My best friend Bobo

It was the last house up the old winding road at the edge of the forest, where little Jenny Bumbelberry lived. It was not a large house and didn’t have too many rooms, but it was very bright, full of sun, and to Jenny it was a castle. It had two large windows with white curtains pinned to the sides and a very old-fashioned wooden door with a tiny “peeking” window in the front. Jenny liked waking up in the morning seeing the violets on the window sill smiling at her from behind the glass. In the afternoon, it was the red tulips and yellow daffodils growing in front of the house welcoming her home.

Jenny was only six years old but she already loved to explore her neighbourhood. She was a curious girl and there was so much to discover. She knew families living next door – old grandparents, young parents, their children, their friends, friends of the friends, even their cats, cows and donkeys. She befriended an old fisherman who would walk for an hour every morning to the Lilly river to catch some fish but always returned home empty-handed – as she learned, not because he couldn’t catch anything but because he didn’t have the heart to kill them. But most of all she loved to sneak through the forest to a large dandelion-filled meadow. Most people didn’t like dandelions, they called them weeds, but to Jenny, they were the most beautiful flowers in the world. She liked to make a wreath out of them and dream that it was a real golden crown and she was a princess. When dandelions withered, she would blow the little feathery umbrellas into the air and hope that they would fly and spread little dandelions all over the world.

One beautiful sunny morning, right after her favourite breakfast of blueberry muffins, she hurried outside to her favourite “hide-away”. It rained all night and she wanted to see all the new snails and worms that came out to dry. But before she could rush off, her mom stopped her and made her put on the big blue gumboots that came up to her knees and didn’t let her run freely. Jenny made a little grumpy face and her mom, feeling bad, slipped a couple of cookies into her pocket. They had a deal!

The fence gate slammed shut as she hurried up the road to the forest. She jumped in and over the puddles, pot holes, over the broken branches, ran through the wet grass and she was in the forest. It smelt musty and damp, and with every movement she made she got showered by the rain drops from the leaves. The darkness in the forest, strange sounds of wild animals and birds, and the cobwebs hanging from the trees made it almost scary. But the sun rays shining through the thick, moss-overgrown branches showed her the way… This was her world, her little kingdom.

And it was the sun that welcomed her on the other side, in the large meadow opening. It was her meadow, her secret place, where she could do anything she wanted – she could run, she could jump, she could dance and sing, even scream her heart out if she felt like it. And she quickly made her way to the middle of the clearing where the sun rays were the strongest, and as she felt sun’s warmth on her face, she closed her eyes and started to spin. Round, round and round she went…faster, faster and even faster. She was giggling and screaming with joy until she lost her balance and fell crashing into the grass.

She was still giggling when she noticed a large shadow above her. The sun was right in her eyes and she couldn’t recognise its shape and size. She was startled and no matter how many giggles she had still left in her throat, not a peep came out of her mouth. For a moment the earth stopped spinning. Only Jenny’s mind was spinning hard – her little brain mice raced for their lives to spin the wheels faster and faster to help Jenny figure out what to do. She remembered all her mom’s do’s and don’t’s, all about not going to the forest alone, all about playing with other children in the safety of the garden but she didn’t listen and now…as she was feeling sad and sorry for not listening to her mom, she felt a wet but soft touch on her forehead and even more wet and slimy lick on her cheek. A big fuzzy head blocked the sun from her eyes and she finally saw a large dog leaning over her. He was huge like a bear, his big shaggy ears were pointing different ways, his mouth – his humongous mouth – was half open, long pointy tongue hanging out over the side, and his beautiful, beautiful brown eyes looking playfully straight at her. And it was those big brown eyes that calmed her down – they were not scary, they were not mean…they were full of kindness.

“Who or what are you,” wondered Jenny, as she slowly moved to sit up and have a better look at the bear-dog. She knew he couldn’t answer her question, yet, she asked hesitantly: “Are you going to hurt me?” The bear-dog got startled by the sound of Jenny’s voice and stepped back. He stood still for a while observing Jenny and Jenny sat still in the grass observing him. Then he gathered some courage and made a step towards her lowering his head as if to say “I don’t bite little girls”. But Jenny didn’t speak the bear-dog language and screamed. That startled the big dog even more and he quickly turned and galloped away.

