Episode 22: Birthday surprise
One day, in cloudy Sunday morning.
Maxtone, Svara, Seca, Lynna, Luna, Anna and Hershell was at the Paws Paradise dog park, like usual they always come here to play together every Sunday morning.
At that time, the puppies was playing at the playground, barking and chasing each other in a merry-go-round of fur and tails. Except Hershell, he was sat by the side.
"What wrong, lil' bro?" Anna trotted over to Hershell, her sleek fur glistening with morning dew.
"Can we go home now?" Hershell whining, "my tummy hurts."
"What happened, lil bro, you looks like you've eaten a whole bag of treats," Anna said, her voice filled with concern.
"Ngghhh... I need to poop," Hershell groaned, his little legs wobbly as he tried to stand.
"Why don't you just poop in your diaper, Hershell?" Anna titling her head to the side.
Hershell's ears flattened with embarrassment.
"Because... Nggghhh... My diaper almost full and I don't wanna... Nggghhh..." Hershell's voice trailed off as he squirmed in discomfort.
"Alright, let's go home," Anna said, gently nudging Hershell along.
"Hey guys, I'll go home first, I want to take Hershell home... Be back soon," she called out to the rest of The Pups Gang.
Maxtone and Svara exchanged a look, then nodded.
"We'll keep an eye on the place," Maxtone said, as Svara wagged her tail in agreement.
As Anna and Hershell made their way home, the tension in the air grew thicker with each step. Hershell's whines grew louder, and his legs wobbled more. Anna knew she had to act fast.
*Time skip: at Jerony's luxurious house*
Upon arriving home, Anna wants rushed Hershell straight to the main bathroom, her own tail wagging with urgency. Jerony was in the living room, sipping on a cup of coffee while scrolling through the morning news on his tablet as he then saw them.
"Anna, Hershell... You two go home earlier, why?" Jerony set his coffee aside, noticing their flustered expressions.
"Master, it's Hershell, he... He needs to go potty, really badly," Anna replied, trying to keep her voice calm.
"Go ahead, take him to the bathroom," Jerony said with a knowing smile, pointing to the bathroom. "And make sure to clean up after him."
Anna nodded and quickly dashed into the bathroom with Hershell, who was now visibly uncomfortable.
But not long after Anna and Hershell left, the other puppies peeked from behind the door.
"Master, are Anna and Hershell have gone?" Maxtone asked, his eyes focused on the bathroom.
"Yeah... Let's do it," Jerony said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Anna's birthday surprise would be so fun," Luna whispered, her tail wagging rapidly as she and the other puppies watched from the bathroom doorway.
Immediately, Jerony and the puppies hurriedly decorate the living room as quickly as possible.
Balloons in various shapes and sizes were inflated and tied to the furniture, a banner that read "Happy Birthday Anna" was stretched across the wall with seven tiny paw prints on it.
"I never believed this, Hershell's way of pretending to have a stomachache is so convincing," Svara chuckled from her spot in the kitchen, where she was helping Jerony set up the party snacks.
"Yeah, that young leaky golden retriever is so professional for acting," Jerony joked, wiping a smudge of icing off his fingers as he decorating another cake slice. "But let's not spoil the surprise... We're almost done here."
Meanwhile in the main bathroom, Hershell pretended to have constipation, he pretended to try hard to pooping but actually just sitting and watching Anna's face full of concern.
"You really okay, Hershell?" Anna asked, her eyes full of love and care.
"I can't poop... Ngggghhhh... It won't come out!" Hershell whined dramatically, his eyes watering.
Actually, Hershell doesn't feel need to pee or poop at all, he just pretended because he knew today was Anna's birthday and he had a brilliant idea to use his "problem" to get Anna home early so they could prepare a surprise party for her.
The real struggle was keeping it together with his acting skills.
"Nggghhh... C'mon... Nggghh... Grrrr... Nggghhhh..." Hershell's whines grew more theatrical, his face contorted in a comical expression of effort.
"Never mind, Hershell... If you are really constipated, let's tell Master," Anna said, her eyes filled with genuine concern.
She didn't suspect a thing.
"No!!! Just... Ngghhh... Give me a time," Hershell said, his voice strained. "I'll push it out."
Anna nodded, her own tail wagging nervously as she watched Hershell's face turn red with the effort. She didn't know why, but she felt something was off.
Hershell wasn't acting like his usual self. But she brushed the thought aside, focusing instead on her brother's well-being.
