“Are you sure this is alright?” Star Dog asked as he followed his human companion for the day around the stage. His ears were slightly laid back and his steps were tentative as he watched all of the other volunteers at work on the stage. Some were painting a few fixtures, others were taping blocking on the stage, and a couple with headsets were off to the side looking over the stage directions on a clipboard.

“This is community theatre, and you are part of the community, my good sir,” Clancy said with a smile as he pranced around the stage before resting against a hardy stage set. It was on wheels, so he was able to easily spin it around to reveal a fancy circular staircase. “I told Nathan you’d be getting in a lot of work experience today, and I intend to hold to my promise.”

“I just want to make sure I’m not in the way,” Star Dog said, but even while he wanted to remain modest, his curiosity was being tugged in so many directions with all lively activity surrounding him. “I didn’t imagine it could feel like this.”

“What were you expecting?” Clancy chuckled as he started roving through the costume rack backstage. He found a vampire lord outfit from last Halloween’s production and held it against himself while looking in the mirror. Star Dog eyed the costume as well. “Did you really believe Nathan when he said this theatre was haunted?”

“Would it be foolish to admit it?” Star Dog said to the dirty blond teenager in the mirror, who turned and dramatically grasped his muzzle in the crook of his finger. He peered into his eyes and smiled widely.

“Absolutely not, because it’s absolutely true,” Clancy winked and then went back to ransacking the costumes before explaining. “There’s so much energy poured into theatrical arts, especially here. It’s impossible that none of it was captured in the walls and in the sets. Everything is made from our sweat and breath, so everything we do captures a little bit of it. Our spirit beats on this stage, and in many other places. Our director swears up and down that she saw a ghost in one of the halls. I’m telling you, it’s one of ours.”

“Interesting,” Star Dog said, not sure what else to say. He wasn’t sure if the tale intrigued him to stay or gave him second thoughts. He had faced all manner of mortal men, but anything beyond the realm of the living and he wondered if it really mattered how many abilities genetic engineering bestowed on him. Ghosts probably don’t care if a dog can talk or not.

“Here, try this on,” Clancy interrupted his thoughts by tugging on a Victorian suit and cravat over Star Dog’s lupine snout. It took some fiddling, and Clancy even had to re-do it once he found out it was a three piece suit, but after the torture was complete, Star Dog couldn’t help but flash a toothy canine smile in the grimy mirror at his own dapper reflection.

“If only I had some steampunk goggles,” Clancy muttered with his fingers to his chin thoughtfully, but he clapped his hands joyously anyways. “You look great! We could really put a twist on this new vampire screenplay we got in. Have you acted before?”

“I guess you could say that,” Star Dog muttered while considering his reflection. Does it count as acting when others thrust the role upon one without their knowledge or consent? It technically is still fulfilling a role, which is something Star Dog was all too familiar with – but that was behind him now, as he had to keep reminding himself.

“There’s so much that goes into acting,” Clancy said while picking out a costume for himself. “So much more that goes into theatre. I can show you how to work the lights, and we can help build a few last minute sets. Are you good with power tools?”

“Can I start with the powerless tools?” Star Dog whimpered, and Clancy laughed.

“You’ll do fine,” he said while donning a frilled shirt and a billowing velvet cape. “The show must go on!”

“Come on, Star Dog, we don’t want to be late!” Nathan called as he locked the car and started walking towards the park. Star Dog grabbed the blanket in his maw and followed at a joyful trot. It was a beautiful day in Prism Park, and the sun made all of the ornamental fixtures sparkle and warmed Star Dog’s black and tan fur. The pavement was slightly too hot for his padded feet, so he skipped lightly up onto the grass and bounded up to Nathan. The young man laughed and swung the picnic basket to the other side to give his canine companion room next to him to walk.

“A small part of me thought you were joking about the picnic,” Star Dog mumbled around the blanket.

“Why would I joke about this? It’s a gorgeous day, and Nicole’s meeting us there with even more food,” Nathan said brightly.

“Thank Anubis, I wasn’t sure about that casserole you made,” Star Dog said as he looked for where Nicole might be set up.

“It’s my mother’s recipe,” Nathan sniffed. “Anubis?”

“Egyptian God that resembles canines,” Star Dog explained. “I’m trying to make it catch on.”

“Good luck,” Nathan said tersely as he spotted Nicole and waved to her with his free hand. The duo made their way up the small hill to join her. It was a gentle slope with the softest grass that was kindly shaded by the biggest willow tree in the park. It was isolated from the other families that were enjoying the day with their small kids running around, and while they were fun to watch from a distance, they also wanted their own privacy where a certain talking dog could be a talking dog without fear of someone listening in.

Not that Star Dog was a secret anymore, but the unwanted attention would ruin their day together. The point was trying to get over the Star Dog Fiasco that the multinational corporation known as Vertechs would perpetuate. It was hard to imagine that was a year ago already. It felt like a lifetime, Star Dog mused while looking at Nathan and Nicole hugging. After they left each other’s warm embrace, Star Dog inched forward for his own warm greeting from Nicole, who bent down and grasped his warm fur. She kissed him on his tan forehead and then stood up with the blanket in hand.

