Spook and Grace

Spook's Life and Gracieland

Spook's POV

I watch from underneath the couch as feet go by. My sister, Grace, and I came up with a plan to hide so that when Dad's woke up, they wouldn't be able to find us. It's probably a bad idea to hide here since I'm always under the couch shedding my fur. I just hope that Dad's don't move this couch and see the surprise I left for them. I hear barking and I can't help but think that Grace is ruining it for us. I run out and see her sitting next to the door, howling. Dad 2, who is Grace's Dad 1, comes with two ropes in his hand. Not this torturous thing! Anything but this. Why did Grace have to ruin it? Dad 1, who is my Dad 1 and Grace's Dad 2, comes and takes one of the ropes from Dad 2. I can't help but think that maybe he's not going to be putting it on me. That I could somehow escape.

"Don't tell Troy about this," Dad 1 says as he slips me a treat. I eat it eagerly, but also trying to fight him when he attaches the rope to me. I don't need it. After all, I'm a big girl.

The door opens and I run out, almost taking Dad 1 with me. Almost. Why does he have to be strong? I just want to play in the stuff on the ground. I heard Dads talk about it and they said it's snow. Snow is a weird word. Then again, all words are weird. Why can't they just bark like us? That would make everything better.

Dad 1 loosens the rope and I start to run free in this snow. I pass Gracie who looks at it as if it's a pool of poop. That I'd understand since it's gross and smells. I sometimes think that Gracie is a drama queen and overdramatic, but she gets it from Dad with weird things on his face.

I run around and dig in this "snow" and find a big wooden object. I wonder if it's like the bones that Dads sometimes get us. I start to chew it and Dads come to take it out of my mouth. Gracie looks at me as if I don't know what I'm thinking. Maybe I don't, but I'm having fun. I love going outside, even though Dads and Grace hate it. Mainly when it's snowing though for Grace.

I hear Dads start to talk about another video idea and can't help but want to listen in. Unlike Grace, I want to be in the video. After all, Spook is a star. Grace may be queen, but Spook is a star. Spook isn't a princess who's second best. Everything they film, I just want to be in it, but when Dad 2 is playing with it, I never see myself in the end. Every part where I'm in it, he removes.

I don't know which is worse. Dad 2 removing me from video or Dad 1 picking me up and touching me. Whenever they watch the news, which is rare considering they watch these weird people dress up with fake hair and stuff on their face, I hear about harassment. I wonder if that would count. Not that I know what it means. My favorite time to go out is when it's dark or getting close to being dark. It's more fun that way, especially since I can hide on them easier. Or attempt to that is. If only this stupid rope wasn't attached to me.

As I'm about to walk away, Dad 1 pulls on the rope bringing me back. I let out a soft growl, not happy about this. Why do they always have to ruin things?

Dads sit down in front of their weird box that isn't a box. They start to press buttons and a screen pops up, showing them on the front of it. Neither of them says anything for a while as words pop up on the screen.

I stick my head up, even more, trying to see myself, blocking Dad 1. I don't think he'd mind since he's the weird one. Then again, they're both weird. Dad 1 picks me up in that weird way that he does, his paws digging into me. I look at him, almost glaring at him, as he starts talking in that high-pitched voice. I wonder if he knows that he doesn't have to do that and that I want to bury myself underground since it's so loud. I would bark, but their pups seem to enjoy it. If they enjoy it, then I'll deal with it. I deal with Dads for my fans. It's worth it. Who knows. One day, I could make it like Grumpy Cat or Buddy from that one movie where the dog plays sports.

~

Grace's POV

The warm sun is beating down on my fur as I run through the park. Around me are other dogs with their owners. I go over to the entrance where the dads are. Dad 1 is working the tickets and Dad 2 is getting ready for a tour. I jump onto Dad 1's lap and one of the people who he's working with at the moment, bursts into a big smile.

