Mall Elf Fails to Proofread Holiday Stocking
Holiday decorations are a must at Christmas time. The lights. The tree. And of course, a personalized stocking for your dog.
It was with this in mind I volunteered to buy a stocking for our one-year-old Labrador retriever, Cooper. The year was 1992.
"I'm going to the mall," I told my wife, Patti, "there's a little kiosk next to Sears."
Standing at the makeshift table, I picked a festive red stocking and gave my information to a young girl wearing elf ears.
"It'll take about 20 minutes."
"That's alright, I need to look for some perfume. I'll be back in a bit."
After buying Obsession, I returned for the Christmas stocking. And was excited to show my wife what a great guy I was.
Back at the house, I swooped the stocking from the festive bag.
"Here it is!" I announced proudly.
She stared at the stocking.
"Copper?" she said, " His name is Cooper: C-O-O-P-E-R."
Drops of rain began to fall on my parade.
"I guess I should have proofread it."
"You guess?"
Twenty-one years later, we still hang the stocking on our mantle.
And think fondly of our first puppy, Cooper, and his Christmas stocking.
Thankful he couldn't read.
