Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My name is Phoebe Copperwaite and I am now 10 years old.  Three of the things I love the most are reading, writing and animals.

I spend hours at home writing stories and keep asking Mum and Dad to get them published so that I can sell them and use the money raised to help animals in need. 

I came up with a good idea a few years ago of putting my stories on here and have been changing my page when I have a new one to share with everyone. That way people might like to donate a small amount once they have read them so it's almost the same as selling my own books.

I have chosen the GSPCA as the charity which I would like to donate to as I think its important that animals who are in need are cared for and loved.

I hope you enjoy my stories on my story challenge page! 

Love Phoebe xxx

Wira and Me 

Written July 2020 (Aged 10)

It was a freezing, rainy night and I was walking back to my car after an exhausting day at work, the rain dripping down my back and my hair making it look like a soaking mass of brown blowing in my face. Suddenly I heard a faint scream coming from the distance. I would have normally just carried on walking as I do live in the center of London and it was probably nothing to worry about but for some reason I couldn't walk on.  It felt as if I had been parylised by the noise, unable to move forward.  I heard it again. Alarms suddenly went off in my head and  I knew that whatever was making the sound was in serious danger. 

I turned on my heel and began racing down the road, sprinting as fast as I could, desperately trying to find out what was screaming and why? I collapsed by a lamp post, panting heavily like a dog sat in a sauna, the noise was ringing in my ears.  It sounded gut wrenching like a fork being slowly dragged across a large ceramic plate.  A gust of chilly wind blew past, shocking me and making me stumble forwards, before carrying on down the alleyway.

As I turned the corner into the dark alleyway my nose filled with the pungent aroma of old rubbish and dead fish. All of a sudden the screams echoed down the street, I was almost there. I stopped in my tracks outside a tall, bleak block of flats. I knew that whatever was screaming was inside this building.

I rattled the door handle helplessly, it was locked. I began to trudge back down the road. I felt like there was no hope left in the world when all of a sudden I heard the loud and clear noise of a key turning slowly in a door. 

I spun around as fast as the speed of light and practically galloped to the door. It swung open, creaking loudly before slamming into the brick wall with a thud. A screaming baby was carried out by a fair haired girl who only appeared to be about fourteen years old.   She looked as if she had been up all night and had dark bags under her chestnut eyes.  She held the door open for me and I rushed through completely forgetting to even thank her. I  sped up the stairs, my heavy boots clanking against the iron steps as I climbed them.

After about nine flights I finally reached the room from which the noise was coming from.

The door was slightly ajar so I pushed it gently and surprisingly it opened with ease.

I peeked around it and gasped in horror. I could see the silhouette of a tall, broad man inside holding a small, scrawny figure by the ruff of its neck. I watched in shock as the man lifted a long, thin, whip into the air and cracked it down hard on the figure before shoving the creature into a cramped metal cage and slamming the door making it whimper and wail in despair. The man then gave the cage a hard kick before turning off the lights and  marching angrily into the next room.

I could hear faint mumbles from the room next door and I knew that this was my chance.  I slunk through the door silently, the hair standing up  on the back of my neck. I crawled through scarcely breathing as not to make any noise, I could see the figure looking up at me in the darkness. Its large, brilliant eyes shone brightly like flames from a forest fire.  I fumbled with the lock of the cage, ripping the skin off my fingers in the process, until finally the cage swung open with a slight creak. I scooped the scrawny figure into my arms and swaddled it in my cardigan. Only then did I let out a sigh of relief and began strolling down the corridor as not to scare the creature.

Suddenly I stood still, unable to move. I could hear loud noises coming from the floor above and I knew I had to get out quickly.  I sprinted down the corridor, dodging a few elderly women as I ran. I could hear the man close behind me. I leapt down the stairs, twisting my ankle at the bottom and stumbling down the corridor when I finally got to the door. It was once again locked and this time there was nobody to help me. So with all of the energy left in me I ran fast directly at it, kicking it hard. It made a loud CLANG! And swung open!

I zoomed down the alleyway and came out in the town center which was not far from where my car was parked. I suddenly heard the man shouting loudly behind me and I realised that he was much faster than me and I wasn't going to win this battle by out running him because he was much, much faster than me. So when he wasn’t looking I slid into a dark, smelly street and watched him run past, his arms pumping quickly by his side. When he  was out of sight I ran as fast as humanly possible to my red Volvo and slammed the door quickly, sliding down into my seat as not to be seen.

When I was finally in my car I examined the creature intently. It was a female albino Tapanuli orangutan that was less than six months old. I decided there and then to name her Wira as in Poland Wira means white and my mother was Polish.

