“This one’s special. It’s about longing, dreams and the furball who made real life better than fantasy”
Susan (narrating)
“Boss, I need your signature here.”
“Boss, what’s our marketing strategy for the judgmental side-eyeing Shih Tzu?”
“Boss, the episode ‘Two Brains, One Dog, and Zero Life Plans’ is up by 213 percent — the viewers love it!”
“Boss, what’s our agenda for today?”
My office is on the top floor of Ventura Co. It’s big — clean, minimalist, beautiful. I can write in peace with no distractions. I’m the Marketing VP / Director / Editor of Ventura Co., and the creator of two hit shows: The Detective Agency and Tina & Pochi.
Tina is a dramatic woman who eats her feelings. Pochi is her judgmental dog.
My favorite’s the latter.
There’s something about that story I keep coming back to. Something about him.
Despite everything I have — the career, the success, the big apartment, the attractive face and body, even a handsome boyfriend — I go home every night and feel… empty. Incomplete. Like I’m living someone else’s life.
But when I write about Tina and Pochi?
I feel whole.
Because Pochi loves Tina. He’s loyal. And somewhere deep down, I think I’m trying to write a life I missed.
Tonight, I called my boyfriend.
“Cinema?” I asked.
“Busy,” he said, headset on, playing whatever with his friends.
At least Pochi is always with Tina.
And here I am again. Alone. Quiet.
Empty.
Oishi (narrating)
I woke up and looked around. Two dogs were snoring beside me. My parents, apparently.
I always forget their names.
Ah, yes. Mustard and Ketchup.
Mom and Dad.
But there’s one name I keep forgetting — the one that matters.
It starts with an “S.”
Anyway, the usual: walk around the park, sniff some tails, hang out with my barksties.
It’s… fine. Fun, I guess.
But something’s off.
I don’t like sniffing other dogs’ butts. There. I said it.
And I love my parents, I really do…
But I feel like I’m supposed to be somewhere else. With someone else.
Sometimes I dream I’m wearing glasses.
Sometimes I feel naked without a red scarf.
Sometimes I wake up with the feeling of being scooped — carried, kissed, bathed (ugh).
And there’s this hooman voice in my head — loud, weird, kinda goat-like when she sings.
I miss her.
Even if I’ve never met her.
Yet.
Somewhere in Their Dreams — A Prayer
Susan (in dream narration):
Lord, I am living a good life.
Everything looks perfect.
I’m at the top of my game.
I have a job, a name, even a man…
But I feel lonely. And empty.
Can You send me someone who stays?
Someone loyal. Soft.
Who looks at me like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him —
and let me do the same?
Oishi (in doggo prayer):
God and Mighty Paw,
Thank you for park and food and tail sniffs.
But I miss someone.
Someone who scooped me.
Who put on my glasses and red scarf.
Who sang weird songs and kissed my head.
Can You send me my hooman?
The loud one with a goat voice.
I promise to love her forever —
and maybe let her win tug-of-war… sometimes.
Some prayers don’t need words. Only hearts that ache in the same direction.
The Park – Collision Point
I was lost in thought when I saw her.
A woman. Beautiful. Hair tied up in a bun. Sitting on a park bench, crying.
Something inside me sparked.
I ran toward her.
She looked at me like she knew me.
She scooped me up, still crying — and I was crying too.
She held me close.
I rested my head on her shoulder.
She wiped my tears, put glasses on me, tied her red scarf around my neck.
And she whispered,
“I got you, buddy.”
Right then and there…
I felt complete.
Susan (narrating)
I heard knocking.
“Susan! It’s raining — your clothes are getting soaked! Get out of there!”
It was Boyo.
But I couldn’t move.
I was still crying.
And I swear… I heard Oishi crying too. A soft badoddle whimper from his bed.
I sat up.
We were both in tears.
Oishi jumped onto the bed and wrapped his little paws around me.
I held him tight.
“I had a dream, Badoodle,” I whispered.
“I was stunning. A literal commercial model. I had a big office, a big job, a boyfriend —”
Hair flip. Hair flip.
“—but you weren’t there.”
And suddenly, my voice cracked.
My smile faded.
Tears again.
“I don’t want that life, Oishi.
I don’t care if I’m successful.
I’d be happy for a while, sure —
But not for long.
Because you wouldn’t be in it.”
I scooped him up again, kissed his furry head.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Except for the boyfriend part.”
Oishi side-eyed me.
I laughed through my tears.
“You’re loyal, and you’re stuck with me. Got that, Badoodle?”
Back to Reality
Boyo barged in, dripping wet, holding my clothes — and my undies.
“BOYO!” I shrieked, throwing a pillow at his face.
And then — chaos in the living room.
Oishi.
EATING MY DIPLOMA.
“OISHIIIIII! NOT THE DIPLOMAAA!”
I ran after him with a slipper.
And there we were:
Me yelling, Boyo confused and holding my underwear, Oishi running in circles with a piece of paper in his mouth. .
And I knew.
I didn’t need to be that boss lady from my dream to feel loved.
I didn’t need a high-rise office or a high-heeled life.
I already have it.
Right here.
In this loud, messy, slightly insane apartment.
With my dog, my maybe-boyfriend, and my diploma in shreds.
This is home.
And I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
I just need my dog. My story. My real, ridiculous life.
✨ End Scene. Roll credits. Cue goat-voiced rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”
Still rising. 🐾 Still barking
Ember - Fire and Soul 