after the storm -- TEACHERS' LOUNGE

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Date Posted: 07:40:17 08/20/04 Fri
Author: dpego
Subject: after the storm

There are many amazing stories that occur after huge tragedies. One of the most incredible tales I have ever heard -- even after three decades of covering all sorts of major events -- happened in the soggy aftermath of Hurricane Charley in Florida.

It's a true story. My mother-in-law Carolyn Gale heard it from one of her best friends. That woman is the grandmother of the boy who rescued a dog.

On the day following the storm, the boy heard a scratching on the door along with some pitiful, weak whimpers. He opened the front door and found a mud-spattered blonde-furred pupppy, shaking and crying. He looked outside to see if anyone was looking for him then brought the dog inside. He toweled him off and found some scraps and water for the small, roly poly dog.

"May I keep him?" the boy asked his mother after the puppy was well into its second bowl of food. "No, I'm afraid not," she said. "I know you have been wanting a dog but we can't afford one right now."

The mother looked through advertisements in the newspaaper to see if anyone had reported a puppy lost. There were so many things that had been torn apart by the hurricane. Nothing seemed close so she called the newspaper and placed an ad of her own, describing the furry little survivor who had been torn away from his home. The boy took care of the puppy and they took long walks, getting to know each other closely until the phone rang one day.. It was the puppy's real owners.

"Yes, that's our golden retriever puppy," the woman on the phone said. "I know that's him. We'll drive over to your house in a few hours and pick him up."

The puppy had covered a great deal of distance -- miles in fact -- before it came to what seemed like a friendly door. The boy had been told that the owners were on the way, and they soon arrived. They joyously grabbed the puppy and offered the people who found him a small reward and much thanks. The reward was turned down and the puppy and its real owners woon drove away.

It was devastating for the boy who had hoped it was a puppy he could keep. They had bonded quickly. It was exactly what he had needed. He had not been doing well at school and had zero friends. His small size made him among the worst of gym class games and not much went any better. So for a few days, he had somthing to look forward to -- a wagging tail and puppy love waitting for him at home. He missed the puppy very much -- but in a couple of days he was watching television inside when he heard a familiar whimper and sratching at the door.

His mother called the real owners. They said they'd be right over -- and they came quickly since they knew where the house was. When they got there, the boy was waiting with the dog inside the home. As they came inside, they saw the small golden retriever lying happily beside the boy who was petting it affectionately.

"Looks like our puppy found a real home on his own," said the man who owned the dog. "If you don't mind, I think we'd like to make the puppy and your boy happy by letting them stay together." His wife nodded her head and smiled at the puppy and boy who obviously loved each other veyr much.

The mother stammered something not being able to take care of a dog.

"Don't worry," the man said. "Let me go drive home and pick up the puppy's bed and some toys and food dishes and more." And he did.

There are always moments of warm sunshine after every destructive storm. That's why we keep going, isn't it?

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Replies:

Re: after the storm -- Opal Sue Saunders Blood, 09:42:46 09/02/04 Thu