It is a Thursday evening, and you are playing with [[the white dog]]. Do you want to play? [[Yes]] [[No]]The white dog is small and fluffy, with bright black eyes and brown streaks near his nose. He is standing by his basket, wagging his tail and looking at you. He is very cute, and you are very tired. [[back|Beginning]]Great! You are going to play with the white dog. Dog is overjoyed. What is the name of the white dog? [[Jeffie]] [[Tinkerbell]] [[The Duke of Glams]]You are too tired this evening. You shake your head at the small white dog and curl up on the couch instead. The dog understands. But that doesn't mean it plans to leave you alone. Oh no, never that! After a very short moment, you feel a thud on the end of the couch. Then there is a wet nose snuffling near your head. Do you [[pet the dog]] or [[push it away]]? A fine name. A splendid name! Jeffie loves it. [[continue]]A fine name. A splendid name! Tinkerbell loves it. [[continue]] A fine name. A splendid name! The Duke of Glams loves it. [[continue]]So how do you wish to play with your furry friend? The dog stands by the basket of toys, eyeing you beseechingly. There is a wooden woven basket with a red blanket nearby, and a fat ladybug that squeaks. [[Blanket]] [[Ladybug]]You pick up the red blanket. The dog's eyes widen. This is the best game! Its favorite game! You dangle the red blanket in the air and the dog prances around. Oh, boy, oh, boy, what happens next? With a whoosh, you toss the blanket over the dog! And... [[tuck it in firmly around the sides!]] [[place the cloth dog bed on top!]] [[climb on top of the table!]]You reach over and place your foot over the ladybug. The dog is breathless. What will you do next? Oh, the poor thing cannot stand the suspense! Slowly, you lean forward and place your shoe on the ladybug. It wheezes out a high-pitched squeak. OH NO! The dog is now breathless with excitement. Will you [[pick up the ladybug]] or will you [[step harder]]?Bend down, quickly. Already, dog is snuffling around, trying to find a way out of the clever trap you have made, but there is no way! No possible way! That the adorable pooch could get out! You tuck the blanket around the sides, rolling dog over a little to reach beneath, and soon the dog is flailing and snuffling inside the blanket. A ferocious beast! After a few minutes, the dog finds its way out. So exciting, being trapped under a blanket! The dog is so delighted that he races around the room in circles, panting. [[End (for now)]]Ah, yes, the Turtle maneuver. Not only is the small dog hidden in a blanket, but now, it has a turtle shell that follows it around! So adorable! So cute! The dog snuffles back and forth and manages to poke nose out from under blanket...then stops, confused. What is this? What is this trickery? There's more weight than the small dog expected! Honestly, what cruel world is this? The dog wiggles out from under blanket, then pauses, bed still on its hindquarters. It lies down, yawns, and licks its nose. [[End (for now)]]The dog escapes in record time! Then stops, baffled. Where have you gone? It is a small dog, remember, and it has not looked up yet -- It has looked up! It sees you on the table! It tilts its head at you. Humans are strange, its expression seems to say. But already, the dog's tail is wagging back and forth, delighted at this new game. So exciting, humans are! Such delight! It runs to get its bone, then stands beneath the table eyeing you beseechingly. [[End (for now)]]After a long moment of thought, it curls up at your feet and shuts its eyes tight. What a peaceful evening! How very nice this is! With snow falling outside and a small white dog by your feet! [[End (for now)]]<i>Gross</i>. The dog should not be licking your face! The dog should not be sniffing your face! You are trying to sleep. You push the small white dog off of the couch. "No," you say. The dog looks forlorn, but only for an instant. Then the dog hops up again, places its head on your leg, and lets out a contented sigh. Is this [[acceptable|close your eyes]]? [[Yes|close your eyes]] No, I want to [[pet the dog]]. [[Oh my GOD]]You shut your eyes and exhale slowly. Outside, snow drifts gently downward. Inside, the couch is soft, and you are so tired, and the peaceful breathing of the dog by your feet is enough to lull anyone to sleep... You wake up later to see pale light filtering through the window. The small dog is still curled up at your feet. [[End (for now)]]You lift your foot briefly to grab the ladybug. The dog's eyes widen, and it darts forward, but too late! You are holding the ladybug! The dog's tail is wagging frantically. It knows what comes next: you will throw the ladybug. Won't you? Oh, won't you? Will you [[throw the ladybug]]? Or [[hold it tantalizingly]]? Or just [[pretend]]?You press your foot down harder. Now the ladybug is smashed flat against the ground. More importantly, now the dog <i>cannot get</i> the ladybug! The dog kneels forward on the ground. His snout presses forward into your shoe. His tail waves back and forth enthusiastically. He whines softly. This dog. THIS DOG. It will not listen! It is not doing what it's supposed to do! "NO," you repeat again, louder this time. You pick up the dog and plunk it on the ground, then glare it at pointedly. The small white dog understands. It wags its tail and looks at you, but then goes trotting off -- trot, trot, trot -- to lie down on the other side of the carpet. It rolls on its belly and examines you. Finally, you can [[get some sleep.]] You could [[watch TV]], or [[read that novel you set aside.]] [[Or...]][[End (for now)]] [[End (for now)]][[End (for now)]][[End (for now)]] [[End (for now)]]I suppose you could go back and play with the small white dog. It looks so beseeching. [[End (for now)]]You reach for the remote and flip on the television. Fortunately for you (and the small white dog), there are some great shoes on TV! There's [[that animated show about the mischievous dog]]. Or that [[heartwarming saga of a young girl and her beloved Pekingese]]. Perhaps [[Courageous Dogs Worldwide]] or [[The Bark and the Beautiful]]? Thank you so much for playing "Playing with the White Dog!" Eventually, this game is going to continue for more relaxing dog adventures: eating delicious snacks (should you share?), going for a walk (but how long will it be?), and finally relaxing to sleep. Based on how you interact with it, the dog will react differently when its REAL owners come home the next day. Thank you again for reading and playing. Have a great rest of your day, and I hope to see you soon!Oh no. Ohhhhhh no. Now you're giving him ideas. [[End (for now)]] You used to be a little like this. Well, you didn't have a Pekingese. And you weren't a young girl growing up in rural Idaho with your six siblings and your childhood best friend and also a weird Martian living next door. But you were definitely adventurous and curious and wide-eyed. You were a stupid little kid, but...you think, if you went back, you would have liked you. You would have liked the Pekingese, too. The small white dog certainly seems to. [[End (for now)]] [[End (for now)]][[End (for now)]]