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NICKY

Sharon Bryant

Sally was sitting in the waiting room waiting for word on her puppy.  The stray that came into her yard and bit her dog in the privates nearly killed him.  Infection had set in flowing into the little dogs blood stream.  She sat anxiously awaiting the vet to enter the room and let her know how her little puppy was.

She glanced around the office to see four other people, each seemed deep in thought.

The door opened to the Vet's office and in walked a young man, holding the door open.

She must have been 83 or 84 as she slowly worked her walker through the door.  Sally glanced up when the door opened and saw the frail little lady coming into the office.  The young man helped the elderly lady sit down on one of the benches along one wall.  In her arms was a little knitted blue and white blanket.  In the young man's arms was a small older dog.  He placed the dog in the arms of the older woman.

The older lady began to pet the little dog ever so gently.  The young man sat down next to her.

Tears began to roll down the little lady's cheeks as she kept petting the little dog.

"Nicky, you have been my faithful friend all these years.  Remember when papa died and I didn't want to go on?  It was you who gave me the love and strength.  You were always there, offering all your love on all those lonely nights when all I could do was cry."

The people in the office looked up at the elderly woman as she talked to her little dog.

"Remember when I broke my leg and I couldn't get around?  You always laid on the bed next to me and I could feel you telling me how much you loved me and that one day I'd be able to walk again.  When we lost our precious Thomas from cancer, you always seemed to know I hurt so much.  You'd put your head on my arm and look into my eyes and I felt like you were telling me, 'I'm still here for you."

"And when you had your litter of little ones, we found fine homes for each one."  "I always felt bad that I had to give your 'children' away but when I explained to you we couldn't keep 8 puppies, you seemed to understand.

She reached over and touched the blue and white blanket she'd knitted, the tears flowing down her cheeks.  "I made you something Nicky.  I don't want you to leave this world without something from me other than my love.  You and I have traveled many long roads together now for 16 years, and now you've come to the end of your road.  I can't go with you, so I'm sending you with something so you'll always remember me."

People in the office began to wipe their eyes and you could hear someone clearing their throat and blowing their nose.  But the little lady didn't seem to notice. 

The young man spoke then.  "Grandma, you don't have to go in there when the vet calls your name.  I'll take Nicky for you."

The little lady looked up into the eyes of her grandson and replied, "We've had 16 years together, Nicky and I.  I don't know how to say good bye.  She began to sob, as was everyone in the room.  "Would you make sure Nicky has his little blanket wrapped around him when they.........when they......"  "Grandma, I'll make sure, don't worry." the grandson said.

The door opened and the vet appeared, telling Sally her puppy was going to be just fine.  "A few antibiotics and he'll be good as new in two or three days."  And then...........

"Mrs. Ruckert.........."  The lady tried to stand but the grandson put his arm out and told her, "No grandma, let me do this."

She began to cry buckets of tears.  "I hate to leave him like this, oh why did this have to happen to my Nicky?"  "Grandma, he's getting old, he can't walk anymore, he's blind and can't see and you said yourself you couldn't bear to see him in this condition."

"I know, but........but.........I don't know how to say good bye.

Sally couldn't take it anymore.  She jumped up and walked through the glass door.  She got outside and sucked in a big breath of fresh air, the tears streaming down her face.  It was so hard seeing that elderly lady bringing her little dog in to.......to........she couldn't say the words.

When she entered the room again, the grandson was gone as well as Nicky.  The little lady was propped up against the wall crying her eyes out.  Everyone in the room was crying.  Through the tears, she looked around and said, "He's all I've had for so many years since my husband and son died.  But he's old and he can't walk anymore nor can he see.  I can't bear to see him in that condition.  But Nicky has given me the most wonderful 16 years of my life.  He's been my companion and faithful friend all these years.  I will never forget him. 

At that moment her grandson came through the door, tears streaming down his cheeks.  "Come on grandma, it's time I take you home."  She bowed her head and said a prayer as he helped her up from the bench.  Slowly she walked through the door on her walker, her grandson holding her arm.  You could hear the sobs even as the glass door closed............

Somewhere last night an elderly woman went to bed alone.  For the first time in sixteen years, there was no little furry creature to lay next to her.  No more little kisses will she be given.  No need to buy doggie treats anymore.  A heart was broken.

