Joe. I'd be home with Joe in a minute. Not a minute too soon either. The air had an oppressive weight to it, a sudden storm just waiting.

It didn't matter. Joe would serve me my dinner and get changed. Good because I was getting hungry.

We'd play a while then I'd feed him his dinner, just the way he liked it.

We'd play inside, the outside waiting for the pack tomorrow.

The door handle tingled for an instant but I was already stepping in.

Joe? "Where are you?"

Wow! Joe said that moving furniture would make much more usable room.

I was amazed by the change. He had invited some of his cosplay  friends too. Speaking Elvish!  the outfits were so good.

"Joe?, where are you Joe?"

Of course! he had had put a costume on and was hiding in plain sight! Naughty Puppy!

So where is he? Not him, or him. No beard and black beard. I stalk about looking for him. So much more room now, Clever Puppy!

Where's he hiding? Yes! he'd be in armor to hide his face. He's one of the two in armor at the door! The big one! Found you Joe!

"Naughty puppy needs to be in his puppy suit". I reached for his helmet and he twitched a bit. I lifted the visor and there was Joe's green eyes and red gold beard!

"Its Ok, you naughty puppy, you've had your fun, I soothed." The helmet came off easy as it was just thin plastic with a texture.

Oof what was that? His friend has stumbled and dropped his sword which was now in pieces on the ground.

Yes, safety materials could look good but they were fragile, weren't they, Joe?

I motioned to his friend to clean it up.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The rest of Joe's costume came off with a gentle tug, "Down boy down, good boy.".

I was about to check him to be sure he was ok, when there was a tap on my arm.

It was a woman, a great costume and great make up. Every inch the Elven princess.

She was holding a staff which she had clearly spent a lot of money on. 

It was  designed to light up but it looked like the electronics were faulty and it flickered and went out.

Her face scrunched up, about to cry. To have put so much effort in to get the look and have it ruined by a fault.

Or may be just a loose connection? I took the staff from her and reached up. What a stretch. You are a Clever Puppy!

I tapped the staff against the ceiling upside down. 

I had never noticed our ceiling had such elegant moldings on it before. Maybe Joe had done it?

On the second tap it burst into life again and started humming.

Yes a expensive model. She cradled it in her arms when I passed it back. Percussive Maintenance.

Now for Joe. He'd flopped on his back so I could put his knee pads on. Good Boy!

I nearly dropped them. Just for a moment it looked like there was a great silver scar on his belly.

No, No it wasn't. It was something from his costume. I ran my hand over and it brushed off. Good Boy Joe!

I dressed him with his favorite collar. 

Where is his ball? Ah yes!

I rolled it and he chased it pushing it back with his nose.

Another tap. An older man. Cosplay isn't just for the young!

He pointed out the doors to the garden.

Good idea! I clipped Joe's lead on and went outside.

There was so much more room. "What a Clever Puppy you are", I said hugging him.

And lots more cosplayers as well. I think they might be Klingons. Some had horned helmets, so maybe they are supposed to be Orcs.

No storm troopers. That was unusual.

How was I going to feed this mass? The BBQ wasn't nearly big enough!

I threw Joe's bone. "Fetch Boy!"

It was getting busy and there was Elvish-Orc arguing going on.

"Look if you can't get on, just leave." I said.

I threw the bone again and an Orc went and stood on it. Joe went and sniffed at his boot.

"FUCK OFF" I  yelled. That was good, they did. Didn't even see them leave.

The lawn was a mess. I'd have to comb it for bottle caps and things that could hurt a puppy.

I wasn't hungry but Joe would be, so I lead him inside to find his bowl. "Good Boy Joe"