Jenny didn’t know why she screamed, she was not afraid, she was just taken aback by his large furry head so close to her little face. He meant no harm, that much she could tell…he was probably saying “hi” to her and she scared him away. Once again, Jenny felt sad. She got up, brushed away little pieces of leaves and dirt off her dress and turned to go back home when in the corner of her eye she noticed that the big bear-dog was just a short distance from her lying in the grass. Her heart leapt of joy, she couldn’t explain why but right there she knew that it was going to be a start of a big adventure.

She slowly turned towards the bear-dog and weighed whether she should walk to him or wait till he decided to approach her. She didn’t want to scare him away again but she really wanted to play with him. Was he going to trust her after all the screaming she had done? She wouldn’t trust herself… Then she remembered the cookies from her mom and a big smile spread over her face. She had a plan! She pulled the cookies gently out of the side pocket and without looking the bear-dog directly in the eyes, she started to walk towards him. As she approached the bear-dog, he slowly sat up as if ready to leave but then he changed his mind. He was just as curious as Jenny. By then she was standing only a few steps away from him. Her head still tilted down with respect, she looked hesitantly at his big chest covered with snow-white fur. Her eyes followed the strong bulky muscles with harsh-looking, worn-out elbows and then slipped down to his large fluffy feet with long sharp claws, rather overgrown and chipped on the sides. It must hurt, she thought, my mom always trims my finger nails, and even my toe nails. As her eyes moved to his dark shinny fur on the back, she noticed little bits of dirt and grass stuck in his coat. He really needed a bath and good brushing!

Once again she felt his wet nose on her skin. He leaned towards her hand with cookies, sniffing up and down, and side to side, he tried to find out what kind of surprise she was hiding. Jenny raised her hand, opened up her palm and finally looked up in his face – with the curious expression in his eyes and slightly raised eyebrows he looked even more adorable. He sniffed the cookies for a little longer and then looked at Jenny as if in disbelief or may be waiting for a permission.

What are you waiting for?, wondered Jenny to herself and out loud she said: “Go on, puppy, it’s for you – you can have them.” But the bear-dog hesitated. He sat down again and stared at Jenny. Poor confused Jenny didn’t know what to think – who turns down home-made peanut-butter cookies?? She put one of the cookies in her mouth and with the other one still in her open palm she reached towards the dog. “Don’t be afraid, it’s yummy,” she whispered quietly and she closed her eyes as she wished he didn’t turn her down again. And what a surprise! This time he took the cookie from her hand and even licked it as if to make sure that no crumbs went wasted. Jenny was overjoyed, all the nervousness and hesitation was gone. She felt a very unknown but warm feeling spreading throughout her body and so much happiness in her little heart that she could hardly hold it in, and a stream of big salty tears came out of her eyes – tears of joy knowing that he liked her!

Now that Jenny made a new and a very unordinary friend, she wanted everyone to meet him and her friend to meet everyone else. Was the bear-dog big? – yes, was the bear-dog scary? – yes, did he seem hungry? – yes, did he need her help? – yes! Did she need to think about her next decision more? – noooo! She made another small step to the bear-dog and began to pet the top of his large head, then his long soft ears, and moving her hand gently she felt the harsh hairs on his wide-set strong neck and his back. It was very clear to her that she had to bring her new friend home to her parents and take care of him. She looked at the bear-dog with a smile and asked him softly, “Would you like to come home with me?” Knowing he wouldn’t really answer but hoping he would understand her, she looked for a sign from him saying he did. But his happy face didn’t seem to change, his large mouth wide open, long tongue slightly hanging out and his head shaking up and down on a diagonal as if in a trance. The only change she noticed was in his eyes – they were sparkling like two shiny diamonds and she couldn’t help but think that they were asking her not to leave him alone. And not knowing how to walk with a dog or how to ask him to follow her, she just waved at the bear-dog her “come on” and started walking back home. She wanted to turn back and see if he was following her but judging by the heavy breathing and strange puffing sounds, she knew he was right behind her. Puff, puff, puff, puff, his loud breathing was in a perfect harmony with Jenny’s little footsteps.

