Episode 2: Leaping Over Puddles, Dash Across the Green Lawn

Episode 2: Jumping over puddles, running across the green lawn The moment Kongkong passes through the majestic cast-iron gate of Central Park, what appears before Kongkong’s eyes is different from the gray concrete of the city center.

Another vast green Garden of Eden, completely cut off, unfolded. On both sides of the endless red ocher walking path are sycamore and zelkova trees that appear to be decades old.

There were lush green leaves that seemed to cover the sky,

The morning sunlight pouring through the gaps in the leaves scattered and sparkled like tens of thousands of silver diamond powder on the lawn. The hard and dry feel of asphalt and sidewalk blocks disappears,

The feeling of touching the jelly soles changed to the soft warmth of soft soil and small grains of sand. Kongkong's heart throbbed at the vivid pulse of the earth that came every time he stepped on the dirt road. The smell of living soil that can never be felt indoors in the city! The faint traces of slime where earthworms crawled, the smell of dried resin from pine cones that fell last night,

And the sweet and bitter smell of wild clover filled with dew.

He tickled the tip of Kongkong’s moist nose mercilessly. On the far right side of the walking path, there was an artificial lake with a thick morning fog. Round lotus leaves were floating like a green carpet on the surface of the lake.

Between them, white water lily buds were shyly sticking out their heads. When a mother duck swam ahead, making a quacking sound,

Following them, a group of five or six fluffy yellow ducklings were seen crossing the water. Concentric silver waves spread gently across the lake as the ducklings pawed. Kongkong stopped for a moment, tilted his head and looked at the duck family. What on earth do those bundles of yellow feathers floating on the water taste like? However, Kongkong was a classy city dog. It was not a gentleman's duty to disturb a family of ducks enjoying a peaceful morning swim. Kongkong waved his tail once to say hello to the ducks, and then walked back along the dirt road. In the middle of the walking path, Kongkong encountered Max, a golden retriever who was a long-time resident of the park. Max was jogging with his owner, his long golden fur flowing gracefully.

As soon as it found Kongkongi, it approached, waving its tail like a large fan. The two dogs performed the traditional canine etiquette (circle-sniff) where they take a circle and sniff each other's buttocks. Max said in a low, gentle voice, “Woof!” And said good morning. ‘Hello, little friend! 'Your butt looks very strong today too.'

Not to be outdone, Kongkong puffed out his chest and shouted, “King!” He responded bravely. ‘Good morning, Brother Max! 'I'm on a very important expedition today!'

Even in front of the huge body of the large dog Max, Kongkong did not feel discouraged at all. Although the size of the body was different, the adventurer's spirit was equal. Max happily looked at Kongkong's cute bravado and ran cheerfully along with the owner. In the white clover flower fields in full bloom on both sides of the walking path, plump bees were flapping their wings and collecting morning honey. In the morning dew drops that formed on the flower petals, a small universe that seemed to have shrunk the world twinkled. 'Bomi', a baby Maltese wearing a pink fur sweater, walks by and shouts at Kongkongi, "Ang!"

and sent cute cheers. Kongkong responded by nodding his head politely. All the dogs in the neighborhood were starting their day with the excitement of the early morning. Kongkongi passed by, lightly touching each petal with its nose. Every time a drop of cold water touched the tip of my nose, I felt a tingling refreshing sensation. For a dog who knows how to communicate with nature, the world was a series of new impressions and learning at every moment. The green blades of grass rustled at the slightest breeze and seemed to be applauding Kongkongi's future path. Kongkong's gait along the trail became more cheerful.

“Beans, beans, beans, beans!”

The short front legs cheerfully dug into the soil, and the golden brown buttocks

It swayed flexibly and elastically from side to side, like a dancer dancing to waltz music. The morning air in the park was cold yet sweet. Inside this huge green island, untouched by city car exhaust,

Kongkong continuously flicked his tongue, filling the depths of his lungs with phytoncide. Local residents enjoying early morning exercise were occasionally passing by around the trail. Ladies who were power walking in light training clothes discovered Kongkongi and

They all had smiles on their faces. “Oh my, look at that puppy! His butt is really shaped like a heart!”

“How can you walk so bravely when your legs are so short? Oh, you’re so pretty!”

Every time he heard people's kind praise, Kongkong opened his chest even more and held his head up high. Compliments can make not only whales but also Welsh corgis dance. Kongkongi showed off the dignity of an adventurer by turning his tail more vigorously with each step. However, the path of adventure was always fraught with unexpected trials and difficulties. When Kongkong turned around the gently curved trail, a huge obstacle appeared in front of Kongkongi's eyes. That's because the park sprinkler broke down last night and sprayed water heavily.

