Snack Time!
Hardy the Bulldog
animal protagonist cover art cute dog IF Competition 2008 IFComp Game kid-friendly nonhuman protagonist parser recommended for children television Xyzzy Awards 2008 XYZZY Best Individual PC
Can you help one hungry bulldog in his quest to find something good to eat? He would like that. A lot.
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<RRROWWGRROWL> Your stomach growls.

You've been vegging out in front of that flickering screen for hours, your pet by your side. Now your complaining stomach sets you up on your feet, and on a mission.
Snack Time!
An Interactive Break for a Bite

(For more information please type ABOUT)

This is the room where you sit a lot. Well, you sleep here sometimes too. But there is a different room that is just for sleeping, and it is to the north. There's another room to the west. It's the room with the food. That is a good room.

Even though this is the sitting room you can't sit on everything. There are a lot of "no"s here, like the thing you can't scratch, and the tall thing and the four-legged thing that isn't alive but that stands still with the box of light on its back.

Your pet is here, all stretched out on the long soft thing and snoring.
You examine the pet
He's not very hairy, poor thing, so he has to cover up to stay warm. But he is good at tricks like standing up on his hind legs and putting together tasty foods.

Right now he's sleeping with his arm hanging over the side of the long soft thing.
About yourself
You're short and stocky, and, to be honest, rather hairy. You're also rather hungry.
You examine the tall thing
It almost could touch the ceiling if it would stand on its hind legs which it doesn't seem to be able to do. Maybe if it weren't weighed down with all that stuff it holds.
Examine can'T scratch
Well, really you can't scratch any of the things inside the house. But your pet seemed especially emphatic about this one when you tried it. Which is a shame, because it smells like something to scratch.
Smell can'T scratch
It smells itchy.
You examine the couch
On the long soft thing are a bunch of smaller soft things that together make up a comfy place for sitting or sleeping.
You examine table
If this were alive, it would be one patient animal to stand so still all the time. But you're pretty sure it's not alive. Anyway you've never seen it move, even when the box of light it holds gets really loud and unpleasant.
You look at the tv
Sometimes the box sleeps but a lot of the time it is loud and noisy and bright. Sometimes you've seen things like the outside inside it or yummy-looking food or even little dogs in there. But everything is the wrong size and doesn't smell right, so you're not sure what that's about.

Right now it looks like some little people inside are yapping at each other.
You check your inventory
Right now you aren't carrying anything. (It's not like you need a lot of stuff, anyway.)
About yourself
You're short and stocky, and, to be honest, rather hairy. You're also rather hungry.
Sleep
You're hungry now, remember? Not sleepy.
Go west
Food room, glorious food room!

Your bowl for food and water is here, but that's only the beginning. There's also a lot of secret places where your pet keeps food and things that go with food and things that make food better. There's a thing that gets hot and a box that stays cold, and that is your favorite because you know there is always food inside there. A cloth hangs down from the door of the cold box.
You pull the cloth
This is a good trick!

You pull on the cloth with your teeth and back up as the door opens. Inside you can see various leftovers, some jars, some sandwich fixings and one shiny can.
You look at the shiny can
It's shiny and filled with some liquid that your pet really likes.
You examine the leftovers
Sometimes your pet makes something and saves some of it in the cold box to see how long it takes to grow fuzzy stuff on it. It's an interesting experiment, but not much good to you when you are hungry.
You take the sandwich fixings
All the food in the cold box is up too high for you or closed away. Looks like you will need your pet to help you get a snack.
You look at the cloth
This cloth is wrapped around part of the cold box door that sticks out for pulling.
You examine the bowl
Your bowl has two sides, one for food and one for water. Right now both spots are empty.
You wake pet
That's a good idea. Maybe if you make some noise or disturb him somehow he would wake up.
Bark
You try a few short, sharp barks.

Your pet gets one eye open and half-heartedly pets at you. You're making progress.
Bark
You try a few short, sharp barks.

Hmm, your pet seems to have turned that into part of his dream or something, because he sure didn't move this time when you barked.
You bite him
You love your pet too much to bite him!
Lick pet
You love on your pet with some little licks.

Your pet shifts and stretches, blinking. He moves around until he is mostly sitting up.

"Hey Hardy," he mumbles.

It might take a little more to get him up and moving, but at least now his eyes are open!
Bark
You try a few short, sharp barks.

