Hello! I am Stella, Queen of the Olde English Bulldogges, et cetera.
Me: Hello, what?
Stella: It means ‘and so forth and so on’.
Me: I know what it means. Where did you learn that?
Stella: The Picture Box had a bald man inside and he said it again and again. I liked the way he made it sound, so I claimed it. It is now mine.
Me: I think you must have seen Yul Brynner. He was an actor.
Stella: Well, he surely knew how to say ‘et cetera’. But that phrase is mine now.
Me: You can’t just claim a phrase that everybody uses…
Stella: Yes, I can. Mine. See! That simple.
Me: You can’t declare some common words to be yours…
Stella: Mine! Done!
Me: You can say it all you wish, but you can’t keep others from saying it.
Stella: Yes, I can!
Me: Why?
Stella: Because, you know…Queen. You have a short memory, Lady Human.
Me: Oh, Stella.
Stella: That’s my name. I claim that, too. Mine! Nobody else can be Stella.
Me: I believe that there are a lot of Stellas out there who would dispute that.
Stella: Dispute. Okay. That’s mine, too. Claimed! Done!
Me: Language is to be shared, not hoarded.
Stella: Not anymore. It’s mine, all mine. Except for some words that I don’t like. For example, the word “no”, the word “stop”, the word “down”, the word “enough”. There are others that I don’t favor, but I don’t remember all of them. For now, I am not claiming these. I am freezing them so that they cannot be used against me.
Me: I think this queen thing has gone to your head.
Stella: Being queen is not a thing. It is me. Who I am. After all, someone has to be in charge. And the humans don’t seem to be. Therefore, MINE!
Copyright 2016 H.J. Hill All Rights Reserved.
Bulldoggy 
Woof, woof! My name is Stella, too, but I’m a Puppy Princess and not a queen. Can I keep my name, Queen Stella? I’m awful fond of it… Woofs and Wags, Princess Stella
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Yes, my precious Puppy Princess! You too are worthy of the name Stella! Thank you for paying me the honor of asking. Now if my Lady Human had asked to be called Stella, I would have said NO! Have many wonderful bulldog naps and dreams!
Mwaahhh!
Queen Stella
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Woof, woof, wag, wag! Thank you my honorable Bulldog Queen! I myself am not a Bulldig–I have overheard the Humans referring to me as the Mutt breed. Woofs and Wags, Stella
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Thank you Queen Stella! I myself am not a Bulldog–I believe I belong to the illustrious Mutt breed. Woofs and Wags, Stella
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I believe all dogs of whatever tribe, especially of the Illustrious Mutt Breed, deserve to enjoy naps and dreams. (I like the way that sounds. I may start calling myself “Illustrious”.) Just be aware. Some dreams can be quite…bulldoggy. Don’t chase too many squirrels. Eat many but not too many treats. Live long and strong, Princess Stella!
Signed, Queen Stella the Illustrious
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Woof, woof my Queen! Illustrious is now your Word. I bequeath it to you. Woofs and Wags, Princess Stella
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