Today is the half-way point of Blogdramedy’s Summer Writing Challenge: Blogshorts. The theme this year is the Dog Days of Summer. 10 days, 10 dogs (nine of which were famous dog-characters chosen by Blogdramedy as inspiration), each story 110 words.
Today’s dog is, well, there’s some confusion about today’s dog. My list had Dickens’ Jip, but apparently the list was changed to include Eddie from Frasier.
Well, you’re getting Jip’d.
Dog Days of Summers
5
“Some guard dog this guy is.”
Turning off her boom box, she shields her eyes, and looks up from her sketchpad at the man. He bends down, scratching her dog’s ears. He’s cute.
Plus five points, she thinks.
“It’s true. He’s usually a vicious defender of his lady’s honor.”
His gaze narrows, clearly evaluating whether she is serious or flirting. Maybe both.
“What’s his name?”
“Jip”
“Jip? Like from David Copperfield?”
She nods.
Well-read, plus 15 points.
“Well, Dora sure did love her dog, didn’t she?”
She smiles.
Plus 10 more points.
“But wasn’t Dora sort of a dolt?”
Now it was her turn to reckon flirtatiousness.
“Hi. I’m Evan.”
Stevil 
I thought I was the only one. I had my Jip post all written, but then saw it was Eddie from Frasier. Just as well in my case, as having two English accent posts in a row was not likely a good idea. Nice post!
Thanks! I tried to think about could I change it on the fly, but then I’d have had to come up with a whole different story — and man, you know I wasn’t gonna do that! :)
I’m sure your Jip post would have been pip, pip.
It was pretty good. Jip develops a taste for English Bitters and becomes an alcoholic dog, living under tables in pubs and hoping for spills.
And then went into rehab and came up with a new snack food…Jip Dip.
My Jip post may be an 11th day bonus track.
I approve of her boyfriend material grading process.
I thought it was important to suggest literacy >> looks. Though looks still help. :)
My bad. I only tweeted the change once. But as Jip stories go, this one was classic. ;)
It had a very Jane Austen feel. Or was that Steve Austen?
Whatever. Maybe not bionic…definitely organic.
That is a good way to tell if a man is worthy of a date. Gotta love a man who loves a dog.
HE — I never knew this when I was a younger man. My doglessness was considered my glaring weakness among certain ladyfriends.
This is a tough-as-hell exercise, yet you have written some really excellent vignettes. Well done, Dr Betz.
Thanks Tom! I’ve sort of liked the way some of these have come together.
I once dated a man who let his golden retriever be his wing man. Unfortunately, I found out after our second date that the man was a National Review neo-conservative who thought Dickens had it all wrong about poverty and justice when we discussed David Copperfield.
He may have been a nice guy and good marriage material, but I’ll never know. :-/
Crap, html error.
HG — I never appreciated the power of the dog during my younger dating years. If I had only known!!
I never saw the Jip, which is good, because I have no idea about that. As it is I only have Frank and Blacktoe that are unfamiliar.
Joe — thank goodness for Wikipedia, that’s all I can say. :)
Nice story, Steve. Literary dogs are really cool. Loved what Amy said in the comments :)
Amy’s got the right of it, I think. :)