The Other Side of Heaven
By
Catherine Carlson

Danny and Lynnette had just seen Champ, their childhood companion rush through the wooded area around their home. If they hadn't seen the golden retriever take his last labored breath, right before their eyes, they wouldn't even have known he was dead. How could he be, when the twins saw him scampering through the tree studded yard and beyond?
"Hey Champ, wait up," both of them yelled in unison, as they ran outside, banging the door behind them. They were eleven and even though Danny thought he was too old to cry, neither one of them could help themselves once their parents had tried to prepare

them for Champ's eventual death. It was just old age, thank God. He wasn't really sick, but they still hadn't been prepared for what happened. His death was peaceful though. Champ laid down one night and never woke up.
* * *
Danny and Lynette ran into the yard and followed Champ into the woods. They laughed and called out to him. "Champ, Champ, we're coming. Wait for us!" Champ turned around and barked a happy bark, his tail wagging and a definite smile on his face, as he urged them on.
As Champ turned his head to bark at them, his grey muzzle and disappeared, his eyes shone with a youthful delight.
"Look at Champ," Lynette yelled breathlessly.
"Doesn't he look good, almost like a puppy again."
"Yes, he looks like he's getting younger. Maybe his soul is going to heaven,"
Daniel replied.
"Heaven's in our woods. Lynnette asked, holding her side and slowing down. Daniel slowed with her, and as they changed their pace, so did Champ.
"I wonder where he's going. Look, he's waiting for us. Let's go," Daniel said.
They picked up the pace and finally caught up with him. When they reached their friend, Champ turned and barked a farewell. They didn't know what that meant at first, but then they saw a stone bridge stretching over a stream. The stream ran on forever and the twins couldn't see the end. They stopped at the bridge. A German shepherd stood

at the other end barking a greeting to Champ. The whole scene was so beautiful that Daniel and Lynette thought they were imagining it. Birds flew over the bridge and up to a rainbow that arched over the bridge, creating an awesome sight.
* * *
The twins knew what this vision meant. Champ was going to heaven. He was crossing the Rainbow Bridge and would see all his animal friends who had died, as well as other animals that had passed on. Lynnette bent down and threw her arms around him and whispered good-bye in his ear, rubbing her face and drying her tears on his shiny coat. Danny did the same. "
"Good-bye boy, we'll always love you," both of them said together.
Champ barked, licked their faces, then trotted across the bridge, Behind Champ marched a parade of animals, a kangaroo, his joey poking his head out of the pouch, a beautiful Palomino horse, shaking his mane as he high-stepped behind the kangaroo. A ginger kitten followed behind the horse with a white chicken clucking and cackling as she tried to fly in front of the kitten. Gravity pulled her down because she was bottom heavy, so she walked across with an added waddled of her back end.
* * *
Danny and Lynnette were struck with wonder; their faces alight watching the procession in front of them. At the other end of the bridge they saw a bright light. The light was brighter than anything they had ever seen before. Inside the light they saw a
man with shoulder length dark hair. Around him birds flitted through the air.

A deer stood still and stared at Champ as he crossed over the bridge. There were cats, dogs, chickens, raccoons, and skunks. Every kind of animal that god made had gathered in a circle to welcome the newcomers.
The twins couldn't look into the light without crying. They couldn't describe the sensation. Both of them were so happy that their pet had found his way to heaven. They walked across the bridge, hoping to see what it was like on the other side. Maybe they could play with the animals. But as soon as they stepped onto the bridge, they heard a deep kind voice say:
"Not yet, my children. It's not your time yet. When your time has come, the animals will be waiting for you and so will I."
They turned and went back over the bridge. Their questions were answered and they hadn't even asked them. Danny and Lynnette just kept it in their heart. He had answered them and now they knew they would not only see Champ again, but a lot of other animals who had passed on too. Even though they'd never met the other animals, they loved them and would have fun playing with them and taking care of them.
* * *
They turned and waved to Champ. He turned and gave a short joyful bark, then stepped off the end of the bridge into the midst of friends and family. His mother, brothers and sisters bounded up to him, sniffed at him, and they ran off together as the Rainbow Bridge faded into the clouds, to reappear when another animal was called home.
* * * * *