They walked through the thick forest, along the muddy path and soon they were at the gate of Jenny’s house. The front garden was in a full bloom, there were white and pink rose bushes, daffodils, violets and patches of blue forget-me-nots. Even the trees by the house were turning their flowers into small apples and pears – something she missed to notice in the morning. Jenny opened the gate wide, turned to the bear-dog and with a huge smile on her face and a fancy arm gesture pointing in she said: “Welcome home!,” and in she went to show that it was safe. The bear-dog followed in a less gracious way almost pulling the gate door off its hinges, but thankfully, making it through.

Just a moment later Jenny’s mom came rushing out of the house. She had a frightened look on her face and a wooden spoon in her hand. “Jenny,” she yelled, “come here, stay away from that beast,” and she grabbed Jenny’s arm and tried to pull her inside the house. But Jenny resisted, she started to explain that the bear-dog was not a beast and there was no need to be afraid of him. But her mom, fearing for Jenny’s safety had the strength of ten moms and managed to drag her on the front porch, though tripping on the steps and stopping herself from falling only by letting Jenny go.
Jenny herself almost fell too but by gaining a free arm she grabbed onto the top step and pulled herself up on the porch. By then, her mom breathing heavily with exasperation but also fright that she almost hurt Jenny, sat down on the step just below and tried to catch her breath. Jenny with a very upset-looking face, smudged with dirt and tears and still sniffling, started to explain in a broken voice how she came upon the big dog.
The bear-dog, meanwhile, all shaken by the racket and yelling tried to get through the gate and go back to the forest but it was already closed and his tired legs were too achy to jump over. So he curled up into a ball, tucked his tail way under and waited for the outcome or an opportunity to escape.

But there was no need for that. When Jenny finished her story, it was her mom who had tears in her eyes, and she said that the bear-dog must have been a lost dog and it was up to them to help him find his family. The last words were slightly painful for Jenny to hear but she had to agree that if there was a little girl or a boy searching for the bear-dog, she could not keep him for herself, to return him would be the right thing to do.
“Do you think he’s scared of me?, ” asked mom as she watched the bear-dog curled up by the gate.
“Yeaaaaaaahhh, mom,!!! answered Jenny, “you screamed as if he was mauling me!”
“I was frightened, Jenny, frightened to death. I looked out the window and saw a big German shepherd walking right behind you through the gate. I thought he was going to hurt you!”
“No, I invited him in, I told him he would be safe here,” answered Jenny in a quiet sobbing voice, realizing that her mom did have a point.
“I’m sorry, Jenny, I really am but you have to admit that he is not a little puppy that you could defend yourself from, if he decided to attack you… He is a BIG-BIG…guy, or what’s his name!!,” exclaimed Jenny’s mom and threw her long arms up in the air as if to show that the dog was almost bigger than their house.
“So what is his name?,” she repeated again in a calmer voice.
“Ahhh…weeeellll, I don’t know…ahhh…mmm, German!”
“Oh, Jenny, did you check his collar?,” inquired Jenny’s mom as she stood up to see if the dog was even wearing one.
“No, I didn’t,” answered Jenny in a puzzled voice and she also stood up to see for herself if the dog was wearing a collar and an address tag.
Noticing their inquiring looks, the bear-dog stretched his head up and pointed each ear in a different direction trying to catch the end of their conversation. He sensed the calm and peace after the commotion, and he finally started to relax.

