Rivers

by Mike Dillingham

  Lakota told me that Sandy raised her head up a bit, looked right into Mike's face, and said, “You saved me many years ago. You took good care of me and gave me plenty of love and affection. You were a good companion to me. You made me happy. Thank you.” She nuzzled Mike's hand, laid her head in his lap, and then she was gone.

  I heard Mike sob “Oh, Sandy Girl, my Sandy Girl.” Doc said Mike just sat next to her stoking her head, crying softly.

  I heard the truck pull into the driveway, then footsteps running to the shed. Lakota told me that Doctor Jim and Sunny came into the warming shed.

  “I am so sorry Mike, I could not get here any faster.” Doctor Jim said.

  “I know,” Mike said. “She was badly hurt when I got here. I do not think we could have saved her. She must have tangled with that wolf out there. My Sandy Girl got between the wolf and Christmas’ puppies. Looks like Sandy put up quite a fight.”

  Mike continued, “Doctor Jim, would you mind taking care of that wolf out there and driving Randy home? I have some things I need to do right now.”

  Doctor Jim answered. “Sure, Mike. Come on Randy,” Doctor Jim said, “let's leave Mike alone.”

  I heard Nitro run out to the yard and start to bark and growl. I ran out with the team and Lakota told me Nitro was barking and tearing into the dead wolf. “If I had only been here.” Nitro repeated, “If I had only been here.” He was beyond anger. He was in full rage and none of us was going to stop him. I heard Doctor Jim say “Nitro, stop.” However, Nitro just ignored him and continued to tear into the wolf. Nitro was beyond listening.

  “Uncle Nitro, please stop.” It was Christmas. Brownie told me that Nitro looked at her and the fury was still raging his eyes.

  “Go away Little One,” Nitro demanded.

  “No Uncle Nitro, not unless you come with me.” Christmas replied.

  “Go away, I said,” Nitro repeated in a very menacing tone. Christmas walked up to Nitro and stood between him and the wolf. She stood face to face with him. Doc said, this meant that Nitro was head and shoulders over her.

  “What you are doing, Uncle Nitro, scares me,” she said. “The wolf is dead. It was not meant for you to be here to fight it. It was meant for Sandy to protect me and my babies.”

  Lakota told me that Nitro just looked at Christmas and moved around her to get to the wolf. Christmas again moved into Nitro's way. Again nose-to-nose, Christmas said, “Uncle Nitro, what you are doing is not right.” She then asked Nitro to stop and walk with her.

  This was getting very tense. We all wondered what Nitro would do. “Nitro, sit. Team, sit.” It was Mike. Lakota told me that he was in the doorway of the warming shed looking at us. We all sat, including Nitro. I heard Mike walk out of the shed and Lakota told me that he was walking towards Nitro.

  Lakota told me that when Mike was near Nitro, he knelt by Nitro and hugged him. Lakota told me that Christmas walked back to where we were. I heard her sit next to me. She was trembling.

  As Mike hugged Nitro, Lakota told me that Doctor Jim and Randy removed the wolf and carried it to Doctor Jim's vehicle and left. Mike started to talk very softly to Nitro. I do not think anyone could hear him except me, since my hearing is so keen.

  “Nitro,” Mike said very gently, “I know if you had been here that wolf would have never dug into the kennel.” Lakota told me Mike gently rubbed Nitro's head and ears. “I know you would sacrifice your life to protect anyone on this team. You are a true hero and champion, but venting your anger on that dead wolf proves and achieves nothing.” Lakota told me that Mike sat down next to Nitro, who rested his head in Mike's lap. “Nitro, do not blame yourself for this,” Mike said. “That is the same wolf that attacked Sunny when she was caught in that snare. Remember? I could have shot it then, but I did not. I allowed it to live.” Mike continued very sullenly, “If I had shot it, it would not have dug into the kennel and…” His voice trailed off. Lakota told me that Nitro lifted his head and started to lick Mike's face as Mike put a big hug on him.

  Lakota told me that they sat there for a few minutes. Then Mike got up and went to his workshop and we heard him start to build something. Nitro came back over to where we were and said to Christmas, “You are a very brave and wise dog, Little One. I am very sorry for scaring you.” He paused, and then added, “I am also very proud of you.”