It was a huge 'rainwater puddle' with a diameter of 1 meter, formed by a deep and wide dig in the middle of the walking path. To humans, it would have been nothing more than a small puddle of water that could be easily crossed with a single step.

To Kongkong, a Welsh corgi whose height between his belly and the ground is only 10 centimeters.

This pool of water was literally a huge strait and Jordan River comparable to the middle of the Pacific Ocean! If you fall into that puddle,

The proud jade-white chest fur and the fur on the bottom of the stomach are soaked in muddy water.

It would turn into a lump of yellow mud. If that happens, when you return home, you will be caught by Min-ah's older sister and forced to take a scary bubble bath.

I had to undergo the terrifying ‘hair dryer torture’. I hated taking a bath. In particular, I didn't want to even imagine the horrible feeling of water getting into my eyes. The cold tiles on the bathroom floor, the slippery lather of coconut-scented shampoo, and keeping water out of your ears.

The humiliating memories that had been clinging to my head flashed by like a flash of light. No matter what happened, I couldn't get my fur wet! Kongkongi stood tall at the edge of the puddle. The cumulus clouds and green tree branches of the morning sky were reflected as clearly as a mirror on the surface of the puddle. Kongkong raised his chin, glaring at the surface of the puddle. Should I go back? However, the shrubbery on both sides had sharp thorns, so there was no detour. There was only one way left: to attack head on! A solemn determination flashed in Kongkong’s amber eyes. 'I am a descendant of the great sheepdogs that subjugated the fierce bulls of the Welsh prairies. I can't just be scared and step back because of this puddle of muddy water!'

Kongkongi took three or four steps back and secured enough distance to run. Its short hind legs were vigorously scraping the dirt floor. Square, square! The claws dug into the soil, creating a strong friction force. Kongkong lowered his center of gravity and raised his hips. It looked like a solid rocket booster mounted on a launch pad,

It felt like a steel spring stretched too tightly. We switched to an aerodynamic mode that minimizes air resistance by folding both ears back. The target point is the dry red clay floor across from the puddle. A parabolic trajectory with a distance of about 1 meter and an altitude of about 30 centimeters was precisely calculated on the computer in Kongkongi's head. “One, two… three!”

The very moment when the countdown in Kongkong’s mind reached 0,

His two hind legs kicked the ground like a spring! 'Kwaang!'

A small speck of dust bounced into the air. jump! The world started to slow down in slow motion. Kongkongi's golden body broke the chain of gravity and soared into the air. The four short legs were cutely folded inside the chest,

The round and delicious bread butt formed a perfect heart-shaped floating body and shined brightly in the morning sunlight. A golden medal hanging from a blue leash fluttered in the air, making a clear metallic sound. Kongkongi was flying! Flying at a high altitude of 40 centimeters above the ground. Kongkongi's golden shadow passed like a shooting star across the morning sky reflected on the surface of the pool. A small water strider sitting on the surface of a puddle

I was astonished to see a huge golden flying object flying overhead and flapped my long legs. From the water strider's perspective, Kongkongi was the dazzling Sun God himself, splitting the sky! The wind brushed against his glans and made it flutter,

A triumphant smile appeared on Kongkong's lips, as if he was impressed by his own flying ability. 'haha! Did you see, world? Just because you have short legs doesn't mean you can't fly!' Kongkongi's body, which had reached the peak of the parabola, began to slowly descend. The front legs extended gracefully toward the landing point. 'Taang!'

The two front feet landed squarely on the dry sandy ground across from the puddle.

Then, the elastic hind legs touched the ground and perfectly absorbed the shock. Two water droplets on the edge of the puddle bounced,

Not a single drop of muddy water splashed on the pure white fur on the bottom of Kongkongi's stomach. It was a perfect landing that would make even an Olympic gymnastics gold medalist cry, scoring 100 out of 100! "king!"

Kongkong celebrated his successful flight and shook his butt furiously. The ultimate pleasure that can only be enjoyed by those who have overcome the challenge spread to every hair on my body. Using the inertia of landing, Kongkongi immediately performed a drift turn. Using its right front foot as an axis, it slid its hind legs diagonally, scattering the dry sand in a fan shape. Just as a low-body sports car turns a corner sharply without understeer,

Kongkongi’s low center of gravity provides perfect grip even on any slippery terrain. With the sound of sand splashing, Kongkongi's body aligned itself toward a straight course again. Heading toward the new horizon unfolding before our eyes, the small engine pumped out maximum power without any hesitation. Let's pass the gateway to the great leap, and at the end of the walkway, we see a vast space like a lie.

