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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Pets / Animal Friends
- Published: 11/29/2018
No, Not Without Billy.
M, from Lagos, NigeriaI woke up, covered in a fog of turquoise-white and maroon-gold. I could remember I and Billy, my crazy pit-bull, were walking a lonely mountain track. The unruffled breezy clouds perched on my skin as I nipped them in my imagination—they felt as nothing I’ve ever touched or tasted, just an epitome of immaculate flamboyance…every fine thing I’ve never imagined. A floor as soft and creamy as milk ice-cream, and yet as hard and glistening as sand-snow. Colourful fruity florae. Whimsical, and beyond my comprehension.
I moved closer to the ravishing fruity floras, and they perfumed of a blend of vanilla and the other uninvented flavor. I plucked a fruit, offered to my mouth, and… wow! I went on to two more rounds. Contemplated a third round when I heard a voice. “Congratulations on your induction, dear one,” the voice echoed.
I looked to whence the voice came, a mighty gate stood before me, in sparkling gold.
“Is this heaven?” I wondered.
Then I beheld an inscription—“welcome home son”.
This answered my curiosity, but I remembered only dead people see heaven. I snapped out of wondering at once, and stepped forward. Half excited, half confused.
“Welcome home Darling! You made it!”
The voice was closer this time. Sweet and resonant.
A human figure appeared. It was no man or woman. So fiery, I don’t know how to describe.
“Greetings, Mista… Miss…” I stammered.
“Never mind, dear one. In heaven, there’s no title. We’re equal before the Almighty. Welcome home.”
“Home?”
“Yeah. You made heaven! Hurray!”
“Heaven? Am I…?”
“Dead? You mean? Oh, you’re not dead dear one. You transited to eternal glory. I’m your guardian angel.”
“You mean I’m dead?”
“Oh, you don’t remember… A pack of wolves attacked your troublesome dog. You had chances to run and save yourself, but you didn’t run. You stood by your friend, you died fighting to defend your friend. It was an ultimate test, and you passed.”
“And Billy?”
“No, he couldn’t make it. Your love was only enough to bring you here, but not enough to save his life.”
“That means he’s dead?”
“Yes”
“Oh, Billy… where is he?”
“Weep not, son, Billy has played his role in your life. Come now, let me show you your place”.
“Not without Billy!"
“But Billy neither has a spirit nor a soul.”
“No! Dogs have souls, like you and me. Dogs love, laugh, and even cry, for pain or for pleasure. Dogs even dream too. Billy had a nightmare the other night. So why don’t they have souls?”
“Son, it’s only a mystery—only the Creator can answer that. Even the devil fears God, yet he’s the most ungodly being in the universe. Come now, it’s time to complete your transition, Your reward awaits.”
“No! Not without Billy! You said we‘ve always stood by each other through the good, the bad and the ugly?”
“Yes, dear one, you were inseparable”
“So why can’t I enjoy heaven with him as well?”
The angel paused, and then said:
“Dear one, are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes! I want to be with Billy!”
“Then so be it” The angel replied.
***
I saw another white bed adjacent mine. There on laid another boy of around my age, also in blue johnny. He’s all wired up with drips and bandages. I tried to sit up ,a deep pain pierced my wrist, I looked to inspect my wrist, then I found it wired like the boy’s. Then I also realized I couldn’t move my neck.
“Ahrrr… I can’t move? What happened?”
“Relax son, it was a miracle. I thought we’d lost you.”
“How did I end up here, mum?” I asked, as my masculinity bowed to agony.
“You’ve been out for days, darling. Some boys tried raping the girl next door, you played super hero, almost got yourself killed, the bastards shot you in the belly. It was by miracle the bullets missed your vitals.”
“And Billy?”
“Oh, dear Billy? Billy died fighting them off you.”
“Noo! I want Billy back mum!”
“Son, I miss Billy too. But we can always buy another dog.”
"Yes mum, of course we can always buy another dog, but can we always find another Billy?"