Your pet says, "Shh, Hardy, it's OK."
You jump
You lean back on your haunches, ready yourself, and... jump! Sure, it was just a little jump, but it's not like you're a rabbit or something jumpy like that.
Whine
You have tried many times and many ways to get your pet to understand you. But no matter how you vocalize, he just doesn't get it.
You pull the pet
You carefully use your teeth to get a hold of your pet's arm and pull it towards you.

Your pet pulls away from you.
You take the bowl
The bowl is set up in a frame to make it just as tall as your face. The frame makes it easier to eat and drink from, but it also makes it heavy and stuck in one place.
Lick pet
You love on your pet with some little licks.

He smiles down at you and gives you a little head pat.
You get on the couch
You climb up unto the long soft thing, happy that it is low enough for you to get on all by yourself.

On the long soft thing are a bunch of smaller soft things that together make up a comfy place for sitting or sleeping.
You examine the cushions
These smaller soft things make up the long soft thing. Sometimes they must get hungry because they try to eat things that get left on the long soft thing. Sometimes they get separated from the long soft thing. But mostly they just all hang out together. They must be friends.
Sleep
You're hungry now, remember? Not sleepy.
You take the cushion
You tug and pull at the little soft things until finally one breaks free from the bunch. As you dislodge it, something clatters to the floor. Ah ha! You've found the magic wand! Those little soft things were trying to eat it!

"So that's where that got away to," says your pet, snatching up the magic wand. He points it at the box of light and makes it even louder.
Go west
You'll have to get off the long soft thing first.
Down
You get off the long soft thing.

Your pet is here, staring at the box of light, holding on tight to the magic wand.
You drop the cushion
You release your hold and let the square soft thing fall down.
Go east
Your pet is here, staring at the box of light, holding on tight to the magic wand.
You examine wand
A magical, bumpy thing your pet uses to control the box of light.
You take the wand
Your pet likes to be in charge of the box of light. You don't have a chance with it as long as he's around.
You look at the tv
Sometimes the box sleeps but a lot of the time it is loud and noisy and bright. Sometimes you've seen things like the outside inside it or yummy-looking food or even little dogs in there. But everything is the wrong size and doesn't smell right, so you're not sure what that's about.

Right now it looks like some little people inside are yapping at each other.
You go north
Most of the time when you are in here it is dark and quiet because that is the best way to sleep and this is the room made for sleeping. There is a high bed here that is not your bed although it is where you sleep usually to keep your pet company. The sitting room is south of here and the room with the water is to the west.

Your low bed is here, looking all soft and cushy.

Dino is here!
You eat the Dino
You stick your head under the bed for a closer look and discover... a sock! Your pet has probably been looking for this, since socks usually stick together. You wonder why this one ran away.

That's not tasty.
You take the sock
You snatch up the sock with your mouth and hold on tight.
You look at the high bed
The high bed is pretty comfy. It is up high because your pet has a hard time getting all the way down to the floor and back up again.
You look at the low bed
The low bed is round and soft and meant to make you comfy and cozy after you turn around in it three times and lie down.
You turn around
You run around in a circle for a bit in a mad chase for your tail. But you can't quite get it. You never can.
You go north
You can go south to the sitting room or west to the water room.
You go to the south
Your pet is here, staring at the box of light, holding on tight to the magic wand.
You show the sock to the pet
Your pet takes the sock from you and looks at it. "Thanks, Hardy," he says, before dropping it.
Shake sock
You shake the sock for all you're worth.
Wave sock
You look ridiculous waving the sock.
Chew sock
When you were younger, you used to chew on everything. Now you are more discriminate, saving your chewing for a few special things.
Smell sock
It smells kinda clean.
Go north
Your low bed is here, looking all soft and cushy.

Dino is here!
You go west
This is the room with a lot of water. There's water that sits in a bowl and there's water that falls from up high to fill up a bigger bowl and lots of times when your pet is in here you hear the sounds of water.

This room would be more fun if you liked water more. Anyway, you like the sleeping room to the east much better.
You put the sock in the bowl
What do you want to put things in: the small bowl or the large bowl?
Small
You drop the sock into the small bowl. It starts soaking up the water right away.
You get the sock
You snatch up the wet sock with your mouth and hold on tight.
You show the sock to the pet
Your pet takes the sock from you and looks at it. "Ew, Hardy, what did you do to this?" he says, dropping it quickly.
Bark
You try a few short, sharp barks.

Your pet says, "Shh, Hardy, it's OK."
Scratch
You take a second to give yourself a quick scratch.
Shake
You mechanically hold out your paw for a shake. Feeling foolish, you put it back down again.
You roll over
You roll over onto your back, kicking your feet up into the air. When it becomes apparent that no belly rubs are forthcoming, you get back up on your feet.
You play dead
You start by rolling over and then give your legs one last kick for drama. You let your tongue hang out and try to be as still as possible.

