Howling in A Flat

Toby Beagle and his owner, Brandon, were walking down the sidewalk, in a residential area, one lovely Fall Day. Fresh air wafted into open windows and out again, bringing forth sounds from within. They heard bits of an argument, a man gargling, a kid wailing, and TVs blaring.

At one house, a lady, who apparently considered herself opera-ready, was belting out an aria a bit off key and it assailed Toby’s ears.  He immediately protested the only way he knew how. He howled! Loudly.

Unfortunately, the soprano want-to-be stuck her head out the window and said, “That … dog is interfering with my practice!  And not only that, he doesn’t hold his notes long enough. Young man, you should keep him quiet!”

I’ll show her! Toby said to himself. He took a deep breath and held his howl as long as he could, then exploded with hacking noises, as if his insides were erupting.

Brandon just smiled, tipping his Aussie hat to her, and led his hacking canine friend away.

“Good try, Tobe. You sure showed her.”

Toby, however, was incensed. And truth be told, Brandon was a bit miffed, himself. So, they began taking occasional walks by her window, every now and again, and when she was singing, Toby joined her. Finally, she closed her window. And that took care of that. Until … one day she apparently needed fresh air.

So, it began again. And the strangest thing happened.

Toby’s howl began to counteract her off notes in an amazing, howling, harmonizing way.  One day she stuck her head out the window and smiled. And the next thing they knew, she was ringing their door bell.

Brandon and Toby answered it. The lady was all “a-gush!” She looked at Toby and said, “Did you know you were harmonizing with me?”

Toby had no idea what she was carrying on about. Brandon threw back his head and laughed and laughed.

The lady departed in a huff. Toby sulked. Brandon looked at Toby and laughed all over again.

Apparently, the lady told people about Toby, because out of the blue, reporters were crowding Brandon’s door, wanting an interview. Cameras were flashing. Toby was eating it up, posing with the lady opera star wanta-be, and giving his master “I told you so” looks.

When the TV station called, wanting Toby to be on TV, Brandon’s first reaction was no, but realizing how happy Toby would be, he agreed. When the day finally came, he gave Toby a bath and off they went.

The thirty minute scheduled performance, however, lasted only a short while when it became obvious that someone was off key—enough so that those recording and filming in the studio were looking at each other and making faces.

Of course, the soprano blamed it on Toby, who couldn’t retaliate. Sad and embarrassed, he looked over at his master. Brandon not only told her that Toby had howled in perfect pitch, but when they got in the car, they sang and howled together all the way home.

And, by golly, that made up for everything! Toby felt good. Support in the face of opposition is a test of true friendship.