Meanwhile in the living room, the rest of The Pups Gang had everything set up and were waiting impatiently for Anna and Hershell to come out of the bathroom. They had managed to keep the surprise party a secret from Anna, and the excitement was palpable.
Maxtone had even managed to wrap a small present with his teeth and paws, which he placed under the makeshift party hat that he had constructed from a bowl and some streamers.
Finally, Jerony and the puppies had finished setting up the surprise party.
"Alright, puppies... Now close all the windows and turn off the lights, then we all hide," Jerony instructed, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he checked the living room setup one last time.
The puppies obeyed, their little paws working quickly to closing the curtains and switch off the lights.
Meanwhile in the bathroom, Hershell's acting had reached its climax.
"I give up, big sis," he said with a dramatic sigh, his legs shaking as if he had just given the effort of his life.
"Let's tell Master now," Anna said, her tail wagging gently as she looked at Hershell with a mix of pity and affection.
Hershell nodded, his face still a mask of pained concentration.
"Okay, just... Ngggh... Don't tell the others," he managed to say, his voice barely above a whimper.
As they exited the bathroom, the living room was plunged into darkness. Anna's eyes widened in confusion.
"Why is the living room so dark?" Anna wondered aloud, her nose twitching as she picked up the faint scent of something baking.
"Surprise!" the lights flicked back on, revealing the colorful explosion of balloons and streamers.
The Pups Gang jumped out from their hiding spots, barking and yipping in excitement. Anna's eyes grew wide as she took in the scene, her jaw dropping in disbelief.
"What?!?? What really going on here?" Anna's eyes darted around the room, taking in the festive decorations and the grinning faces of her friends.
The smell of the cake grew stronger, and she could see the proud look on Svara's face from where she sat in the kitchen.
"Happy birthday, Anna... Did you forgotten your birthday?" Svara teased, her tail wagging rapidly as she watched the look of shock on Anna's face.
"Really?!?? I didn't even know that today is my birthday!" Anna's eyes sparkled with joy as she took in the surprise party.
Her initial shock gave way to a warm, happy smile.
"Thanks to the Oscar-worthy performance by your little brother," Jerony said, chuckling as he ruffled Hershell's fur.
"So... You doesn't feel sick at all, Hershell? You lied?!??" Anna's smile faded into a playful scowl as she turned to Hershell, who had a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Hehehe, sorry big sis," Hershell chuckled, his tail wagging in apology. "But it was worth it for this surprise, right?"
Anna couldn't stay mad at him for long. She looked around at the decorations and the smiling faces of her family. Her heart swelled with love and happiness.
"It's perfect," she said, her voice filled with genuine warmth.
"Okay puppies... Let's start the party!" Jerony announced, and the room erupted in a symphony of barks and tails wagging.
The puppies rushed to the cake, eager to show their appreciation for Anna's special day.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." The Pups Gang howled the birthday song in unison, their tails wagging in excitement as Anna looked around the room, her eyes misty with joy.
Hershell watched his sister, his heart fluttering with happiness at the successful surprise. The room was filled with the sweet scent of vanilla cake, a special recipe that Jerony had made just for the occasion.
"Make a wish and blow out the candles!" Jerony exclaimed as he held out a plate with a single, flickering candle sticking out of the cake.
Anna took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she made her wish.
"I hope... I hope we can always be together as a spy family... I hope we can keep protecting the world together... I hope that we can eradicate all the world terrorists... So that there is no more terrorism in this world so that we can all live in peace," she whispered to herself, her voice filled with sincerity and hope.
With a gentle huff, she blew out the candle, and the room was filled with cheers and applause from the puppies.
"Smiled at the camera, puppies!" Jerony held up his phone, capturing the moment as Anna looked at her friends with a mix of amusement and affection.
The flash went off, freezing the joyous scene in digital memory. The moment was perfect, a rare occasion of pure happiness amidst their usual life of danger and espionage.
Maxtone and Svara couldn't resist the temptation any longer and pounced on Anna, showering her with licks and nibbles. Lynna, unable to contain her hyperactive nature, joined in, her communication device barking out random words that only added to the delightful chaos.
Seca, ever the mechanically-inclined one, had set up a homemade piñata filled with dog treats and toys.
"Ready for hit the piñata?" Jerony called out, holding up the piñata, which was cleverly disguised as a cartoon villain from a popular children's show.
"Hey, it's more fun if Anna's eyes closed by a cloth, so it could be a challenge for her," Hershell suggested, his tail wagging with excitement.
Jerony chuckled and found a light cloth to cover Anna's eyes.