  Christmas answered, “That's okay Uncle Nitro, I understand.” Then she said, “I have to go and feed my babies. You okay, Uncle Nitro?” She asked.

  “Yes, now I am,” Nitro replied. “Thank you.”

  As Christmas walked to her doghouse to feed her pups, Ugly asked Nitro what Mike had said that made him calm down. He told us.

  “You mean that was the same wolf that hurt Sunny?” Brownie asked.

  Nitro answered, “From what Mike said, it was.”

  “Gee.” It was Ugly. “I bet Mike feels terrible. If he had shot the wolf, then Sandy would still be alive.”

  “Yes,” I said. “Mike probably does feel terrible. Mike made the decision to spare the wolf's life. I wonder if Mike still believes that was a good decision.”

  “We will never know,” Doc answered. “At the time Mike made that decision it was a good one. There is no need to kill or destroy something unless you really have to, and at that time, the wolf was not a threat. Most wolves will not come near a kennel or bother a Husky since we are related. However, this wolf was unusual. Let's not judge all wolves by the actions of this bad one.” Doc said, “I am very sure that, if Mike knew that wolf would dig into the kennel, he would have shot it back then. But none of us knows what will happen tomorrow, do we?”

  The noise in the workshop stopped and I heard Mike walk out of the workshop and Doc told me Mike headed toward the warming shed. Lakota told me he had a medium size box in his hands. I bet it was a coffin for Sandy.

  We followed Mike to the warming shed and Lakota described what was happening. The box was a nice wooden box with Sandy's name on it. Mike fetched Sandy's blanket from the house and placed it in the box.

  Then Mike brushed Sandy's coat and made it shine. He placed Sandy in the box, wrapping her in her blanket. Mike put in Sandy's house toys and I heard him drop in a few biscuits in there. “So you do not get hungry on your trip across the Bridge, my Sandy Girl.”

  Lakota told me that Mike just stood there looking down at Sandy resting in the coffin. It was very quiet. I heard Christmas walk in and sit down. Soon Mike placed the top on the coffin. He carried it outside and placed it in the basket area of the wheeled sled. Lakota told me that the lines were still hooked to the wheeled sled. I just noticed that I still had my harness on. I guess in all of the excitement and sorrow Randy forgot to take them off us.

  Lakota told me that Mike put a harness on Christmas. “Christmas, you will be the lead dog.” Mike then hooked the rest of us up. Mike said, “Sandy always liked riding in the basket so let's give her one last ride, Team.” Then Mike said, “Okay, look sharp, let's go.” We trotted down the trail, made a turn, and came back. We circled the house and Mike halted us by a flower garden on the sunny hill across from the big house. Lakota told me that you could not see this garden from the kennel. We had never been here before.

  Lakota told me that the garden had many pretty flowers in it and a nice path that went by all around the garden beds. Behind the garden beds were some trees that blocked the wind and added shade from the afternoon sun. There was a bench or two. While I could not see it, I felt the peacefulness and beauty of this garden. It felt like a very special place.

  We stopped by a garden bed that did not have any flowers in it. Doc told us this was what the humans call a gravesite. After Mike dug the grave, and placed Sandy's coffin in it, he said, “Sandy, you gave your life to save another. You may never have run a race, but you were true champion, a real hero. See ya, my Sandy Girl.” Mike was still for a moment or two.

  Then Lakota told me that Mike turned to the rest of us in the team and said. “This is my special garden where al
l of you, my special dogs, will rest when it is time for you to cross over the Bridge.”

  Mike then got on the runners of the wheeled sled and said, “Christmas, lead us home.” Lakota told me that Christmas turned to Mike, barked once, and led us back to our yard.

  Blindness of the Snow

  Rivers’ Christmas Story, 2002

  Christmas time was fast approaching and I was reflecting on the past Christmases that I had spent with Mike, Mary, and the team here at our home. I remembered the first one where we saved a puppy on Christmas Eve and Mike named her Christmas. She is now a part of our family. Then last year, I was able to see for one day. It was Mike's wish. That is when I met the little blind girl at the orphanage.

