Foley's Tales From Rainbow Bridge: Bear

 

Bear was a dog who got dealt a bad hand.

He was born to a family who had no love to spare. His sprint time tied up, in the worst weather. He was friendless and loveless.

His favorite activity was watching the dogs at a neighbor's house who were living a life Bear could only dream about. He befriended one of them, named Sandy, a big-hearted pup. He did not like how Bear was treated. He talked to his parents’ previous dogs, now angels, about their family taking in Bear. The next day, spurned by angels, and it and it will not, his dad offered Bear’s owners a hundred dollars, which the heartless man too. Bear was led by his new dad to his new home. Bear was so happy he swore, on the first night, to never be a burden to his new family, and to be the best boy.

And he was that and more. When Sandy went to the Bridge he silently supported his mom, and, despite being heartbroken, he did the same when his dad went to the Bridge.

In the early fall, Bear knew he was running out of steam. But, he hid what was wrong. He didn’t want his mom to spend money on vet visits and tests, or watch as he slowly faded away. Bear held back the pain, and the maladies, as long as he could.

Last week he could fight no more.

He knew he was living on choppy seas, but was unprepared for the rogue wave that hit him.  His heart went from 33 rpms to 78. He began to pant. He knew it was time for the Big Ride. He turned down food, lay down, and found himself floating in the River of Life while his tearful mom held the body that had served Bear well, heartbroken at his sudden departure.8

Bear crossed the Bridge and saw a house. He went to it, sniffing the flowers. Then a man’s shadow covered him. “I’ll give your owner a hundred dollars to let you come with me,” Bear’s dad said. His favorite dog looked up, smiled, and jumped on his dad’s chest giving him 1,000 kisses. They were joined by Sandy and the other family angels having entered his true forever home.

That night Sandy and Bear their mom’s dreams, of which she would not remember. She has five miles to go to get through the grief, and the dual angels moved her only inches closer, but it's a start, and Momma Lea won’t have to walk it alone. Nikki will be with her when she is awake, and her angels in her dreams.