Once again I stumble into original worlds and write a notes story inspired by artwork created by Original Worlds (Ira Robinson)

Friends in High and Low Places

“Too slow, too slow, too slow.” Big Karl complained as he strained at the leash. “Smells to smell, squirrels to chase, worlds to explore.”

“Calm down Big Karl.” Karl the little boy told the hyperactive terrier as he knelt down to let the dog off its leash. “It would be easier to take off your leash if you weren’t pulling so hard.”

Big Karl exploded off the leash when he obtained his freedom. Ten pounds of terrier rocketed toward a tree and sniffed aggressively at the strong scent of squirrel. He looked up to see the advertised squirrel nervously hiding in the branches and gave it a couple of barks to let it know who the boss of this forest was.

Karl the little boy continued down the forest path as Big Karl roared around him like a pinball but never so far away that he didn’t maintain a wary eye on the young boy.

A blue shape the size of an elephant padded out of the forest ahead and sat down on the path in front of the boy and his tiny dog.

Big Karl streaked ahead and confronted the monster; barking like a bit-sized banshee and jumping high to snap at the giant’s legs. The mammoth blue dog lowered its head and sniffed at the terrier with a nose that was ten times the size of the little dog.

“Hello Big Karl.”

“Hello Little Karl.”

The two dogs wagged their tails furiously as they sniffed each other’s faces. Little Karl’s tail knocked over a tree and he looked abashed at his clumsiness.

Karl the little boy held up a bag of day old doughnuts he’d liberated from the dumpster of the town’s only doughnut shop. “I brought your dinner Little Karl.”

Little Karl had a sloppy grin as Karl the boy started to toss doughnuts into his cavernous mouth.

Karl had discovered Little Karl half dead in a ditch last year while walking Big Karl. He knew his parents would refuse another dog so he and Big Karl had nursed Little Karl back to health on the sly. They found Little Karl was a magical dog that soon grew to an enormous size on a steady diet of table scraps, crullers and chocolate glazed. The three of them were best of friends.

Karl folded up the paper bag and tucked it away in his pocket after giving Little Karl his meal. “Little Karl, me and Big Karl are going to move into the forest with you. My parents are finally getting a divorce and my mother will get custody of me. My dad wants Big Karl, not because he even likes him but just to be a jerk. I’ve had enough of both of them and frankly ever other adult in the world.”

Little Karl nodded happily but Big Karl was concerned. “ You need a warm home Karl. You need food and clothing. I’m the toughest little terrier in the whole world and can survive anything but you’re just a little boy.”

Little Karl smiled and wagged his tail. “I’m a magical dog and it’s my turn to save you Karl. Follow me into the land of magic.”

The three friends walked into the forest together.