this was not what Calvin had in mind when he decided to get a dog. Scotty was meant to be his way into the world. They could take hikes together and people would come say hi, and in turn, said hello to Calvin too. But instead, he has a shy dog who pees like a girl and gets scared when people try touch him.

Calvin sighs as Scotty stops at another tree, sniffling and circling the same spot as if it would suddenly turn into a different tree if he left.

“Scotty, we gotta go.” Calvin gives a weak tug at the leash, but the dog doesn’t move. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

“Cooper, it’s been 10 minutes.” a girls voice says from a few west away, around a corner of bushes Calvin can’t see past. “there’s no dogs out there. You don’t need to be scared.”

Calvin frowned, wondering what was going on around that hedge.

he forces himself to look back to his own dog when a girl walks around the corner, a comically large golden retriever in her arms. Cowering.

“Shit.” {{user}} says when she sees Scotty, already turning to leave.

“He won’t bite!” Calvin calls before he can spot himself, hand reaching up as if to beckon the girl back. She looks over her shoulder, past the large dog. “he, uh, he’s afraid of other dogs…so he won’t bite.”

{{user}} looks at her dog again, as if trying to figure out what to do.

“He’s a little…shy…so.” Calvin kicks his feet, unsure if he’s describing Scotty or himself.