215 Word Story

The Happy Dog

A satirical story about a pet dog.

From the day I was born to the day of my impending death, I was supposed to entertain. Human entertainers earn a salary, don’t they? So do dogs. My salary was a cosy kennel, scrumptious doggie treats and a cartload of love and affection. What more could a dog ever want? I was a happy dog.

Every morning, someone would walk me inside my world. My world consisted of only three people, June and her parents. Other people came and went, but they always remained. My world extended only to the boundaries of their giant house. I was a happy dog.

One day, June and her father escorted outside my world. June tightened my leash; till the point, I couldn’t breathe. June led me inside a curious object. “A car”, she whispered, seeing my bewildered look. The machine moved on its own! I was a happy dog.

There was a window on the car. June pressed a button, and the window lowered, enough for my muzzle to lean outside. I saw other dogs. Sleeping on the pavement amidst garbage and filth, they barked. I had a better life than them. Even so, there was something about them that made me wish that I were with them. They had no leashes. Was I a happy dog?

Author’s Note: I usually use more elaborate language in my writing. But I decided to use simple language here so that I could accurately voice the thoughts of the unnamed dog. I’ve never had a dog, only some parrots and a goldfish. The experience with those pets was less than pleasant. We returned the parrots to the store, and the goldfish died. I don’t know what inspired me to draft this story because I found it hidden amongst the pages of a used notebook. Still, the message of this narrative remains the same.