Brent sauntered down the city boulevard on a cool, bright, sunny day. It was the ideal weather to be outside, soaking up the pleasant atmosphere—if you were someone who enjoyed the outdoors. Brent wasn’t really one of those people. As he strolled through town, holding the leash of his 15-month-old Beagle, he had a different goal in mind: meeting women. Dogs made excellent conversation starters, and who could resist a young bachelor with an adorable pet?
But today was proving to be a letdown, as not a single woman had approached him. It didn’t help that his dog, Ollie, was more interested in sniffing everything in sight than in making introductions with attractive women, dragging out the walk. Brent’s frustration was building, and he was about to abandon his plan when, unexpectedly, a sense of calm washed over him.
Unaware of his own nakedness except for a blue collar around his neck, Brent strolled down the sidewalk, his bare hands and feet feeling the heat of the concrete beneath him. He walked cheerfully, absorbing the mix of urban smells that drifted through the air. A particularly strong scent caught his attention, leading him to a tree where the sharp odor of urine lingered. Instinctively, he raised his hind leg and marked the tree's root with his own scent.
A sudden tug on the leash around his neck snapped him back to attention. Turning, he saw his former pet, now upright and towering above him, dressed in his old clothes. But everything felt as it should; Brent recognized the Beagle as his master—the beloved dog who had fed him, played with him, and cared for him. Despite his master's occasional bursts of anger, Brent adored him. Eager to avoid any displeasure, he obediently followed his master's lead as they continued their walk.
Eagerly, Brent quickened his pace as he noticed two dogs approaching from ahead on the sidewalk. He adored meeting other dogs—they always showered him with attention and sometimes even shared special treats. One of them was a golden retriever, wearing a red sundress, while the other, a greyhound, sported a white and yellow floral sundress. Although the dogs seemed intent on ignoring him, Brent was determined to win them over.
As the two dogs tried to step aside to give Brent and his owner some room to pass, Brent made a direct line toward them, nudging the golden retriever's leg with his snout. He began to sniff her, trying to gather some information, but was quickly pulled back by a firm tug on his leash. Ollie quickly apologized, "Sorry about that."
“Oh, it’s fine.” the golden retriever reassured, leaning down to pet Brent. He was in absolute bliss as the dog ran her furry fingers through his blonde, shaggy hair, gently scratching his head before moving to rub behind his ears. Brent’s eyes closed in contentment, his mouth curving into a small smile as his tongue lolled out.
“Aww, you’re such a cutie, aren’t you?” The other dog chimed in, leaning over to rub Brent’s back with her paw.
“Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy!” the golden retriever playfully teased in a high-pitched voice. Brent, soaking up every bit of the attention, responded with eager excitement.