Christmas Balls
I wrote this at the beginning of December 2021 and was lucky to catch a slot in Soot’s art stream for the accompanying drawing. I let Soot decide if Tracy should be wearing pants and I’m pleased with her choice which led directly to the story title. This originally appeared in Interviews.
Tracy has joked around about catching baseballs in his teeth, but until this story had never actually put a ball of any kind in his mouth. ‘Soft Mouth’ is a real term used by dog experts to describe breeds such as Golden Retrievers who can carry very fragile objects, such as eggs, without breaking them. This remains the shortest Long Divisioni story I’ve ever written.
Art by Soot Ashby
This story is from Interviews
https://www.ld-books.com/books/interviews.html
All of the books in the Long Division collection are available at http://www.LD-Books.com/
They contain adult content and are for readers age 18 and older.
Christmas Balls
December 1972
Roy plugged in the lights of the Christmas tree and smiled with satisfaction as he backed his way out from underneath it on his paws and knees. “Okay, Babe, it's ready for the…" The bear turned and looked at his coyote with horror. Tracy was looking back at his mate with a white ornamental ball in his mouth and a twinkle of mirth in his eye. “Dog!" said Roy with exasperation, “Why do you insist on doing that every year?"
Tracy plucked the ball out of his mouth and laughed. “Aww, come on, Big Bear," he said. “It's a perfectly harmless tradition."
“Until one of those breaks and I have to rush you to the emergency room with glass cuts in your mouth."
“This is the fourth year I've helped you decorate and I haven't broken one yet," stated the coyote. “And I won't. I have a soft mouth." Tracy gave his bear a naughty grin and added, “Nobody knows that better than you do."
Roy gave a huff and folded his arms across his chest.
Tracy stepped over to his mate. “How about if I show you after we finish decorating the tree?" he said with a playful grope to the front of Roy's trousers.
“Just promise me you won't put another one of those balls in your mouth," Roy said.
Tracy held up his right paw and pledged, “I promise. Besides, I'd much rather have your balls in my mouth."
The corners of the bear's muzzle curled up in a smile. “Okay, let's finish up here," said Roy. He gestured toward the box of decorations. “Hand me that rope of garland, would you?"