Tippy

By Carla J. Wells

Tippy, a specially gifted, whimsical Australian Shepherd, shares many an adventure with Mandog, his best friend until Tippy decides to go off on his own and finds himself lost and alone.  For a time it looks bleak Tippy will ever reunite with Mandog.  Yet in a spirit of sheer determination and help from his animal friends, Tippy is once again by the side of his favorite human, Mandog, flying high.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carla Wells
• Release date: Mar 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386366720

Book preview

At The Beginning

TIPPY, THAT SURE IS me.  I’ve been called Tippy since my boy, Cartwright ‘Mandog’ Greenleaf, announced ‘Tippy’ in a matter-of-fact declaration to fit the occasion, when I first fell over on my side.  I don’t know why, I’d just fall flat on my side when I was a wee pup.  My people thought something awful must be wrong with me.  My lady person, Margaret, wondered aloud a few times if I should be taken back to the breeder. 

Which wouldn’t be the worse thing in the world, because I’d get to see my three brothers and two sisters and my mom and pop.  I was born in North Kildonan, all of 8.8 km from my new home in Osborne Village. 

The Roundons are a good people family group.  I liked it with them in North Kildonan.  We furry types had the run of the couches, tables, chairs and stairs, anywhere we wanted to go we went.  Nobody knew a thing about manners.  Kinda put me in a tough spot with the Greenleafs, being especially Mrs. Margaret is a lot about keeping things neat and orderly, Mr. Russell, not so much. 

My first day I placed myself onto the kitchen table for a better look around at everything.  I had a field day.  The counter space in that room went on for miles it seemed like to me.  Jumping from table to counters, skidding as I went across to the island, paw toeing across the stove and taking a splash in the sink with the soaking dishes and back to square one, the table. 

Mrs. Margaret plucked me off the table so fast my head spun, that and the lecture she gave me kept me out of there till I got brave enough to venture back in, when she wasn’t home for sure.  She handed me off to Mandog with a towel.  Mrs. Greenleaf is nice in her way; I just stay out of her way. 

Talk of sending me back to my furry family, well that got a big scare from Mandog.  Even worse than that idea, Or give him to the dog shelter, I’ll pay the fee, she yelled as defeat knotted her voice.  Mr. Russell and Mandog released a gasp I thought shook the house.  Mandog couldn’t understand a word she said after that.  He ran in circles, like me sometimes when I need to catch my tail. Mandog jumped up and down saying words I didn’t quite understand then.  Except ‘no’, that one I got.  I’d heard it a lot by then. 

That night Mandog and I hung out in his room inside the Star Wars galaxy lit tent. He played video games while talking to me about plans to keep his mom calm and me living there.  Mom never had a dog or any pet.  You’re her first, well; kinda like I’m her first thing she ever had to take care of.  Dad said she had to get use to me, they both did.  So far so good.  I listened as he talked.  If we can get her to like you, then she’ll have to want to keep you.  That’s it.  He had found the answer.  Bright boy, he was definitely onto something.  He kept talking and I listened till I fell asleep.

The next morning, I was up early and so was Mrs. Margaret she had put breakfast out on the patio low table and I smelled eggs and bacon.