The Other Side of Heaven
by Cathy .........................................
The Other Side of Heaven

by

Catherine Carlson


Danny and Lynette 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, they wouldn't even have known he'd passed on. How could he be gone 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 after their parents tried to prepare them for Champ's eventual death. . It was old age, they said. His body just wore out. Lately, he'd been slowing up a lot and the vet told them his heart had developed a murmur and his liver was diseased. So even though Champ tried to keep up with the kids, he couldn't. It just got harder and harder to do the things they used to do together. And so that's when Danny and Lynette's parents started to prepare them for what would eventually happen and they tried to make Champ as comfortable as possible.

One morning when the twins rushed downstairs they found Champ lying in his bed peacefully. They tried to wake him up but knew after a minute or so that it was no use. He had gone to sleep like he always did, and never woke up. The twins had been inconsolable for a while and their parents were worried about them, but then something happened that changed everything. They saw Champ and he had come back to tell them he had to leave but they would see each other again.
* * *

Danny and Lynette ran into the yard and followed Champ into the woods. They laughed and called to him. "Champ, Champ, we're coming. Wait for us!" Champ turned around and barked a happy bark and tail wagging; he had a smile on his face as he urged them on.
As Champ turned his head to look back at them. His gray muzzle had disappeared and his eyes shone with a youthful delight.


"Look at Champ," Lynette yelled breathlessly.

"Doesn't he look young? 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? Lynette 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 it 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.


Lynette 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 old boy, we'll always love you," both of them said together.

Champ barked, licked their faces, and 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 high-stepped behind the kangaroo. A tortoise shell 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 so bottom heavy. She walked across with an added waddle of her back end.

Danny and Lynette 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 was 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, 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. When your time has come, the animals will be waiting for you and so will I."

They turned and trudged back over the bridge. Danny and Lynette kept those words in their heart and felt an immense joy at what the future held for them. They would not only see Champ again, but a lot of other animals too. Even though they'd never met the animals, they loved them and would have fun playing and watching over them.
* * *

Turning, they waved to Champ as he faced them and gave a short joyful bark, and then he stepped off the bridge into the midst of friends and family. His mother, brothers and sisters bounded up to him, sniffed and they all ran off together as the Rainbow Bridge faded into the clouds, to appear again whenever other animals was called home.
* * * * *




Comments would be appreciated by the author, Cathy
 
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