The Nodster agreed with everybody. It was easier than disagreeing and it gave the impression that he was on everybody’s side. He thought that was the best way to make friends. Of course it isn’t possible to be on everybody’s side but the Nodster tried hard to convince everybody that that was the case.

His little round Shitzu head bobbed up and down effortlessly in the vertical direction as a result of many hours of repetition. This explained how he came by his nickname. The negative sideways shaking motion, however, presented much more difficulty so it simply didn’t happen other than by accident. Agreeing was the preferred option.

Eventually everybody wised up that the Nodster’s agreement didn’t mean anything. Once that happened nobody took him seriously. Nobody, that is, except Fido McNutty.

McNutty had an extremely high opinion of himself. This opinion wasn’t shared by anybody else but he was too self-centered to realize it or even care.

Fido and the Nodster complemented each other perfectly. McNutty told the Nodster how good he himself was and in return found somebody who agreed with everything he said.

Fido McNutty had all the things the Nodster didn’t. Or so the young Shitzu thought.

For a start he was loud and assertive. If anyone disagreed with him he became louder and even more aggressive. Most agreed with him because they didn’t like to argue with him and the Nodster admired him for that. Others were fearful of him and treated him with a sort of meek respect. The Nodster admired that too because it was something he would never be able to achieve for himself. He was happy to act as McNutty’s gopher and bask in what he saw as reflected glory.

Fido McNutty is a Pooch P.I. He makes a living returning lost dogs to their owners. They go missing, Fido finds them. When times are quiet, as it was when this story took place, he finds other ways of getting work.

On this particular day McNutty was his usual angry self as he walked along the city street with the Nodster one step behind.

‘Have a look at this,’ he said, stopping and staring in disgust. An elegantly coiffured Poodle, being led along the sidewalk toward them on a flimsy leather leash by an elegantly dressed lady, passed them haughtily. The two street dogs stood watching as the Poodle and its owner sauntered on down the Avenue.