This is the seventeenth entry in a series created by brave kid and me, more of which he and I will be working on together in the future(Pictures of this story's characters are also now available on my blog, the Keeper of the Fun blog!). Please enjoy!(BTW brave kid, thank you very much for all of the story suggestions you've given me. I've had a lot of fun working on these stories with you, and I very much appreciate it. I look forward to writing future stories with you.) :)
It's a lovely day in New York City. Inside Dot's Puppy Pound, the Pound Puppies and Kennel Kittens are gathered at mission control, when Dot enters the room. "Hi, guys!" she greets them cheerfully.
"Hi, Dot," Lucky replies politely. "How are you on this fine morning?"
"Very well, thank you. I've come to tell you that Mr. McLeish has won tickets for a tropical vacation for all of us over the radio."
"A tropical vacation? Oh boy!" Rebound exclaims excitedly, hopping up and down. "Oh, that will be so super-duper fun!" Cupcake exclaims.
"Mr. McLeish and Mr. Olaf will be coming, too," Dot continues. "As well as Mr. McLeish's mother."
"Well, this certainly sounds like it will be a wonderful time," Lucky replies. "All of us will be ready to go soon." The Puppies and Kittens had been working hard all week finding pets their perfect people; there fortunately hadn't been any new arrivals at the pound as of yet, so they were very much looking forward to having a bit of time off, especially to spend with their loving owner.
Moments later, Dot and the Puppies and Kittens are riding in the back of a ship which Mr. Leonard McLeish, the pound supervisor is steering. Standing near Mr. McLeish is his assistant Olaf, who, like Mr. McLeish, is clad in a sailor suit. Sitting across from them is Mr. McLeish's mother Agatha, who's wearing a red floral dress, sandals, and a red hibiscus flower in her hair; her little pet parrot Napoleon, whom the Puppies and Kittens had matched with her at Christmastime, is sitting on her shoulder.
A cheerful song begins playing on the radio, which the Pup Club begin merrily tapping their toes on the floor to:
There's a street, there's my right, my left feet(1),
There's a road out of nowhere that ends meet,
I've got the sun, I've got the sand, I've got that rock 'n roll band,
Here I stand,
I've told you that when the morning comes,
I'll be there, my left hand in your right one,
Ohhhohhhohhh!
This is my, this is my paradise,
I'm at home, oh-oh, I got it right,
Let the sun on my shoulder shine,
We can run beneath this clear piece of sky,
This is, is my paradise.
Lemonade, summer games we remember,
Colder days with a haze in December,
Let's get some grove going, through with bein' too cold to move,
Sunshine is oooverdue,
I'm breaking out in my summer dress, yeah,
I'm singin', I'm dancin', I'm obsessed, yeah,
This is my, this is my paradise,
I'm at home, oh-oh, I got it right,
Let the sun on my shoulder shine,
We can run beneath this clear piece of sky,
This is, is my paradise.
Breakin' the waves out on the sand,
Aaand I still hear that band,
Knowin' tomorrow comes, I'm not scared,
'Cause I know sunshine's gonna be there,
Oooooooooooooh...
This is my, this is my paradise,
This is my, this is my paradise...
Ohhhohhhohhh!
This is my, this is my paradise,
I'm at home, oh-oh, I got it right,
Let the sun on my shoulder shine,
We can run beneath this clear piece of sky,
This is, is my paradise.
Lucky, who's wearing a red Hawaiian shirt over his usual white t-shirt, smiles and gives a contented sigh as he sits leisurely in a chair. "This truly will be our paradise indeed."
"Oh boy," Niblet, who's wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt over a white t-shirt, a straw hat, and a pair of sunglasses, says excitedly. "It's gonna be super-awesome ta take a vacation to an island."
"You said it, Niblet," sighs Squirt, who's wearing a white tank shirt and black shorts, as well as his usual shades. "I can jus' see it now: the sparkling sand, the fresh island breezes whistling through the palm trees, the sun gently beaming down on us..."
"And, best of all," Cookie, who's wearing a white t-shirt, dark pink shorts with a floral pattern, and a pair of sandals adds, turning to Dot. "We'll be spending this time together!" The dogs and cats had been working hard lately and regrettably hadn't had much time to spend with Dot; the fact that they would finally be able to spend time together made both parties all the more happy.
Dot, who's wearing a green floral pattern dress with a pink belt and a pair of pink sandals, as well as her usual headband, smiles and blushes as she gently pets Cookie's floppy ears. "Oh, thanks, you guys."
Overhearing their conversation, a small smile appears on Agatha's face. "And more time to spend with my precious little Lenny!" She walks up to McLeish and gently scruffs him on the head. Trying hard, but failing to hide his embarrassment, a red-faced McLeish replies, "Thank you...very much, Mama."
Looking out of the front window, Olaf motions to McLeish, "Land ho, Captain!"
"Ah, excellent." McLeish brings the boat to a stop as they reach the dock, upon which everyone quickly disembarks the boat. Unfortunately, little did McLeish notice that he'd failed to tie the boat up to the dock...
(1)"This Is My Paradise" by Bridgit Mendler from the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2.