~ A Pru By Any Other Name ~
The seniors (Hazel and Tucker), both curled up on the big bed, have finished their afternoon biscuits and are content to leave the youngsters (Keira and Prudence) to wander in and out of the back door. Pack Mom, while working in the garden will probably entertain them for a while.
Through the master bedroom window a light autumn breeze brings a refreshing chill to the room. The sounds of Keira, Pru, and Mom wafted into the room from outside. A perfect time, as Hazel tightened her body’s circle to bring up a serious matter with her pack brother.
Hazel: Hey Tuck, what’s Pru’s proper name?
Tucker: Prudence… I think, why?
Hazel: Well, Dad keeps calling her by different names.
Tucker: Like Prudential?
Hazel: And Zaa-Pruder.
Tucker: Pruise Missile.
Hazel: Pru-desance.
Tucker: Pru-Doo, Pru-Bear.
Hazel: Pru-DON’T!
Tucker: Pru-rassic Park
Hazel: That’s a new one. This morning he called her Pepper and later Corporal Pepper. So what is her proper name?
Tucker: What’s yours Haze?
Hazel: Hazel Bazel Rocket Dog. Didn’t you know that Tuck?
Tucker: Not really. I’ve heard Dad use several names for you. Mom has a couple of choice ones for you when you won’t stop barking. Other than my full name, Tucker Oso, I’ve got a couple nicknames that Dad uses for me, and Keira has some too.
Aside from that, I think I’ve known you long enough, Haze, to guess that Pru’s name or names isn’t what’s really bothering you.
Hazel: What on earth is an Oso?
Tucker: I’ll tell you if you can tell me what a Bazel is?
Hazel: I have no idea.
Tucker: Oso is bear in Spanish, Bazel is a town in Belgium. With that settled, are you going to answer my question?
Hazel: What question?
The sound of some sort of commotion outdoors halted the conversation for a moment. Suddenly, Pack Mom’s voice filled the room, even though she was outside.
“Promise Prudence Pepper! What on earth are you doing tromping around in the bed I just planted? What were you thinking?”
Since thinking was the farthest thing from her mind, Promise Prudence Pepper thought it best to retreat back into the house. After a quick scouting of every room, Pru settled on hanging with the seniors in the bedroom.
Prudence: Hey Old Timers. Make room.
Neither senior moved for her as she sprang up and settled between them.
Tucker: How’s the gardening going?
Prudence: Oh, it’s a very arduous process fraught with many difficulties and hardships.
Hazel: Did Mom call you Promise?
Prudence: That was my other home-name. Dad changed it ‘cuz he said the first syllable was too soft.
Hazel: Soft?
Prudence: Yep! Promise would sound like Pra, and that is too soft a syllable. Pack Dad thinks we-on-four react to the very first syllable of our names. If there’s a lot of noise, or our attention is locked on something, Dad likes a hard sound, as it carries farther, and he thinks it gets our attention a split second sooner.
Hazel: A… hard sound?
Prudence: Pru, Keer, Haze, Tuck, are all hard sounds.
Tucker: Did he tell you how he settled on Prudence?
Prudence: He said it was something I didn’t have enough of and carrying that name might help me acquire some.
Hazel: What about Pepper? Where’d that come from?
Prudence: Dad said I’m a bit on the spicy side of attitude, and sometimes he calls me Corporal Pepper because he’s pretty sure I’ll never make Sergeant.
Dad: (Calling from the kitchen) Tyrannosaurus-P…P-Rex… Tenacious-P….
Hazel: Who’s he calling?
Tucker: I think He’s calling you, Pru.
Prudence leaps in a lofty arc and exits the bedroom in missile-like fashion.
Tucker: Air-Prudence.
Hazel: I can’t keep up with all this. (Under her breath) Please, Creator of all things good, let this multi-named Chee-Weiler be a foster dog… Please, please, please.
Prudence reappears in the doorway with a new plush toy in her mouth.
Prudence: Come chase me! Try to take my toy away Come on!
Hazel & Tucker: No!
Deciding that the seniors needed some encouragement, Prudence begins a campaign of harassment by repeatedly leaping onto the bed and then kicking the pillows to the floor. She exits at full throttle, hoping to be pursued.
Hazel: Tasmanian-Pru, that should be her name.
~ Hazel Bazel Rocket Dog ~
