CHANNING
Spanking? Yup.
Paddling with ping-pong bats? Oh yes.
Streaking naked around campus after dark? Hell yeah!
And, most importantly, none of them had that truly irresistible masculinity that a Daddy like Max possessed.
Maybe that’s why I’ve never truly gotten over him?
SIGH. He makes me so mad.
Why can’t Max just be the Daddy I need him to be?
What Channing really wanted was a man like Max in every way… except for the clear and time-tested inability to grow up and commit.
Channing wondered whether there were enough days in a year to ever change Max or whether he would always be the same loveable, unreliable, charismatic but totally wild guy he always had been.
But the more Channing thought of Max, the less time he spent focusing on his presentation.
Channing was due to present some new leads and ideas he’d been developing recently, and even though he had done the research to a good standard Channing didn’t feel entirely comfortable with how the presentation was shaping up.
It was time to do some serious work.
This presentation needed to go well.
* * *
‘Okay, so, that’s me done,’ Channing said, his voice wrought with uncertainty. ‘Any questions?’
Channing looked across the room toward the four senior directors, each one with a facial expression that was either bored, non-plussed, or just blatantly unimpressed.
To say the presentation hadn’t gone as well as he’d hoped would be a titanic underestimation on Channing’s part.
After getting off to a decent start, Channing became conscious of the fact that Kyle Peters seemed to be doing just about everything he possibly could to throw Channing off his rhythm.
There was no way of proving it, but the sight and sound of Kyle relentlessly fidgeting and coughing had really gotten into Channing’s head and did seem like a deliberate ploy on Kyle’s part.
But Channing felt that if he brought this up in front of the directors, he would get accused of blaming his own failings on others.
With a disconsolate feeling, Channing took his seat and watched as Kyle got up to deliver his presentation. Kyle’s presentation was nowhere near the same level of innovation and forward thinking as Channing’s had been, but the big difference was that Kyle delivered his words with flair and panache.
Channing could tell that Kyle was loving every minute of it, and it appeared that the senior directors were too…
Bleurgh. This sucks.
Kyle is a stinky douchebag.
But it doesn’t matter what I think, it’s the senior directors who count…
Kyle eventually wrapped up his presentation and the general vibe in the room was that he had done a good job. Certainly, Channing felt that his efforts had not been taken in as positively as Kyle’s.
‘I think you have some decent ideas,’ Kyle said, leaning over and whispering in Channing’s ear. ‘But… maybe you’re not quite ready to step up yet.’
Channing blushed with anger.
But not wanting to fall into Kyle’s trap and start a scene, Channing simply got up from his chair and walked back to his office. It was time to pack up his stuff and take an early exit from work.
Channing was getting more and more suspicious about Kyle’s motives.
They’d never been friends, not since Kyle arrived at Green Sky Future a couple of months after Channing. But this went beyond a normal level of competition that you could expect to exist between coworkers with similarly keen ambitions.
Channing suspected that Kyle would stoop to the lowest levels to quench his thirst for success, and he knew that from here on in he would have to keep an eye open for any moves that Kyle might be making.
However, Channing was determined that his entire day wasn’t going to be ruined. The presentation may have been a washout, but Channing had an appointment on the other side of town that was sure to improve his mood…
* * *
The sound of a cacophony of dogs barking and howling was like music to Channing’s ears as he stepped inside Bark Buddies dog center.
‘Channing!’ Teddy cried, excitedly walking over toward Channing and offering his hand for a high-five. ‘So glad you’re here. We’ve got a new arrival called Tracker who I think you’re going to love.’
‘I can’t wait to meet him!’ Channing replied, happy to see Teddy’s friendly face.
Teddy was only a year or so older than Channing and had recently come out of a long-term relationship with his ex-forces Daddy. It was a sad break-up, but Teddy was on the road to recovery and happiness again, even without a new Daddy in his life.
Teddy worked full time at Bark Buddies and with his blonde surf dude hair and year-round tan, he was always a pleasant sight to be welcomed by.
