39 comments

Fiction

The squirrel has declared 

War. 

He has shaken

Furry tail at me. 

Chattered

Angrily and I think he’s

Mocking me. 

My human doesn’t let me

Outside. 

I stare out

The window. 

The squirrel thinks it’s 

So funny. 

My owner gets 

Mad at me. 

When I

Bark. 

It’s the 

Squirrel’s 

Fault. 

It declared 

War. 

My owner finally 

Pulls his socks on. 

Minus the one

I chewed 

Yesterday. 

He was mad 

About that. 

He grabs the 

Leash. 

Clips me 

On. 

We go 

Outside!

Oh fresh 

Air. 

Oh, nice 

Smells. 

Oh, the 

Wind. 

Oh, the other 

Dogs. 

The squirrel. 

I growl 

At him. 

He chatters 

At me from the 

Tree. 

I think he’s enjoying

Himself. 

I growl

At him. 

He chatters 

At me. 

Says some 

Bad things. 

I bark and run

To the tree. 

“Bad 

Dog” 

My owner screams

As I drag him to the 

Tree. 

Bad 

Dog?

For chasing 

The 

Squirrel?

Woof. 

Woof. 

Woof. 

The 

Squirrel chatters at me

From his safe perch. 

He should face me like 

A brave one. 

He’s a 

Coward. 

My owner yanks 

Me away from 

The tree. 

I plant my feet. 

I want to bark and chase the 

Squirrel. 

But my owner insists. 

He holds up 

A Treat!

A yummy piece of

Jerky. 

Yum. 

Yum. 

Yum. 

I bark at my owner, 

Squirrel winning 

For today. 

Although I can 

Hear him chattering 

In his tree. 

I will get him one 

Day.

I dream of 

Him. 

Chattering in his 

Tree. 

Not sure 

Why. 

He is a 

Monster. 

My bed is somehow

Uncomfortable. 

I jump into 

My owner’s bed. 

He mutters and 

Kicks me out. 

I think he’s lonely. 

Lonely is a 

Funny 

Word. 

The Squirrel gives 

Me all I 

Want. 

Run. Chase. 

Hide. 

Bark. 

Run. 

Chase. 

Hide. Bark. 

Over. 

Again. 

Because even though 

He

Never gets

Caught. 

He is mine

To chase. 

Mine. 

Mine. 

Mine. 

Woof!

The dawn

Breaks and I have 

To pee. 

I bark at my owner. 

Woof. 

Woof. 

Woof. 

He 

Groans. 

I think I can be 

Annoying. 

Wag. 

Wag.

Wag. 

The squirrel is up

Already.

 Chattering at me

From the safety of 

His tree. 

I will get him 

Today. 

I break away from 

My owner. 

He yells as 

If I will not

Come back. 

He is home?

I will 

Always come

Back. 

But now is 

War. 

I must chase

Squirrel. 

I bark and bark. 

Woof!

Woof!

Woof!

I run. 

Pant.

Pant.

Pant.

I chase. 

Pant. 

Pant. 

Pant. 

I don’t catch 

The 

Squirrel. 

I bark in 

Surrender.

He chatters at me. 

I bark at him 

One last time. 

He skitters 

Out of the way. 

Ha. 

My owner calls me

Again. 

He sounds amused. 

I think?

I run back 

To him but

Another smell catches my 

Attention. 

Girl?

Oh. 

Pretty dog.

Friend!

Mmm. 

I run to the other 

Dog. Sniff her 

Butt in hello.

She is 

Very pretty. 

Her owner

Is… 

Oh.

Wow. 

Woof!

Woof!

My owner comes up.

He talks to her owner. 

They smile. 

They talk. 

I interact with pretty

Dog. 

She likes me. 

I’m 

Sure. 

Woof!

Woof!

Woof!

My owner talks

With her

Owner. 

I think his name is 

Matt.

My owner seems to 

Like Matt.

Hmm.

Woof!

Woof!

Woof!

I want to see more

Pretty dog.

She is very big.

Very pretty.

Also.

Smells amazing.

Like flowers and water.

And poop.

She is very 

Interesting.

Very sweet.

Pretty!

Woof!

Yip!

Woof!

Yip!

Pant.

My owner tugs me

Away.

Sad.

Whine.

Whine.

Whine.

But then I smell 

Squirrel!

Woof!

Woof!

Woof!

No!

My owner doesn’t like 

Me chasing

The squirrel.

But it’s so 

Fun!

And I’ll catch

Him one 

Day. 

One day.

Woof!

Yip!

Woof!

Yip!

Even my 

Pretty dog

Agrees with 

Me. 

Squirrel?

Chase. 

Run. 

Bark. 

Over and 

Over again. 

Because that is

The way of the world.

What else is there in 

Life?

Nothing. 

My owner thinks I am 

Funny. 

But I get treats.

Jerky?

Yum. 

Yum. 

Yum. 

Oh-look!

More toys.

A bouncing ball. 

A-

Squirrel!

Woof! 

Woof!

Woof!

I run.

Chase. 

Pant.

Pant.

