Patch

Patch was born under a bustling food truck parked at the edge of a carnival. His first whiff of the world was of crispy cinnamon and freshly ground spices. His original owner, Manny, was a traveling magician who thought a dachshund would make an adorable assistant to pull out of his hat. Unfortunately for Manny, Patch wasn’t one to follow stage cues. He preferred stealing popcorn from the audience and enthusiastically chasing the magician’s silk scarves. Their partnership was short lived. The savory smell of sausages lured Patch from Manny’s tent as he was packing up. Manny didn’t try too hard to find the scrappy dachshund.

As a free agent, Patch roamed through alleys and backyards, charming his way into the hearts of whoever offered a pat or a plate of leftovers. He picked up quirks along the way—an undying love for hot dogs, a knack for finding sunny patches of grass to nap on, and an uncanny ability to pretend to belong wherever he happened to be.

One fateful afternoon, Patch trotted into the quiet suburban neighborhood where the Huaman and Hawk families had just moved in. He immediately decided this was his new headquarters. The Huamáns caught his attention first: Carlos was frying up empanadas in his backyard for the Hawks who were coming to dinner.

The Hawks didn’t realize that Patch had arrived with them, drawn by the smells of Carlos’s cooking. The dog practically hypnotized Santiago into sneaking him a bite. He checked the collar, which had “Patch” written in large capital letters. They hadn’t lived in the neighborhood for long, so Santiago assumed Patch belonged to the Hawks.

Patch, having learned how to put on a good show, charmed both families. When James and Santiago made an obstacle course with pool noodles for their bikes, Patch gleefully joined in, darting through their makeshift course and winning the kids over with his daredevil spirit.

The misunderstanding started immediately. Each family assumed Patch belonged to the other, but Patch wasn’t about to clear up the confusion. Why? Because it meant double the perks. At the Huaman house, Patch could count on belly rubs from Camila (though they came with a side of playful hair-pulling) and sneaky scraps of food from Santiago.

At the Hawk house, Patch became a quasi therapist for Michael, who found the mutt an oddly soothing listener. Michelle often tried new accents while sharing bits of her dinner. Occasionally, Patch would attempt to sing with her, which she found less endearing and would often mean it was time for Patch to “go home” to the Huamáns.

Patch’s life became a seamless blend of benefits from both families. He went on family hikes, attended backyard BBQs, and even starred in Michelle’s holiday play as the “Ghost of Christmas Treats” (he stole the show by chasing a prop turkey across the stage). All the while, Patch remained blissfully unclaimed.

Two years later, during a joint neighborhood party, Carlos and Michael finally connected the dots—or rather, the paws. Patch’s double life was revealed, and both families burst into laughter. By that point, however, there was no going back. Patch was no longer just a dog; he was the honorary glue that bound the Huamans and the Hawks together. Though Carolina insisted that they put up lost dog signs, she somehow never got around to doing so.

Patch’s mysterious origins remain a favorite dinner-table topic for both families. Manny’s carnival days are but a distant memory, though every now and then, Patch still seems to pull off a disappearing act—only to be found napping in a sunny corner, his stomach full of treats from his families.

After the deaths of Carlos and Michelle, Patch seemed to tune into his families’ needs. The frequent tears were a bit of a bonus—a nice and salty treat. The hugs were less beloved by the dog, but a dog can put up with a lot in exchange for love and treats.