"Alright, here we go," Jerony said, looping the cloth around Anna's eyes and tying it securely at the back of her head.
"Are you ready, big sis?" Hershell asked, his voice brimming with excitement.
"I guess," Anna replied, feeling a bit self-conscious with the blindfold on, "uuuhh... It's so excited, I can't see anything!"
"Okay Anna... Hold the stick with your mouth," Jerony instructed, placing the stick in Anna's mouth, her eyes still blindfolded.
"Alright, spin around," Hershell giggled as he gently turned Anna around three times.
With the stick clenched in her teeth, Anna stumbled around the living room, trying to get a sense of where the piñata was. Her friends barked out directions, some helpful, some not so much.
"Use your nose, Anna!" Maxtone barked encouragingly, watching as Anna spun around, her tail swishing wildly.
Seca couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her blindfolded leader trying to find the piñata.
"Remember, it's not about strength, it's about precision," he said, his mechanic mind already analyzing the best way to hit the piñata.
Because she can't see anything, Anna using her sense of smells, her nose sniffing around the room. Her tail wagging as she tries to locate the piñata by scent. The smell of the cardboard and treats was faint but noticeable.
She took a step backwards, then lunged forward, swinging the stick with all the strength she could muster.
The stick collided with the piñata with a loud thud, sending it swinging wildly. The Pups Gang barked with excitement, jumping up and down as they watched their leader's valiant attempt. The piñata held strong, despite Anna's powerful swing.
"Again, big sis!" Hershell encouraged, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Anna took a deep breath, her nose twitching as she honed in on the scent of treats once more. She took a step back, then swung the stick with all her might. This time, the piñata cracked, and a few treats spilled out.
"Yeeeaaaahhhh!!!! You did it!!!" The puppies cheered as treats showered down from the piñata.
Anna felt the stick slacken in her mouth and pulled it out, grinning from ear to ear.
"I can't believe I did it!" she exclaimed as she took off the blindfold, her eyes shining with excitement.
Jerony laughed and gave her a pat on the back, "good job, Anna... Now let's all dig in!"
The Pups Gang jumped into action, eager to claim their share of the piñata's treasure. Anna felt a surge of pride watching her little siblings' tails wag in delight. Hershell, the youngest, had managed to knock out the most treats with his strategic advice.
Anna's birthday party lasted for almost a day, the puppies playing games, sharing treats, and enjoying the rare moment of peace in their lives as secret agents. Hershell, feeling a bit guilty for his earlier ruse, took it upon himself to clean up the scattered mess of paper and treats after everyone had their fill of fun. Anna, noticing his efforts, approached him with a warm smile.
Once the birthday party ends in the evening, the puppies work together to clean up the living room. Hershell, feeling particularly energetic after the successful surprise, takes the lead in gathering the streamers and balloons. Anna, her tail wagging with contentment, watches her siblings with a gentle smile.
"Thank you all for the wonderful party," she says, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.
As they clean, Jerony come with holding a small gift box with a bow on top.
"Anna, how old are you now?" he asked with a smirk.
"Nine, Master," Anna said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Alright, you're the oldest now," Jerony said with a laugh, "But don't let it get to your head... Now, here's your gift."
He handed the box to Anna, who took it with trembling paws.
"What is it, what is it?" Hershell hopped around her in excitement, his tail wagging like a metronome.
"Be patience, Hershell," Anna said with a chuckle, taking a moment to appreciate the thoughtfulness behind the gesture.
Anna carefully unwrapped the box, her heart racing as the paper fell away.
"Master... Isn't this..." Anna's eyes widened as she lifted out a gleaming metal collar from the box.
"Yeah... It's your first collar, Anna," Jerony said, his voice filled with pride. "The first collar I give you after I chose to take care you."
Hearing that, Anna's eyes filled with tears of joy. She had never forgotten the day Jerony had found her as an injured wolf puppy didn't know where to go. He had not only taken her in but had also made her part of his family and trained her to be the leader of his spy pups. The collar was a symbol of her growth and the trust he had placed in her.
"Thank you, Master," Anna shouted as she leaped into Jerony's arms, her tail wagging like a helicopter.
Jerony chuckled and hugged her, then carefully took off her current collar and replaced it with her old one. The collar felt cool and heavy, but it was the warmth of their bond that truly made it special.
Finally, after an hour of cleaning, the living room was back to its usual spotless state. Jerony looked around, a hint of satisfaction crossing his face.
"Alright, puppies... Time to get some rest," he said, his voice gentle but firm.
