“through the act of living, the discovery of oneself is made concurrently with the discovery of the world around us. . ."

Monday, January 3, 2011

A Dog Story

I am a sucker for dog stories. Talk dogs to me and you will be drowned in a flood of dog love. Sentimental, yes I am, and not ashamed of it.

Here is one story – Perhaps you might like to read it out to your young children. To those who don’t have dogs, let me tell you this; you are missing a lot – a lot of real love. If you have already come across the story, please let it do the rounds.

Someone Who Understands

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies." "Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"

"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up...

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands." With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup.

Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy. "How much?" asked the little boy... "No charge," answered the farmer. "There's no charge for love."

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

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Balachandran V, Trivandrum, 03-01-2011

6 comments:

  1. You want your readers to shed tears? I cant help myself. Such a touching story.

    I love dogs; but never had one. dont plan to have as well. I am too weak to lose them.

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  2. While I was going through the post , I sensed some familiarity with the subject and only when I finished it did it dawn that you discussed the subject a few hours ago at "Keerti". Those few drinks dampened the senses

    The moral does not sell in today's world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  3. @Insignia: What can I say, B? Show me one thing that you'll never lose. It is true what they say: you need courage to love. Would you not marry, beget children, for fear of losing them? Think it over.

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  4. I had a dog - a naadan one. He lived on for about 13 years. But what saddened me the most was when the vet would come to give him a shot. Oh my! He would just cry and howl like anything; I just couldn't stand that sight. Never had a dog after that.
    Beautiful story.

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  5. Bala,

    I had a cat. You know how self-centered they are. One day she eloped with her boy-friend. Seems funny, but thats what happened. It took me months to get out of it. I cried every single day and would walk about in the streets calling her name and searching for her.

    Dogs are more loving than the cat. So as you say I think I dont have the courage.

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  6. I endorse your reply to Insignia. And to her encounter with the feline she had , well cats are a lot who go were the pie is.

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