"Here's the star of the park, Grace!" Dad exclaims. He picks me up and places me on the counter. I sniff the boy's hand and allow him to pet me. This is my least favorite thing about owning this park. Everyone wants to pet me if they come to me. At least my sister is out of the spotlight. When he pulls his hand away, I jump down off the counter and head off to check on the rest of the park. I pass the fire hydrants that were placed throughout the park and head into Spookland. This area is just made for Spook and one of the few places Spook can be found. She's either with one of the dads or here, hiding out. She doesn't wander the park, checking in on things, unless she's with me. The number of people and dogs here terrify her, so she always stays away.

I sniff my way to find sis, which takes a while since she's never in the same spot twice. I finally find her hiding under a couch. People and dogs in line waiting for the Spooky Mansion use this couch to sit on while waiting, so I'm surprised to find Spook here. She's usually away from everyone. Spook bares her teeth until she realizes who I am, calming down. I nudge her with my nose to get her out of here and she follows me towards the secret exit that was made. Every attraction here has at least one. It's just big enough for Spook and me to fit in if we ever want to check in on something and don't want to wait in line. I step on a patch of grass that lifts up to reveal a tunnel and we head towards the first stop on the tour so I can drop her off with her dad. I see him talking to a small group of people and bark. He looks down and sees both of us standing there looking up at him. I start to back up, leaving Spook with him. When he picks her up, I take that as my cue to officially leave.

I head to The Giant Bone and use the secret passageways to make my way up to the front. This is a dogs only ride, which is what I like. I wanted this to give us dogs freedom without our owners everywhere. I walk over to a small dog that looks like Spook a little, just not as fluffy.

"Can I tag along?" I bark.

The dog barks back with a yes. When it's our turn, we step into our car and the clear box comes down around us to keep us in place. It's best to go on this with another dog close to your size just for safety or to even go on this by yourself is better. The speaker starts barking, telling us what we can and can't do. No biting, going to the bathroom, fighting allowed. The ride starts, taking us up a hill. It's meant to act as if there's a runaway bone and you're trying to catch it. In the end, you do and two bones drop down from the ceiling in each car. My favorite ride here is the Sleepy River. It's meant for both owners and dogs and you just sit or lay in my case, there on a floaty as the water carries you. Dads only allow us to go on that ride once a week and today happens to be the day we're turning in our card and going on it. If that rule wasn't in place, then I'd be stuck on that ride all day.

The ride ends and I let the other dog take my bone since I can always get one another time. Each ride has a special treat at the end. The Sleepy River has a chew toy at the start of the ride for those dogs that want something to do while they relax. The Chase has the smell of nature as it chases a dognapper. One of my favorite places to go to The Pound where dog treats are handed out all day to dogs that want something to eat. Next door is The Jail which is the place for humans where they eat. I heard Dads talk about some mouse that's famous and has everything shaped after him, so that's what the food is here. Everything is in the shape of me, Grace. After all, it is called Gracieland for a reason, so everything should be shaped like me. Besides, I am the Queen, despite what Spook thinks. Even the items people can buy are shaped like me and have me on them. The dog food that we sell, is customized just for Gracieland and are things that I actually eat. Why sell something if the owner doesn't even eat or use it? That wouldn't make sense.

"Grace. Gracie," Dad calls. I turn around in a bunch of circles, trying to find him. Am I going crazy? I don't see him anywhere, but I hear him. Where is he? Now would be a good time for me to have a voice so that I could try to find him. I don't even know if it is Dad calling or someone pretending to be him, not that I know who would. Unless Spook's trying to steal my spotlight and get me dognapped. If this is a prank, it isn't funny.

I open my eyes and find myself in a bedroom with Dads in it. It was just a dream? An amazing dream that I didn't want to wake up from. The best dreams are the ones where you wake up disappointed. Those are the ones that seem impossible and I wish Gracieland was real. I really can picture Gracieland being real. If only if it was.