Tails from Rainbow Bridge: Leo's Mission Accomplished

I woke up to find Leo curled up on the foot of my bed.  I softly jumped down, so I didn’t wake him.  I opened the blinds.  Everything at Rainbow Bridge was fresh and shiny for the New Year.  I walked over to my pantry and removed several strips of my finest bacon strips.  I began cooking them in my flat skillet.  Soon my cottage filled with the smell of freshly cooked bacon.  

I set up two plates, and two big glasses of milk.  The scent of bacon stirred Leo.  He yawned, looked around, then saw me by the table.  He jumped down, ran to me, and hugged me as he danced in a circle.  “They said it was time, and then I found him, they said it was time, and then I found him,” he repeated until we danced so much I got dizzy.

“Who agreed to what and who did you find?” I asked.  I knew the answer, but I wanted him to stop spinning.  Chows have trouble talking and spinning.

Leo stopped spinning.  “Foley, I have the most fantastic news,” he said, baring his teeth, his smile wider than it had been since he arrived at the Bridge.  He began talking then stopped.  “Is that bacon?” he asked.

I told him the plates was for him.  He sat in one of my chairs and began chewing on a strip.  I prodded him to tell me his story.

“Oh, right.  It’s my parents; they are finally ready for a new dog.  I have spent so much ghost time with them.  My poor mom always has tears in her eyes.  My dad sits on the deck looking at the spot where I used to lie.  I kept going into their dreams telling them it was time; they were ready, there was a little Chow out there waiting for them.  They would agree in their dreams, but by morning they were saying they weren’t ready again.  But I kept popping into the dreams, and soon I built up enough residual dream memories that they realized they were ready for a new pup.”  

He took a big drink of milk then ate another piece of bacon.    

“I looked at all the new chows, and I found the perfect one.  I then went back into my parent's dreams.  Once our parents decide to accept a new dog that is very susceptible to suggestions for which dog is the right dog.  I whispered where they could find this special boy and they remembered!  They contacted the person, and here is a picture of the little guy.

“Isn’t he cute.  His name is Harvest Moon by my parents are going to call him Harvey.  She should be with my parents this weekend.  Everyone is so excited.  Especially Harvey.”

“That is great,” I said, getting down and hugging him again.  “And now you are going to be able to spend more time with us here.”

“Oh no,” Leo said.  “I am going to have to spend more ghost time with Harvey than ever.  He needs to know the right way to snuggle with Mommy and to walk with Daddy, and to be Mommy’s Muse, and to keep daddy company, and to, and to…..

I looked at Leo.  He had fallen asleep on the table with a strip of bacon in his mouth.  I got a blanket and covered him.  He had done good work and he deserved a nice rest.

My heart beat with excitement as I cleaned up breakfast.  Little Harvest Moon has a new home with the best family ever.  

This is shaping up to be a very good New year.