Mr Sociable!

He’s so gorgeous!

So happy, friendly, sociable!

Aw shucks! Thanks!

I hear it every time I go for Walkies…

Hear it every time someone comes to steal my amazing Mum. Which happens way too often, if you ask me… and you should ask me! I wish you would ask me. Guess what Mr Sociable would woof back at such a silly dilly thing-a-ma-jing?

My adorable Mumsy, is much too busy or tired or sweet to be taking any many moments away from me. Me! The Sunshine of her days.

Well maybe not sunshine… my shiny coat looks just like my inky night sky when I pop out for a quick leg lift… when that cheeky bandicoot scampers through my backyard. Shouldn’t be allowed! He’s young enough to walk around the long way... outside my fence… short cuts are not for the likes of him!

Don’t get me wrong… I’m far more kind than the next dog! Sharing is scaring caring… so they say. I’m all for it. As long as it’s me they’re sharing and not me sharing my marvellous Mum!

Listen! Want me to prove that I’m Mr Sociable! I can!

A few sleeps ago, yet another Mum Stealer turned up. Libby was actually really quite nice… obviously, not Mum, but nice enough. Smart though… she liked me, didn’t she? So, no question about it!

A two-legged Mum Stealer is one thing… I was just coping well when an enjoyable Pat-fest went tail droopingly bad, sad… almost enough to drive me mad!

A four-legged Mum Stealer called Benji came leaping through my gate into my yard; onto my patio; invading my space. But… NOT my Mum’s merry heart! I do try to maintain my Labrador optimism at all times! Clearly, she will always love me the most! Just ask my girl Rissy… she adores me too!

Of course, my Mr Sociable persona shone as brightly as my well licked dinner bowl, a few tail wags after my biscuits tumble into it.

Benji set straight off to check out my fence line. Of course, I happily let him… I even kept him company so the poor little fella wouldn’t get lost or scared or…

Yep, that’s my bush and dandelion; my tree and path… even that very blade of grass! It’s inside my backyard so obviously it’s mine. He doesn’t seem very clever, the things I have to point out to him. Oh, if he’s going to spray his scent on it, I’d better add mine on top of it. Boy, my leg sure gets tired…

Hudson! Give Benji a bit of room!

That’s my Girl… I share her with my Mum.

Goodie! Mum’s just picked up her shoes and is fiddling with those long bits of spaghetti on them. She’s coming my way! See! Time to make like a rubber ball and bounce up and down like a yo-yo! My crazy capers always make her day… her eyes go as big as saucers… or better yet, water bowls.

Hudson!

Sit!

Let me put your lead on!

Or no walk for you…

You silly twit!

See Benji? This is how you do it! Well, I’m off. See you much later, if ever next time!

Oh, are they coming too? Isn’t it time for Libby and tired little Benji to be going somewhere… like home?

Well, Walkies are Walkies, with or without Mumsy’s full attention.

Follow me Benji! We go across here!

Hudson!

Sit!

Wait!

There’s a car coming!

We amble along by the creek… snuffling lots of interesting smells and gobbling up scrummy wallaby droppings. I show Benji the creek and how to sit nicely and smile for the camera. It’s good that I’m here, or he would have been wandering off out of the shot. I do like to keep Mummy happy. She loves to show everyone pictures of her precious puppy.

Wow! Can you believe it?

For once, Hudson actually sat still, for the photo!

Next stop is Poppy’s place. She looks a lot like me, minus my handsome silver beard… though she has been putting on a bit of weight lately.

Poor pup… she doesn’t have my motivated Mum and Girl… so poor Poppy is stuck behind her fence and never gallivants around the neighbourhood. That’s why the Neighbourhood comes to her.

This is Poppy... she's the most popular dog in the neighbourhood!

I have no idea what my girl Rissy and my Mum are on about.

Everyone always seems to be patting and chatting with Poppy. Don’t ask me why! She likes me, so I guess that says something about her! She licks me too! I try to keep things to one or four licks a visit.

Come on Hud… Poppy wants to say Hello!

Move closer to her fence…

she can’t reach you there!

Hey… we had a laugh when Benji accidentally sprayed Poppy on the nose! She took it well… just shook it off, all over Benji’s surprised face! Best part of the Walkies.

At last, we broke free of Poppy’s capers and meandered back to my place.

Later, I showed Benji and my adoring fans, my Turbo Boost sprint ‘figure of eight’ around the water tank.

Speedy! Wow! Was I fast? So quick, agile and airborne. I’m running hard!

Benji is a bit of a show off!

Hey Huddy, want me to slow down?

What’s wrong?

You look a bit worn out, way back there!

Mumsy tosses my blue rubber ring and I dutifully canter off to fetch it… I do like to make her day.

What! How did Benji get there first? There’s only one ring… and it’s mine.

Oh, my pink Kong just sailed on past! Benji drops the ring and runs for the Kong! Greedy boy! They’re both mine! I try to hold on to both… what’s a fella to do? Which one does Benji want? Yep, that’s the one I want too!

Benji doesn’t like his biscuits so, I helpfully offer to help him out and eat them for him. I even jam my twitchy nose into the biscuit bag. It’s a bit tricky! Libby is holding it behind her! Oh, it’s a game of Hide and Seek!

Hudson! Leave Benji’s biscuits alone!

Time to go! So soon? Such a shame! Pity you couldn’t have stayed another week or day or even a second!

Seven tail wags and face licks later, with Benji… I’d rather give them to Libby, or better yet Mumsy and my Girl Ris!

Finally, their box on wheels has gone. Yep, it didn’t return!

I wonder if my magical Mum has any ear ruffles or rump rubs left in her! Benji was a bit demanding. I saw her give him a pat or two… too many, almost seemed a waste! They always feel really nice on my head.

It sure is exhausting fun being Mr Sociable.

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Inspired by Benji's recent doggy sleepover with my Labrador Hudson!

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Written for the Unreliable Narrator challenge.