The Poodle – A Short Story

The Poodle

Annie finished reading her daily scripture and was contemplating its meaning when the phone rang. She decided, based on her morning study, that she was not going to answer the phone. The phone call was from the National Academy of Poodle Excellence and they were going to offer her a job as Executive Vice President. This wasn’t the first time she hadn’t answered a call from this number so they eventually gave up on her. They offered the job to Sid, a poodle in Oklahoma, who took it and eventually reached world-wide fame as the CEO of NAPE.
Annie meanwhile continued her studies and was never the wiser because she didn’t watch the news.

The End


Drawing and story ยฉ 2021 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com


Ten Drawings

Here are 10 drawings I’ve done over the Winter and Spring of 2021. Let me know your favorites!


‘The Tik Tok Dancer’

Ink on Paper

2021

She practiced her TikTok dance in the mirror in the room with her favorite dog and painting on a Sunday instead of going to Temple.

‘The Sunbathers’

Ink on Paper

2021

“I Like to Sleep in the Sun.”
“Me Too.”

‘The Overdramatic Musician’

Ink on Paper

2021

The story is told of the time when the melodramatic musician overreacted to the famous painting of Mt. Vesuvius and burst an embolism and died right at that spot and made it even more famous!

‘Spiraling’

Ink on Paper

2021


‘American Allegiance’

Ink on Paper

2021


‘The Whiner’

Ink on Paper

2021

“Whoa (yes, I know it’s spelled wrong) is me why me who am i why cant i when will this how will i ever what will how will i be?”

“OMG, why did I get such a whiner for a mom? Damn, that means I am going to be the grown up from day one. UGH!”

‘The Posers’

Ink on Paper

2021


‘The Vacationer’

ink on Paper

2021


‘The Prayer’

Ink on Paper
2021

‘The Fish Whisperer’

ink on Paper

2021

Burning for Eternity


This idea caught me by surprise. I had never really thought about how the contemplation of eternity or the afterlife is a form of leisure. I think it is a pretty broad definition of the word leisure though since there are people who are employed and working hard to think on these things. Nonetheless, it isn’t the primary creative purview of people laboring to survive at an existential level. It’s for those who have the time to contemplate it, right?

Interesting secondary thoughts

  • is this true of all aspects of religion, not just the afterlife?
  • Does it illustrate Maslov’s heirarchy of need?

ยฉ 2021 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com

Quote by Paul Valรฉry, French writer, 1871-1945


Six Drawings of People Looking at Things

weed smoker
The Weed Smoker, ink on paper, 2021

The Ring Finder, ink on paper, 2021

The Bird Saver, ink on paper, 2021

The Hors d’oeuvre Eater, ink on paper, 2021

The Worm Whisperer, ink on paper, 2021

The Flower Arranger, ink on paper, 2021

Copyright ยฉ 2021 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com


Seven Drawings, Before and After – part 2

Jess the Flight Attendant, ink and acrylic paint on paper,
2013

Sara and the Phoenix, ink and acrylic paint on paper,
2016

A Poem in Her Head, ink on paper,
2016

The Pill, Ink on Paper,
2016

A Song About Herself, ink on paper,
2016

What She Is Made Of, ink and acrylic paint on paper,
2019

Jenn in Mexico, ink and acrylic paint on paper,
2015