A Better Place

The old man sat quietly with his dog.

There was an icy, gale-force wind battering the outside of the little cabin. The place was isolated, with little chance of getting out now that the freeze had set in. The old man summoned up his strength to poke at the last remaining log in the grate, in an attempt to create more heat. His dog lay across his feet, shivering. They’d had no food for several days.

He looked down. “Sorry old boy. I wish I had food to give you. The money’s all gone I’m afraid. But we gave Dolly the best send-off that money could buy.” He made an effort to bend forward and stroke the dog’s head. “Lord love us, you’re cold aren’t you boy? Well, like I said, the funeral wiped us out, but I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted less for her.”

He dabbed his eyes with his sleeves. “No. You loved her too, didn’t you old fella?” The dog sniffled and closed his eyes. When the embers had died, there was just a candle stub burning. He watched it for a while until it guttered and went out. In the darkness he fell asleep.

When he opened his eyes the room was filled with sunshine and he felt warm. The dog jumped up and padded to the cabin door that stood open. The old man got up and said “Look here fella. Can you believe it? We slept through winter, right through to summer.”

Just then, he heard a familiar voice laugh and say “Hello boy, where’s your master?”

He cried “Dolly! Is that really you?” He ran to the door and found her sitting on the front step stroking the dog. He went to her as she got up and they stood hugging for a while.

“Come on.” She said.

“Where to?”

“You’ll see.”

They walked away with the dog trotting behind them.

Several weeks later, after the thaw, a policeman stood looking down at the two bodies. His partner came in. “The wood pile’s gone. He must have used the last of it. There’s no food anywhere. I reckon the old guy and the dog just froze to death.”

The first policeman shook his head slowly and said “Well, I like to think they’re in a better place now.”