The boy and the dog.

My ankle seems to be getting more painful by the day and my limp becoming more and more obvious to all. I know that the opinion of many friends is that I should slow down and not try walking so much. The downside of that is simply that if  I do not make the effort I have other problems like putting on weight and then my asthma returns. I am left daily in a quandary that is never helped by the pain I am feeling.

So as I limped home from the village orchard yesterday, having had a wonderful lesson in the pruning of fruit trees, I remembered the tale of the little boy and his puppy.

A store had a sign in the window that read "Puppies For Sale."

Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a young boy appeared in the store asking. "How much are the puppies?" 

The store owner replied, "Anywhere from £20 to £40."

The boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have £3," he said. "Can I please look at them?"

The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?"

The store owner explained that the vet had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The boy became excited. "That is the puppy that I want to buy." The store owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to you."

The boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you £3 now, and 50 pence a week until I have him paid for."

The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies." 

To his surprise, the boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"

We ALL need someone who Understands! So it was agreed: the boy took the little puppy home.

Have a good day, school gardening club for me today.