Stick Dog Q&A
Recently, Tom Watson interviewed the main character in his Stick Dog books. The interview took place at Stick Dog’s home – a big pipe that runs beneath Highway 16.
Tom Watson: Hi, Stick Dog.
Stick Dog: Hey.
TW: Before we get started, I just wanted to say thanks for letting me write about your food-finding adventures. It’s a lot of fun.
SD: No problem.
TW: Do you like the stories?
SD: I do. But I wish you could draw me better. I’m really a lot better looking than that.
TW: Umm, yeah. Anyway. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions?
SD: Sure.
TW: Okay, here goes. We know what breed all your friends are. Karen is a dachshund. Mutt’s a mutt. Poo-Poo is a poodle. And Stripes is a dalmatian. But what breed are you?
SD: That’s a great question. And I have a great answer.
TW: What is it?
SD: I have no idea.
TW: Okay, umm. Next question, I guess. What’s your favorite thing to eat?
SD: Hamburgers. Hot dogs. And, let’s see … pizza is third, I think.
TW: I’m curious about how you met all your friends. I know some things, but not all the details. Stripes, for instance. How did you meet her?
SD: I was looking for scraps behind the mall. They have a food court in there and I can usually scrounge up something in the alley behind it. That’s what I was doing when I heard all this yelling. Then one of the guards at the mall opened the back door – and Stripes came running out real fast. She looked scared and like she was in trouble, but also kind of funny.
TW: Funny? How?
SD: She had nacho cheese sauce all over her face. It was like black and white and orange all over. Anyway, that’s how we met. She was upset and I tried to help her feel better. We’ve been friends ever since.
TW: Interesting. Here’s another question: Do the other dogs stay with you in your pipe?
SD: Not usually. If it’s really cold or late, we might have a sleepover. But they all have their own sleeping places. We almost always hang out together during the day though.
TW: Isn’t Poo-Poo just the silliest name?
SD: Yes. But he is a poodle, so it makes sense.
TW: Don’t you ever want to stop Poo-Poo from hitting his head into things on purpose?
SD: I do stop him most the time.
TW: Who decorated your place? I love what you’ve done with it.
SD: Do you? Thanks. Karen was the lead designer. She calls it ‘early-industrial.’
TW: What are you looking at?
SD: Excuse me?
TW: Well, we’re having this nice conversation and everything and now you seem to be staring at my feet.
SD: Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just your socks.
TW: What about them?
SD: Well, they look really soft and Mutt likes to chew on socks a lot. And I was just wondering ...
TW: You want my socks so you can give them to Mutt to chew on?
SD: Well, not to just chew them.
TW: What else?
SD: He’ll swallow them too. He eats the whole thing.
TW: Okay, here you go. The socks are yours.
SD: Thanks. Mutt will love them.
TW: Do you always look out for your friends like that?
SD: I try to.
TW: And do they look out for you too?
SD: Umm, occasionally.
TW: Can you give me an example?
SD: Let’s see, let’s see. Well, once Stripes wanted to shoot me out of a catapult and through a glass window.
TW: And that was being nice?
SD: It’s hard to explain. We were trying to get some food and she had this plan. She meant well.
TW: What kind of food were you trying to get?
SD: Pizza.
TW: Could I write about that for the next book?
SD: Sure. It was a pretty funny adventure. I’ll tell you all about it later.
TW: I want to ask a question about Karen. I was wondering: Has she ever actually caught her tail?
SD: Only once. January 16 – a day that will live in infamy.
TW: Thanks, Stick Dog. This was fun and informative.
SD: That’s it?
TW: That’s it.
SD: Umm, I was wondering if maybe I could ask you a question now?
TW: Sure. Shoot.
SD: Do you have any food?
TW: I don’t. But I’d be happy to take you out for hamburgers. Would you like that?
SD: Yes! And then could we go out for hot dogs after that?
TW: You bet.
SD: And pizza for dessert?
TW: You got it.
SD: And can I bring a few friends?
TW: How many?
SD: Four.
TW: No problem.