Page 123 of Puppy on a Leash

Oooohhh.Was that my last gift?

I rushed there in no time. Seriously, someone should’ve timed me. Was there a Guinness Record for running on all fours as a puppy? If there was, I’d so beaten it.

Now came a new set of problems as I inspected the gift. It was a square box wrapped up in shiny black paper. There was a lot of tape involved in the wrapping. It looked professional, just saying. But… I didn’t have opposable thumbs here.

I huffed. Obviously, tapping it with my mitt was not going to help my case. I still tried.

Oh! I could use my teeth.

Maybe.

Okay, I could do this.

Strong, ferocious pup here.

Something in the box jiggled when I managed to lift it a bit with my paws.

Oh? Metal?

If it was another spider gag, I’d riot.

Well, not really. Spider gags were really hot.

Whatever.

If I just managed to bend at the right angle so that I could rip the paper without my muzzle getting in the way…

Ugh.

Okay, not like that.

A corner should be easier.

Or not.

Dammit.

My hood was the best, but at moments like these I wished I was one of those pups who stuck to a headband with floppy ears.They were kind of cute. I just didn’t like headbands. But I’d be ripping into this thing in no time if not for that teeny tiny detail.

I huffed again. I didn’t throw the box to the mattress because I was still coherent enough to know whatever it was could break, but it was a close call. The huffing was soon replaced by growling and whining at it while I tried to get the tape off with my paws.

It was not easy.

Everyone was laughing, too.

My gut churned with… something. I wasn’t sure. A quick glance up showed Tony pinching the bridge of his nose.

I frowned—and whined again. How was this my fault?

“Can I go help, Sir?”

Oh, thank fuck.

That was Sergio.

“Woof!”

Sergio had opposable thumbs. He’d open my gift in no time, and then I could finally see what it was, and this whole thing would be over.

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