“Thanks Star Dog,” she said as she spread the blanket out. It was large enough to accommodate all of them, but it was a cozy fit. The food was spread out with appetizers first, including a small salad and cheese and crackers. Star Dog started to gobble up a lot of it, including the garnish which caused Nicole to panic and say, “Star Dog! Wait!” before pulling the plastic and utensils out of the way of the snapping canine jaws. With a small burp, Star Dog apologized and took the special food that Nathan had prepared for him.

“Not that he needs it,” Nathan commented. “Eating is mostly a joy for him since his metabolism can burn off anything, but he can similarly last weeks on a few pieces of kibble. Your father did a great job with him.”

“Thank you,” Nicole said while biting into a sandwich. “Do you really think I should follow in his footsteps?”

“If you want,” Nathan said noncommittally. “It depends on which degree you want to pursue next.”

“You say that as if I’m collecting them,” she smirked.

“I thought you were,” Nathan teased with a wink. “Eventually I imagined you would get them all, and plaster your office with them like wallpaper.”

“I honestly don’t know what I want to do next in life,” Nicole said while she wove her gentle fingers through Star Dog’s fur. “I just know that I’m finally getting to a happy place now, and it’s because of you two.”

Star Dog licked her fingers gently, both looking for cracker crumbs, and also to comfort her. He understood about finally getting to a happy place, and he could only hope that this one didn’t go crashing into the sea like the wrecks of his other incidents of happiness.

The sunlight streaming in through the second story window fell right across my bed. I stretched my long, canine limbs and then snapped my muzzle open in a yawn. My velvet ears swiveled to catch the nuances of breakfast sounds that floated up the stairs. The window was open just enough to let in the fresh breeze of summer, and I inhaled it with all my being. Smells of the garden permeated my being, and I bounded up with unbridled enthusiasm and joy. We were going to work out in the garden today, and it was going to be special.

I raced downstairs and out the sliding door before I even saw my family seated around the kitchen island for breakfast because I knew I had no time to waste on such a glorious day. My padded feet touched the warm grass as I hopped off the patio and surveyed my green kingdom of towering sunflowers and rose bush trellises. All of the flowers were in full bloom and filled out the edge of the yard where the fence hugged the perimeter with their vibrant and diverse hues. It truly felt as if I was entering a magical kingdom, and not far behind me came the little prince.

“Star Dog?” Max peeked out the sliding glass door and tentatively stepped out onto the patio. His young, round face was full of worry, but I trotted back to him to give his hand reassuring licks. I took the edge of his sleeve at his wrist and pulled him gently into the yard, and his face brightened at the sight of the flowers showing off their colorful petals.

“You don’t have to be afraid, Max,” I said, my voice firm with conviction as we surveyed the garden together. I watched as he turned and took in the fruits of our hard labor for the past few months since spring broke the cold. Before the winter could reclaim the land and bury the life, I knew we had to take advantage of the beauty, and I was glad Max was finally out here to enjoy it. “You’re safe here. This is my magical kingdom.” I winked conspiratorially at my boy, and he giggled at the thought.

“Who’s the King?” he asked with a wide, boyish smile.

“Well, I am, of course,” I said, nodding at the tree that I favored. “That is my throne.” Max was sent into a fit of giggles, but I tugged at a protruding pocket of his cargo pants and lead him around to introduce him to all of the plants that I adored.

“Do you always talk to them this much?” Max said as we cover the western bushes.

“Of course,” I said. “That’s why they’ve grown so well. I gave them attention. They’re peeking out to see if I’ll tell them the end of the story today.”

“Will you?” Max said absentmindedly as he grazed a long petal from a sunflower with a firm stalk.

“I might, and I might not,” I whispered. “I’ll have you know that the best stories never end. Not truly.”

“Really? Can you tell me one of them?” Max said, his eyes full of hope.

“I suppose you’ve been good…” I teased, and then I leaned forward and bent my knees, which Max took as an invitation to hop on. His young, lithe frame was easy to carry, especially on my larger beast one. His fingers entangled in my furry mane at the scruff of my neck, and I bounded around the yard while he laughed joyously. I varied my speed and tempo, and even gave him a few close calls in a fake tumble, but truthfully he was always safe astride my back. I would guard him with my life, and deep down I think he knew that. When we were both exhausted, we finally collapse below my tree and panted in unison.

“Can you tell me the story now?” Max begged.

“Alright. Which one would you like to hear?” I relented with my canine smile spreading across my muzzle. The sun was bright and the wind was light, and I couldn’t have had better company than the boy I had sworn to protect and love as he grows up.

“Tell me how this kingdom was created,” Max said, again looking at all the different plants and how they weaved together to frame the yard and simulate their own little village.

“Very well. It all started with a seed of hope, and with a helping of love, all life was able to flourish and thrive in the kingdom.”

I never wanted that moment to end.

Star Dog’s Internal Dialogue, Disc 83:

“I spent a lot of time as a floating consciousness, and that gives one time to travel along all the permutations that a life can lead. I wondered who I was, who I could and would be, and who I might be. In all the facets of life that I could traverse, I never could fully explore every nook and cranny of any style or taste I might possess, even though I had virtual eons at my disposal.

What is reality?

If I looked deep inside myself, could I glean what my consciousness had a penchant for over any other? Was this truly me, or just programmed memories?”

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