The Contest

Scott was fed up, he was not only missing Eemay terribly, but also the companionship he had with Nettie. He missed the privilege of a dog’s life at the palace, the sumptuous dinners, the comfort, the freedom he had running through the fields. Life at Baskerville Kennels was just so restricted and controlled. Yes, they were fed and allowed outside, but the food he suspected was the cheapest they could buy, and even when allowed outside, it was only in the confines of a compound, with a pack of other dogs.

He had made friends with a lovely little Corgi named Lola, but had also been threatened and bullied unmercifully by Tyson, a muscular thick set Bull Terrier who growled and snapped at him constantly. He had been encouraged by Eemay’s visit, and whenever anyone entered the compound he hoped it would be Eemay returning to release him, but every time his hopes had been dashed

He lay on his mat in his kennel, listening to the incessant barking of the other dogs. I don’t know how much longer I can suffer this, he thought, when suddenly, he heard a voice he recognised. He looked up to see Penny walking towards his kennel, with a lead in her hand. He began turning madly round in circles, pure joy coursing through him at the prospect of finally being freed.

She slipped the lead over his eager head, paid up the fees for his stay, and left. On the journey to the hotel, she told him everything that had happened, including Eemay’s false wedding plans with Hugh, the swarming paparazzi and her fall from Calista which, she assured him, was not serious.

“I have the reversal spell with me, which has to be taken with food. Be prepared,” she warned. “The process can take up to thirty minutes, but just think, it will be worth it to be yourself again and Emm should be well enough to visit you tomorrow.”

Scott started to yap wildly, overjoyed at the news.

They arrived at the hotel and booked in at reception.

The receptionist busied herself arranging paperwork and activating a key card. She then fastened her cold steely blue eyes on Penny. “This is a dog friendly hotel. However, we do operate a strict No Dog Fouling policy. Please make sure you clean up after your dog,” she ordered, handing over a copy of the ‘dog fouling code’. “Please read and then sign on the dotted line.”

CYBER HOTEL DOG FOULING CODE

All dog owners must obey,

The dog poo code, throughout their stay.

Each time your dog does a poo,

This is what you have to do.

Take a plastic bag, and like a glove,

Insert your hand right to the top.

Pick up the poo, then peel it off,

And tie the ends into a knot.

Take it to the dog poo bin,

Lift the lid and drop it in.

Scoop and bin each number two.

Before it sticks to someone’s shoe.

Our warden keeps a constant vigil,

So ignore and leave it at your peril.

A hefty fine will be imposed,

If you fail to follow the dog poo code.

We welcome dogs, but don’t forget,

You must always clean up after it.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Of your kind co-operation.

“Oh, absolutely,” Penny said, scrawling her signature on the document to confirm her acceptance, then picking up the room key.

“For your convenience, you will find a supply of plastic bags inside your room, which opens out through patio doors on to a communal square, where you will find the nearest poo bin.”

Penny thanked her for the information and led Scott across the reception area following an arrow that pointed to the ground floor rooms. She arrived at room number 25, unlocked the door and went in.

He immediately turned in circles, barking madly.

“Calm down Scott, we need to get ourselves settled in.”

She had brought with her a tracksuit for Scott, a tin of dog food and the reversal spell.

“Right then,” she said with conviction. “I’m now going to prepare your food, and will leave it on the floor in the en suite bathroom, to make sure you have privacy while reversal takes place.”

After sprinkling the powder onto his food and mixing it well in, she put the bowl down on to the bathroom floor, as Scott padded in

“Right Scott, I’m going to close the door now, but if you need me, I’ll be just outside. Good luck, see you, in person, in thirty minutes,” she said, closing the door behind her.

Scott was eager and excited at the prospect of returning to his old self and ate the food greedily. He still remembered the trauma he had suffered when he had turned into a dog, and braced himself for yet another life changing experience.

He waited with nervous anticipation for the spell to kick in and positioned himself in front of the bathroom mirror, ready to meet his reflection when the transformation was complete. His excitement grew as he started to experience the first twinges, quickly followed by the most extraordinary sensation, as if his entire body was being inflated by a pump, his skin stretching and tightening, until he felt like an inflated balloon, ready burst. He took in some deep breaths and closed his eyes. In a trance like state, he was able to isolate his brain from his physical pain and distress, allowing the spell to invade and ravage his body.

When he finally opened his eyes, what he saw filled him with horror. He stared down at his legs, all four of them, but they were longer, more thick set with huge paws as big as spades, covered in thick black coarse fur. Standing on his hind legs with his front paws on the edge of the bath, he caught sight of his reflection in the wall mounted mirror, and instantly recoiled. He appeared to have been transformed into a huge wolf like creature, his head as big as a bucket.

In disbelief he took another long, hard look in the mirror and stared into the eyes of a beast. Something has gone horribly wrong!

Penny could not settle, and kept glancing at her watch, it was the longest thirty minutes of her entire life. Finally, she made her way nervously to the bathroom and tapped on the door.

“Scott are you Okay?”

All was silent.

“Scott, please speak to me.” The continued silence was deafening.

In desperation she opened the door, staggering backwards in complete shock and absolute disbelief.

“What on earth has happened,” she wailed. “You’ve turned into a German Shepherd, and a massive one at that.” Scott released a deep throaty bark, his sad eyes in his huge black head blinking back at her.

“What on earth are we going to do now?”

“We will have to find out from Vilelet what went wrong, but first I must tell Emm.”

“Look Scott, no harm can come to you here and I promise I’ll be back just as soon as I can. Do you understand me?”

He barked once and jumped on to the bed, which groaned under his great weight.

When he was alone, he again began to ponder his fate. I may not be myself yet, but at least I’m not a wolf. A German Shepherd eh? Does look a bit like a wolf, an easy mistake to make, he thought. Whatever next, Hugh has got a lot to answer for, but I know Eemay is determined to sort this out and get her revenge.

The transformation had left him completely exhausted, so he curled up, closed his eyes and went fast asleep.