Mud!

Funny Romance

Written in response to: "Write a story about two people falling in love via email." as part of Sugar Rush.

From: ahoc@bananabandana.com

To: robwarren@gmail.com

Subject: No size selected

Friday 12 May 2023 12:24


Good morning, Robert!

Just checking in, I saw that you ordered a bandana from our store this morning, but didn’t specify the size. No worries though, your payment is secured, and your order will go through once you reply to this e-mail with your preferred size. If you need any help, please refer to our sizing guide attached below.


Kind regards,

Alexandra Hockeny

Customer Support


1 file attached: banana_bandana_sizing_chart


.....


From: robwarren@gmail.com

To: ahoc@bananabandana.com

Subject: Re: No size selected

Friday 12 May 2023 12:40


Good morning, Alexandra!

I am honestly ashamed to admit that I never actually read the sizing part, I stupidly assumed that bandanas were one size fits all. Coming up even more stupidly at you, the bandana is actually not for me, but for my dog, and I have no idea what size would look good on him. I am attaching a photo of him, in case you have any idea, since you must be a bandana sizes expert.


Thank you,

Robert


1 file attached: dog_34


.....


From: ahoc@bananabandana.com

To: robwarren@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Re: No size selected

Friday 12 May 2023 12:50


Hello again, Robert!

Although he looks like a really good boy, I am not sure what size will be a best fit for him just by looking. I think he will fit either a medium or a large, but could you please measure the circumference of his neck for me?


Kindly,

Alexandra Hockeny

Customer Support


.....


From: robwarren@gmail.com

To: ahoc@bananabandana.com

Subject: Re: Re: Re: No size selected

Friday 12 May 2023 12:55


Hi,

You must think of me to be completely stupid, but unfortunately Mud has not arrived yet, I am expecting him from a friend across the country. I hoped this would be his welcome gift, but I suppose dogs don’t really understand the concept of a welcome gift. It can just be his homecoming gift, I guess. Do you think you can hold on to the order for another couple of days until he is here?


Thanks,

Rob


.....


From: ahoc@bananabandana.com

To: robwarren@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: No size selected

Friday 12 May 2023 12:57


Hi Rob!

I suppose Mud is your dog’s name, right? Don’t worry about it, if you are close to our physical store area, we would love to have you and Mud over for a fitting once he decides to join you.

Will next Friday work for you? Be sure to ask for me when you arrive, I would love to say hi to Mud.


Sincerely,

Alexandra


.....


From: robwarren@gmail.com

To: ahoc@bananabandana.com

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: No size selected

Friday 12 May 2023 12:58


Hi!

Yes, Friday would be perfect, I am expecting him to be here on Wednesday, so a couple of days would be enough to wear off the new environment shock.

I am checking your opening hours, would sometime between 11:00 and 14:00 work for you?


Rob


.....


From: ahoc@bananabandana.com

To: robwarren@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: No size selected

Friday 12 May 2023 12:59


Hi Rob,

Yes, Friday between 11:00 and 14:00 sounds ideal, see you and Mud then!


Alexandra


.....


From: robwarren@gmail.com

To: ahoc@bananabandana.com

Subject: Unicorn plushie missing ☹

Friday 19 May 2023 16:57


Hi Alex,

We had a lovely time today, it was really good for Mud to meet some new people, I bet he’s sick of seeing just me all the time. Unfortunately, he has been a fair match to my forgetfulness, and he has left his unicorn plushie somewhere in your store, I think. Would it be okay if I dropped by tomorrow to retrieve it for him? Otherwise, I don’t think he will ever stop looking for it.


At my wits end,

Rob


.....


From: ahoc@bananabandana.com

To: robwarren@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Unicorn plushie missing ☹

Friday 19 May 2023 17:10


Hi Rob!

He is a fair match to your forgetfulness, I am sure of it, as we are not really open tomorrow. But if you’re down for it, I’d love to grab a coffee with you somewhere near, armed with Mr. unicorn of course.


Alex


.....


From: robwarren@gmail.com

To: ahoc@bananabandana.com

Subject: Re: Re: Unicorn plushie missing ☹

Friday 19 May 2023 17:13


Hi Alex!

I would love to have coffee with you, even though it would be tea, as I am allergic to coffee lol. Does tomorrow at 12:00 sounds good? Maybe we can meet at this new place, April’s?


Rob


.....


From: ahoc@bananabandana.com

To: robwarren@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Unicorn plushie missing ☹

Friday 19 May 2023 17:15


Yeah, that sounds good! See you tomorrow!

