[ SHOWGSD-L ] A Halloween ghost story (lon)

From: Marcia Hadley <blackoaks01@xxxxxxx>
To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:12:09 -0400 (EDT)
                                                    "A Ghost Story??"

Originally written for, and published in the GSDC Of St. Louis Wag N' Tongue 
Newsletter, October 1988.


It was an unusually cool Halloween with forecasters predicting an unheard of 
wind chill by midnight of 15 degrees.
The old man raked leaves in the wind, in a futile attempt to neaten his lawn. 
He paused as if suddenly realizing the silliness
of his actions, leaned on his rake, and sadly gazed at the grave of his beloved 
companion.
Lady had been a good dog, a regal black and red German Shepherd, with eyes that 
shone until the end with great love,
and devotion for her master. For fifteen years, the man and dog had been 
inseparable, sharing life's comedies and tragedies.
The old man's wife was gone these past ten years, and their only son married, 
and moved away to the city.
They had been alone- but not truly lonely, Lady and her Master, and his grief 
at her passing was still bitter, and sharp.
He spoke to her then, as his eyes misted while looking at her final resting 
place: "Lady old girl,...what will I do without you?"
The old man returned to the comfort of his kitchen, and as darkness approached, 
waited for the neighborhood children who
would come calling, dressed in wicked finery shouting: "Trick or Treat!" The 
children came, and the old man was somewhat 
cheered by their antics, but as the evening became night, a bone chilling cold 
forced even the hardiest of boys indoors to
end their Halloween games.
Near 10:00 p.m., the old man was nodding off in his favorite easy chair, when 
with a start he realized that he had forgotten
 to turn off the light in his  tool shed. Since all he had to do was walk out 
the back door less than 200 feet to the shed, he 
didn't bother to grab a jacket, but stepped out into the brisk night meaning to 
hurry..He did not see the frightened rabbit
who suddenly darted into his path, and under his feet. With a cry of alarm, he 
fell, striking his head on the flagstone path...
Darkness. He awoke to a great burning pain in his hip, and with blood from his 
gashed forehead obscuring his vision;
and cold-so cold. Unable to stand, he called out feebly for help, but the wind 
snatched his voice, and flung it aloft.
But, his cries were heard,....and heeded. A soft whine, a great shaggy head, 
and warm tongue...so familiar.
A big furry body pressed close to warm, and comfort the one so loved in his 
pain. He clung to the warmth, and slept.
The paramedics summoned by neighbors early in the morning of November 1st, were 
skeptical of the old man's
story about his dog keeping him warm through the night.
When the neighbors explained that the old man's dog had recently died, they 
attributed his story to hypothermia,
and delirium. At the hospital, doctors were amazed to find that the old man's 
temperature was only a little below normal;
and aside from a mild concussion, some stitches needed, and a badly bruised 
hip, the old man was in remarkable
condition for one who had spent the night on the cold ground!
........No one could explain the black, and red dog hair which covered his 
clothes.
Spring came-and the old man can now be seen puttering in his yard with a half 
grown German Shepherd pup
frisking at his heels.......He calls her "Lady."

Marcia Hadley


Black Oak German Shepherds
blackoaks01@xxxxxxx

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[ SHOWGSD-L ] A Halloween ghost story (lon)

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