The desert was quiet.Until three noses twitched at the same time.Something was different today.The house sparkled with Christmas lights—even on the cacti.Under the little tree sat a few presents,but the air felt… special.From the kitchen came the sound of laughter and the smell of cinnamon toast.Dad poured coffee into two mugs while Pawpa hummed a Christmas tune.Their suitcases waited by the door.Alto blinked. “Suitcases? Oh no. Are we going to the vet?”Dad crouched down with a grin. “Not this time, buddy. We’ve got an adventure ahead.”
Harmony’s eyes widened. “Adventure? Like… the car kind? The park kind? The snack kind?”Pawpa chuckled. “The biggest kind.”Alto wagged slowly.“Parade,” he decided.After all, he was the Maraschino—which he was pretty sure meant “leader of all parades.”Harmony spun in a circle.“SNACKS!” she declared, and dashed off to find some.
The dogs decided they should pack too.Everyone needs a suitcase for an adventure.Aria packed tennis balls.All of them.Because you never know when you’ll find the perfect bounce.Alto packed his serious face.He would represent the family with pride and Christmas spirit—and maybe an extra napping pillow.Harmony packed everything else—three toys, one slipper,and a jar of pickles.You never know when you’ll need pickles.Pawpa zipped up the last suitcase.The dogs’ tails wagged so fast,it sounded like a helicopter warming up.
When all the bags were ready,their dads loaded them into the car.The dogs wiggled with excitement.Harmony tried to help.She grabbed a sock, a scarf,and almost Pawpa’s shoe.“Good helper,” she told herself proudly.It was still dark when Dad said,“Alright, crew—time to go!”The cacti waved goodbye as the car rolled forward toward the airport under the blinking stars.Harmony pressed her nose to the window.“Look! The moon’s chasing us!”Aria yawned.“I hope the moon likes tennis balls.”Alto sighed proudly.“It’s following me. I’m leading it to the parade.”
At the airport, everything buzzed—beeping carts, shiny floors, so many legs!Harmony’s bag got stopped at security check.A guard held it up. “Ma’am, is this your jar of pickles?”Harmony tucked her ears in guilty embarrassment.Aria thought the escalator was magic.“Stairs that move?!” she gasped.She rode it three times before Dad called her back.Alto puffed his chest.“The Maraschino always leads the parade,” he said,and marched directly into the wrong line.
Finally—boarding time.The plane’s belly rumbled like a thunderstorm.Harmony hesitated.“Are you sure it’s safe, Dad?”Dad smiled and scooped her up.“It’s okay, sweetheart. We’ll fly together.”Once the engines roared,the ground fell away beneath their paws.Everything felt light and floaty—like chasing a dream straight into the clouds.Aria pressed her nose to the window.“The clouds look like fluffy balls!”Harmony barked, “No, bones!”Alto yawned grandly.“Clearly cherries,” he said,before curling into Dad’s lap and snoring.
A kind stewardess stopped by their row.She offered everyone cookies—Biscoff cookies!Pawpa’s favorite.She even slipped him an extra one.Harmony’s tail thumped so hard it rattled the tray table.High above the world, everything was quiet.The dogs could feel it—something beautiful waiting ahead.Love and adventure carried them forward—three wagging hearts and two holding hands.
Then—thump!The plane landed with a happy bump.The city stretched all around them, glowing like a million tiny stars.“Welcome to New York,” Pawpa whispered.And Aria whispered back, “Wow,”her eyes big with excitement.The doors opened, and cold air rushed in.Big air. Busy air. New York air.Taxi horns honked, lights blinked, and buildings reached all the way to the moon.Harmony gasped. “Do people really live up there?”Pawpa laughed. “All the way to the top, sweetheart.”The dogs pressed their noses to the window as the taxi zoomed away.
Later. they saw the biggest Christmas tree they’d ever seen—taller than fifty Altos stacked on each other.Aria twirled. “I could dance here forever!”At Rockefeller Center, ice skaters twirled and glided.Alto watched with shining eyes.He’d seen it on TV before,but it was even more beautiful in person.Down the street, giant red ornaments floated on sparkling water.Harmony wagged so hard she almost fell in.“Maybe they’re cherries!” Alto declared proudly.
They saw Lady Liberty across the water,glowing green and grand.Aria waved. “Hi, pretty lady!”And then there was Radio City Music Hall,its bright lights blinking like a line of wagging tails.Aria gasped. “That’s where the Rockettes dance!”She practiced high kicks all the way down the sidewalk.Alto puffed out his chest.“I was in a musical once,” he said.Dad smiled. “Your performance in Chitty was superb.”Alto gave back a smile of appreciation. Harmony stopped at every food cart.Pretzels. Hot dogs. Chestnuts!Pawpa laughed, “You’d eat the whole city if we let you.”
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