Toon It Up: Boots of a Dark Bird (Preview)

“Helllllllllooooooooo!” A chipper, pippy voice called out, shooting directly into her ears. She nearly stumbled from that shock.

Brenda snapped her head to the right to where the voice came from. First, she saw two buildings, and then a large cart stuck between them. It looked like a tourist trap cart, covered in all sorts of knick-knacks and novelties visitors would flock towards. There were flip flops, keychains, shells, the whole works.

Then she saw her. Beside the cart was the brightest of pink beasts. It was a dog woman of the toon variety. She seemed to be a springer of sorts and wore a cute pink dress and pink apron. All of it was wrapped around an incredibly curvaceous, stunning figure.

The dog gal was a few yards away from Brenda, but her voice had seemed close, calling out specifically to her. In fact, when she looked at her, the dog's tail started wagging excitedly.

The dog adjusted her sharp glasses and waved to her, her pudgy gloved fingers motioning to come over. Brenda stared for a moment and found herself doing that. The figure was certainly strange, but there was just such inviting energy coming from her she couldn't resist.

“Hiya, stranger!” the dog chimed again once Brenda got close. She bowed, her large breasts showing a lot of cleavage that made the human feel awkward. “I'm Jessie the Pink Pupper, owner of this totes cute stand!”

She leaned in, looking Brenda square in the eye. “Are you okay miss? I saw you looking all mopey and sad. That's no fun! You wanna talk about it?”

While not the most tactful of words, Jessie continued to extrude such an overwhelming, friendly, warm aura. Brenda felt only more at peace being around such a comforting, sweet toon. So much so, she began to talk…

“…and that's… that's why I look… look so sad.” Brenda didn't just look it, she felt it. The feelings had come back hard as she finished her story. It was so painful, everything aching and not just her heart.

For her part, Jessie had been listening patiently. Her tail wagged at the start, but the longer the story went on and the more that was revealed, its movements slowed until it was still. She never interrupted or said anything, the perfect listener.

Brenda took a deep breath and slowly released it. “I'm… I'm a big fool, aren't I?”

“Na-ah!” the dog huffed, folding her arms. “That boyfriend is a ruff meanie! He doesn't deserve you at all! You have nuthin’ ta be upset about!”

The human smiled. Some of the pain lessened. “Thank you… I…” She cleared her throat, her bottom lip quivering. “I know. I know that. I know it's not my fault, but I-I can't help it! I just feel this way! I'm so upset. I wish I could just get back at him.”

“Wish? Why wish when you can just do!” Jessie clenched her fists, tail wagging, “I can help you ruff ‘em up, figuratively or literally if you want!”

“Th-thank you, but… it's not that simple.” Brenda looked down at her feet. “I just don't-don't have the will… drive, inner strength, or whatever to do that!” Her expression fell even more solemnly. “I just can't do it. I'm too weak.”

“HMMMMMM!” Jessie cartoonishly rubbed her chin. “Sounds like this is something you'll have to do on your own!”

“Wait… didn't you hear m-”

CLICK! A light bulb appeared above the pink dog's head, clicking on before disappearing. “Ah-ha!” She clapped her hands together. “I got just the thing to make you feel better and get back at that jerky jerk!”

She got around behind the cart, declaring, “Gotta something here in my “special” compartment that'll do the trick!”

There's a loud squeak of a door being opened, and Jessie’s head disappeared from view behind the cart. The cart cartoonishly shook as rummaging sound effects banged and echoed from the vehicle. Brenda couldn't help but be a little nervous by that.

BANG! Whatever door had opened before slammed shut, and Jessie popped back into view. She hurried out from behind the counter and presented a box to Brenda. It was a large, grey shoebox with the words “Dark Boots” scribbled onto it with a sharpie.

“Here we go!” Jessie struck a pose with a wink and peace sign in front of her closed eye. “Walk a mile in these and feel a whole new you!”

Brenda took the box and opened it. Inside was a pair of leather boots. They were long, going up and over part of her calves. They had straps along the sides, giving them a gothic vibe, and had highish heels to them.

She wasn't sure what to make of them exactly. They definitely weren't her style, that was for sure. They were a bit too bold and forceful for someone like her.

However, when she tried to hand them back, Jessie pushed the box back with her puffy paws. “Nah-ah! Try them on first! I think you'll be surprised with the results.”

That warm, friendly aura wins Brenda over again. It couldn't hurt, right? The dog meant well, so why not placate her silly idea?