Chapter 5 - Employees or Friends?

Later that day, Brian walked over to Quahog Pets with all of the money he made. He can finally get the Razzle-Dazzle Collar he wanted so badly. But somehow, when he got there, he wasn't happy. He thought about Four Dogs and a Baby, and how bad he treated them earlier when they were on strike.

"Oh, hello, Brian," Carter greeted, coming out of the pet store.

"Carter?" Brian said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I just bought one of those new Razzle-Dazzle Collars for Seabreeze. Anyway, how's business going, Brian?"

"Uh, Carter, what would you do if your friends who worked for you got mad at you and went on strike?"

"I'd just dump them," Carter answered. "You can always get new friends, but not a good business. As you can tell, good businesses are hard to come by."

"That's true," Brian agreed, "but I like the friends I have."

"Take my important advice, Brian," Carter explained. "People can either be your employees, or they can be your friends."

Brian thought about what Carter said when he looked at his money, and finally realized something. He smiled as he put his money away.

"Thanks, Carter," Brian replied before he ran off.

"My pleasure, Brian," Carter called as he waved.

The next day, Brian called the other four to a very important meeting.

"I guess you're wondering why I asked you all here," Brian lectured.

"Brian, I can explain about the strike," Vinny interrupted.

"No need, Vinny," Brian replied. "I reached my goal yesterday because I did all the work myself. But now, I want you to see what I got with all that money."

"Brian, do we have to see your dumb collar?" Jasper whined.

Brian got a box out. "It's no collar, Jasper," he replied. "It's something even better, for all of us."

The others were confused then, until Brian opened the box to reveal five tickets and five hats.

"Wow!" Vinny said. "Tickets to Oyster Bay!"

"It's my way of saying thank you for your hard work, everyone," Brian replied.

That afternoon, Four Dogs and a Baby, now just referring themselves as Brian, Jasper, New Brian, Vinny and Stewie, celebrated at the clam-based theme park in Quahog. Brian spent the money on this trip, and it was worth it. And the moral of the story is that friends and family are more important and fun than a light-up collar any day.

The End