Jenny was the first one to start walking towards the bear-dog. She felt very guilty about putting him through all this circus. But when she saw a big smile across his face, she stopped, turned back a few steps, grabbed her mom’s hand and just with a little wink led her to the gate.
The bear-dog stood up and moved closer to the fence. “Shhhh…don’t be afraid…this is my Mommy…she’s very nice,” Jenny whispered gently. Then they both lowered themselves to their knees and waited for the bear-dog to sniff them. He started with Jenny – he licked her hand, the same hand that had been hiding the cookies before, and then her thigh. He slowly moved to Jenny’s mom. He sniffed around her more and more, and then stopped right in front of her and stared in her face. Jenny’s mom felt almost hypnotized by his deep brown almost human eyes. She lifted up her right hand, opened her palm up and reached to his nose. The bear-dog sniffed it once, sniffed it twice and then, all of sudden, licked her hand.
“Woooooaaaaaah, hahaha…,” both Jenny and her mom exploded in a laughter.
“It tickled!, It was kind of slimy but nice too!”
“I know!,” laughed Jenny too. “It’s gross but sweet at the same time!”
“Oh, what a handsome and sweet boy you are!,” smiled Jenny’s mom as she nudged herself closer to the dog and patted his head and thick neck.
And Jenny didn’t stay behind. She moved closer and hugged him with her small arms.
“So, what do you want to call him,” asked Jenny’s mom as she ran her fingers through the dog’s thick fur.
“Hmmm….I don’t know…Handsome!, how about Handsome. Yes, let’s call him Handsome!”
“Well, that’s too long!”
“No, it isn’t! And he is handsome!”
“Oh, he is, he is very handsome…well, wait, do you know how to say handsome in French? It’s beau. Let’s call him Beau.”
“Aaahhhhh, that’s too short! And I don’t speak French anyway…he’s German, you said so yourself!”
“Oh, come on, it’s a beautiful word,” and she pronounced the word with a perfect French accent again and again, “beau…beau.”
Jenny thought for a while and then, all of a sudden, jumped up on her feet with her arms wide stretched out, and shouted: “I got it, I got it! Bobo, we’ll call him Bobo!”
“Yes, yes, that’s it! That’s the perfect name for him,” agreed mom and hugged her daughter relieved that the search for the name was over. Jenny, very proud of herself and happy with the choice of the name, turned to the bear-dog and said in a very festive way:
“Hi Bobo and welcome to our family!

As Jenny and her mom were giving Bobo his long-needed bath in the yard, a small red car pulled in front of the house. Neither of them noticed it, they were both busy lathering shampoo on Bobo’s thick furcoat and hosing it down, which appeared to be a huge challenge since Bobo kept shaking his body and splashing water all over. The man in the car was Jenny’s father returning home from work. He turned the engine off but stayed in – he loved those moments when he could park his old squeaking car without anyone noticing and steal a few quiet minutes watching his wife and daughter play together in the yard. He smiled to himself as he watched them running around covered in a fluffy shampoo bubble foam laughing and screaming. They were both wet but having so much fun. He got out of the car and as he yelled his usual “Honey, I’m home,” he noticed a very unusual creature standing right next to his daughter. Was it a pony, was it neighbour’s little calf, or…was it a dog?

“What on earth is that?,” asked Jenny’s father.
“Oh, hi honey!”
“Hi dad!,” answered Jenny and her mom almost at the same time as they rushed to finish rinsing shampoo from Bobo’s fur.
“Where did you get this dog and why are you washing him?,” continued asking father.
“Well, honey, ahhh…this is,” started to explain Jenny’s mom when Jenny interrupted her blurting out “Dad, this is Bobo! Come meet our new dog! I found him this morning…behind the forest…was scared but just a bit…very lonely…ate my cookie…brought home…dirty, gave a bath…”
“Wow, wow, slow down, Jenny! Where did you find him, where are his owners?”
Jenny slowed down and explained again how she met Bobo, how he ate her cookie and how they became friends.
“Hmmm…are you sure, Jenny, that he was alone and his owners weren’t around hiking or sleeping in the meadow? You know, they might be now looking for him, wondering…”
“He didn’t even have a collar, Fred,” interrupted Jenny’s mom.
“And his fur was so filthy…his nails haven’t been trimmed for a long time…I have a bad feeling that no one is looking for him,” continued mom in a very low and serious voice.
“Do you think somebody just left him in the forest? But why?,” asked Jenny with tears starting to fill her eyes.
“He must have belonged to someone, right?” “Did he do something bad? Hurt somebody?”
“Oh, Jenny, that’s too many questions. Too many questions that we’ll never know answers to. People can be strange sometimes…,” answered dad with a heavy sigh.
“But didn’t they love him?,” asked Jenny quietly with a broken voice trying hard not to turn her words into a painful wail. She knew Bobo for only a few hours and she already couldn’t imagine how someone could have been so cruel to abandon this beautiful dog in the wild to fend for himself.
“Oh, Jenny,” sighed both mom and dad at the same time as they reached one arm around Jenny and the other around each other and hugged…that was until Bobo pushed his way into the circle and snuggled towards all three of them to make sure he didn’t stay left out.