Sharon Bryant

1946 @bellsouth.net

About Me:

 I am Sharon Bryant, 59 years old and reside in Alabama.

I lost my child in 1977 when he was five and I write
articles on bereavement often.

I am a chocolate/candy maker and also a wood crafter and knitter.

I am married to a wonderful man, and have two remaining children, a daughter 25,
Amy, and a second son, Randy, age 22.

My main goal in life is to help those who
have lost a child. My website is: www.angelsremembered.tk

Today's Queue Stories
~**~**~**~

Author Known But To GOD

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

On the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier the words, "Known But to God " is wrote. I see a lot of good things that had been written, has the words, "Author Unknown." Thoughts of people that was wrote, and for some reason no name is on the paper.

A lot of these writings are on the order of things about God. I sometimes think God loves the unknowns. All I have ever seen seems to be almost like God was the Author.

I have seen people's Bibles.  In fact I have one that belonged to an Aunt.  It has a lot of scribble in it.. Such she wrote, what some preacher said, or look this up.  It is a mess; that is to me, maybe she understood it.

My Bible had some writing in them, not what some preacher said. These are writings what some unknown wrote some time or other. That is the Author is known but to God.  These are things I found in my travels in this life somewhere. Things I thought were nice to remember, and to look at once in a while; things that picked me up when I had a bad day.

There is one I find that tells a lot.  Let me list it here.

He was born in an obscure village. Yes he sure was.

He worked as a carpenter until he was 30. Common labor.

He then became an itinerant preacher.  That is he traveled about teaching.

He never held an office. He was just a common man.

He never had a family or owned a house.  No family, guess he didn't need to own a house.

Never went to college.  Well he knew and could tell the college crowd more then they could understand to start with.

He had no credentials, but himself.  Well read the books, it was told many times in the old he was coming, and the way things would be.

He was only 33 when the public turned against him.  Again read the old Books, it tells very plain that will happen.

His friends ran away.  Sure did, like rats leaving a sinking ship.

He was turned over to his enemies. Yes indeed, the big shot Roman knew it be safer for his own hide.

He went through a mockery of a trial.  He didn't have a lawyer like O.J had.

He was nailed to a cross.  Again it tells this in the books.

While he was dying, his clothes were gambled for.  The few things he had, the dice was rolled for.

He was laid in a borrowed grave.  And it can still be seen today.  He is not there.

20 centuries has come and gone.

and today he is the central figure of the human race.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed

All the parliament that ever set

All the kings that ever ruled have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that ONE SOLITARY LIFE.

Those last few lines tell it all.  It is written, all things will pass away, all the earth things. All the powerful, high mighty men of earth has no power other that they have while living on earth.  At death they are done as far as their works on earth. They can be kings while here, in death, are nothing but dirt.  But Jesus lives.  The works of man is nothing. One can have all the gold and silver, but it buys nothing when death comes.  One can be as poor as Job's turkey on earth, but can see the Kingdom of Heaven some day, just by taken the Love,  and Grace of God, who sent his only Son to pay the price on the cross, as he said he would in the Old Books of the Book.

I understand some don't believe this happen as told.  Well back in the old books it tell a pure lamb pays the price of man sins.  Jesus was a pure lamb.  He paid the price. Now death on the cross was used for law breakers, what law did Jesus break?  The cross type of death was first used in what is now Iraq.  The Romans in taken over control, worked into an art, if you can call it that.  They used it for about anyone they took a dislike to for what ever reason. The Jews under Roman control could not put to death any one, other then by getting the Roman funky to do so.  This is what happened.  The Roman funky did what the mob wanted.

Well I??™m a story teller, not a writer. Never learned the art of fancy English. I

happen to live in Nebraska, but I??™m still Missouri. Never married, all the Dollies I

ever took a second look at was too smart. Now at 74, just turned that other day, I

figure they all home safe. I love Doggies and Dollies in that order. Lost my two

true friends this year, that be Tinker and Poo. So I found me a new one. This

time a little girlie Peke. She is a normal female. Got a mouth, talks all the time.

She will never be a great writers of stories like Tinker and Poo. They have

about 50 stories on HWS. And now writing back from Rainbow Bridge.

I just try to write about people, places and things best I remember. Have something

over 250 stories on HWS. under three names.   

