New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
Rainbow Bridge
by Suzie
Summary: A little boy, a little dog, and a Rainbow Bridge.
Disclaimer: Some of the characters in this story belong to the UPN Network and Pet Fly Productions as part of the television show The Sentinel. I do not claim these characters as my own. No money has changed hands.
Notes: Thank you, Mega, for sending me this wonderful piece to work with. As always… Thank you, oh wise Beta Beast. Your patience is a wonder to behold. <G>
“Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.”
*Author Unknown*
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Jim parked his 1969 blue and white Ford pickup in its usual spot in the parking lot outside the building at 852 Prospect. He sighed tiredly as he got out of the vehicle and slowly headed for the doors that would take him home. As Jim approached the building, he unconsciously sent his enhanced hearing out. This was his way of *checking the parameter* for any threats to him or his Guide, and he did it every time he came home.
A small sound touched Jim’s sensitive ears, making him stop and look around for the source. On the curbing outside the building sat a ten-year-old boy. The sound Jim had heard was that of the boy’s sobs.
“Ricky?” Jim called out. “Ricky Thomas? What are you doing here?”
The youngster looked up at Jim with eyes that were red and swollen from crying. “Mr. Ellison?”
Worried, Jim knelt in front of the boy. “Are you all right? What’s going on?”
“I’m okay,” Ricky sighed.
“I thought you and your folks moved across town.”
“We did. I ran away. You told me once that if I ever needed help, I could come to you.”
“That’s right, Ricky, I did say that and I meant it.” Jim twisted around until he was sitting on the curb next to the young boy. “Want to tell me what happened?”
The boy sniffled and let out a small sob. “Do you remember Riley?”
“Sure do,” Jim smiled at the remembered sight of Ricky playing with the small mutt that the family had gotten from the humane society.
“He’s gone.”
“Gone… he ran away?” Jim questioned quietly.
Ricky shook his head. “After I went to school today, Riley somehow got out of his pen in the backyard. He got hit by a car before Mom even knew he was out.”
Jim wrapped an arm around the boy’s shoulders.
“My Mom said that Riley was hurt real bad, and the Vet couldn’t do anything.”
“Oh, Ricky, I’m so sorry,” Jim said quietly. “If Riley was in that bad of shape, having him put down was the best thing.”
“It’s not fair!” Ricky wailed, turning to lay his head against Jim’s chest.
Jim held the small boy and let him cry until the tears faded into faint sobs. Jim waited a few minutes and allowed the boy to calm down. “I know it’s not fair, Ricky, but someday you’ll be with Riley again.”
“You mean… in heaven?” Ricky whispered.
“Yep. God willing, it won’t be for a very long time… but someday.”
“That’s what my Mom said when she told me what happened.”
“Did your Mom tell you about the Rainbow Bridge?” Jim asked.
“No… what is it?”
“It’s something that a very special friend of mine told us a long time ago when me and my brother had to have our dog put to sleep.”
Ricky sat up, but stayed tight against Jim’s side. Jim patted him on the shoulder and kept his arm snuggly around him.
“Sally… my special friend, sat me and my brother down the day it happened and told us about the Rainbow Bridge…”
“Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they each miss someone very special, someone who was left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly, he breaks from the group, flying over the green grass, faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into those trusting eyes, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...”
“So Riley will know when I die and go to heaven, and he’ll meet me there?” Ricky said when Jim’s finished his story.
“That’s right,” Jim smiled, seeing the boy’s mind working behind the bright eyes.
“I ran away because I didn’t want to live there without Riley,” Ricky said quietly. “I miss him already.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being sad or missing Riley. It’s going to take a little time before the hurt goes away.”
“Knowing I’ll see Riley again someday helps a little.”
“So are you ready to go home then? I’m sure your parents are worried about you by now.”
Ricky nodded and stood up.
Jim stood up beside the youngster. “I’ll give you a lift home, okay?”
Ricky nodded again. “Thank you.”
**********
Blair walked into the loft to the ringing of the phone. He hurried across the living room and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”
“Blair… hi. I don’t know if you remember me. This is Margaret Thomas.”
“Yeah, Margaret, how are you?” Blair asked, grinning.
“Oh, we’re doing fine here. We miss seeing you though.”
“Well, Jim and I miss you, Mark, and Ricky too.”
“Look, Blair, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to call and thank Jim again. He really helped us out this afternoon.”
“Oh, anything serious? Everything all right?”
“It was serious, but everything is going to be all right now. Just tell Jim thank you for the Rainbow Bridge.”
“Rainbow Bridge?”
Voices were heard in the background.
“I have to go now. We’re going out to dinner tonight. Be sure to give Jim the message, okay?”
“Sure, no problem, Margaret. You all take care.”
Jim walked into the loft at that moment, smiling from ear to ear.
“You take care too, Blair,” Margaret said. “Bye now.”
Blair looked at his grinning Sentinel as the man came from the kitchen with two bottles of beer.
“That was Margaret Thomas,” Blair said, turning to face his roommate after setting down the phone. He accepting the offered beer. “She said to thank you for the *Rainbow Bridge*.”
Jim’s smile widened and he nodded his thanks for the relayed message.
“Jim, what happened?! What’s the Rainbow Bridge?!” Blair cried impatiently, curiosity getting the best of him.
Jim sat down on the sofa and patted the cushion next to him. “Come sit down. I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Cool!” Blair grinned, hurrying to sit beside the big man.
Jim took a swig from his bottle of beer and settled back. “It started when I got home a while ago and found Ricky outside…” he explained what had happened and how the story he’d told the boy had helped.
“The poor kid. Ricky loved that little dog so much.”
“Yeah, he’s going to need some time to get over the loss.”
“What about the *Rainbow Bridge*, Jim… what’s that? And how did it help?” Blair asked.
“It’s something that Sally told me and Stephen years ago when we lost our pet.” Jim’s face softened as he recalled that summer day years ago when a very special person sat in the kitchen with two teary eyed young boys. He sighed at the memory and began to relate the story to the friend that sat beside him, “Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge…”
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end