The Trials of Tessa, Part 2

Ahh! Finally! Part 2! I am so sorry it took me this long to get the photostory together – especially because it took like 15 minutes to take the photos and I was kinda putting it off because I wasn’t sure what to do. I got a lot of requests for specific dolls you wanted Tessa to “shadow.” I decided Tessa would shadow Morgan for Part 2, but since Morgan is only into dogs I wasn’t sure how to make this work . . . please tell me what you think about Part 2 in the comments!

“Hey, Morgan,” I say, walking up to what looks like an obstacle course. Morgan and her Labrador retriever, Chocolate Chip, have been down here all afternoon. “What are y’all up to?”

“Chocolate Chip and I are doing agility training,” Morgan explains. “Would you like to help?”

“Uh . . . sure,” I say. I’m not a huge dog person – not that I would ever tell Morgan that – but it’s not like I have anything better to do.

“Great!” Morgan cheers. “Watch me.”

“Weave,” Morgan commands Chocolate Chip. He begins to weave in and out of the plastic cones.

“Good boy,” Morgan praises him.

“Balance,” she says next, as CC hops up on a beam.

“Jump,” Morgan instructs.

Chocolate Chip jumps up and over the beam.

“Good boy!” Morgan cheers. “Who’s a good doggie? Yes, you are! Yes, you are!” She pats CC on the head. “Do you want to have a turn leading him, Tessa?”

“I guess so,” I say, leading CC over to the cones. “Weave,” I tell him.

The dog just stands there, looking confused.

“You have to be more direct,” Morgan explains. “Try a firmer tone.”

“Weave,” I say a bit louder.

Chocolate Chip weaves through one cone and comes to a complete halt.

“You have to lead him. He won’t do it by himself yet,” Morgan informs me.

“Right,” I say. I lead Chocolate to the other side of the line of cones.

I stand behind the beam, trying to remember what the command was. “Uh . . . beam?”

“Balance,” Morgan corrects me gently.

Chocolate Chip, hearing the voice of his usual handler, hops up onto the beam and walks across.

I stand behind the jump, confindent I can do this the right way. “Jump,” I say in a strong voice.

“Um, Tessa, you might want to-”

“Move.”