‘Okay, well let’s go,’ Teddy said, cheerily bouncing along in his lemon-yellow Bark Buddies t-shirt and black skater shorts. ‘Before we get to Tracker, there’s someone I want you to meet…’
‘Huh?’ Channing said. ‘If it’s another property developer trying to buy this place, I’m more than ready to tell them where to go.’
‘Ha! No, not this time,’ Teddy said, his eager smile putting Channing at ease.
As Channing followed on behind Teddy, he felt the good vibes and sense of relaxation he always felt when he arrived at Bark Buddies.
Sure, it was time consuming being a volunteer here. And cleaning up dog poop wasn’t exactly a highlight of the job, that was for sure. But there was something so incredibly rewarding and fun about being around so many wonderful dogs who wanted nothing more than to find their forever home.
Channing had a secret dream that one day he would be able to officially make a sizeable investment into Bark Buddies.
With his knowledge of green energy and access to plenty of extremely wealthy individuals, Channing knew that there was potential for Bark Buddies to expand its operation to take in even more dogs that needed a comfortable home as they waited for adoption.
But all of that could wait.
In that moment, all that Channing was focused on was meeting this mysterious person that Teddy was teasing.
As Teddy opened the door to the break room, Channing almost turned and walked straight out of the building.
But he didn’t.
And in fact, as soon as the shock passed over him, Channing felt a surge of sheer happiness.
‘You’re late, kid,’ Max laughed, looking as macho as ever despite wearing a spare Bark Buddies t-shirt. ‘You’re lucky this is a volunteer position or Teddy would dock your wages…’
The three of them laughed.
Channing looked at Teddy and could see that Teddy was into Max. After all, who wouldn’t be? But rather than feel any kind of jealousy, Channing was just happy to be at Bark Buddies with two of his favorite people.
Not to mention the dozen or so dogs that were eagerly awaiting Channing’s arrival in the playroom…
Teddy, Max and Channing walked from the break room and into the large, half-indoors, half-outdoors playroom and were immediately greeted by a bevy of enthusiastic and boundlessly energetic dogs.
‘Let the games begin!’ Max bellowed, immediately announcing his arrival as the new top dog. ‘Watch out, Max the Alpha Dog is about!’
Channing laughed uncontrollably as Max began rampaging around the playroom, a pack of dogs following him and immediately showing him their respect.
‘I can see why you like him, dude,’ Teddy said, noticing how happy Channing looked. ‘He’s hot as hell. But don’t worry, I’m taking a serious break from Daddies.’
‘I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to date him,’ Channing said, trying as hard as he could to sound even remotely convincing. ‘Um… I mean… I guess I’m happy that you’re not though?’
Channing and Teddy laughed and started laying out a fresh set of water bowls for the dogs.
‘Guys, you go and have some fun. I’ll do this,’ Max said, running over and immediately throwing himself into the task. ‘Seriously. Go! I might even grab a doggy drink myself. Being chased by a pack of goofball mutts is thirsty work.’
Channing took a moment to himself as he watched Max stay busy with the water bowls, taking care to fill each one to just the right level.
There was something so wholesome about seeing Max give himself so fully to a task that was only going to be of benefit to someone else.
Max might only have been at Bark Buddies for a few minutes, but he genuinely looked right at home.
Over the years in college, and then sporadically since then, Channing had never really seen Max look so full of contentment. It was like working to help the assortment of homeless dogs was giving Max a sense of tranquility and purpose that had eluded him for most of his life.
However Channing didn’t have too long to sift around in his own thoughts…
‘You must be Tracker!’ Channing laughed, wrapping his arms around the huge mastiff dog that was sniffing and licking in and around his neck. ‘Teddy said I’d like you, but I think this might just be love!’
What had looked like being a pretty disastrous day had actually turned into something else altogether.
Thoughts of the badly received presentation at work were long gone, as was any lingering awkwardness with Max from the night before.
Channing and Tracker the mastiff glanced over at Max and watched as he helped an older dog climb up onto the super-comfy beanbag.
‘Yup. He’s hot as hell, isn’t he Tracker?’ Channing said. ‘And maybe, just maybe, we might have a future together…’