How the Dog Got Its Bark
A long time ago, in a magical kingdom far away, there lived a dog. Only problem was, that the dog had no bark. All it could produce was a feeble and useless squeak. He could get peoples’ attention but he wanted much more.
“Why can’t I talk like all the other kids, mother?”
It was another hot day in the village of Yansen but as usual, Mimo was questioning his mother about his peculiar voice.
“Well Mimo its a very long story and I’ve got a lot of things to do.” she replied nervously.
“That’s what you always say!” he shouted, “Why won’t you ever tell me the bloody truth!?”
Mimo’s mother turned around with and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Listen to me young man, and you better listen well, you really want to know why your voice is so weird?” she asked, staring daggers into Mimo’s eyes.
Although Mimo was completely terrified of his mothers rage, he managed a weak nod and listened on carefully.
“Well Mimo your voice is so different because you failed the Hokagu test.” she said, with a expression of pity on her face.
Mimo was very confused. A million questions raced through his head. What’s the Hokagu test? How does it affect me?
“What is the Hokagu test, mom?” Mimo asked with a quizzical look on his face.
“It’s not important now, Mimo. You have much homework to do.”
Mimo was outraged, a big secret was being held from him, and it was about himself.
“No, mother” Mimo said in a firm voice. “I demand to know why I’m not like everyone else. Why I’m different.”
His mother let out a big sigh. She obviously wasn’t enjoying this.
“Very well, Mimo. If you’re that desperate to find out why you’re so different go ask the village elder. I’m not going to interfere with your personal affairs.”
Mimo was absolutely gobsmacked by what his mother just said. He had just realised that his mother didn’t care about him.
“B-b-ut mom” he stammered, “Aren’t you my mom ? You’re supposed to care and look out for me.”
Mimo’s mom turned around and gave him the most peculiar look he had ever seen. It was a look of complete and utter hatred.
“Don’t give me that crap, Mimo. You know how hard I try to keep this family together ever since father passed away. Now get out of my sight you pathetic excuse for a son.” she barked.
Mimo was in a state of awe. His mother had just insulted him. She doesn’t care. I have to leave, he thought. He turned around and stormed out of the door.
“Wait, Mimo!” his mother said, but it was too late.
Mimo ran as fast as he could, moving his feet like his life depended on it. As he ran, he recited all the swear words he knew in his head. Finally, he stopped to catch his breath. He turned around to take in his surroundings. He was surprised to see he was in the Holy Forest. Mimo turned around to see where he had come from but he could not find the path he came from. He had a sneaking suspicion the Holy Trees had something to do with this. Blasted trees he thought to himself, why do they have the ability to move ?
Mimo stood up and ambled around the fortress of trees he was surrounded by. He couldn’t see a way past them. They looked impenetrable. At this point Mimo began to panic. He was all alone in a forbidden forest, with no help and trapped between a fortress of trees, not good. Then something shifted behind him. He turned around but saw nothing there. I must be imagining things again, he thought to himself. Then again something shifted to the right of him. He quickly shot a glance to the rosebush on his right but there was nothing there. However Mimo knew there was something there. Just as he was backing away he felt some cold hands on his shoulders. He turned around, but before he could recognize who his captor was he drifted into a long sleep.
“Look Babylon, he’s coming around” said a deep voice.
“Hehe took him a while. He slept like a baby.” muttered the one known as Babylon.
“Hey you mutt, get up!” ordered the deep voice.
Mimo couldn’t find the strength to get up so he lay on the floor. The man who has the deep voice didn’t take this too well. He slowly approached Mimo but then kicked him in the ribs.
“Ugh” Mimo groaned in pain.
“I don’t think he heard you, Herald. Should I give him the complimentary wake up call?” laughed Babylon.
Mimo was only vaguely aware of the fact that he had been captured by a group of dark wizards who’s one and only intention was to posses his rare power which to your surprise was, his squeak.
“No, no it’s ok. He’ll come around. Give it some time, we want him alive.” said Herald.
“Very well.” replied Babylon as he walked off in disappointment of not being able to torture he canine victim.
