Mason and the Rainbow Bridge
by Paula Shene
United State

“Hey, wait up guys. I wanna go to the party too,” hollered Peaches.

The dogs had gathered around Mason. He told them he had an important announcement to make. Everyone was now waiting for Peaches to get to the gathering so Mason would share his news.

“Come on, short stuff. You’re holdin’ the party up,” Shadow yelled.

Mason who usually went into the yard on solitary walks had asked the pack to follow him outside. He said he wanted to tell his message with everyone present.

Mason was the oldest in the pack at almost one hundred and nineteen dog years. He had developed heart trouble in the past couple of months, so he knew it was time to break the vow of silence he had made when he first arrived at the Home for Rescued Dogs, when he was a mere sixteen years or one hundred and twelve dog years old.

“Patience, Shadow. She’s a young one and the pups see time much more endless than we old dogs. I can wait. There is still time,” Mason assured Shadow.

“The rest of us want to hear this mysterious news of yours, so we are impatient, but as long as you don’t mind, the rest of us will just relax and follow your lead. Ah, here she is now. Go ahead Mason and lay your news on us,” Shadow said.

“I’m ready to go home and wanted to tell you all how much I appreciated my time with this family and all you boys and girls,” Mason told the pack.

Sophitia was confused. “I thought this is home, Mason. Where are you going?”

“Well, Sophitia,” the older dog, Mason, stopped a moment to clear his throat, “I’m ready to make my trip across the Rainbow Bridge. You may have noticed, I’ve been spending time out here close to the other animals that have gone on before, sorta getting tips from them on what to look for, so when my time comes, my stepping onto the bridge will be an easy passage.”

“Are you sure you need to go today? Couldn’t you stick around for a little more time,” Mandy begged him.

Mason looked at Mandy, their Alpha, “Mandy, you and the pack have been super, but there is a time and a place for everything and I’m ready to go. You’ve been asking, and I’ve put off telling you because I’ve not faced the horrors some of you have before you got here, but now it is time to tell you how I went from a pup that was well loved to where I was considered too much of a bother, and was discarded, and no longer cared for. Fortunately for me, I was dumped on those wonderful people at the North Shore Animal League. I was doubly blessed because Daddy Pres and Mommy Meghan were talking to the in-take people when I was turned over...for disposal.”

Shadow was shaken, “Disposal? They wanted you put down?”

“Yes, Shadow, that’s exactly what The Niece wanted. Let me tell you all how this came about and then if you have any questions, I will answer them before I go.”

Mason laid down and invited the pack to also get comfortable while he told them his story.

I was the runt and the only male in a litter of three pure blood beagle puppies. My father, Leo, and mother, Sara, were the lead dogs in a family of retired hunters. Their humans were kind and when it was time for us pups to leave dad and mom behind, the humans interviewed carefully and made sure our new families would love and take care of us.

My human was a ten-year-old boy named Tom, and unless he was in school, I was with him. We would go down to the local creek. Tom loved to fish. I would help dig worms to go on the hook and we’d head out for the day. Tom always shared his food and water with me and after playing fetch for a while, most times he would tell me to lie down, and he would use the pole his daddy cut from the bamboo in his yard. But sometimes, he would have me jump in the water, catch some fish, and throw them onto the shore. That happened when he didn’t catch anything and wanted to eat fish that night anyway.

Then there were times we went swimming but that was only with his mom and dad. I had a lot of fun with him, until he got into high school. He had so many activities before he got home from school and then lots of homework to do before bed, we hardly ever went fishing. Then he met Marie. She didn’t like dogs. She said I was smelly and dirty, so when she came over I was put in the yard until she left. One day she came over and didn’t leave. She and Tom got married.

Tom’s dad and mom took me in as their dog when I was seventy-seven dog years old. I was still feeling spry and would have loved to do some running but the folks said they were too old to be playing with a pup.

