Sunday, July 5, 2020
Sunday's Short Stack: Doc Brodie and the Big, Purple Cat Toy by Brigham Vaughn
Grant Murchison is a computer programmer with a great job, a small house he’s fixing up, and a mischievous tabby cat named Molly. Doctor Brodie Hall is a veterinarian with a sleeve full of tattoos and an enormous mastiff named Ruby.
When Molly gets sick after nibbling on Grant’s favorite purple toy, he rushes her to the vet clinic where the doctor works. Grant’s embarrassed to admit what Molly ate, but Brodie finds Grant’s reaction charming.
Brodie decides to pursue Molly’s owner, but getting close to Grant is a bigger challenge than he anticipated. Despite Grant’s attraction to the vet, his past leaves him unable to trust in a future together. Doc Brodie may be great with scared and hurting animals but will his technique work on Grant?
Curiosity killed the cat, well Molly's curiosity doesn't kill her but it certainly creates a little havoc in her human's life that changes everything for Grant and the vet who tends to her curiosity fallout. Another great short story/novella(I'm never quite sure where to draw the line between the two. Sometimes what I call short story is considered a novella and vice versa so I have taken to covering both bets - lol) by Brigham Vaughn. The drama level is pretty low but not non-existent for the pair but this tale is fun, loving, and romantic. If you haven't figured out just what Grant's purple toy is, well I am not going to spell it out but it's a nice change that I haven't often seen explored in this genre. An all around great read and generally, stories of this size usually get 1/2 a bookmark knocked off just because on principle I am a long novel girl, but over the past couple of years I have read some pretty amazing shorter tales that I no longer automatically knock it down. Doc Brodie and the Big, Purple Cat Toy definitely earns a whole 5 rating and left me smiling, which is always a good thing.
RATING:
The cat’s owner lifted his head, his brown eyes meeting Brodie’s and widening. A blush filled his cheeks, and he jerked back. Now Brodie could see the fine features of his face, the faint cleft in his chin, and the bookish handsomeness. Wow.
Brodie smiled reassuringly at him. “What’s my patient’s name?”
“Uh, Molly,” he stammered, licking his lips.
“Well, I’m Doctor Brodie Hall, and I promise I’ll take great care of Molly for you.”
“Thanks,” he said, a grateful note in his voice. “Um, I’m Grant Murchison.”
“Nice to meet you, Grant. So, this little girl ate something that disagreed with her, huh?” Brodie asked.
Grant nodded. “Yeah, I woke up to her throwing up. I rushed her right over.”
“Any idea what she ate?”
“Uhm.” He blushed again and lifted a plastic bag out of the paper one on the floor, showing the vet a mangled purple silicone sex toy.
Brodie’s eyes widened as he fought back a smirk. That was a first. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “Is that what I think it is?”
Grant nodded, closing his eyes, as if he was trying to shut out the embarrassing truth. “Uh, if you think it’s a dildo, then, yes, you’d be right. I used it, washed it, and left it on the edge of the bathtub. I had no idea she’d eat it.” His expression turned miserable.
“That’s … uh, well, I have to say this is a first for me,” Brodie admitted.
Brodie smiled reassuringly at him. “What’s my patient’s name?”
“Uh, Molly,” he stammered, licking his lips.
“Well, I’m Doctor Brodie Hall, and I promise I’ll take great care of Molly for you.”
“Thanks,” he said, a grateful note in his voice. “Um, I’m Grant Murchison.”
“Nice to meet you, Grant. So, this little girl ate something that disagreed with her, huh?” Brodie asked.
Grant nodded. “Yeah, I woke up to her throwing up. I rushed her right over.”
“Any idea what she ate?”
“Uhm.” He blushed again and lifted a plastic bag out of the paper one on the floor, showing the vet a mangled purple silicone sex toy.
Brodie’s eyes widened as he fought back a smirk. That was a first. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “Is that what I think it is?”
Grant nodded, closing his eyes, as if he was trying to shut out the embarrassing truth. “Uh, if you think it’s a dildo, then, yes, you’d be right. I used it, washed it, and left it on the edge of the bathtub. I had no idea she’d eat it.” His expression turned miserable.
“That’s … uh, well, I have to say this is a first for me,” Brodie admitted.
Summary:
Plagued by social anxiety, Paul Conway is content with the online relationship he's built with fellow nerd, Isaac Morrison. Isaac is determined to move their relationship off the screen and into real life but Paul’s fears stand in the way. The very thing that causes him anxiety in the first place might help him overcome it in the long run if he’s brave enough to face his fears.
I originally read this little story back in May 2014 and my review simply put said: "I loved it!" After seeing the names Isaac & Paul show up in Doc Brodie, I was pretty sure we heard their story earlier so I went and looked. Sure enough, there they were(at least I'm pretty sure they are same Isaac & Paul but if I'm wrong about the connection between the two stories and they are not companion pieces, it still doesn't take away from the enjoyment or the great characters). Well, I decided to give this little ditty a re-read. I say "little ditty" but don't mistake that as me saying this story is small, it may be short but it's lovely, fun, and romantic. I guess what I'm saying is I still loved it!
RATING:
Author Bio:
Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.Her books range from short stories to novellas. They explore gay, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings.
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EMAIL: brighamvaughn@gmail.com
Doc Brodie and the Big, Purple Cat Toy
Geeks, Nerds, & Cuddles
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