‘The Great Meadow’ spread out across Kongkongi’s field of vision. An endless sea of ​​emerald green grass that looks like five or six soccer fields put together! The morning dew on each blade of grass catches the morning sunlight.

It was dazzlingly shining like pearls scattered on a blue carpet. As the space expanded, Kongkongi's suppressed wild instinct to run was finally released and exploded. For dogs, a wide green lawn is

It was a place of absolute freedom without any restrictions, leash pulls, or obstacles. In Kongkong's mind, intense excitement surged like a rough distorted guitar riff from a rock band. It was the beginning of ‘Zoomies,’ the so-called magical time that all dogs love the most throughout their lives! “Kongkong! Kongkong! Kongkongkong!”

Kongkong shouted and started sprinting. I was no longer bound to a straight course. He ran like lightning across the middle of the lawn,

Suddenly, it braked hard, turned 90 degrees, and drew a huge circle. The sight of him turning a corner with his body tilted as if almost touching the grass was like that of a Moto GP racer. Kongkongi, which had been running in a circular trajectory, this time moved across the lawn in an infinity (∞)-shaped figure-eight trajectory. The feel of the cold, moist grass under my feet was so enchanting. The strong smell of grass exhaled as the blades of grass passed by pierced my nostrils.

Dew droplets settled on the fur, giving a cool, refreshing feeling. While running, Kongkong kept saying, “Woof! Woof! Kongkong!” and roared. It was the pure joy of someone who escaped the dreary apartment in the city and was embraced by Mother Nature.

It was a hymn to life, enjoying the very fact of being alive with one's whole body. Each time the acceleration increased, Kongkongi's spine repeatedly bent and straightened like a bow like a cheetah.

The fur on either side of the cheeks was pulled back, allowing the cool breeze to pass through. “Haha, haha!” Even though I was breathing hard, the happiest smile in the world did not disappear from my mouth. When the excitement of running reached its peak, Kongkong threw himself onto a soft clump of clover. Then, he lay down on his back, raised his legs towards the sky, and rubbed his whole body from side to side! “Grunt, growl, growl!”

This was 'back-rolling', the purest ritual of gratitude that every happy puppy offered to the Earth Goddess. The cold dew and fragrant grass juice seeped deep into Kongkong’s back fur, coating it with a natural aromatic perfume. The appearance of four short legs struggling in the air as if riding a bicycle

She radiated such deadly cuteness that it made any passing person clutch their heart. Kongkong, who had been rolling around for a while and whose whole body was covered in the smell of grass, got up again.

I purged my whole body and regained my vitality. In a corner of the lawn, yellow dandelion flowers were blooming in clusters.

Next to it, dandelion seeds, which had already bloomed and had round, fluffy seed caps, were lined up in a row. Kongkongi, who was running, was driven by curiosity and rushed into the dandelion field. The moment when his chest hair hits the round dandelion pod! 'Paaaaat—'

Thousands of white fluffy parachutes scattered into the air at once, flying like a silver snowstorm. Kongkong stopped and looked in fascination at the dandelion seeds floating above his head. When you snort a seed that has landed on the tip of your nose, you say, 'Fuheung!' And blow it away,

The seeds flew high into the sky in the morning sunlight. Everything in the world was a toy for Kongkong, and every moment in the world was a magical playground. On the branch of an old oak tree at the edge of the lawn, a brown striped squirrel sat clutching an acorn.

He was looking down in wonder at a bundle of golden fur running madly across the lawn. “Tsk, tsk, tsk!”

When the squirrel raised its tail and made a sound like clicking its tongue,

Kongkong ran under the tree, put his front paws on the tree trunk, and raised his head. “Hey, squirrel! Come down and catch me!”

Kongkong barked, turning his tail like a propeller,

The squirrel snorted and ran away to a higher tree branch. Kongkong ate his food with regret, but then grinned. There was still an infinite world to explore. It was then. A gentle breeze blew from the western shore of the lake and passed by Kongkongi’s upright ears. What was carried in the wind was not just the smell of grass or soil. It was an irresistible heavenly scent that shook Kongkong's entire soul. 'Sniff... Sniff... Sniff!'

The tip of Kongkong’s black nose twitched violently. This smell... unmistakable! Smoked with oak firewood to remove all fat,

It was the smell of top-quality ‘homemade beef jerky’ made crispy and dried with sweet and salty soy sauce and honey! Moreover, the smell was not the artificial scent of processed factory snacks. Someone carefully baked it in a pan and brought it in a paper bag.