I laid her down on my lap gently and began to drive to my apartment. All of the way home Wira slept soundly only wriggling slightly when I first started the engine as she was not used to being in a car. When I finally arrived and stepped through the door of my colourful apartment, Wira had woken up and was whimpering quietly, burying her warm frizzy head in my hair. I collapsed on the sofa holding Wira tight to my chest and began researching orangutans until I fell asleep. I was too tired to even walk to my bed.

I woke up at about 5.00 a.m. the next day and immediately started researching Tapanuli orangutans.  It turns out that they live on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.  They are critically endangered because of hunting and illegal wildlife trades but most of all because people cut down their homes for palm oil, which is in foods such as chocolate as well as shampoos and soaps. Orangutans are only supposed to live in hot climates so I called up British Airways and after many failed attempts to explain my situation to several  different members of staff I managed to organise a flight for 8.30 a.m. meaning that I only had half an hour before I had to be checked in at the airport! 

I leapt out of bed and packed my large purple bag until it looked as if the seams were about to give way.  I shoved a granola bar in my mouth and gave Wira a wedge of ripe, yellow mango before running out the door and down the road.  It was only then that I realised that the next cab wouldn't come for another twenty minutes! I couldn't park my car at the airport because it would be given a ticket if I am away for more than 24 hours. So with Wira on my back and my bag being lugged behind me I walked as fast as I could all of the way to the airport.

When I eventually got there I got several weird looks, to be fair I hadn't showered that week and I was carrying a baby albino orangutan on my back, but I was too tired to really care due to lack of sleep.  When Wira and I had finally got through security the gates had already been open for about five minutes and they were all the way on the other side of the airport! So we caught a brown buggy that looked as if it was at least a century old and drove the distance, the cart going as quickly as it could.  However when we got to the gates they were already closed. 

I collapsed on the floor cuddling Wira and sobbed in despair.  This was my only chance to save her and I had ruined it! Suddenly I felt somebody tapping on my shoulder and looked up, my eyes blurry with tears and my head pounding, one of the air hostesses was standing by me smiling sympathetically. She bent down and asked me in a soft, warm tone if I wanted her to try and get somebody to open the gates for me. I stood up immediately and hugged her. She beamed and scurried off to try and open the gates for me. And sure enough, a few seconds later the gates swung open, their iron bars hitting the wall lightly. I ran through and sprinted onto the plane where I collapsed into my seat and hugged Wira happily and as the plane took off I drifted off to sleep, exhausted. 

When I woke up we were nine hours into our fourteen hour flight and Wira was whimpering and wriggling around, her white fur standing on end and her light blue eyes looking up at me desperately.  It didn't even occur to me until it was too late that she had not been to the toilet all day and sure enough she went there and then on my pale blue cashmere jumper.

I trudged to the toilet, still groggy from my nap, to clean off the wet droppings from my jumper in the sink. I then tried to dry it with about forty paper towels before shuffling back down the aisle. When I was passing first class, to my surprise, an old woman with grey permed hair and a pinched, wrinkly, face began to tell me off! She kept on moaning about Wira and saying that she shouldn't even be on the plane. Suddenly she grabbed Wira's wrist and pulled her onto her lap, she picked up a slipper and hit Wira hard on the back, making her wince in pain. I went ballistic! I was astounded that somebody would have the nerve to take a helpless baby orangutan and hit her! I began shouting at her but she just didn't care! She began to shake Wira by her shoulders and by now, as if they weren't before, everyone was watching. All of a sudden a tall man strode over. He had dark brown hair like the bark of an oak tree and emerald green eyes, flecked with gold. He was wearing a burgundy t-shirt and a pair of dark blue denim jeans that looked as if they were brand new but very uncomfortable. He began to tell the woman to give me Wira in a firm but kind voice but she just wouldn't listen. He told her, more sternly this time, that if she didn't give Wira back he would call security and with this she immediately thrust Wira back at me glaring at the man with her beady grey eyes. 

I walked back to my seat with the kind man. He explained that his name was Carlos and he worked in the local orangutan sanctuary. He offered to take Wira there with me from the airport as she is still a baby and said she would be safe at the sanctuary. I stupidly agreed, thrilled, a smile going from one ear to the other was plastered on my face. Wira was going to have a home I thought! He walked me back to my seat where he smiled, blew me a kiss and walked off. My heart did a somersault in my chest and my smile grew even wider, this was turning out to be a great day!

When the plane finally landed I raced off and grabbed my bag from the overhead locker, as well as accidentally whacking someone in the face with it and apologizing thousands of times. I rushed through security and out of the airport.  I waited for about five minutes for Carlos to come. We got into his blue van and he drove us to the sanctuary. 