No, Not Without Billy.(Darlington Chukwunyere)
I woke up, covered in a fog of turquoise-white and maroon-gold. I could remember I and Billy, my crazy pit-bull, were walking a lonely mountain track. The unruffled breezy clouds perched on my skin as I nipped them in my imagination—they felt as nothing I’ve ever touched or tasted, just an epitome of immaculate flamboyance…every fine thing I’ve never imagined. A floor as soft and creamy as milk ice-cream, and yet as hard and glistening as sand-snow. Colourful fruity florae. Whimsical, and beyond my comprehension.
I moved closer to the ravishing fruity floras, and they perfumed of a blend of vanilla and the other uninvented flavor. I plucked a fruit, offered to my mouth, and… wow! I went on to two more rounds. Contemplated a third round when I heard a voice. “Congratulations on your induction, dear one,” the voice echoed.
I looked to whence the voice came, a mighty gate stood before me, in sparkling gold.
“Is this heaven?” I wondered.
Then I beheld an inscription—“welcome home son”.
This answered my curiosity, but I remembered only dead people see heaven. I snapped out of wondering at once, and stepped forward. Half excited, half confused.
“Welcome home Darling! You made it!”
The voice was closer this time. Sweet and resonant.
A human figure appeared. It was no man or woman. So fiery, I don’t know how to describe.
“Greetings, Mista… Miss…” I stammered.
“Never mind, dear one. In heaven, there’s no title. We’re equal before the Almighty. Welcome home.”
“Home?”
“Yeah. You made heaven! Hurray!”
“Heaven? Am I…?”
“Dead? You mean? Oh, you’re not dead dear one. You transited to eternal glory. I’m your guardian angel.”
“You mean I’m dead?”
“Oh, you don’t remember… A pack of wolves attacked your troublesome dog. You had chances to run and save yourself, but you didn’t run. You stood by your friend, you died fighting to defend your friend. It was an ultimate test, and you passed.”
“And Billy?”
“No, he couldn’t make it. Your love was only enough to bring you here, but not enough to save his life.”
“That means he’s dead?”
“Yes”
“Oh, Billy… where is he?”
“Weep not, son, Billy has played his role in your life. Come now, let me show you your place”.
“Not without Billy!"
“But Billy neither has a spirit nor a soul.”
“No! Dogs have souls, like you and me. Dogs love, laugh, and even cry, for pain or for pleasure. Dogs even dream too. Billy had a nightmare the other night. So why don’t they have souls?”
“Son, it’s only a mystery—only the Creator can answer that. Even the devil fears God, yet he’s the most ungodly being in the universe. Come now, it’s time to complete your transition, Your reward awaits.”
“No! Not without Billy! You said we‘ve always stood by each other through the good, the bad and the ugly?”
“Yes, dear one, you were inseparable”
“So why can’t I enjoy heaven with him as well?”
The angel paused, and then said:
“Dear one, are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes! I want to be with Billy!”
“Then so be it” The angel replied.
***
I saw another white bed adjacent mine. There on laid another boy of around my age, also in blue johnny. He’s all wired up with drips and bandages. I tried to sit up ,a deep pain pierced my wrist, I looked to inspect my wrist, then I found it wired like the boy’s. Then I also realized I couldn’t move my neck.
“Ahrrr… I can’t move? What happened?”
“Relax son, it was a miracle. I thought we’d lost you.”
“How did I end up here, mum?” I asked, as my masculinity bowed to agony.
“You’ve been out for days, darling. Some boys tried raping the girl next door, you played super hero, almost got yourself killed, the bastards shot you in the belly. It was by miracle the bullets missed your vitals.”
“And Billy?”
“Oh, dear Billy? Billy died fighting them off you.”
“Noo! I want Billy back mum!”
“Son, I miss Billy too. But we can always buy another dog.”
"Yes mum, of course we can always buy another dog, but can we always find another Billy?"
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JD
11/29/2018Pets can very often become family for us. I think your story beautifully and thought provokingly illustrates the strength of this bond, Darlington. Thanks for sharing it on Storystar! :-)
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
JD
11/29/2018Yes... I think those of us who have enjoyed the unconditional love of a devoted pet are truly blessed.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Darlington Chukwunyere
11/29/2018Thanks, Jd. I've had a pleasant experience with pets so far. Many life lessons I've learnt today, were from some amazing pets.
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