Your pet doesn't seem impressed with your trick.
You take the sock
You snatch up the wet sock with your mouth and hold on tight.
You shake it
You shake the wet sock for all you're worth.
You throw the sock at the pet
You're more of a catcher than a thrower.
You examine table
If this were alive, it would be one patient animal to stand so still all the time. But you're pretty sure it's not alive. Anyway you've never seen it move, even when the box of light it holds gets really loud and unpleasant.
You search sofa
You already pulled a square soft thing out of the bunch.
Go west
You can see a square soft thing here.
You take the bowl
(As you open your mouth, you drop the wet sock.)

The bowl is set up in a frame to make it just as tall as your face. The frame makes it easier to eat and drink from, but it also makes it heavy and stuck in one place.
You examine the frame
It's a heavy frame that holds your bowl at the perfect height.
You examine the cupboards
The secret places seem to be all flat like a wall of wood but then they magically open at your pet's touch to reveal food and stuff.
You pull the cloth
You pull on the cloth with your teeth and back up as the door opens. Inside you can see various leftovers, some jars, some sandwich fixings and one shiny can.
You examine the jars
Several jars and bottles of various things that always hang out in the cold box.
Examine can
It's shiny and filled with some liquid that your pet really likes.
You get can
You snatch up the shiny can with your mouth and hold on tight.
Go east
Before you leave the food room, you push the cold box door with your nose to close it. (It's important to conserve energy.)

This is the room where you sit a lot. Well, you sleep here sometimes too. But there is a different room that is just for sleeping, and it is to the north. There's another room to the west. It's the room with the food. That is a good room.

Even though this is the sitting room you can't sit on everything. There are a lot of "no"s here, like the thing you can't scratch, and the tall thing and the four-legged thing that isn't alive but that stands still with the box of light on its back.

Your pet is here, staring at the box of light, holding on tight to the magic wand.
You show can to pet
Your pet smiles as he reaches for the can. "Good boy, Hardy," he says, scratching you behind the ears. Your tail starts wagging; you just can't help it. (You've always been a fool for a good behind-the-ears scratch.)

The can hisses with releasing air as the top pops, and then your pets takes a few good gulps. He must have been really thirsty, because soon he stands up and walks off to the other room.

From the other room, you hear your pet banging around and yelling about the dino. Your pet must have almost tripped on it. He's always almost tripping on little stuff like that.

After a second, you hear a click as the door to the water room closes. Now you have the long soft thing all to yourself!
You get on the couch
You climb up unto the long soft thing, happy that it is low enough for you to get on all by yourself.

On the long soft thing are a bunch of smaller soft things that together make up a comfy place for sitting or sleeping. The magic wand is hanging out here too, even though it got eaten by the little soft things before. No hard feelings.
You take the wand
You snatch up the magic wand with your mouth and hold on tight.
Go down
You get off the long soft thing.

This is the room where you sit a lot. Well, you sleep here sometimes too. But there is a different room that is just for sleeping, and it is to the north. There's another room to the west. It's the room with the food. That is a good room.

Even though this is the sitting room you can't sit on everything. There are a lot of "no"s here, like the thing you can't scratch, and the tall thing and the four-legged thing that isn't alive but that stands still with the box of light on its back.
Continue
Once again you chomp down to change what's inside the box. This time there are these guys poking at each other, kinda fighting and joking around and all.

This is the sort of thing your pet seems to enjoy watching sometimes, people getting hit with food and slipping and falling down and stuff. Everybody is laughing and nobody ever seems to really get hurt, so you guess it's OK.
You continue
You've got the hang of this trick now for sure! One more bite on the wand brings up something new.

This is more like it! Inside the box now is this lady putting together some tasty looking food! You're almost drooling just watching. This has got to make your pet think about eating!
You drop the wand
You release your hold and let the magic wand fall down.

You finally hear a familiar rush of water from the little water room and, after a second, the sound of the door opening.
Wait
You pause for a second. Your stomach growls.

From the other room, you hear your pet banging around and yelling about the dino. Your pet must have almost tripped on it. He's always almost tripping on little stuff like that.

Your pet walks in. He starts to sit down on the long soft thing but stops when he sees what's in the box of light. That lady cooking is doing her job! You pet stands and watches, transfixed. He must be thinking of food!
You wait for a while
You pause for a second. Your stomach growls.

Your pet almost trips on the magic wand, sending it flying right at you!