Pant.

Tired now. 

I think I’ll 

Sleep. 

Long day. 

More running

And hunting

And chasing-

Squirrel!

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

I like

Chasing him. 

He is very 

Amusing.

Woof!

Woof!

Woof!

I may never catch

Him. 

But he is 

Fun to try. 

What else is

There?

Food?

Yum. 

Yum. 

Yum. 

Sleep?

Hmm.

Sleepy now.

Zzzzz.

I like my 

Bed. 

It’s very 

Comfortable and

I think it’s my favorite

Thing. 

Apart from chasing the 

Squirrel.

My owner thinks

I am nuts.

Ha!

Woof. 

Woof. 

The squirrel is 

The only 

One who is 

Nutty. 

He eats nuts. 

Nutty. 

Ha!

I am a 

Dog. 

Not nutty. 

Those taste weird-

Pretty dog! 

Woof!

Yip!

Woof!

Yip!

Hello, hello, hello. 

Sniff your butt. 

Where have you 

Been?

All over the 

Place. 

Oh this smells like 

The country. 

Farm. 

Woof!

Yip!

Woof! 

Yes, I did chase 

The squirrel. 

He got away this time. 

Woof!

Yip!

Hello!

Goodbye. 

My owner likes 

Matt. 

I do too. 

He has pretty dog. 

She is very nice. 

And pretty!

Woof!

Woof!

Woof!

New smells. 

New sights. 

New-squirrel!

I run after 

Him. 

Pant. 

Pant. 

Woof!

I almost-

I got a few 

Hairs. 

He got away

Though. 

I will get

Him one 

Day. 

That day is 

Not today. 

Today is for

Seeing pretty dog!

Yip!

Woof!

Yip!

Woof-

Squirrel!

Yes. 

Yes. 

Yes. 

Yes. 

Yip!

Yes!

Pant. 

Pant. 

Treat?

Oh no!

Why no treat?

Bad dog?

Oh-why?

I just wanted

To chase the 

Squirrel. 

Is that 

Bad?

Why?

I run. 

He runs. 

We both run. 

I don’t 

Catch him. 

I bark at his 

Tree. 

Over 

And over again. 

Sure I don’t 

Catch him. 

But that’s why

I try again

And again?

Woof!

Yip!

Pretty dog agrees 

With me. 

Yip!

Yip!

Yip!

Chase-Squirrel!

NO.

I must

Listen to my owner. 

Bye squirrel. 

He chatters at 

Me. 

I think he is 

Sad. 

I am 

Sad. 

No more 

Chasing?

No. 

I don’t get to 

Sleep in my 

Owner’s bed 

Tonight. 

He is 

Mad at me. 

Why? 

I am a dog. 

A good dog?

Yes. 

Not a

...

Bad one. 

That is not

A nice word. 

All I want 

Is love. 

And treats. 

And someplace 

To call home. 

A place where 

I am 

Loved. 

Where I can sleep 

Peacefully. 

And chase squirrels. 

Squirrel!

He chatters at me. 

Woof. 

I bark once. 

Low voice.

Twice. 

Woof!

My owner doesn’t stir. 

I yanked him 

All around town 

Today. 

Oh well. 

The squirrel chatters 

At me. 

I wag my tail. 

Wag. 

Wag. 

Wag.

Then he runs off

Into the night. 

I watch him

Go. 

Truce for now.

Maybe. 

But one day?

He is 

Mine.

All

Mine.

May 18, 2021 19:32

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39 comments

Nainika Gupta
19:36 May 18, 2021

hmm....well. This took a while. Just to get it out of my scattered brain took a while. I really like it though. It's what I think goes through my dog's mind although he's not much of a barker...well except when I sneak up on my family...then he barks and howls like anything. This was surprisingly easy to write. I feel like sometimes my thoughts are. Like this? where they are all over the place and I like writing like this so yeah. :) Hope you enjoyed 🐕🐕

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Zoey Hailey
03:31 May 30, 2021

EEK nainikaaaa I loved this story so much!! Right after I finished reading it, I stared at my dog for a solid 15 minutes XD I loved the scattered sort of style your sentences were in. i thought that was very creative and fun to read. I laughed A LOT reading this story, especially whenever he saw a squirrel. Keep up the amazing work girl!!

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Nainika Gupta
14:06 May 30, 2021

:) Thanks so much ZOey :) Ahaha so did I!! Aw, thanks! I really enjoyed the style that I did :)

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Zoey Hailey
03:28 Jun 02, 2021

Ya it was definitely a great and unique style:)) great job once again girlll! <333

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Anny Alcantara
18:43 May 27, 2021

So refreshing! a Dog's point of view. Laughed a little or a lot

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Nainika Gupta
22:35 May 27, 2021

Aw thanks!

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Ditika Sharma
09:27 May 25, 2021

Well, I didn't expect to stumble across Ruff-i Kaur and their poignant ruminations when I decided to prowl Reedsy today but also I can't say I'm not absolutely delighted about it 😁 PS. Where is their poetry book already?