Mimo opened his eyes. He slowly stood up, but his muscles were in severe strain. He rubbed his left eye with one of his paws and that’s when he saw it. He was being held captive in a cell. It was a dark and gloomy room, with the walls being eaten away by the green grotesque mould. Just as Mimo was about to give out a cry of sheer terror, Herald opened the cell door.
“Ahh, I see you’ve finally come around to give us the pleasure of your company.” he said with a smirk spreading across his face.
Mimo had a lot of questions to ask and he wanted some answers.
“Who are you, what do you want from me !?” Mimo squeaked at Herald.
“Don’t worry young Mimo.” Laughed Herald, “All of your questions will be answered when the time is right”
“Well, what do you want me to do?” asked Mimo curiously.
“We don’t want much Mimo, we are your friends” said Herald as a wide, devious grin spread across his face.
“Not much?” asked Mimo, “Then what’s the point of capturing me, out of all the dogs in the village”
“Well Mimo, contrary to what you might think your squeak is a very rare gift.”
Mimo was very surprised to hear this. His pathetic squeak a gift? Everyone including himself thought it was useless and embarrassing. But rareness? Mimo never thought of it that way.
“A gift? Well even if it is, how can you possibly steal someone’s voice? It’s impossible.”Mimo said.
Herald approached Mimo and crouched down to see him eye-to-eye.
“You underestimate me Mimo.” he said in an evil voice.
Then once again the world started spinning and darkness obscured Mimo’s view.
Once again, Mimo’s eyesight started to come back to him bit by bit. He tried to move his body but he couldn’t. He tried to jerk his body sideways but it wouldn’t budge. Then it happened. Mimo realised that he was tied upside down to a rope and he was being lowered towards some kind of orangey hot liquid which was being held in a cauldron. Mimo was absolutely terrified. From what was supposed to be a normal day at school with normal homework had turned into possibly the last day of his life!
“Hello Mimo. I see you’ve realised what kind of predicament you’re in.” He grinned to himself, “What you see below you is called a Martic Cauldron. You may have read about it at school as a myth, but trust me this one is as real as they get.”
Mimo had remembered what Professor Lax said about Martic Cauldrons. They were an ancient mixture of rare herbs which could drain someone’s powers, abilities , personality and worst of all, ones’ soul.
Herald laughed menacingly.
“This is your end, Mimo. I wish you enjoyed your life”
Mimo yelped in fear but there was nothing he could do. He stayed still with his head hanging low, accepting his defeat. Herald began to turn a lever which was connected to the rope Mimo was hanging on. Mimo slowly started to descend into the cauldron. Every inch that he was being lowered, his most enjoyable moments of his life flashed before him. Mother, Father, Bobo, he thought to himself. No I cant let them down, he thought. I must escape.
Just as the tip of the tip of the rope scraped the surface of the cauldron, Mimo summoned all the strength of every cell in his body and let out an enormous roar.
Suddenly, Herald stop turning the lever. He was completely mesmerized by what Mimo had just done. He wasn’t the only one. Mimo was completely amazed on what he had just done. He hadn’t just overcome his squeak but he had just let out the loudest sound he’s ever heard out of his own mouth! He had overcome what everyone had called a ‘bark’. He had completely frightened Herald! He took Herald being distracted as an advantage and swung himself back and forth until the rope ripped. Mimo landed just short of the cauldron. Mimo was looking for a way out when he saw a chink of light in the corner of the cell. It was a window. He ran towards the window and soared through it and started to run at full pace back into the village, and luckily the trees had opened a path.
At last he had found the familiar path way he used to get back to the village. Mimo was overjoyed so he gently pawed his way towards his house, enjoying every bit of the beautiful and familiar village he had known and loved all his life.
“Hey squeaky paws” chuckled Robert the Pug as he saw Mimo pass by.
Mimo had always hated Robert, he had bullied him all of his life. So Mimo had decided to show off his new ability.
He approached Robert and sized up to him eye-to-eye and then let out a huge roar. Robert was startled and froze in his place. He tried to say something but all Robert could let out was a pathetic, feeble, useless squeak.
“That’s what I call a bark, squeaky paws” said Mimo proudly as he made his way home.
And that’s how the bark was created.
The End
~ Suad Akhundov 7a2 English Story~
the fireworks are finally here!
