The Poodle Formerly Known As Coco

OH DOGGONE IT!

I was cooling down after my weekly run at the Botanic Gardens when one of my fans recognised me on his way to the MRT station outside the Gardens!

I mean, I was pleased as punch to be famous. Who wouldn't love fans coming up to you to say hello?

The PROBLEM was that I had just completed some seriously strenuous exercise. As you might have guessed, I looked TERRIBLE! I was panting away after a 17-minute jog, my tongue was totally hanging out, and my facial fur was damp and scraggly from me having thrust my curious nose into the damp flower beds to sniff out the morning news!

To make things worse, I was badly in need of a bath. Mom had planned to bathe me the day before but she got really busy running errands all afternoon, including collecting my birthday pupcakes from the barker, I mean, baker.

Check out the pictures of me celebrating turning thirteen with TWO delicious pork-and-egg pupcakes topped with sweet potato icing!

Are we done with the photos yet? Can I have my cake now?

Can I? Can I?

Oh alright. I'll hold still for one more photo...

but that's the last one, okay?!

I mean, I ABHOR baths. Absolutely DETEST them. Baths make you all wet and reeking of oatmeal and almond. I don't understand how rubbing all this stuff into your skin is supposed to be good for it when saliva works fine as a natural moisturiser. WHY do humans chide me for being wet and smelly, only to force me into the shower to wet me even more and make me ten times smellier, and then hold me still for ages while they subject me to the roar of the hairdryer?

Human behaviour boggles the mind.

But this girl's gotta do what this girl's gotta do, which is to look nice for her fans - even if it involves having to suffer a disgusting bath. If I had known that I was going to meet a fan that morning, I would have reminded mom to bathe me! (Okay, maybe not.)

Oh, I haven't told you how the serendipitous fan meeting went, have I?

I was standing around with mom and dad when a passer-by stopped and stared at me for a really long time. I thought that he was just going to say that I'm cute (it's a frequent compliment) and be on his way.

But, NO! The guy (with a quizzical look on his face) asked mom and dad, "Did this dog use to be named Coco?"

Like, NO WAY! How could he have known that?! We were flabbergasted.

Mom and dad said yes, I was formerly known as Coco before they adopted me from my previous family.

The guy said, "This was my brother's dog! I recognised her by her tongue!" Then he asked to take a photo with me to send to his brother.

I obliged him with a wefie even though I wasn't looking my best. (Mom embarrassed me further by remarking most audibly that I really needed a bath. MOM! Seriously?!)

After all, one shouldn't disappoint their fans.