In the morning Jenny woke up with a big smile on her face. She had the most wonderful dream – too good to be true – yet, so vivid she almost believed that everything in the dream was real. If only it were true!, she thought as she sat up and moved her feet to the side of the bed to push herself off and jump down to the floor. She lowered her feet slowly, preparing for the big hop when she felt something soft below – too soft for a rug, too furry for a blanket.
She looked down and screamed with excitement: “Bobo! It’s you, it’s really you! It was not a dream, you are real!” She slipped off the bed, carefully nestling next to her friend and put her little arms around his thick neck. Bobo, half-asleep and disoriented, gave Jenny the largest and loudest yawn and softly licked her face. Jenny just giggled and squeezed her arms around him even more. And Bobo lowered his big fluffy head and rested on Jenny’s little shoulder.
“Ahhh, where is he…where did he go?,” Jenny heard her mom calling from the living room. “Honey, did you let him out?,” went on mom’s voice.
“No, I haven’t been out yet,” answered dad.
“He’s not here…”
“Are you sure he’s not curled up somewhere in the corner?”
“He’s here, mom, he’s here!” He was sleeping in my room!,” yelled Jenny back.
“What?,” both parents entered Jenny’s room with a curious look on their faces.
“When did he get here? I saw him fall asleep in the living room last night”…wondered dad out loud, “What a funny guy!”
“I found him here when I woke up, he must have been sleeping right next to my bed…and I almost stepped on him!!,” explained Jenny with her eyes wide open and full of concern.
“Oh, I think, I know what’s going on,” started to say mom in a voice that she used only when she was about to reveal a big secret because she couldn’t keep it a secret anymore. Bobo really likes you and wants to protect you….he probably feels that it’s his job now to watch out for you.
“Hmmm, you might be right…and come to think of it, could we find a better guard than Bobo?, asked father in a rhetorical way, the way he used when he was relieved that his concerns had been exaggerated and unnecessary.
“You got that right,” answered mom, “but now it’s time to have breakfast! Let’s go in the kitchen!”
“Come on, Bobo, time to eat! Did you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?” And Jenny started to explain why breakfast was important…and her parents just smiled hearing their own words repeated, this time by their own daughter. It was a good sign that they were doing something right…

The days of summer freedom passed by very fast – every day Jenny and Bobo grew closer and closer, and became inseparable. Jenny thought of Bobo as her older brother, best friend and protector. Bobo, on the other hand, thought of Jenny as his leader and the main reason to live. They spent hours and hours playing catch with a ball, chasing each other in the woods, running around in the water sprinkler in front of the house, or just sitting under the large oak tree in the backyard and day-dreaming.
Jenny’s parents watched their daughter laugh and play, and for a change, never complain about her chores. They saw her growing into a happy and responsible young girl who helped to walk the dog every day, feed him, brush his coat, and only left the nail clipping to her father as she was terrified that she might hurt him.

Soon came September, with all its beautiful fall colours and time to go to school – for the very first time. Jenny was very excited about her new school, about making new friends and learning how to read and write, but also sad that she’d have to leave her best friend at home. What will he do all morning without her, who will he play with? And how will she make it through the day without his snuggling? There were many tears in the morning as Jenny said Goodbye to Bobo but, as days went by, there were fewer and fewer tears and more smiles and excitement. Jenny loved her school and loved learning. After school she would repeat everything she learned to Bobo and pretended that she was his teacher – and Bobo was a wonderful student, always paying attention…sometimes even with his eyes shut and snoring.
As days got shorter and cooler Bobo enjoyed more and more sleeping all morning – waking up only to welcome Jenny from school and listen to her lessons… His walk slowed down and became wobbly, and playing catch turned into Jenny throwing a ball and Bobo following it just with his eyes and staying put. Bobo was growing old.

Jenny, with all the excitement in school and new friends, didn’t even notice Bobo’s worsening state…she found excuses for all of his problems. Bob’s not feeling well today, he’s under the weather, he must have a headache, he’s deeply in thoughts…he has allergies, he’s missing me too much. The truth was that Bobo’s health was quickly deteriorating.
Jenny’s parents, though, weren’t so blind to Bobo’s ailing condition. They realized that in a year or two they might be faced with a very difficult decision and task – way too hard and way too soon. But the dark clouds above their eyebrows were quickly brushed away by the first snowfall. It was a Saturday morning when they awoke to a happy laughter, screaming and joyous shouting. It was their little Jenny and Bobo chasing each other in the fresh snow in the yard. While Jenny was laying on her back and waving her arms creating an angel, Bobo motored with his nose through the snow like a mini-torpedo creating little paths and catacombs. When his nose reached Jenny’s swaying arm, he flipped on his back too and created his very own furry-angel. Colder weather and snow were good news for Bobo – they got his spirits up and strength back again.

