, but the spirit of Spencerville, fuelled by Merry, remains undying. Because, there’s no disaster that can dampen Merry’s spirit, well, except maybe… a mild thunderstorm. Don’t tell her I told you that!

The End.