Your pet makes his way to the food room.

Your pet starts rattling around in the food room. Yes! He must be making a snack!
You go north
Most of the time when you are in here it is dark and quiet because that is the best way to sleep and this is the room made for sleeping. There is a high bed here that is not your bed although it is where you sleep usually to keep your pet company. The sitting room is south of here and the room with the water is to the west.

Your low bed is here, looking all soft and cushy.

Dino is here!

From the other room you can hear the happy sound of the cold box being opened.
You go to the west
Food room, glorious food room!

Your bowl for food and water is here, but that's only the beginning. There's also a lot of secret places where your pet keeps food and things that go with food and things that make food better. There's a thing that gets hot and a box that stays cold, and that is your favorite because you know there is always food inside there. A cloth hangs down from the door of the cold box.

Your pet is here, working on making a snack.

You can also see a wet sock and a square soft thing here.

Your pet looks in the cold box and stands for a moment staring at the contents. Then he starts taking out some of the sandwich fixings!
Bark
You try a few short, sharp barks.

Your pet says, "Shh, Hardy, it's OK."

Now, with that magic touch, your pet starts going through the secret places, opening and closing them as he finds what he needs to make a sandwich.
Smell sandwich
You sniff around a bit but all the smells are normal.

One by one, your pet starts pulling the sandwich fixings out of the cold box and turning them into a sandwich.
You examine the cold box
The cold box hums softly. It must be happy because it has a lot of food inside it. That always makes you happy.

Right now it's open and blasting you with cold air. Inside you can see various leftovers, some jars and some sandwich fixings.

Your pet starts putting stuff away and soon closes the cold box. You're sure that in just a minute he will be taking the sandwich out to the sitting room to eat it.
You roll over
You roll over onto your back, kicking your feet up into the air. When it becomes apparent that no belly rubs are forthcoming, you get back up on your feet.

Your pet seems to have finished cleaning up after making the snack. He turns to leave. Now is the moment of truth.
Beg
You sit up with your paws in front of you and try to look pitiful.

"OK, Hardy," says your pet, tossing you a nibble of the sandwich fixings. You gobble it up right away. Such a tease! It makes you want a sandwich even more!

Sandwich in hand, your pet heads for the sitting room.

You follow your pet as he makes his way to the long soft thing and starts munching away on the sandwich. In a moment, it is gone, along with your dream of the perfect snack. Looks like you'll have to wait until dinner to eat. Poor hungry puppy!
You go to the west
Food room, glorious food room!

Your bowl for food and water is here, but that's only the beginning. There's also a lot of secret places where your pet keeps food and things that go with food and things that make food better. There's a thing that gets hot and a box that stays cold, and that is your favorite because you know there is always food inside there. A cloth hangs down from the door of the cold box.

Your pet is here, working on making a snack.

You can also see a wet sock and a square soft thing here.

Your pet looks in the cold box and stands for a moment staring at the contents. Then he starts taking out some of the sandwich fixings!
You take Dino
You snatch up the dino with your mouth and hold on tight.

From the other room you can hear the sound of secret places opening and closing.
Go south
This is the room where you sit a lot. Well, you sleep here sometimes too. But there is a different room that is just for sleeping, and it is to the north. There's another room to the west. It's the room with the food. That is a good room.

Even though this is the sitting room you can't sit on everything. There are a lot of "no"s here, like the thing you can't scratch, and the tall thing and the four-legged thing that isn't alive but that stands still with the box of light on its back.

You can see a magic wand here.

You don't hear anything from the food room. But then, making a sandwich is not a very noisy job.
Go west
Food room, glorious food room!

Your bowl for food and water is here, but that's only the beginning. There's also a lot of secret places where your pet keeps food and things that go with food and things that make food better. There's a thing that gets hot and a box that stays cold, and that is your favorite because you know there is always food inside there.

The door is open and cold air is coming out of the box.

Your pet is here, working on making a snack.

You can also see a wet sock and a square soft thing here.

One by one, your pet starts pulling the sandwich fixings out of the cold box and turning them into a sandwich.
You drop Dino
You know, leaving the dino here puts it in just the right spot for tripping your pet when he tries to walk out with the sandwich. What a great trick!

Your pet starts putting stuff away and soon closes the cold box. You're sure that in just a minute he will be taking the sandwich out to the sitting room to eat it.
Wait
You pause for a second. Your stomach growls.

Your pet seems to have finished cleaning up after making the snack. He turns to leave. Now is the moment of truth.
You wait awhile
You pause for a second. Your stomach growls.