  We have gone back to the orphanage often this past year. My buddies played with the kids, but the little blind girl just sat by me, talking. She treated me like her best friend. I guess the other kids just do not play with her. I can understand that. For many years, I was alone also.

  While many of the kids in the orphanage have left, new ones arrived to fill their beds. Mike explained to me that the kids who left were adopted. They went to new homes with new parents. Sounds like what Mike did for me several years ago. However, Mike told me that he was very sad because the little blind girl may never find a forever home. People want well kids, not those with problems.

  That made me sad also. Wait a minute, I know. I will give my Christmas wish up for the little blind girl and hope that a nice family will adopt her. That would be awesome if that happened. Oh yes, the little blind girl would be very happy and so would Mike. What did he tell me, “It is better to give than to receive.” So that is it: I will give the little blind girl my Christmas wish.

  Whenever I really need something, my Guardian Angel Dog, Aurora Gooddog, shows up. Today was no exception.

  “Hi Rivers,” she said. ”What is this I hear about your giving your Christmas wish to the little blind girl at the orphanage?” I told her what I wanted. While I cannot see Aurora, I know what she looks like since I can see her in my mind's eye. Aurora sounded like she was not looking too happy.

  “Rivers, I cannot give you your wish,” she said. “I can only help dogs and only those that I am a Guardian Angel Dog for, like you. I am sorry.”

  Wow, was I disappointed. “There must be a way for that little blind girl to get a new home for Christmas,” I said.

  “Rivers, it would take a miracle to get that little girl into a home by Christmas. Christmas is only a few days away. Rivers, Guardian Angel Dogs do have limits. I am very sorry, Rivers. I cannot do this for you. Maybe you should wish for something else.”

  “No!” I said, “I have everything I want, I just want that little blind girl to be happy.”

  “Tell you what,” Aurora said. “Let me do come checking on that and get back to you. No promises. I do not know when I will find the time. You know this is my busy season. However, I will try. I have to go.”

  I said goodbye to Aurora and she was gone. Well, if I cannot get my wish for the little blind girl, then the best I can do is give her some extra TLC when I see her next.

  When we got up the next morning, Mike told us it was Christmas Eve and we were going to deliver our gifts to the orphanage today. Mike told us we were going a day early since we have many guests visiting us on Christmas Day and it would be impossible to get away then.

  After morning chow, Mike got the sled out and harnessed us up. Lakota told me that Mike had on his red Santa suit and packages wrapped in colorful paper filled our sled. I hoped there was something special for the little blind girl in the sled. She really deserved it.

  I could not believe how fast the time went. It seemed like a very short time from when we left our home until we returned. “Santa Mike” gave out all of the presents. My buddies played with the kids and the little blind girl sat with me and talked and talked. She was hoping she would find a nice home with nice people to live with. She said she had been an orphan for as long as she could remember. Hmmm, was it me, or was the hug she gave me longer and tighter? I licked her face and it was wet with salty tears. Please do not cry little girl. There is a family out there for you. I know there is. I felt so sad for her.

  Christmas morning came and Mike came out to feed us and spend some time with us before the guests arrived. He gave each of us a new tennis ball. Of all the things that Mike gave to us, he learned very quickly that tennis balls were our favorites. The team loves it when Mike plays catch and fetch with them. Mike taught me also and I can find a tennis ball on the second bounce. That is unless Lakota or Christmas catches it on the first bounce and holds it. Yes, we play a lot together.

  The snow started to fall very gently, but I knew that it would turn into a bigger storm shortly. There would be no sled time today, especially with guests coming to the house. That is, if they make it through the snow. So, you can imagine how surprised we were when Mike came out of the warming shed with our sled, lines, and harnesses.

  “Okay team,” Mike said. “We are going to the orphanage. The little blind girl is missing and the orphanage staff has asked us to help find her. We had better find her quickly. This may turn into one nasty storm.”

  Oh no, I thought, not the little blind girl. The guys and I had talked about her after we came back from the orphanage. We all hoped she would be all right.

  Mike harnessed us up and put us in our team positions. Doc and Christmas were the lead dogs while Brownie and I were in the swing position. Ugly ran as a solo team dog with Lakota and Nitro in the wheel.

