"Good boy"

There was once, an old homeless man.

He was a veteran from war, spent his life on the military, saved many lives in many war, had many medals and also killed many people.

Having retired with honors, he suffered from agonizing nightmares, eventually the war and its horrors took everything. or was it just life? He really didn't blame anyone but himself, perhaps he had not been strong enough, perhaps he should have died honorably in combat, perhaps he should have stayed stationed in the military as long as possible. It was too late now, his years for suitable service were long gone, and he never knew anything else than how to take a life.

Wife left, tired of dealing with the night terrors, despite having spent most of his retirement in therapy. His kids were long gone from home and simply lost contact with him one day and he could never found them again, he was also a proud man, who would never want to be seen as the husk of his former self.

He lost the money gambling, he also bough a house, perhaps too big, a car, perhaps too expensive. He earned good money, but was also trying to make up for the time he lost away from home and so, one day the money was just gone.

Found a job in a small convenience store, but he could not keep up with the bills, he had too big of a house, too expensive of a car too much debt in the bank. he went bankrupt and ended on the street, eventually, the little store had to let him go as he could no longer spent his nights inside the parlor.

He wandered, probably crossed a few state lines, he had a vague memory of where his son moved, he only needed an address to be able to work, never wanted to inconvenience his family, but he was also out of luck.

Ended up on the streets of a city, he tried to join a homeless community but they shunned him due to his nightmares, and so, alone he finally found a place below a bridge in a busy road.

One day, he was begging for something to eat on the side of the road, and saw a bunch of teenagers throw a box outside the window. At first he though it might be food, at least some clothes that might fit him and so, hurried to rescue the box, as he approached the little cardboard container, a very weak yelp came out of it. Slowly and carefully he opened the lid, revealing a little puppy mutt.

The little mutt had obviously been thrashed by the teenagers, very carefully he pulled the puppy out of the box, “who is a good boy?” He asked, received nothing in answer but a lick to his hand. it was in bad shape.

He rushed to his bridge where he still had some food saved for emergencies, water and a warm place to stay, it would have seem that the leg was broken, he parched it with a piece of wood and some clothes he had lying around. Tried his best to feed and water him, and felt asleep encroaching him to keep the warm.

Woke up to a tongue all over his face, he smiled, it hurt, it had been a while since the last time he did.

Years passed, he never gave him a name, he just called him "Good boy!”, he decided to name him once he had a home and a job, but he had some resemblance of happiness, a friend that did not judge him, and came closer to him instead of running when he had nightmares.

“Good boy” always walked funny, as best as he could, he was no veterinarian and that leg had not been properly fixed, he felt guilty, but every time this dog cheered him up, it would seem to know the sadness of this man.

Then a really hard winter came, it was really cold, there was a lot of wind. The usual water sources were frozen over and they had to stay out a lot longer than they usually did.

“Good boy” fell sick, it was not the first time, but this man had always been able to nurture him back to health with love and warmth. This time was different.

The mutt could barely move, his breathing had gotten heavy, he could not drink or eat anymore and warmth and love did not seem to be doing much.

The man desperate carried him to a pet hospital, begged for help and got rejected times and times again, until finally one small clinic decided to step in and save “Good boy” life.

A condition was set, the lungs of this animal were damaged by the winter and therefore he could not go back to living on the street, he would get the help he needed, but also would have to be put up for adoption.

The proud man took “Good boy” on his arms, held his head close to him, “you are the best friend I could ever have asked for”, kissed him, and received a weak but very warm lick on the cheek as response, “Be a good boy to your family”.

The man said thanks, and left, “Good boy” recovered and was adopted by a good family to which he brought joy and fun for a couple of years.

One day “Good boy” escaped, they looked for him everywhere, growing desperately as the winter was getting close and he could not be outside due to his weak lungs, it was by chance that they found him, driving on the highway, they saw him getting below a bridge.

There was a man lying on an improvised bed in the floor, he looked very sick, the family approached him slowly, “Good boy” was lying next to him, trying to keep the man warm.

The dad of the family asked “Are you OK?” The answer was a wheezing sound, he obviously had not much time.

The dad got closer to hold his hand, he was a good man, he believed nobody should be alone in their final moments and he was not going to let this homeless man leave the world secluded.

The homeless man, looked up, his face changed, illuminated for a second as if he would have seen the face of god, he moved his head close to “Good boy” and whispered very faintly, “You are not a good boy, you are the best boy”. He then pulled what looked like a picture from one of his pockets, gave it to the family dad, smiled and passed away.

The dad of the family turned the picture, and found a very old picture of him and his dad. Written on the back it said “Sorry I couldn't find you, I love you, Dad”.