Have you ever felt lonely, unwanted and discarded? That’s exactly how I feel in my usual position at the veranda. It wasn’t always like this, I was once the centre of attention and everyone’s best friend until I lost a limp while trying to save my master. I risked my life by taking a bullet for him. At first, he appreciated it and the whole family dotted over me. For days I watched how they narrate to visitors about my heroic display. They visited me at the vet with flowers and brought a lot of cakes. But things changed so quickly.
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Thinking back now, maybe the cakes and goodies I ate at the vet contributed to my situation, maybe that's why I’m so fat right now and deemed unfit to sit beside my master’s chair. I’m only fit to sit outside and welcome the visitors with a low bark. So I stay there all day, watching them play with the new puppy and the cats. On second thought I don’t think getting fat was the problem, after leaving the Vet I practice how to walk and run with three legs. Bobby the master’s boy had fun training with me and my medical report was good. I was ready to resume my duty back but the arrival of the new “favourites” was the beginning of my end.
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Slowly Bobby no longer see practising with me as fun, playing fetch with “Buzz the puppy”, I didn’t mind the shift of tent, I practised more and was more than ready. The look of pity and disapproval on everyone’s face didn’t deter me, though sometimes I cry when I see the way the love they showed some weeks back was gone so quickly. They’ve all forgotten the good old days, the days when I brought a smile to everyone’s face when I played fetched even when tired when I played babysitter for their kids- all forgotten quickly. So I wallow in self-pity all day I weep quietly.
The final nail in the coffin was when I heard my master refer to me as "that Crippled and useless Dog". It hurts and killed every motivation I had left.
I felt someone tickle my tail, it must be one of my numerous dreams. I’ve heard the humans talk about them having dreams of what they think of before going to bed, I guess the same is happening to me. I changed my position with a big yawn, but the tickling doesn’t stop and It felt so good. Maybe I’m not dreaming, I opened one eye and saw a Little girl smiling at me, slowly I opened the other and saw the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in a while. There she was combing my hairy tail. I licked her hands and she giggled and that was the beginning of my redemption.
While the whole house plays with Buzz every day, little Bella will be with me on the veranda combing my hair. Slowly, I started working with her, it was hard at first due to my weight, but seeing her smile was enough celebration. I drew strength from her and went back to training, it was hard but I press on, though I was still neglected, I was happy. Having little Bella in my corner is enough.
On a Saturday morning, I was at the garner with Bobby and Bella with some other kids from the community. Though Buzz is at the centre of attention, I carefully watch the kids play while I walk around like old times, suddenly I felt a weird feeling, the same feeling I had when my master was attacked. I looked around and there I saw him. A man with a gun aimed, ready to shoot. I barked hard to alert the kids but they were engrossed in their play.
I run fast, faster than I did with four good legs. I bite the man hard and his noise brought silence to the garden. The security men came and took him away. Later some men came to my master’s house and the whole family came out shouting and carrying me from hand to hand.
We were taken to the King’s villa and so many pictures were taken. My master was beaming with happiness and from the conversations, I got to know that the man I bite was an assassin sent to kill the princess, but I saved the day. My master stood proud shaking hands with the King and queen. And when it was time for me to take a picture with the princess I kept on barking and went to drag little Bella, together we snapped with the princess who is the heir to the throne.
Things changed for me after that day., I became the community’s favourite when I pass by with my royal ribbon everyone waved and try to give me snacks, but I’m careful now, I don’t want to go back to being the old-fat-Biggie. At home, I now sit at the table and Bobby is back being my friend, same as Buzz but Bella remains my best friend and I sleep in her room every night.
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