Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: The Family Pet (05/15/08)
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TITLE: THE FORGOTTEN DOG | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Sunderland
05/19/08 -
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However; when I was in junior high, Sleepy followed me to Wilton, a small town several miles from my rural home. In Wilton, I had a disagreement with my friend, and we had a bike race to prove who was right. I won and then continued over and down Wilton's very high hill - speeding. In fact, I sped so fast that I lost my footing on the pedals and could only steer.
As I flew past the trees on the side of the road and my life raced through my mind - it occurred to me that the bottom of that hill was only a short-block away from what was at that time a major highway. So - I realized that I had better do something fast and steered into the ditch along the side of the rode, landing head-first and knocking myself out. By the way, a similar scenario happened to a boy some years later, but he went out onto the highway and became 'guts' splashed across the side of a large truck.
Anyway, Sleepy was there and stood faithfully next to my motionless body until a young couple stopped. Usually, Sleepy barked at strangers; but that day he let that kind couple load me into their car. As they did that, I regained enough of my consciousness to direct them to my home. Sleepy just ran home behind us. No problem; his concern was that I was now safe.
As us kids' high school years came up and passed by, Sleepy had fewer and fewer opportunities to follow us around; we were 'growing up'. However, one day when I was probably on vacation from college, old Sleepy went on a long walk with us now big kids. We passed a house long known for being empty, but guarded by a usually left-alone Doberman Pinscher. When we passed the chained-dog's turf, it madly barked at us; its lower-jaw flapping rapidly up and down as it wished with all its strength that it could break loose from that chain. And it did break loose and was headed for us, but old Sleepy got the killer's attention and distracted it into the field and then into the woods.
We escaped that scene glad that the mauler's attention had been diverted away from us, but with sorrowful thoughts on our yet young minds of Sleepy's probable doom. Still, our busy lives soon kicked back in again, and we forgot.
Years later, I asked, "What happened to Sleepy?" But no one seemed to know. Old Sleepy had just disappeared and been forgotten.
Then again, in our world of concerns and activities; how many of us Christians, in truth, often forget the crucified Jesus? And does he feel that?
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Aside from the sadness of the story, it could use a little editing to make it a smooth and easy read without the clutter of unnecessary words. But practice makes perfect and it's a lovely story of a wonderful, faithful, and loyal dog, pal and companion. Good job.