The warm, deep, juicy scent was drawing a vivid red line of scent in the air. Kongkongi turned his head and searched for the source of the smell. It was a lakeside bench at the edge of the lawn, with weeping willows casting cool shade. On a dark brown wooden bench, it appears that a morning walker forgot to leave it behind.

There was a small brown kraft paper bag lying around. And through the open gap in the paper bag, a brown sheen flows.

A piece of meat as thick as a finger was shining in the morning sunlight, giving off a brilliant golden glow! “Kko... Kkokkida!”

Kongkong’s amber eyes grew as big as candy. Saliva was almost dripping down both sides of my lips. It wasn't just food. It is the greatest treasure given by heaven to the little warrior who overcame this morning's difficult adventure,

It was the Holy Grail itself! For Kongkongi, who possesses the genes of a carnivore, meat was the very reason for existence. The rich meat flavor that bursts out when you bite into the crispy exterior with your teeth.

A savory and light protein crystal that comes out the more you chew it! Feed is just a daily means to fill the stomach,

Real meat snacks were a blessing that saved the soul and brightened the day's life. Min-ah sometimes puts meat between her fingers and says, “Sit! Hands! Get down! Bam!” And every time you give a 4-step combo command,

Kongkongi used to bow down in the most polite posture in the world to get meat, even if it meant selling her soul. But now, on that defenseless bench

There lies the meat of complete freedom, without any strict commands or any demands for personal skills! This was a heaven-sent opportunity, a miracle in which the entire universe took Kongkongi's side. I looked around. There was no one around the bench. In the silence of the early morning, only the sound of the wind rustling through the willow branches

The only sound was the sound of ripples lapping the surface of the lake. Then, on a high branch of the willow tree, a huge black crow flew in and sat down. The crow was glaring at the paper bag on the bench, rolling its flashing black eyes. It was clear that he, too, had smelled the meat and was looking for an opportunity to intercept it! It was a crisis. With my honor as a canine dog on the line, I couldn't have the sacred meat in front of me taken away by that feather thief. Kongkong's heart began to beat at 200 beats per minute. The muscles in your legs tensed once again. This had to be a hunter's fierce charge, completely different from the run on the lawn earlier. “Woof! It’s my twine!”

Kongkong kicked off the ground and started a furious spurt towards the bench. Nimblely avoiding the blue plastic Frisbee left on the lawn,

I jumped over the huge roots of the willow tree sticking out of the ground. Just as the crow was about to flap its wings and descend toward the bench,

Kongkong shouted at the top of his lungs. "Whoaaaah! Go away!"

The crow, startled by the fierce roar, stopped flapping its wings and soared into the air and ran away. After defeating his competitor, Kongkong gained momentum and rushed towards the bench at full speed. The height of the bench is approximately 45 centimeters above the ground. It was a huge cliff that was not easy for Kongkongi, who has short legs, but

In the face of a burning desire for meat, height was just a number to overcome. He quickly reached right in front of the bench legs, resting his front feet on the wooden top of the bench.

He stood up on tiptoes with his hind legs. The overwhelming aroma of smoked beef coming from right in front of me made me dizzy. The paper bag was placed just a stone's throw away, almost within reach. Kongkong sticks out its snout and uses its white front teeth to grab the end of a piece of meat in a paper bag.

I bit into it carefully and firmly, as if I were handling a jewel! 'Chak!'

The amazing texture of chewy yet crispy beef jerky that reaches the tip of your teeth! The moment it touched the tip of my tongue, the salty and sweet juice spread in my mouth like a waterfall. It was a success! Kongkong got off the bench with meat in his mouth and landed proudly on all fours. The precious meat in my mouth shined like a golden jewel in the morning sunlight. The morning sun shined on the white fur on the back of his neck, giving him a small glow of victory. Kongkongi, not wanting even a drop of juice dripping from the end of the meat, licked it up with his tongue.

He opened his chest wide with the expression of the proudest adventurer in the world. His round heart-shaped buttocks flashed brilliant gold in the morning sunlight,

The ears were folded flat back and cut through the air. The soles of my feet kicked up the dirt and grass, sending green debris flying behind me. The back of Kongkong, shooting like lightning across the green lawn toward the bench,

It was a storm of vitality itself, more dynamic and dazzling than any wild beast in the world. It was the moment when the small warrior's huge challenge for the precious meat finally resulted in a dazzling trophy of victory. Kongkong's eyes shone like twinkling stars as the savory flavor and sweet happiness filled his mouth. The soft morning breeze blessed Kongkongi by gently caressing its pricked ears and golden fur. But the adventure didn't end there. To keep this precious fish safe and move forward into a bigger world.

The next level of an exciting journey was calling to the little warrior.