Chapter 24: Floating Collars
As Ralph stared at the amazing collar before his eyes, his mind immediately filled with fuzz. A strange fluff his thoughts had never danced in before- all swirling around in a murky, muddy... amazing mess.
That collar on the doberman's neck was great. No, incredible!
The words "Good Dog" were inscribed on the sides of the collar, causing Ralph to smile kookily at the thought of it being around his neck. The material it was made of was thick and strong, not easily torn- and looked like it could last forever and a day, even for a rough dog like Ralph. On top of that, the collar seemed to fit the doberman's neck loosely, meaning it might fit a certain mastiff's neck perfectly.
And best of all, those shiny golden tags hung off of it- oh, how they reflecting everyone before it like a mirror. They were like a subtle reminder to all others of who was the one bearing the collar itself. Who bore it with glory. With honor. With respect.
With all the good dog in the world.
Yeah, sure, the collar's dark camo print -and with bit of dark greenish sparkles, it was kinda made for a girl dog, Ralph's murky mind somehow realized- but he quickly discovered that he could've cared less about any of that.
All that mattered was that one collar somehow had everything Ralph had ever wanted- and then some. It was the greatest collar Ralph had ever seen, even with the sparkles- and he knew he had to get it, that it had to become his.
In a moment of even more daze, the mastiff closed his eyes and pictured just what it would be like if that very thing happened. What it would be like for him to return home, back to the pet shop with this collar around his neck...
And rubbing it all in Gene's face... Showing it off to him...proving to everyone that he was good -especially Mr.Litwak and Felix...
He could just picture Gene's shocked, pushed-up face when he'd come in with that baby around his neck. He could envision a look of pride and even finally true acceptance on Felix' small face at seeing such an amazing collar...one that was far grander than that of the corgi's, even...
Ralph could mentally feel each pat Mr.Litwak, then Stefanie, then everyone else who came into the pet shop would give him...hear them repeatedly calling him 'such a good dog'...words Ralph longed to hear for so long...
This collar would be his VIP all the parties, too; his ticket of all the duck treats, all the chew toys he could ever even want as well. He could probaby get first choice of sleeping arrangements, the best place in the entire pet shop...
This collar was simple Ralph the guard dog's way to get everything he could ever want- and far more.
At picturing just how great his future could be, the mastiff undeniable knew the truth.
This was the chance he had been waiting for. He had to get this collar- and this collar only. And even though it clearly didn't belong to him...
Ralph was willing to do just about anything to get it around his neck.
As he dreamily opened his eyes, the mastiff was shocked to see that his perfect collar on the doberman's neck was somehow coming closer and closer to him. It seemed to be floating to him in slow motion, getting closer and closer in all it's glory...
And raising his eyes up a little, the mastiff then regrettably saw that his future collar was also connected to a face full of sharp, pointy teeth- and an incredibly steaming sergeant.