  ~**~**~

A Weekend With The Boys

Dianna Doles Petry

I was thinking of the many times that I've taken the boys camping or on outings to see some of the state of West Virginia and I thought I'd share one of my favorite memories with you.

Here's a recap of some of it. I had decided that since the last weekend of the month will be a long weekend, which means family will all show up for a cookout, I would take the boys camping so we could enjoy some time to play and relax. I got my brother to take care of my mother and off we went.

Not having any military training and having flunked "tent setup" in the girl scouts, I decided to rent us a cabin. Besides, in my mind, there was much less chance of a snake finding it's way to me if I was in a cabin. For once, my planning paid off because by the time we got to the cabin it was already starting to rain. (I told you that a rain cloud is chained to my bumper and follows us anytime I try to get away a few days!)

The boys had decided they wanted to see Blackwater Falls. Kyle was, of course, expecting to see a rush of oil-blackened water flowing over the rocks while Chris was already planning how he was going to get down to the falls and actually get into the water. Let me just say, droughts do horrible things to waterfalls and there is no oil to make the water black...muddy brown maybe but not even close to being black! About an hour of hiking there was more than sufficient!

This meant that we would be finding things to do for Saturday. The people in the cabin next to us told the boys that Fairmont had oodles of things to do and that there was an old fort in the area, Pricket??™s Fort, which I had already seen. They were eager and excited to see the fort so off we went on Saturday morning.

It was quite a drive from our cabin but we had no time schedule so we enjoyed the day. The fort itself held the boys attention. Kyle could see how hard anyone would have had to work to put up those cabins and Chris was in awe of the blacksmith. It didn't take long though for their bellies to start rumbling so we left in search of "real food."

Our search took us to Fairmont where we found a place called DJ's Diner. Let me just say, once you walk through those doors you immediately feel yourself in bobby socks and saddle oxfords again. It is strictly 50's and 60's with Ritchie Cunningham being the only thing missing!

The food was fabulous. Let me just say, if you ever find yourself there, do not order the appetizer. If you do order the appetizer, you won't be able to eat the meal when it comes. Each meal is served on a platter and stacked until it starts to fall off! I wasn't about to try the Big Bopper that Chris had and Kyle's James Dean special looked like a bit much too. I opted for spaghetti and let me just say, it comes with one meatball...one meatball the size of Rhode Island! I felt so guilty just looking at that meatball that I felt my butt getting bigger!

We ended up eating there twice this weekend because we didn't have a camera with us the first time. I think my meals are covered until about Wednesday now! The best part though, was that both boys joined the waitress's for a dance and I got my very own Pink Ladies jacket! I can't wait to wear it!

Anyway, we did some sight seeing, ate way too much and laughed ourselves silly. On the way home I took a detour. I had to see an area that I can't pass up when I??™m in that direction. The boys are starting to know the road too although they don't understand the attraction of an old run-down farmhouse.

The best part of it all, I didn't get one mosquito bite!! Okay, and I didn't have to cook or do laundry...I'm making up for that now though, the washing machine is running as I type and I'm telling you, I've picked off "hitchhikers" until my fingers are sore!

Dianna Doles Petry

Dianna@charter.net

Proud founder of:
Women With A Unique Soul
www.womenwithauniquesoul.com
Webmaster of Short Stories
http://diannapetry.tripod.com
Webmaster of Poetry From Life
http://www.geocities.com/diannawv/
Poems By Dianna
http://members.tripod.com/~poemsbydianna/PoetryofLife.html

~**~**~

Mediocrity or World War III

Claudia Kerens

???Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. "Albert Einstein  

How many people throughout history were crushed by the heinous innocuous criticisms from people who academically rose out of the bogs of mediocrity? 

And, in some cases, how many of some of those pedestrian beings actually made it to the political leadership of some of the countries in Europe during the 20^th century because the mediocre political base kept their high pitch fervor at such decibel rates that others, who knew better, actually tuned them out, ignored the mediocrity of politics and more importantly, said nothing?

I cannot concisely state how many historical accounts of the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany I have poured over to be disturbed by many eyewitness accounts that said essentially, ???We thought he was an idiot and no one would pay him much mind,??? or ???He was a sycophant of the time, no one would really take him seriously.,??? or ???We never thought he would come to power.???  Point in fact Adolf Hitler achieved his first Prime Minister role by only ONE vote in 1928.

