Joe tugged on the leash and led him away from the coffee shop, still sipping at his drink. The aroma of coffee didn't quite appeal to Jared's new canine senses, but he did notice every other alluring scent in the air thanks to his super-powered nose.
Unfortunately, Joe proceeded on their walk home at a quick pace, not giving him the luxury of investigating every intriguing smell he detected. Thankfully, he did let him stop one last time for a quick pee at the base of a small shrub. Although Joe barely paid him any notice, it still felt humiliating to have to relieve himself in public. He had to admit he felt refreshed, though, after getting the heavy pressure off his bladder.
They were returning to the yard when Jared heard a familiar voice — his own!
"Joe!" An excited Jared stepped out the back door and hurried over to meet them. Of course, he knew it was Shaggy in his former body, but Joe looked taken aback.
"Oh, Jared," he said. "I didn't expect anyone home."
"How have you been?" Jared asked. "I forgot that you always show up this time of day."
Jared barked a warning to remind the new "Jared" that he and Joe were not really friends.
With some difficulty, Shaggy reined backed his excitement at seeing Joe, his daily walker.
"Oh, well, then, uh, did you guys have a good walk?" Shaggy asked.
Joe sipped his pumpkin spiced beverage and gave Shaggy, in Jared's body, an odd look. "Did stop by the coffee house, but otherwise it was same old, same old."
"Oh... I love getting to visit that place!" Shaggy said excitedly.
Joe handed the leash to Shaggy. "Look, I am late. You don't mind fastening your dog back up, do you?"
Without really waiting for an answer, Joe turned, waved, and left.
Jared stared up at his former self and had to whimper softly to regain Shaggy's attention.
"Down here!" Jared barked impatiently.
"Oh, sorry," Shaggy said and, in a reflex action, patted the dog's head.
"Stop that!" Jared growled. "Don't treat me like a dog."
Shaggy looked nervous. "Sorry."
"We need to look for the collar and..."
"I have been looking," Shaggy interrupted. "I cannot find it anywhere."
Jared's heart raced faster at the unsettling news.
"That weird Wepwawet visited, too, and he was absolutely no help."
"I wouldn't trust him," Shaggy said.
Then Jared remembered something else. "I saw the coach at the coffee shop. He was telling Joe he had been looking for me."
Shaggy looked guilty. "Sorry. I meant to go to your school, but I decided I should look for the collar instead."
"We've got to keep looking," Jared said.
"I will," Shaggy said, and reached again and patted Jared's head.
"Hey!" Jared growled. "What did I tell you? I'm not a dog."
"But... well, you sort of are the dog now," Shaggy pointed out.
"Yes, and it was all your fault!" Jared barked angrily.
"You wanted to change back, too," Shaggy said.
"No, I didn't," Jared lied.
"I will keep looking for the collar," Shaggy said.
"Maybe I can help," Jared calmed down. "It's amazing how I can smell things now. Maybe I can sniff out the collar."
He began actively sniffing around the yard and carport, trying to pinpoint any odor that might be the collar.
"Anything?"
Jared's nose led him beneath the carport and over to the trash can, which seemed to host dozens of strange smells. Shaggy reached and opened the lid. "Dead-end, boy. It's empty."
As they stood, Mr. Webster pulled his Lexus into the carport.
"What are you guys doing?" Dad asked as he got out of his car.
"Just looking for Shaggy's old collar," Shaggy said quickly.
Jared whined slightly, not thrilled at how readily his new self admitted things.
Mr. Webster laughed. "Why in the world are you looking for that ratty old thing?"
"Uh...I think Shaggy misses it, Dad," the new Jared answered.
"Well, he has his brand new, and expensive, collar now," Dad said. "Besides I tossed that old one in the trash this morning."
Jared whimpered. The trash can was empty! He flashed back to the beeps that morning as the big truck had collected all the trash on the block. "Oh fuck!" Jared barked.
"If Shaggy's had his walk, fasten him in the yard and meet me in the house, Jared," Dad said. "We need to talk."