“Hey Mom n’ Dad, just wanted to let you know how it’s going as mayor of Spencerville. Town’s thriving with ‘Bark and Bites’ and all. Miss you loads, especially when the skies rage, but overall, we’re basking in good times, minus broccoli. Send my love to Sprinkles and remember, I remain, Goosey. 🐾🐾”

Listen to the story here.

My name is Lucy. Lucy the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, if you please. As the newly elected canine mayor of our quaint and idyllic hamlet, Spencerville, I enjoy the various pleasaneries of life. My coat, a warm tan, speckled with the purity of white, often gets me compliments. However, such superficialities of appearance never truly appealed to me.

In the labyrinth-like town, wood and stone caricatured as the Northern Choco Chihuahua Castle and Lower Silver Siberian Summit take pride of their grandeur. But my heart lies elsewhere. My bastion of solitude, a little cosy backyard, houses the tug-of-war battleground, where my sibling and partner in crime, Sprinkles and I, dig out our independence, stamp our stubbornness and revel in the joyous victory dance.

As Mayor, I’ve added a new gem to our town’s sparkling crown – “Bark and Bites.” Tempting aromas of savoury chicken wafts through its doors. A delectable delight for all of us spanning around town, interdisciplinary in our tastes, uniting in our universal distaste for that green devil – broccoli. Not even Bow Wow Burgers and Pooched Potatoes can compete with our chicken obsession.

Not to forget, dear reader, Best in Show Photography ensures our ethereal existence is well documented to regale our future Spencervillains. And The Tail Wagger’s Tailors with their long and droopy fashion sense and The Pooch Playhouse that promises frivolity at its best and treadmills at its worst, add irreplaceable charm to our paradise.

Despite all its beauty, Spencerville has its demons. The unwelcome roars of thunderstorms, the unnecessary outbursts of fireworks that make my stout heart quiver and seek refuge in corners. Even in a near perfect place, storms rage and fireworks ignite. Struggles are as much a part of this paradise as our victories.

In our corner of eternal joy, we patiently bide our time for the day our human parents will join us. In the meantime, we run the place as they would have wanted – with love, laughter and a healthy disdain for broccoli. Cuddle-long meetings, play-hard statutes and nap-long recesses shape our day.

Sometimes, I wonder if we mirage pets have made our town more human-like, or the humans, with their endless love and compassion, had made us more human. Nevertheless, our bond is stronger than a thousand ropes of tug-of-war and as cherished as the invaluable chicken dish. A perfect place to be imperfect, a perfect place to be me – that’s my Spencerville.

The End.