Tale of a Pup: Part Time at Retail

[Isabelle]

The pair sat at a park bench. Rosie lapped at her ice cream, her course tongue breaking up big chunks of her bright orange frozen treat. Izzy ate her’s slow, mostly watching her companion’s excessive habits.

“You know, we left for the beach after breakfast.” Isabelle said, having a brief revelation. “We’re eating Ice Cream before lunch.”

Rosie took a moment away from her Ice cream to respond.

“Well, it was that orange elephant’s fault for selling so early!”

The pair had a brief chortle at the comment. As Rosie reached the halfway point of her dessert is when she broke the silence.

“It’s amazing you’re a prime Isabelle!” She exclaimed for take another large lick full. “But I guess out of all of us, you made the most sense for Omni to pick!”

“Oh, heh.” She blushed at the compliment. “But really, I still don’t understand why he picked me specifically.”

“Don’t sell yourself so short Izzy!” She started. “I mean, you were always the hardest working in the whole town. You’re the reason the town held together so well, not even sure how it held together so long before you showed up!”

Izzy was red like a cherry. She wasn’t used to getting so much praise for her efforts.

“But what about the mayor?” She retorted. “I mean he works hard too!”

Rosie nearly choked on her ice cream as she burst out laughing.

“Oh come on! We can’t be thinking about the same lazy oaf!”

And in an instant, Isabelle went flush.

She didn’t consider herself a violent person, but at no time before was it so difficult to hold back a slap. Instead, she focused on her ice cream, and repeated to herself that the mayor wouldn’t have wanted her to strike someone over an opinion.

But then Rosie made the unfortunate mistake of continuing.

“Seriously though Izzy, he’s the reason you had to work so hard. Don’t give him so much credit.” She said, then it transitioned into a laugh. “I mean, what he do, fish all day while leaving all the paperwork to you? Hahahaha-”

Isabelle’s paw struck her in the back of the head, causing her cone to fly out of her grasp in surprise. She immediately grasped her noggin in pain as she turned to face her attacker.

“Isabelle what the heck?” She yelled, but her eyes met a tear soaked face of fury, another paw upraised to strike again. Rosie immediately changed her tune.

“Look, I’m sorry Isabelle, I didn’t know it meant so much to you.”

“He does!” She yelled out, her voice slightly hoarse as tears continue to flow down her face.

Rosie reached over to wipe her tears with her paw, leaving a small dent in the waterfall, and held her cheek in comfort.

“Hey now, calm down, okay? I mean, screw my opinions, I didn’t know the guy as well as you did obviously so, I’m probably wrong, just cheer up please!”

Izzy grasped Rosie’s hand as she gulped her spit, swallowing her pride.

“I-I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

“Hey, it’s okay!” Rosie gave her a smile. “I didn’t mean to insult your crush like that! I didn’t know!”

Isabelle wanted to deny her claim, but it was pretty dang pointless right now.

“Thank you for understanding.” She said, her tears finally at full halt.

“I could say the same thing.” Said Rosie with a smile. She looked down at their cones which both were on the ground now. “Since we are done with ice cream, wanna get some lunch!”

“Sure!” Said Izzy, a bit more enthusiastically.