43 Comments
User's avatar
Sharron Bassano's avatar

"I inched backward toward my truck, keeping an eye on the two of them. Herb laughed nervously..." This story twisted dark rather quickly! ha ha ha There's no doubt that Hunter OWNS Herb.. Visitor got smart and escaped just in time, if you ask me....

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you for the kind comment, Sharron. This was just a little something that popped up out of nowhere. Of course there's always a dog nudging at me.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

I love to see you writing again. I know you are busy with other things, but it is a delight to see you in my inbox.

Jim Cummings's avatar

That's about the nicest thing anyone could say. Thank you, my friend.

Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Herb and Hunter are a team and they each know their parts.

Jim Cummings's avatar

Yes and they seem to be stuck with each other. Thanks for reading and commenting, Mark.

Jill CampbellMason's avatar

Fun and original

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you, Jill.

just mud by Ron's avatar

This dialog is so funny; you could maybe have this dog. . .'do you have ESPN?!!' Each line is more crazy than the last, and so believable with the characters. I was trying to get the audio to play because it 'sounds' so funny as well! Backing out the driveway with parts intact. Feels like a win! Great read; and thanks for letting us safely listen, Mr. Jim.

Jim Cummings's avatar

Haha, yes, anyone who subscribes to me is guaranteed to leave with all parts intact. Thanks for the great comment, Ron. Hope all is well with you.

James Ron's avatar

Wow, that's a good looking dog. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation between the two, er, three? of them. Big time GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL on this one, Jim.

Jim Cummings's avatar

Haha! Yes, Hunter understands more than he lets-on. Thanks for the support, my friend.

K.C. Knouse's avatar

It just kept getting better and better until that dog howled like the Mexican soccer sportscaster. That took the cake, Brother. This was a feast of humor, Jim. I couldn't get enough.

Jim Cummings's avatar

Between watching twenty or more World Cup games, and a dog incessantly nudging at me, this one came about quite naturally, KC. I'm glad you liked it and thanks for the restack, my friend.

M.E. Proctor's avatar

I love this. Great progression of dread. What's funny is that I wrote a 'Black and Tan' story too (it's in my collection: https://books2read.com/u/3Lx0v5)... and it's about a dog, and it's a horror story. I call it 'my Stephen King story'. Gets people saying: what the hell! There must be something about that color, lol.

Jim Cummings's avatar

"progression of dread," I love that. How funny that we both made one of these big old lovable hounds into the bad guy. I'll have to check out your story. Thanks for your support, Martine.

M.E. Proctor's avatar

My dog is not big and lovable... he's worse... he's a needy puppy, oh wait, he's not needy, it's the human who's needy... and the puppy is...mmmhhh... evil? yes, you have to read it!

Parker McCoy's avatar

"Favorite team? He's a dog for God's sake."

"Of course."

Hahaha. I think Hunter would definitely take over the potential buyer's life. Some dogs can be that way. I don't think Herb's ever getting rid of him. Hehe. Awesome story, Jim.

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thanks for the kind comment Parker. Yeah, I think Herb is going to be stuck with Hunter for a long time.

Nick Di Carlo, Story Writer's avatar

This is such a nicely wrought story. On one hand, the tone feels so low key and comfortable. Yet--line by line readers can feel the hairs rise on the back of their necks. The dialogue works to perfectly illustrate that down home, country kind of humor--while scaring one a bit more with each line. One moves through the story never knowing who's gonna do what to whom. I think the ending is wonderfully ambiguous. The dog, of course, is the star of the show.

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you, Nick for your generous comment. I'm happy you liked it. I hope you will stick around, brother.

Nick Di Carlo, Story Writer's avatar

I’m always looking for folks to post stories—more stories and fewer political memes. Not long ago I posted a plea for people to post stories or poems, maybe a doggy in the window tale—even a one act play—any kind of narrative that exercised one’s head and heart.

More readers—careful and considerate readers would be nice, too.

Mark VanLaeys's avatar

I love it Jim. It brought a big smile to this dog lover.

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thanks, Mark. Dog lovers are my kind of people.

Sharon Hudson's avatar

I laughed all the way through this, Jim!! You paint quite a picture of this dog/owner relationship...hilarious!

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you Sharon! I'm glad you got a chuckle from it.

Aimee Kluck's avatar

Ha. Dog lovers tale. My dog is so possessive of me I beholding to him. But ever think of getting rid of him ? Never. I liked the character’s way of talk and how funny you made the scene

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you Aimee. Same here, don't mess with my dog!

Terry Freedman's avatar

Brilliant, Jim. I swear animals understand us. Once, when I lived at home, we were all watching tv, including the dog, and i said to my sister: pass the foot rest. The dog jumped up and started barking at me, and only stopped when I said I was only joking!

Jim Cummings's avatar

Oh Terry, dogs are not footrests. That's what cats are for!

Thanks for the comment, my friend.

Jesse Gleim Writer's avatar

I needed a good laugh today Jim, and your story gave me quite a few. Very picky dog, eh?

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thanks Jesse. Glad you got a chuckle. Yes, Hunter seems to know what he wants.

Marty D. Snow's avatar

This is excellent!

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you Marty.

The Radical Individualist's avatar

Great story, artfully told. Don't underestimate what a dog can understand, but they have their own perspective.

Our dog, Toby, ignores the TV. But when a trained dog act came on, you could see Toby trying to figure out why the dogs were doing all those strange things.

Jim Cummings's avatar

Thanks, Chip. Yes, it's hard to know what they process and what they simply ignore. One of my dogs watches the triple crown races with me every year. She loves to watch the horses run.

Jim J Wilsky's avatar

Ha. Good one Jimbo.

Jim Cummings's avatar

Just a little fun ditty. Thanks, buddy.

Jim J Wilsky's avatar

Any story about dogs and ‘I’ll stay.’