Memoirs of a Yellow Dog (Henry)
from the Collection « Four Million»
A yellow dog was born in an unknown place and time.
He was taken in by an old woman who tried to sell him to a fat lady. The fat lady bought him and he became her pet. He was given the name "Lovey" and was treated like a baby by his mistress.
The dog lived in a flat in New York with his mistress, her husband, and a rubber plant. His mistress was very affectionate towards him, but her husband was not. He was often henpecked by his wife and had to take the dog out for walks every evening.
The dog noticed that the husband of the lady across the hall was always cheerful and whistling when he came home from his walks with his dog. The yellow dog asked the black-and-tan terrier how his master managed to stay so cheerful. The terrier told him that his master got spifflicated in the saloons they visited.
The yellow dog decided to try the same thing with his master. He dragged him to a saloon and his master had several Hot Scotches. After that, the master was much more cheerful and even gave the dog a new name - Pete. The two of them then left for the Rocky Mountains, leaving the flat behind.