How the Dog Got his Bark
(With apologies to Rudyard Kipling)
Long ago, when the world first began, dogs were quiet animals. They did what they were told, particularly when it came to fetching things, and lived a quiet life, usually.
One particular dog, named Terry, liked to jump on people to get their attention. He lived with a man named Joe. Joe did not like to be jumped on. Every time Terry jumped up to get Joe’s attention, Joe hit him with a stick.
This was not very nice. Terry did not like to be hit with a stick. But he still wanted to get Joe’s attention sometimes.
One night, Joe was asleep and Terry was resting at the foot of Joe’s bed. He wasn’t quiet tired yet, so he just rested. Then he heard something approaching. He didn’t know what it was, but he knew it wasn’t good. He stood up on his four legs. Joe kept sleeping. Then Terry realized that it was a big bear. The animal was coming toward Joe in his bed. Terry realized that Joe was not going to wake up before the bear attacked him.
Terry knew he would be hit by the stick if he jumped on Joe. But he wanted to protect Joe. He jumped up on Joe. Joe, as was his instinct, grabbed the stick, which was under his pillow. But Joe missed Terry. Terry, in his excitement, swallowed the stick. Joe was still kind of asleep. Terry didnâ’t like the feeling of the stick in his throat so he tried to cough it out. It wouldn’t budge. But instead of silence, a sound came out:
“Rroof! Rroof!”
Joe jumped up. The combination of the noise from Terry and Joe’s movement caused the bear to flee. And both Terry and Joe were safe.
From then on, whenever Terry wanted to get Joe’s attention, he would simply”Rroof”, and Joe would respond. Joe liked that much better.
And that is how the dog got his bark.
[Note: Technically, I don’t think I quite followed the prompt, as it was supposed to be a “modern” take on a fairy tale. Instead, I did my own take on Kipling’s “Just So Stories” idea. It’s the first thing that came to mind.]
I thought he was going to hit the bear with the stick by accident and thus become man’s best friend. You surprised me. Dog barks do sound like they’re trying to clear their throat.
Thanks for listing me on your blog roll. I have added you to mine on http://www.ChefdruckWrites.blogspot.com as well!
@Chefdruck: I want to list those that visit my site. Would you rather I linked to chefdruckwrites? or both? I didn’t realize there was a different site.
I dont know this story … so thank you for sharing it. My son was asking today why dogs pee on trees as they walk past … which made me think of the old folk song about why dogs sniff each other.
At least if he asks now why dogs bark I can retell your story to him. Hope that you become a regular Friday Fictioner.
@Jodi Cleghorn: I’m reading the Just So Stories now. They are the explanation of how things came to be (how the camel got his hump, how the elephant got his trunk, etc.) and so I took the same idea about dogs. He didn’t actually write one for dogs that I’ve read, but it’s the first thing that came to mind.
I’d recommend Just So Stories. I don’t know how old your son is, but it’s just a great, clean classic for children.
I love Kipling and his just-so stories that I’ve only recently read myself! You’ve really captured the innocence and fun of his own work and made it your own, well done!
@Dr Norf:
I’m in the midst of reading Kipling’s Just So Stories again–I just read the Cat Who Walked Alone, in which we learn how the dog became man’s best friend. I truly just wrote what came to my mind first. Copying his idea is what happens since I’m reading too much, I guess. I wasn’t thinking out of the box….
Hi -a little late – but my comments reflect those before me. My two kids watch an animated Kipling ‘just so’ collection of stories and are constantly asking me why or how this animal does… (insert certain behaviour/ colour of coat/ noise it makes etc)
love to see more of your writing!
hugs Annie
@Annie:
Yes, they are great stories! I highly recommend reading them to your kids!