Story Contest 2017 #1 Results » First Prize Winner - Sub-junior Category

“Dog Diaries” by Aliya Shetty Oza, is the First Prize winning story in the sub-junior category of the first biannual International Short Story Contest 2017 which was organized by Kids World Fun.

Dog Diaries

Dear Diary,

Today was my 10th birthday, the worst day of my life. It was the worst day because no one wished me or even remembered that today was my birthday. I hate my family!

Why is it that the master and mistress of the house keep yelling and beating me up whenever I just want to relax on the sofa? Every time I sit or sleep on their new comfy sofa, the master whacks me but when they perch their big fat bottoms on the sofa no one stops them. Someone please tell me, why are there different rules for humans and for us, dogs?

I could not sleep the previous night thinking of the spectacular surprises that would await me today. All I got this morning was a blast in my eardrums as the mistress was screaming and shouting at the ridiculous nanny. I insist on calling her the ridiculous nanny as she calls me “RUBY” instead of “DROOPY”. The shameless woman has changed my gender to a female instead of a male dog; all the neighbourhood strays make fun of me, ridicule and tease me.

Anyway, where was I? Yes! This morning, I waited for the house-help to walk me down, but no! He came late today of all days. He doesn't realise that I need to do my peeing and pooping after my beauty sleep.

Then to make the day worse the London cousins visited us. I was locked up as they have dog allergies. By the way who has dog allergies? Again, they have different rules for us dogs. The female cousin spits when she speaks but when I drool, “STOP IT DROOPY!” is what I get to hear. At lunch, the male cousin ate a full tandoori chicken and people say, “Eat some more darling.” When I ask for chicken, I get none. How is it fair? They call me a fatso and a glutton.

When the child has her birthday the parents plan it weeks in advance but for my birthday they don't care at all. I also want surprises; I am an old dog who is now 70 years old in human age (as one year of a dog’s life is equal to 7 human years).

To make matters worse after they left home, I was taken for a bath. Normally I am tortured only on Sunday with a bath but this was mid- week. Why do people give dogs a bath? We like our dog smell and not a clean smell. If I walk on the road with the clean smell the other dogs laugh at me, especially the strays.

Thank God! We don't wear clothes. The mistress keeps changing her clothes and throwing them at me on the floor. If they dressed me up I would die!

Wait Diary! I will be back soon. I can hear someone yelling my name.

WOOF, WOOF, WOOF Diary! It’s a party after all. My family remembered today is my birthday. Maybe they are not so bad after all! I got a piece of cake too! I love them…

Paw and wags,
Droopy