Mr. Pug & Mr. Other Pug

“Only two cavities,” exclaimed Mr. Other Pug as he returned to the waiting room.

“Only?” asked Mr. Pug sarcastically. “We don’t drink soda pop or eat chocolate or any of  that crap.  How’d you get cavities?”

Mr. Other Pug looked down at his feet and didn’t respond.

“Wait a second,” said Mr. Pug. “Have you been cheating on me?”

Mr. Other Pug gazed back up with his best ‘little-lost-puppy’ look. It didn’t work.

“We both gave up sweets and you’ve been sneaking them behind my back?” asked Mr. Pug. “Why you little…”

“I couldn’t help it,” interrupted  Mr. Other Pug. “I get hungry. “

“Weakling,” chided Mr. Pug.

All of a sudden the Dentist’s door opened.

“Next!” shouted the voice from within.

Mr. Pug called back to Mr. Other Pug. “Last time the dentist told me I was his best patient ever,” he said. “I bet my check-up turns out to be better than yours.”

Mr. Pug trotted into the dentists office and left Mr. Other Pug, alone in the waiting room, to think about how he was a ‘bad dog.’ Instead, Mr. Other Pug popped a stick of gum in his mouth, picked up a copy of ‘Highlights’ and climbed into a comfortable chair. An hour later Mr. Pug returned.

“Well?” asked Mr. Other Pug.

“Halitosis,” muttered Mr.  Pug.

“Hallo-what?” asked Mr. Other Pug.

“It’s another way of saying I have bad breath,” replied Mr. Pug.

“Well, of course you have bad breath,” comforted Mr. Other Pug. “You’re a pug.”

“But I have a date tomorrow,” moaned Mr. Pug. “What’ll I do?”

Mr. Other Pug thought about it for a second and, sneaking Mr. Pug back into the dentist’s examination room, swept into ‘Puggy Triage Mode’.

“Try this,” said Mr. Other Pug, handing Mr. Pug a bottle of Listerine.

Mr. Pug took a swig of the mediciney liquid.

“Now breathe,” said Mr. Other Pug.

Mr. Pug exhaled into Mr. Other Pug’s face.

“Ewww,” winced Mr. Other Pug. “Still rotten smelling.”

He grabbed a tongue scraper and shoved it at Mr. Pug.

“Drag this over your tongue,” said Mr. Other Pug.

Mr. Pug did as ordered and then directed another blast of pug-breath towards Mr. Other Pug.

“Even worse,” said Mr. Other Pug as he backed away to catch some fresh air.

“Wait,” shouted Mr. Other Pug. “Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”

He reached into his mouth and pulled out the wad of already been chewed gum.

“Try this,” said Mr. Other Pug.

“Seriously?” asked Mr. Pug as he took the gum and popped it in his mouth and started chewing. “You sure this is gonna work?”

“Of course it’ll work,” said Mr. Other Pug. “Just don’t…”

“Gulp!,” went Mr. Pug.

“…swallow it,” finished Mr. Other Pug.

Defeated and out of ideas. The pugs returned home. Hours later, as Mr. Pug had, as usual, a little gas, and a small pink bubble formed from his backside.

Mr. Pug and Mr. Other Pug looked at the bubble as it grew and grew.

“Bubble Gum?” asked Mr. Pug. “You had to give me bubble gum?”

“Sorry,” said Mr. Other Pug as he watched the bubble grow bigger.

“Please,” pleaded Mr. Pug. “Take a pin and pop it.”

“I’m not gonna pop it,” claimed Mr. Other Pug. “That bubble’s toxic.”

The bubble grew bigger, gently lifting Mr. Pug off the floor.

“Look at it this way,” offered Mr. Other Pug. “At least your breath smells sweet.”