The sanctuary looked old with crusty yellow walls and a tall metal door. This was nothing like the place that I pictured Wira living but as my mother always said: Nie oceniaj ksiąžki po okładce (never judge a book by it’s cover). 

So I got out of the van and to my surprise Carlos took Wira and just walked off with her! I immediately knew that something was wrong. I don't know how I just knew once again that something wasn't right, so I crept through the door and peered inside. I gasped! There was a cage full of apes, all different breeds, colours and sizes.  They were all crammed in together, their faces pressed up against the bars, desperate to escape. I scanned the room but I couldn't see Wira anywhere. So I tiptoed in quietly and walked over to a wooden door with a big glass window in the middle. I peered through the window and inside was probably the worst thing imaginable, the walls were stacked high with glass boxes each one containing a different rare species of stuffed ape. I squealed in horror, tears filling my eyes.  I then saw that Carlos was standing in the middle of the room holding Wira down on a silver, surgical table, forcefully with his hand. In his other hand was a syringe full of what looked like Pentobarbital, a chemical used to euthanize animals! It was bright yellow and glistened in the light of the summer sun which was streaming through a high up window. 

Suddenly, before I could stop myself, I barged into the room bellowing at the top of my lungs. Carlos shoved the needle into Wira’s leg but before he could press down on the pump I punched him as hard as I possibly could in the mouth, a loud smash filled the room as Carlos dropped the syringe and toppled over backwards in pain. Blood was spurting uncontrollably out of his nose and lip and one of his teeth was lying on the floor slightly pink and bloodstained. 

I grabbed Wira in my arms and hit Carlos hard on the head with the metal container full of Pentobarbital.  He fell back down and lay unconscious, blood still flowing from his nose. I ran out of the room as fast as possible, it was only a matter of time before Carlos woke up and I didn’t want Wira anywhere near him when he did! I slammed the door hard and pushed a heavy table against it as well as a mop across the top. I then turned and ripped open the door of the cage which was full of apes and picked up the smallest monkeys from inside.

I gently took them outside the building and laid them down in the garden of the house next door.  A woman came out, her greying dark hair was in a high ponytail and she had warm olive skin, she picked up a phone and began to phone the Police whilst helping me carry out the other apes until they were all laying happily on her grass. 

I ran back inside to check on Carlos. He was now awake and he was hammering on the glass window with all of his might. The entire door was shaking, harder and harder with every blow, until finally it gave way and lurched open. I could hear the sirens of the Police cars in the distance but until they arrived I would have to deal with Carlos myself. To my surprise the kind elderly woman who had been assisting me, ran in and kicked Carlos hard in the groin making him topple over and fall to the floor moaning.  Swiftly she tied his wrists and ankles together with some nearby rope before quietly leaving again to tend to Wira and the others.

When the police finally arrived, much to their surprise, everything was under control.  A tall muscular man with a shaved head and glasses took our statement whilst several other officers bundled Carlos into the car which didn't take long as we had already tied his wrists together, before taking him away to the station.

About fifteen minutes later the police had finished up and were already gone. The woman invited me into her garden and began to chat to me.  Her name was Vicky and she lived with her husband Paul who had just returned home and was inside making curry for dinner.  She loved animals and was currently unemployed and was looking for a job. She told me that she would love to work with animals and she would especially love to work with primates. Suddenly an idea sparked in my head, why don't I start an orangutan shelter with Vicky and Paul?  When I told them my plan they were delighted and we started planning over dinner. By the end of the week we had bought two small cottages in the middle of a giant lush, green field that were separated by an enormous wooden shelter that was roughly 90 feet tall and 370 feet wide.  It had five floors and would be perfect for orangutans as it has several fruit trees and foliage outside. We planned to move that same week and bring all of the apes with us. I fell asleep after a long week of hard planning thinking about how perfect Wira’s life would be now that she is safe and has a home.

I woke up early the next morning and I had a good feeling about the oncoming day. By 7:00am we were all packed and ready to move. It was a long walk to our field and Vicky and I each held all of the babies whilst the older ones would take it in turns to ride on Paul's back. When we finally arrived the orangutans were still buzzing with happiness and excitement which brought a smile to my face. The field was enormous and the orangutans immediately began rolling into the grass and chattering excitedly.  Even Wira trotted off with some of the younger orangutans to pick mangoes off of the nearby tree. I looked at Vicky, she was smiling the biggest smile I had ever seen and tears were streaming down her rosy cheeks. At that moment I knew that everything was going to be just fine.

