Summer was coming to an end, it was a hot day, but no longer overwhelming, like the previous weeks. Some high and thick clouds cast some shade, driving away the sun’s rays. The stream where the village children used to spend long hours frolicking among its cool waters, in those days he was alone, the frogs croaked among the reeds and the tree, from where the boys threw themselves nailed, was moved by the currents of air, its branches lazily lapped the waters.
Among the rushes, a cub’s head poked out in search of water, drank with great licks, and its long ears dampened. When it pulled back from the shore, it shook its hairy body with its light brown fur and white chest and legs; He had a good image, perhaps he was of the Labrador breed. Three children who wandered bored along the shore, saw him and called him carefully, so as not to scare him away, the three wanted to get his attention, but after sniffing them, he decided on one, Felipe, who excitedly caressed him and offered him a cookie that It was kept in his trouser pocket, half tangled in the string of the top; He rubbed the dirt against his trouser leg and offered it to the puppy, who devoured it hungrily.
Already sure of himself, Felipe picked him up in his arms and the puppy licked his face, as a show of affection. A great friendship had been born, before the obvious envy of his friends, who only caressed him, without hope. Felipe said goodbye to his friends and ran home, trusting that his mother would not be there at that time, it was the time he used to do the shopping for food.
Felipe took out a bowl with oatmeal and milk left over from breakfast and placed it on the kitchen floor, he offered it to the puppy, who, after smelling it, began to eat it, while Felipe stroked his back and the puppy wagged his tail. After the animal ate, the boy took it to his bedroom, emptying a cardboard box in which he kept his toys, making a good shelter for the dog, without fear that it would get out of the box. He laid out newspaper and a piece of old sheet. The puppy looked at him with mischievous eyes and turning two or three times inside the box, he lay down and took possession of his new home.
When Felipe heard the arrival of his mother, he immediately came down to offer his help, which surprised the mother; it was a time when his son was never home on vacation.
– What are you doing at home, son? …
–Nothing, mom, I just want to help you….
-Mmmm, well, and your friends, why aren’t they there? …
“Mom,” he asked without answering the question, “do you like dogs?”
The mother, suspecting the causes, looked around the kitchen, discovering the empty bowl in the dishwasher.
– Where do you have it? …
– What thing, mom? …
“The dog,” he answered, “where is it? …
The boy looked at her with watery eyes, wondering why his mother always noticed everything.
“In my room,” he answered between pouts.
“Let’s go upstairs, young man,” ordered the mother.
When he looked at the puppy, he returned a tender look, tilting his head, as if asking for his permission to be part of that family.
“The dog is pretty,” he said. “Who gave it to you?”
–We found it in the river, Mom, I think it got lost.
–Look, son, ─ said the mother ─ this seems to be a purebred animal, not a stray and these are not left to their own devices; we are going to do one thing, we will ask around and if someone lost it, we will return it to them; If we cannot find its possible owner, you can keep it, but you should know that it is an animal, not a toy. It is a living being and has needs, such as eating, bathing, receiving certain vaccines and living in a clean place; you, as its owner, will have the obligation to satisfy those needs, do you understand that well? If you fail, the dog goes to the kennel. Agree?
“Of course I am, Mom!” He said excitedly, hugging his mother’s waist.
They never found the owner and that was the beginning of a friendship of almost 15 years. Felipe never lacked his responsibility to take care of his dog, whom he named “Hercules”; He grew strong, living up to his name and became Felipe’s protector and inseparable friend. When the dog died, of old age, the young university student cried for him as one only cries for a dear friend. He buried it in the back garden and, when the grass grew, he would sit to one side of the grave to study. That was his first lesson in caring for animals. Felipe graduated from Veterinary Medicine and framed in his office, you can see a leather necklace with a hanging medal that says: “Hercules”
END
Sergio A. Amaya Santamaría