One day, dad’s niece came over and said she would take me off their hands. Her son would like a dog. I thought this was a good thing because her son, Harry, was a ten-year-old and I remembered all the fun I had with Tom. That was a mistake. Harry didn’t like taking care of me. Not wanting to walk me or feed me. He said I was too much trouble. His mother, The Niece, said, ‘Fine, I’ll take care of Mason. He’s old and won’t live too long anyway.” But I lived with them for thirty-five of my years. I spent most of my time tied up in the back yard unless it was really cold, then I lived in the bathroom.

One sunny afternoon in September last year, The Niece said, “Come on Mason, we’re going to the fair.” It was great getting out to stretch my legs and inhaling all the delicious food aromas. But my stomach started to cramp from the smells. I was hungry. I couldn’t remember any more when I wasn’t hungry. We walked past a lot of booths, food stands, and so many people. I didn’t know there were that many people in the world.

We came to a booth that had dogs in cages. The Niece said, “I understand you take animals that are not wanted. I have this dog and I want him put down.”

The man looked at me, then at the woman with him. He asked The Niece, “What’s wrong with him.? Why would you want him put down?”

The Niece said to the man, “His name’s Mason. My aunt and uncle are getting up there in age, so I took him off their hands, but my son didn’t take to Mason and I’ve ended up taking care of him for the past five years. That’s enough time. He’s old. Time to put him down. So, are you going to take him off my hands or not?”

The woman said, “Of course, we’ll take Mason. We’ll take care of him for you.” Without saying another word, The Niece quickly walked away into the crowd of people.

The man turned to Daddy Pres and Mommy Meghan, saying, “You were looking for a Beagle. This one is a bit older, but sounds like he would fit in with the others you have at your home. These pups we have here in cages are looking for homes and we don’t have a cage for Mason. No charge for him. You’d be doing us a favor if you took him.”

Mason Slowly stood up and shook the dust from his coat. I thought I finally found my last humans when Mommy Meghan and Daddy Pres brought me here but after I got to meet you pups, I got to meet Grandpa and Grandma. This family was so much bigger...and better than I expected.”

Mason, again cleared his throat, and continued on, “I said good bye to all the humans before we came into the yard. I don’t think Grandpa understood but Grandma had a sad look in her eyes when she said she would let me out. I wanted to talk to you guys before I cross over. Both Grandpa and Grandma were very sad when Snooper went on last year. I know Mandy, you miss Snooper too. You boys and girls need to be a comfort when I go because I think Grandpa and Grandma will be sad again.”

“You’ve talked with Snooper, Mason?” Mandy asked, with hope in her voice.

“Yes, Mandy, I believe I have. I could hear their voices as plain as day and I feel I know just what they are saying. In fact, I’m sure Snooper is waiting on the bridge to walk me over. Pupple, Winnie, Pogo, Porgy, Buddy, and Mocha... and some I’ve never met – yet. They’re waiting for me on the other side, too.”

“I don’t see the bridge or him or anyone around, Mason. Are you sure it’s your time to cross over?”

“Yes, Mandy. I’m sure. I’ve had a pretty good life compared to some of the things that you younger ones have faced. Now, I’m ready to leave and go to the final Forever Home. Take care of one another and take care of our humans – they know so little but, some of them, well... they care so much.

Mason, turning to step on the Rainbow Bridge, looked back at the pack saying, “So, until we meet again, this has to be goodbye.”

"Goodbye for now, Mason!" they all yelled.

Shadow saying to the pack, and nudging Mandy, “Come on girls and boys. Mandy, it’s time for me to take some of the responsibility off your shoulders, I’ll tell the humans Mason is now with Snooper and the other animals that used to live here. We still have a funeral to attend, and a good friend to celebrate having known.”

Shadow pushed open the door, finding Grandma, he put his head on her lap, and told her about Mason and The Rainbow Bridge.s

Impressum

Texte: Paula Shene
Bildmaterialien: Prescott Shene
Lektorat: N. Barry Carver, Gwen Steel
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 13.04.2012

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Widmung:
North Shore Animal Center