Here is my number btw, 7700 900077, I think e-mails are really tedious.


Alex


Ps. Sorry for planning to give you caffeine poisoning hahah, I didn’t know


.....


From: robwarren@gmail.com

To: alexhoc@gmail.com

Subject: Hotels ig

Thursday 29 June 2023 11:09


Hotels.com/Italian_villa_roma

Hotels.com/old_appartment_roma


Thoughts? Checked in with George yesterday, says both are excellent, also pet friendly of course lol. The first one is a bit more expensive, but closer to Fontana Di Trevi, so I thought you might like it better.


Can you please e-mail me Mud’s vaccination certificate? Better to have it in two places.


.....


From: alexhoc@gmail.com

To: robwarren@gmail.com

Subject: Mud vac

Thursday 29 June 2023 15:43


The receptionist at the pet center was insane lol, I think he was a conspiracy theorist, talked on and on about pigeons acting unnatural. Expect full on impression tonight.

Daphne says we should get a metro card btw.

I will look at the hotels in the bus.


1 file attached: Sunshine_pet_clinic_vaccination_card_Mud


.....


From: robwarren@gmail.com

To: alexhoc@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Hotels.com booking receipt

Saturday 1 July 2023 18:26


1 file attached: itallian_villa_roma_booking_receipt


.....


From: robwarren@gmail.com

To: alexhoc@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Dog Flying Instructions

Monday 3 July 2023 14:27


//On Monday 3 July 2023 13:48 sunshinepet@gmail.com wrote:

/Please make sure you have secured noise protection for your dog when flying. Many companies may provide dog earmuffs, but make sure you have solutions of your own, and make a habit of easing your dog into it a couple days prior to flying.


We have those, right?


.....


From: alexhoc@gmail.com

To: robwarren@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Re: Dog Flying Instructions

Monday 3 July 2023 14:34


Call me.


.....


From: alexhoc@gmail.com

To: robwarren@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Family ticket plan boarding pass

Wednesday 5 July 2023 17:17


We’re all set lol


1 file attached: warren_hockeny_boarding_pass


.....


From: robwarren@gmail.com

To: alexhoc@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Re: Family ticket plan boarding pass

Wednesday 5 July 2023 17:18


17:17 lol, it’s meant to be, ily

Posted Feb 13, 2024
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23 likes 14 comments

Ty Warmbrodt
February 21, 2024 18:44

What a cute way to meet. Great story. I love that you thought to include attachments. That made it all the more real.

Reply

March 13, 2024 16:41

Thank you!!! I really had so much fun with adding these!

Reply

Kailani B.
February 20, 2024 03:40

I definitely fall into the category of thinking bandanas only come in one size!

Reply

February 21, 2024 13:27

A common misconception that a specialised store such as banana bandana would be happy to correct!

Reply

Alexis Araneta
February 19, 2024 15:20

Adorable story !

Reply

February 21, 2024 13:28

Thank you very much!!

Reply

February 18, 2024 16:30

What a whirlwind 6 weeks to love (ily). It was great that their was a growing tone to the emails- professional/ formal to casual. I am curious about the dogs name- Mud? Why Mud? Maybe it's a symbol that I missed.... maybe it's a premonition on the nature of Rob & Alex's relationship (muddy)...... since 'Mud!' is the title I can't help but believe that the name is important- I just can't puzzle it out.
-CC

Reply

February 18, 2024 18:43

Thanks for the insight! It was very fun to speed up the process and switch the tone accordingly! Well Mud is named as such, because in my mind he is a brown Labrador, and Rob would be the guy to call such a dog Mud. His name stands for the title simply because he acted as the catalyst to everything (unbeknownst to him hahah), but I love that you also tried to tap another layer!

Reply

Kristina Aziz
February 18, 2024 06:07

What a sweet story!

Reply

February 18, 2024 18:38

Thank you very much!

Reply

February 18, 2024 06:03

I liked how you included a gap where they switched from email to phone, and we could fill in the blanks! It seemed to create intimacy in the relationship.

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February 18, 2024 18:38

Thank you! That was exactly my goal, it became personal and more intimate! I tried to think of ways that I could show that they were in an established relationship, and forwarding travel documents seemed a fun way to do it.

Reply

February 19, 2024 04:09

I thought it was fun too. It also created a difference between your story and some others, making it less predictable. Nice!

Reply

February 21, 2024 13:28

Thank you once again!!

Reply

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