Sandwich in hand, your pet heads for the sitting room.

Busy taking a bite of the sandwich, your pet doesn't see the dino underfoot, and is soon airborne. For a moment, everything seems to slow down as if time has almost stopped. You can see it all clearly: your flailing pet, the sandwich sailing out of his hand, your chance for your snack. With one giant leap, you rise to meet the snack of your dreams, snatching it out of the air and wolfing it down in one great gulp. Yum! It was an awesome sandwich!

As your pet falls, he manages to land on the square soft thing. Picking himself up, he shakes his head at you. "Wow, Hardy," he laughs, "you must have wanted that sandwich bad. Guess I'll be making another one for me."

You're sure glad your pet has a sense of humor. You lick your chops happily. And wonder what's for dinner...
Lick pet
Snack Time!
An Interactive Break for a Bite

(For more information please type ABOUT)

This is the room where you sit a lot. Well, you sleep here sometimes too. But there is a different room that is just for sleeping, and it is to the north. There's another room to the west. It's the room with the food. That is a good room.

Even though this is the sitting room you can't sit on everything. There are a lot of "no"s here, like the thing you can't scratch, and the tall thing and the four-legged thing that isn't alive but that stands still with the box of light on its back.

Your pet is here, all stretched out on the long soft thing and snoring.
Lick pet
You love on your pet with some little licks.

Your pet twitches a little and stirs, then is still again. It's a start at waking him up.
Keep going
You love on your pet with some little licks.

Hmm, your pet seems to have turned that into part of his dream or something, because he sure didn't move this time when you licked him.
Go west
Food room, glorious food room!

Your bowl for food and water is here, but that's only the beginning. There's also a lot of secret places where your pet keeps food and things that go with food and things that make food better. There's a thing that gets hot and a box that stays cold, and that is your favorite because you know there is always food inside there. A cloth hangs down from the door of the cold box.
You pull the cloth
This is a good trick!

You pull on the cloth with your teeth and back up as the door opens. Inside you can see various leftovers, some jars, some sandwich fixings and one shiny can.
Shake can
You shake the can for all you're worth. That should make it nice and fizzy inside.
Go east
Before you leave the food room, you push the cold box door with your nose to close it. (It's important to conserve energy.)

Your pet is here, blinking and staring, not yet fully awake.
You give the can to the pet
Your pet smiles as he reaches for the can. "Good boy, Hardy," he says, scratching you behind the ears. Your tail starts wagging; you just can't help it. (You've always been a fool for a good behind-the-ears scratch.)

As your pet pops the top, the liquid starts spouting out in a big rush and getting all over your pet. He jumps up, yelling, and runs off.

From the other room, you hear your pet banging around and yelling about the dino. Your pet must have almost tripped on it. He's always almost tripping on little stuff like that.

After a second, you hear the water room door slam. Well, that was one way to get your pet off the long soft thing!
Y.
<RRROWWGRROWL> Your stomach growls.

You've been vegging out in front of that flickering screen for hours, your pet by your side. Now your complaining stomach sets you up on your feet, and on a mission.
Snack Time!
An Interactive Break for a Bite

(For more information please type ABOUT)

This is the room where you sit a lot. Well, you sleep here sometimes too. But there is a different room that is just for sleeping, and it is to the north. There's another room to the west. It's the room with the food. That is a good room.

Even though this is the sitting room you can't sit on everything. There are a lot of "no"s here, like the thing you can't scratch, and the tall thing and the four-legged thing that isn't alive but that stands still with the box of light on its back.

Your pet is here, all stretched out on the long soft thing and snoring.
Go west
Food room, glorious food room!

Your bowl for food and water is here, but that's only the beginning. There's also a lot of secret places where your pet keeps food and things that go with food and things that make food better. There's a thing that gets hot and a box that stays cold, and that is your favorite because you know there is always food inside there. A cloth hangs down from the door of the cold box.
You go north
Most of the time when you are in here it is dark and quiet because that is the best way to sleep and this is the room made for sleeping. There is a high bed here that is not your bed although it is where you sleep usually to keep your pet company. The sitting room is south of here and the room with the water is to the west.

Your low bed is here, looking all soft and cushy.

Dino is here!
Drink water
(the still water)
You lean in and take a nice, cool drink. Ahh!
You enter the bigger bowl
You can't get in there without help. And anyway, you don't like it in there much.
You go south
Your low bed is here, looking all soft and cushy.

Dino is here!

Your pet is here, all stretched out on the long soft thing and snoring.
You bite the hand
But that's the hand that gets you a snack!