A Christmas Story
December is the best month of the year at the Rainbow Bridge. For
the dogs there is snow to romp in
and the angels always have time to toss snowballs for them to chase.
The cats enjoy patting at the
snowflakes as they fall, and then curling up near the fireplace for
a nice winter's nap.
But it is the lights that make this time so special. Winter on the
Earth, their former home, is a time of
lengthening darkness, and in December candles glow all around the globe
beginning with Chanukah,
the Festival of Lights, and continuing on right through the New Year's
festivities. At the Bridge the glow
of these candles is reflected in all of the trees, and in the hearts
of every Bridgekid as they observe the
month in their own special way; with memories of the lives, and the
loved ones they left behind.
For most it is a time of quiet joy, but each year there are always
a few who draw apart..
Near to midnight, "home time" on December 24 Charlie realized someone
was missing from the Hale
gathering. "I'll be right back," he told his siblings. He passed many
similar groupings as he hurried
down the well worn path, many friends called out to him, but he only
acknowledge the greetings with a
wave and continued on. The path ended at the Rainbow, and there he
found a small group of
newcomers, each sitting quietly, alone. One of these, the missing Sandifur,
was crouched at the very
edge, his stumpy tail twitching rapidly, as he stared at the scene
below.
"You are missing the party, little brother," Charlie said. "I don't
care," replied Sandifur, "I don't like Christmas anyway. "
Charlie only smiled. "I felt the same way my first year. Do you remember
your very first Christmas with
Mom and Dad? Remember the new scratching tree they gave us that year,
and the catnip mice? And
remember all the good things we got to eat? That was a great time,
wasn't it?" Sandifur nodded, still
gazing intently below. "I want to go back." "I did too, " Charlie said,
licking gently at his brother's ear. "But we can't, baby
brother. This is our place now." "But it's Christmas, and Mom and Dad
miss us so much. Look,
mom is lighting a candle right now, just for us and she is crying."
"Christmas Eve is her time to remember, little one, but tomorrow she will
pass out the presents to all of our brothers and sisters, and she will
be happy again. I want to show you
something. Come with me."
Together the two kittens climbed the arch of the Rainbow, and at the
very top Charlie stopped. "Do you
see that big silver cloud over there? Watch closely." As Sandifur gazed
the cloud began to swirl and gradually an image came into view. The clearing
where he had left his family, and a larger gathering around the big, glowing
pine tree.
He could see the dogs, many more of them than when he had left, playing
fetch and tug of war, and the kittens, so many kittens,
sleeping in a heap, their soggy catnip mice forgotten in the grass.
Suddenly the kittens all woke up, and the dogs ceased their play and stared
into the darkness beyond the clearing, tails wagging in greeting. And then,
much to Sandifur's amazement, two humans stepped into the light." "Hurry,
Charlie, we have to go back," he said. " Mom and Dad, they're here!"
"Not just yet, Sandy. That cloud is our Window into Tomorrow. Come
back with me now, and join the others. The reunion will come. We have been
promised." Sandy reluctantly pulled his gaze away from the vision of the
future, and followed Charlie. They found the others waiting for them at
the base of the rainbow. "Is it time?" Charlie asked. Terrie nodded, "They
are waiting." All of the Hale Bridgekids drew together, and looked over
the edge, and along the entire length of the rainbow similar groups were
gathered, all looking down at their former homes. Suddenly the light of
a million candles from the Earth met the glow from the Rainbow Bridge.
"Now," Charlie whispered.
In unison three words were repeated again and again, and as they were
spoken they merged with the bridge of light, flowing from the rainbow to
the earth, and back again in ever increasing brilliance, and the colors
of the rainbow merged with the light. "I love you," they all said, and
the love entered every heart of the pet parents on earth, and the hearts
of those who gathered at the rainbow. "Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad," Sandifur
whispered again, watching the lights slowly fade. "I love you. I will be
waiting." "I will look ahead for there is our tomorrow."
The poem:
A dog does not live as long as a man.
And this natural law is the font of many tears.
If a boy and a puppy might grow to manhood and doghood together
And together grow old, and so in due course die, full
Many a heartache might be avoided.
But the world is not so ordered.
And dogs will die, and men will weep for them, As long
as there are dogs and men.
Ben H. William.
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