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Nainika Gupta
12:09 May 25, 2021

:) Thanks! Aw haha :)

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02:55 May 22, 2021

This story was so creative and fun to read! I had a good laugh at your take of a dog's thoughts. I don't think I'll ever look at dogs the same way again. This story was, in a way, strangely relatable—I am somehow not surprised that I can relate to a dog—with the dog's short attention span and scattered thoughts. Great job!

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Nainika Gupta
12:08 May 22, 2021

:) Thanks Annabelle

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12:15 May 22, 2021

No problem!

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Charli Britton
18:05 May 20, 2021

I really liked this! I know it isn't really supposed to be funny but I am finding myself laughing a bit at the way its formatted, and because of its format, the way I read it in my head. I loved that. very creative. It didn't touch everyone's bottommost heart, but thats is okay with me. There wasn't some prophetic, inspirational message. It was simple, and I liked it. (Granted I don't know if you were trying to convey something and my messed up mind didn't pick it up... but hey. Good job. xD)

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Nainika Gupta
20:33 May 20, 2021

Aw, thanks! Yep, it wasn't intended to be super inspirational lol :)

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Charli Britton
00:01 May 21, 2021

I liked it that way. Sometimes it bugs me when the story is that way. I just feel like so many stories are centered around sickness and loss and death, and whereas it happens, I feel like there is another way to get your point across, And I hope no one reading this takes any offense, but I'm kind of getting bored of it. Like been there, read that. If you know what I mean. Or maybe I'm just rambling like usual. ;)

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Nainika Gupta
00:39 May 21, 2021

:) Yep I know what you mean!

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R. B. Leyland
15:04 May 20, 2021

The short sentences really show the short attention span of a dog here, especially their hatred for animals they can't get to intruding on their patch. Was a fun read, made me laugh a lot imagining my own dogs thinking just the same :D

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Nainika Gupta
16:19 May 20, 2021

:) Thanks ben! ahaha yeah, this was fun to write :)

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R. B. Leyland
20:23 May 20, 2021

How did you decide where to split the lines by the way?

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Nainika Gupta
20:35 May 20, 2021

hm...well the answer that i want to give is "oh, it caMe to me in a dReaM and it was aWesOme" but honestly, I sneezed and was like oh-hmm-where does this? oh no crap hm... alright this'll go here. dang it not there. hmm... yeppp... no...? ya? huH? lol :)

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R. B. Leyland
08:48 May 21, 2021

I liked it :D gave it a chaotic feel, the way I think a dog would think!

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Nainika Gupta
13:54 May 21, 2021

:D thats what I thought too!

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Cole Lane
13:52 May 20, 2021

So creative! The text format was perfect to convey the frantic pace that a dog thinks!! If there was a ever a chance I would love to see the squirrel's view of it all. Somehow I think he is enjoying being the antagonist. ;)

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Nainika Gupta
16:16 May 20, 2021

Ha-Thanks so much Cole! :)

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Philia S
11:42 May 20, 2021

Hey Nainika!!! Loved it!! I like how you portray what the dog thinks! It was kinda funny when the dog felt he was a good dog after dragging his owner around the town Great job!

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Nainika Gupta
12:07 May 20, 2021

:) Thanks so much!!

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Philia S
12:09 May 20, 2021

:D If you don't mind, could you leave feedback on any of my stories? Thanks!

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Shreshta Writer
19:10 May 19, 2021

LOVE it! Great job! I am following you, RIGHT this instant.

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Nainika Gupta
22:02 May 19, 2021

Oh, thanks!

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12:09 May 19, 2021

A little scattered, but kinda cool. Very contemporary... I was expecting a reference to the world tree, I think, but it's fine that you didn't add it. Lol, very relatable though.

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Nainika Gupta
13:27 May 19, 2021

:) Thanks!

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Malcolm S
11:23 May 19, 2021

I love it!

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Nainika Gupta
12:01 May 19, 2021

:) thanks!

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Alya Kaikuahine
00:19 May 19, 2021

HOW CAN YOU WRITE SO FAST?!?!?!?!?! I swear you are actually an alien that can just speed write all the time. Anyway... This is so good! I love how the words are broken up into smaller pieces, it really captures the short attention span of the dog. I feel like some days I feel like that too, my thoughts just jumping from place to place. The story is so cute, and it just warms my heart. I love dogs, and I really want one, but sadly, I sneeze a LOT when they're around :(. Great Job!!

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Nainika Gupta
00:20 May 19, 2021

:))) Thanks so much Alya!! Ha- even I do not have that answer ;)

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21:07 May 18, 2021

Is the puzzle Wonder Woman? (I'll give you feedback soon!)

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Nainika Gupta
23:57 May 18, 2021

Yep!

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Sunny 🌼
20:33 May 18, 2021

I like how random and scattered the dog's thoughts are, it's got like the shortest attention span in history. I like your explanation for dogs chasing squirrels too.

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Nainika Gupta
23:58 May 18, 2021

Thanks so much! Yep :)

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Shreshta Writer
19:10 May 19, 2021

By the way, please check out my stories too! If you can...

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