An Old Soul

 

  

An Old Soul

Preamble:  This is a true story.
The first draft was written at the end of February in 2008

My Monday morning started with a cup of coffee, a call from my sister and a strange dog on the porch.  When I first noticed him, he was serenely napping, but he startled when he sensed me watching through the window.  He was a yellow Labrador with large soulful eyes that seemed to plead for my attention.  I figured his owner would walk by calling his name and he would soon go running off for an eventual nap on his own porch.

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As I went about my chores, I continued to check and the dog continued to stay.  By 9:00 a.m. my curiosity grew and I headed out to have a little meet and greet with my visitor and take a look at his tags.  I found out that his name was Sunny and I quickly scribbled down the listed phone number.  Sunny was shivering and looked even more mournful when I patted his head and went back into the house.  I found a plastic bowl in the kitchen and filled it with water to quench his certain thirst.   After leaving him once again to head inside, I picked up the phone and called his owner.   Shelly answered on the second ring.  I asked her if she was missing a dog.  She said, “Oh, my gosh, he’s been gone all night.  Is he all right?”  After assuring her that he was fine, I started to give my address, but she interrupted and said she didn’t have a car.

I thought to myself, “How did Sunny know I was the one person who would get him home today?”

The last time I went out, I patted Sunny on the head and told him he was going home.  We walked to the car and he dutifully jumped into the back seat, sighed contentedly and settled in for the two mile drive. 

When we pulled up in front of his home, I paused a moment before getting out.  I don’t know what it was about Sunny, but in the span of two hours we had become pals and I hated for our friendship to come to an end
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Snapping out of my reverie, I got out and opened the back door.  Seeming to sense he was home, he quickly jumped out and we walked together to his front door.  Sunny gave me a couple of grateful glances; he was soon reunited with his owner.

I got back into my car and drove home, suddenly feeling a bit lonely.  How did this morning visitor manage to touch my heart?  Sunny had given me a quick lesson on why dogs are cherished for their loyalty, warmth and companionship.  When I called my sister later that day I told her that Sunny seemed to have an old soul.

My brother died last month at the age of 56.   It was a sudden death that cut short the life of a very vibrant, loving man.  I had been feeling the loss very profoundly.  Without sounding too spiritual, I will only say that the unusual visit from Sunny brightened my day and gave me comfort.  His old soul spoke to my inner pain and did a bit of healing along the way.  - written Feb. 2008