Well folks, we now know what tragedy; take that back-[Think Prince Harry of England] some of us are aware of the full scale Holocaust wrought in Europe along with the massive tragedies that played out around the world because of the action necessary to rid us of Hitler??™s mediocrity.  It is called World War II.

Twenty plus million combatants and civilians lost their lives. 

The world was changed forever because of the usage of the atomic bombs.

I remember the stories while growing up about my godfather who served in the European theatre.  Uncle Louie enlisted, went to basic training, and then was only sporadically heard from for the next six years.  In fact, from what little accounts the family actually ???knows??™ of his service, he was one of the troops who landed on Omaha beach.  The portrayal of that scene in the movie Saving Private Ryan was not a picture he would have wanted to have relived. Sometimes mail from home caught up with him, sometimes not.  His letters home were infrequent as well.  When he returned home, my grandfather was wise enough to let him go his way for over six months until he felt ready to pace himself back into life at home. 

Then like many veterans, Uncle Louie carved his life into the fabric of his small town, he got married, had a son, and ran the family business with his brother.  However, rarely did he speak about the war.  Unconsciously, we children knew better than to ask, after all, Uncle Louie must have seen horrible things.

Mediocrity has done much to harm the world.  Sadder yet, it exists all around us.

We see if in public institutions.  Scarier yet, we see it in public education.  When critics of public education scream their agendas to politicians, politicians pass and enact unfunded initiatives that not only hurt the fiscal ability of schools to operate.  Next, new additional curriculum is piled on beyond the traditional Three R??™s.  Then, students are tested ???before??™ all of the information can be taught resulting in dismal scores that are then used to smear teachers and schools.  The punishment for low test scores is to take away the funding from the school that is already in fiscal distress. 

How can we solve this assault by mediocrity?  Better yet, how can we, as a culture, rise above it?

Thirty years worth of ???in the trenches??™ educational experience tells me that we must start working through the following things:

1.      Parents need to remember that when children are brought into the world, those babies deserved to be unconditionally loved and nurtured.  That does not mean that the TV is used as a babysitter or that the child should be given every toy imaginable- so much so that in the end they have no imagination.  If people are old enough to conceive then they better be old enough to take the responsibility to care for the child.

2.      Respect for all things needs to be taught from birth on. With respect comes an understanding of values and morals.

3.      Children need to come to school ready to learn and we educators will be more than happy to lead them.  That means the child has an understanding of appropriate behavior and discipline.

4.      Children need to have a childhood.  Too many times parents want their children to hurry up and grow up.  Have you ever tried to shop for an appropriate dress for a ten year old??™s piano recital?  I don??™t think it is appropriate to expect young girls to emulate Britney Spears at that age.

5.      Don??™t rush to have a child labeled as a special education student so that SSI check can be claimed.  The world is not a special education world.  This action sets the child up for a life time of failures.

6.      Teachers are not the enemy; most problems can be solved with communication.  I would love to see ALL of my parents at parent-teacher conferences.  Truth is, out of approximately 130 parents, I see maybe ten.  If I am lucky, out of those ten, five I really needed to see.

7.      Don??™t tell kids passing is good enough. It is not.  Life is not about just passing- Life is about succeeding to the best of one??™s abilities.  I cringe when I hear a parent say, ???Whew!  You got a D!???  Or ???I am going to make sure you get the easier teacher.???

8.      Everyone needs to take responsibility for their role in helping all children grow because the children are our future.

The bottom line defense against mediocrity is to expect more out of parents and teachers.  If we raise those expectations, then it is only logical to hope that that means the expectations for that child will also be higher.  If we don??™t take measures like the ones I have mentioned, then who is to say when the next toady, like Hitler, is on our horizon, ready to take the world on a spin called World War III?

Claudia Kerens
mina1986 @ midwest. net

About Me:

General Bio - 51 year old educator who has
worn several hats in the broadcasting,
office and restaurant worlds. Turning 50
is a freeing experience thus most of my
writing revolves around lessons learned
and wisdom to pass on so that others don't
hit the same brick walls I did. The sooner
folks love themselves, they can give love
to others. And that, is the greatest
gift of all.