Boy's Best Friend

The rule for this contest is that you have 15 minutes to write a story or poem. The prompt was a picture of a handicapped boy and his special needs dog. They look like they may be kissing.

Sandy ran excitedly up and down the bank. Her best friend, Joshua, was getting too close to the icy river waters. He was trying to recover a slip of homework paper that had flown out of his hands.

She didn’t like this, not one bit. She watched him as he tucked his crutch under an arm and tried to lean over for the scrap. It was going to be a close thing. Sandy began barking as loudly as she could. “Don’t do that! Be careful! Someone help!”

It happened so fast, she could only react.

Joshua was in the river. He popped up once and then was gone.

Sandy never hesitated. The river was so cold that ice chunks were floating downstream. It was flowing so fast that the rapids were bigger than she was. In spite of all of this, Joshua went in and she went in after him.

It was only luck that she happened to find him. He was submerged and she had to dive down to grab him by the arm. It was like dragging a giant weight. He wasn’t moving and she feared the worst. Still, she paddled like she had never paddled before. Several times she went under only to pop back to the surface. She never once lost her hold on Joshua. He was her best friend in the world. She would either save him or die trying.

Finally, they reached the bank. Arms reached for Joshua and pulled him to safety. They pulled her out as well. Sandy cold feel the cold slipping away. They laid her down gently as she felt sleep coming over her. She could feel Joshua’s life force. He was going to be okay. He was going to make it.

“Take it easy, son; the ambulance will take you to the hospital.”

“But wait, what about my dog? Where is Sandy?”

They started the ambulance but, for some reason, instead of a siren, it tinkled like a bell.

Sandy lay invisibly next to her best friend. Her new wings wrapped protectively around him.