As Jenny’s parents started to breathe easily thinking that life was back to a happy normal, Jenny, while running after Bobo, slipped on ice in front of the house and broke her arm. Even though she was in a great pain, she believed that Bobo could heal her just by licking the wound and cuddling up with her – but in the end, she had to go to the hospital. If she hadn’t been in so much pain, she would have found the place exciting and her visit adventurous but all she could think about was how much she wanted to be out running around with her best friend.

A few hours later, after some x-rays and getting the broken arm in a cast, Jenny was on her merry way home. Two hard and uncomfortable weeks of “no right arm” passed by and Jenny started to count the days she had left before the cast was to be removed and her arm freed. But after two weeks there was another news from the hospital — the x-rays revealed a disease in Jenny’s little bones. It was serious and it was in an advanced stage. The whole family was shocked and horrified…it was too surreal, and too much to bare. It was not about someone else’s child, it was about their own – sweet little girl.
Jenny’s parents were struck hard with pain, grief and fear, and Bobo, who didn’t understand one word they were saying, still knew what was going on. He felt everything they felt, he saw the badness hiding inside Jenny’s fragile body, he smelt the disease eating away from her. And even though he himself was in heavy pain and almost unable to move, he had to fulfill his duty and protect her. He tried to snuggle up with her, lick her hands, lick her face as if to wash away Jenny’s illness – but nothing was helping. Jenny was soon on the way to the hospital again.

Jenny didn’t completely understand what was happening and how serious her condition was but she knew that something was wrong… She was in lots of pain and she could hardly move…all she could do was turn her head to the window and watch the sun rise in the morning, then travel through the sky during the day, and in the evening set down behind the Salty Mountain. Her parents and school friends came to visit every day – her Mom actually moved in her room and never left – but Jenny missed her furry friend, the only friend that was not allowed in the hospital.

As Jenny was sadly lying in her white bed, Bobo was sadly lying on the floor in her room at home. He missed her very much and didn’t understand why Jenny wasn’t coming back. He hardly ate and hardly moved, he didn’t even want to sleep – just in case Jenny returned. Every day he could feel that Jenny’s father became more and more sad and desperate – oh, how he wished he could help. But all he could do was turn his head towards the window and watch sun rise in the morning, then travel through the sky during the day, and set down in the evening behind the Salty Mountain…until one morning, the sun rose up as usual but Bobo wasn’t awake to watch it. Jenny’s father was surprised and also happy that Bobo was finally getting so needed rest, but he eventually realized that Bobo was not going to wake up…ever again.

The minute the car door opened, Jenny jumped out and ran for the house. She quickly opened the main door and called Bobo…she ran to her room and expected him to lie by her bed with a big smile on his face but instead she found an empty room. Where is he? Why isn’t he waiting for her? Or is he up to some practical joke or a surprise? May be he’s hiding under her bed? All of a sudden she felt very exhausted and she slipped down to the floor, right next to her bed, the very same spot where Bobo used to sleep. She slowly lowered her head under the frame of the bed scared of what she might or might not find there and gave out a very quiet but heart-breaking cry – he was not there either.
So it’s true, it’s true what her parents said – Bobo is gone…he was very old, achy and tired, and it was his time to go to the puppy heaven – to a magic place where the sky is always blue, the sun shines all day long and smiles at all creatures big and small…and there is a farm, a large and happy farm with huge oak and beech trees with singing birds in their branches, and tall thick grass with golden dandelions, and most of all, many-many other dogs to play with. Jenny spent a whole month in the hospital and Bobo just couldn’t wait so long to say good bye.

