“The World At Your Feet”
Episode One: Puppy Love
Written by Dolly Sods
They were all poolside on a perfectly sunny, Hollywood Hills summer day. It was the usual suspects; the gals — Flip, Flop and Dini. Dini is a dog. Dini is a BIG, black dog. A year ago — the 4th of July — Flip and Flop brought Dini, then a puppy, home from Malibu. Flip and Flop had just popped into Trancas Market to pick up hamburger buns for a star-spangled beach cook out. But before they even got in the door, Flip caught sight of a surfer dude holding a tiny, black puppy. As it turns out, the surfer dude was conducting some innocent puppy peddling. A pushover for soft, fluffy things, Flip bee lined over to the surfer dude, gingerly took the sleeping, fur ball from the surfer dude and nuzzled the little one to her face. It was puppy love.
“Is it a he or a she?” asked Flop.
“Aren’t you the sweetest little boy,” interjected Flip, as she cooed at the puppy.
“A he. Definitely a he. Man, he really likes you, ” said the surfer dude as he cleared his throat.
“He’s so cute and little now…,” said Flop, inspecting the puppy’s enormous paws.
“Wouldn’t it be cool to have a little pooch we can carry around in a tote or something? A tote to match our Dini's?” said Flip as she playfully whooshed the puppy down toward her feet that were sporting a pair of stunning, red Dini's. Each one had a little jeweled flower where the straps joined in the middle. The flowers glimmered and glittered in the sun.
“Her mom was a little dog, a Machu Picchu, I think. Dad…little too,” said the surfer dude, as he turned his attention toward Flip’s feet.
The fuzz ball then yawned a huge, puppy-breath yawn.
"Ooh," Flip and Flop chorused.
"Has he had his shots?" asked Flop, always the practical one.
“What did you call ‘em?” asked the surfer dude, pointing to Flip’s Dini’s,
“Dini’s,” said Flop, answering for the puppy-smitten Flip.
There was a long silence as the surfer dude continued fixating on Flip’s Dini’s.
“So has he?” asked Flop, attempting to regain the surfer dude’s attention.
“Where do you get ‘em?” asked the mesmerized surfer dude.
“At the vet,” said Flip, getting back into the conversation.
“No, those…whaddya call ‘em again?” retorted the surfer dude.
“Dee-neezzze!” said Flip and Flop.
“Just got these online,” said Flip, pointing her foot in the direction of the surfer dude. In honor of the holiday, Flip and Flop had their toes painted with tiny American flags, even the pinkies. The surfer dude crouched down to get a closer look. Another long silence ensued. Suddenly, Flop came the conclusion that the surfer dude was counting the number of stars on Flip’s big toe.
“How much? For the puppy?” said Flop, a tad forcefully.
The surfer dude looked up, rubbed his peach-fuzz chin and shrugged.
“Well he is the last one….,” said the surfer dude.
Flip and Flop looked at each other, bracing themselves for the sticker shock.
“Let’s say a hundred bucks and those,” said the surfer dude, pointing to Flip’s Dini’s.
“You want my Dini’s?” asked Flip, incredulously.
"I think you’re the right size. You look the right size…just older,” continued the surfer dude.
“Older?” said Flip, a little taken aback.
“It’s my girlfriend’s birthday today, the fourth of July,” said the surfer dude. “Are they new? They look new,” he continued.
“Brand spanking new,” said Flop, telling a little white lie.
The surfer dude now turned his attention to Flop’s Dini’s. They were bright blue and each Dini featured a little silver peace sign. Unlike Flip’s almost-new Dini’s, Flop’s Dini’s were just-out-of-the-box new and this fateful 4th of July outing was their maiden voyage. Too late to hide her Dini’s behind Flip, Flop looked at the puppy, then at Flip.
“Hers, mine and fifty bucks,” said the resigned Flop.
The surfer dude scratched his head and took his own surfer dude time.
“Okay,” said the surfer dude finally.
After a trip to the cash machine and the ceremonial handing off of the Dini’s, Flip and Flop walked barefoot to Flop's car, "The Coop," with their new charge. As they carefully avoided what seemed to be a minefield of tire-tracked chewing gum, they beamed at the puppy and gave a collective sigh. Flip and Flop had given up their most treasured Dini’s – and fifty bucks - for a priceless puppy. They had a new man in their lives.
To be continued...
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