  “I guess you are wondering why I teamed you up this way,” Mike said. “I put Lakota in the wheel with Nitro because you guys are my most powerful dogs. If this storm drops a lot of snow on the trail, I need you two powerhouses back there to get us moving.”

  Mike added, “I put Rivers up front with Brownie in the swing position. We may have to rely very heavily on Rivers’ keen hearing and sense of smell to find this little girl, especially if this storm turns into a blizzard.”

  “And Ugly, you are in the middle running solo until I find another dog or two that we will need for the race.”

  “Race!” Nitro exclaimed. “No one told me about a race.”

  “Me neither,” Lakota added. In fact, this was the first any of us had heard about our running any race. I guess we were all lost in our thoughts as Mike finished harnessing us. I heard him pull the front snow hook and double-check all of our lines and snaps. After he got on the runners, Mike pulled the rear snow hook, told us to line up and said, “Okay team. Get ready. Go!”

  We raced down the trail toward the orphanage. I was thinking how scared the little blind girl must be. I know the feeling. It happened to me when I first went blind and became lost in the kennel.

  “Whoa, Team stop.” Mike's command roused me from my thoughts as we stopped in front of the orphanage. Brownie told me there was a lady in the doorway. I heard her talk to Mike, telling him that the little girl's name was Caitlyn and that she had been gone for about an hour. She became separated from the kids she was playing with and they returned to the orphanage without Caitlyn.

  Mike asked the lady what Caitlyn was wearing. A lightweight winter jacket and regular clothes, the lady told Mike. She also told Mike that she called the State Troopers but they could not send up their helicopter due to the storm. The storm! Yes, I sensed it was getting closer. The last thing the lady said was that State Troopers were busy with a very nasty vehicle accident on the highway and that it would be hours before they could send anyone to help.

  Brownie told me the snow was falling faster. I turned my head skyward and felt the snowfall on my face. Yes, a very nasty storm!

  Mike asked the lady to get an article of Caitlyn's clothing. A hat or scarf that Caitlyn wore recently would do just fine, Mike said. By the time the lady returned, Mike had switched our team positions. I was now the lead dog with Doc. Nitro and Lakota were still in the wheel. Christmas and Brownie were in the swing position and Ugly again ran as the solo t
eam dog.

  Lakota told me that the lady gave Mike a stuffed toy. The lady told us that this was Caitlyn's teddy bear and that she slept with it. “That will work,” Mike said. “Now may I talk to the kids who saw Caitlyn last?”

  After Mike talked with the kids and knew where they had last seen Caitlyn, I heard him walk over to me and kneel down in front of me. I smelled the teddy bear Mike was holding. He put his hands on both sides of my face and put his face close to mine. “Rivers,” Mike said. “We need to find the little blind girl that sat with you when we visited here. You are her only chance. This storm is getting worse and the team will not be able see her. You can smell her and you can hear her.” As he spoke, he held the teddy bear in front of me and I could smell Caitlyn's scent on it. Yes, I remembered her scent.

  We started down a new trail that we had never been on before. Mike was driving the team very slowly. Every once in a while, he would call out, “Caitlyn, Caitlyn, where are you?” Mike stopped the sled and we all strained to hear her call back. Nothing.

  Mile after mile we traveled, but all we heard was the noise of the wind getting louder. The temperature was dropping and the snow was building up on the trail. Doc said that the heavy snow would cover any tracks Caitlyn might have left on the trail.

  “It may even cover the trail totally,” Ugly said.

  “Are you saying we need to go back, Ugly, without the little girl?” It was Nitro.

  “No, no Nitro”, Ugly replied. “All I meant was that if this snow gets any deeper, I won't be able to do my Ugly jig when we do find her!” We all chuckled. Yep, leave it to Ugly to get us to laugh in a bad situation.

  Mike stopped the team to put booties on us. What is that? I thought I heard something. It was very hard to tell with all this wind noise. Wait, I heard it again. “Uncle Rivers, your ears are twitching. Do you hear something?” Christmas asked me.

  “Rivey, do you hear something?” It was Mike. Yes, I heard something. I also heard Mike unzip the sled bag and listened to him walk back to me. I heard him snap on a leash, while unhooking my neck and tug lines.