Overcome by sadness, Jenny’s cry turned into a loud wail…her small and weak body shook from pain and even Mom’s and Dad’s hugs, kisses and soothing words couldn’t calm her down.
Days kept passing, the snow kept coming down and soon it was one week before Christmas. Jenny was lying in bed and sadly looking out the window. “If I could see him just one more time”, she sobbed quietly, “just one more time…to say good bye”. And no matter how quiet the sobs, her mom could hear them very clearly – just like loud summer thunder. Her heart was aching watching Jenny’s sad face day after day and she had no idea how to cheer her ill daughter up. That is until she got a splendid idea.
“Jenny, sweetheart, have you written your letter to Santa yet?”, asked Mom, “if you don’t send it to him on time, he might not be able to grant you your wish…I’ll be happy to help you”, she continued. But Jenny didn’t respond, she was in no mood for Santa’s letter or even Christmas…there is no one in the world who could bring Bobo back to her, not even Santa…or, could he?…would he?…may be he might, may be he will, he is Santa after all! And the more she thought about it, the more she believed that Santa was her last hope.
And all cheered up Jenny wanted to call her mom and start writing a letter when she realized that it was already late at night and so she decided to say a little prayer instead:

“Dear Santa,
I know that I wasn’t always good, and sometimes didn’t listen to Mom and Dad – I’m very sorry and I promise to be better – now, this is very important! I need your help…there is a big fluffy puppy, my best friend Bobo who I miss terribly and I know that he misses me terribly too. Please-please-please, bring him back to me and I’ll do anything you want.
Or let me at least see him one more time so that I can say good bye to him…just one more time.
I know you can do it and I know you will do it because Mom said that you can grant any wish.
Thank you, Santa. Now I can’t wait for Christmas!
This is your Jenny Bumbelberry from the house on Patchy Road, near the forest where I found Bobo.”

And as she finished her prayer, she lowered her head into the cushions and peacefully fell asleep. The rest of the days leading to Christmas were full of joy, laughter and pure happiness. Jenny, though very weak and still in pain, woke up every morning in a good mood, chattering about her dreams, about her school friends and, of course, about upcoming Christmas. She was so close to telling her parents about her prayer to Santa but her wish not to spoil the surprise helped her to keep her lips sealed. It was going to be a surprise Christmas present for the whole family!
Mom and Dad noticed right away the difference in her mood and believed it was due to her improving condition. They though the disease was on a retreat and she was starting to feel better. It was going to be the best Christmas ever!

On Christmas morning when Jenny woke up, she felt a bit of hesitation and fear to look down by the side of her bed. Is he going to be there or is this whole Santa story just a fairy-tale? Then she remembered the first morning when Bobo came to live with them. She sat up in her bed without looking down and slowly started to lower her feet to the ground and yes!, she felt something fluffy and warm and breathing! She quickly looked down and screamed with joy – there he was, her best friend Bobo lying on the floor underneath her feet – with his happy smile, and a tongue hanging out on one side, shaking his big head from side to side!!! She immediately jumped off her bed, careful not to hurt him, circled his fluffy neck with her little arms and hugged him with all her might. And Bobo licked her face in return and made little funny sounds as if to say that he was also happy to see her again.

Jenny was so overjoyed by having Bobo back, she laughed and cried and laughed and cried until she realized that she should share the great news with Mom and Dad. She quickly walked to her parents’ room, opened the door, poked her head in and was ready to shout out loud “Bobo is back” when, to her surprise, she noticed that both of them were still fast asleep. They looked so peaceful, so deep in sleep that she didn’t have a heart to wake them up – there will be loads of time to tell them, after all!

And as she slowly closed their door, she felt a light pull from Bobo, asking her to follow him outside. She thought it would be too cold for her night gown and no shoes on her feet but she couldn’t resist and out she went. The sun was just rising and the whole sky was lighting up with yellow, orange and red colours and the snow lying on the ground was shining like millions of little diamonds. She made a few steps and, to her surprise, the snow didn’t feel cold at all, it felt like soft cotton balls warming up her feet. She made another step and all of sudden big sparkling snowflakes started to come down, covering her hair, her face, her night gown and again, not feeling cold but warm and soothing – like her Mom’s soft hands. All of a sudden she realized that she shouldn’t walk too far from home, it was Christmas morning and her parents would look for her. But when she looked at Bobo ahead of her, his beautiful brown eyes and a big happy smile on his face asking her to follow him, she took another step and another step and then just ran through the fluffy snow chasing after him into the bright lights of the sunrise…