15 Years Later 

I am now 37 and I am still working at the shelter. Over the years I have had to say goodbye to many apes but none have been harder to say goodbye to than Wira.  She was the best friend I could ever have wished for and I will never forget the respect and love she gave me over the years. She is now buried at the bottom of the field by the stream, under the willow tree. It was her favourite place to guzzle on fruit under the cool shade, listening to the soothing ripples of the water whilst she ate. I will always remember the first night we ever spent in the field, I was fast asleep and she managed to escape and creep into my room and sleep snuggled up on my bed. It makes me smile every time I think about her and her mischievous antics. I am grateful everyday for everything that she has taught me and I will never be able to express in words how much of an amazing animal she was and how happy she has made me. Rest In Peace Wira.

Ratuj Zwierzęta 💚

Lido (2018)

By Phoebe Copperwaite (AGED 8)

I was clearing out the GSPCA bird cages when I heard a clatter coming from the bins outside the house opposite, they had fallen over.  I ran to the window where I saw a cat lying by the bin.  I sprinted down the stairs and leapt across the road where I finally came to a halt.

There in front of me was what looked like a baby kitten.  I scooped it up, hiding it from the rain.  It snuggled into my chest, purring contently. 

When we were finally inside I swaddled him in a blanket as if he was my baby.  I called the vet to come immediately and within a few minutes she arrived in her little van which was full of medicines and pills.  The vet gave the kitten several jabs just in case it hadn't had any when it was born before heading back off on her way...there was a goat giving birth on the farm which she had to attend to.

We had been looking after the kitten at the GSPCA for quite a while and not one person had unfortunately come to claim him.  That meant he was ours and so all of the staff had a meeting about what to name him.  After an hour or so of thinking we finally came up with the name Lido.

After two joyful years of looking after Lido we found he had developed a lump in his ear.  At first we thought it was just a fur ball but a day later it had expanded to the size of a marble.  It was at that point that we knew we had to act soon.

Lido was on the operating table.  I was watching him breathe to make sure that he didn't stop.  The veterinary surgeon was working hard to get the operation done as soon as possible.  They took out the scapel and 'snip' the growth was gone.

They had just started working on the stitches when little Lido's heart suddenly stopped beating.  We had lost him.  But I would not give up! I spent ages doing chest compressions and had finally lost all hope when the small heart monitor started beeping! Lido's nose started to twitch and slowly but surely Lido started to come around.  Lido was alive!

By the time the other staff members had finally come upstairs Lido was fully awake and pacing the room.  I stayed with him for a few hours before putting him back in his shelter to rest.

Only a few days after the operation a family came to adopt Lido and took him to his forever home. 

I'm a lot older now and the last time I heard, little Lido was still having as much fun as ever.

The End

Diary of a Cheeky Rabbit

By Phoebe Copperwaite

Monday 2^nd January

Dear Diary,
This morning I DID NOT want to wake up! First of all Finley came out at 6:00 in the morning but I wanted Phoebe.  Then Finley left my food outside of my hutch and then it RAINED! I mean like really people whoever came up with the idea of rain should be done for!

Still Monday 2^nd January

It is still Monday...and guess what?  Phoebe has brought me to the vets for JABS! The vet’s getting out her needle and....OWWW!  Why does Phoebe do this to me?

Tuesday 3rd January

Dear Diary,

Today was WAY better then Monday.  Guess what....I ESCAPED!  Yep, that’s right...I escaped from the garden! 

Well basically it all began this morning when I saw a hole in my hutch and decided to run through it.  Mr Copperwaite (that’s Phoebe and Finley’s Dad) was opening the gate to let the builders in...He was almost asking me to run away!  So now I’m in a big field.  It was a bit of trouble getting past the road but apart from that I’m fine.

Wednesday 4^th January

Dear Diary,

Yesterday was great but I decided I might try and go back home in time for breakfast but then I err...sort of got lost.  So now I’m OUTSIDE and...it has started RAINING! I HATE the outdoors!

Thursday 5^th January

Dear Diary,

The oddest thing happened.  So I was hopping along through the field (in the rain) and suddenly this giggly, female rabbit lolloped up to me.  She had diamond blue eyes and a pretty, pastel pink nose with snowy white fur. 
But worse than her actually existing...she followed me!  All the way around the field she GIGGLED.  Why couldn’t she go bother someone else?  I mean it’s not as if I “LOVE” her!

I’ve finally found something I hate more than rain.

Friday 6^th January

Dear Diary,

This female rabbit is really getting on my nerves now.  She giggles and squeaks and her name is almost as annoying as she is.  She is called Muffles and she keeps invading my personal space!  I mean, I need space...and space around that space and so on! I have told her numerous times to GET A LIFE and LEAVE ME ALONE!

Saturday 7^th January

Dear Diary,

Today something AMAZING happened!  So Muffles and I were walking along when a vixen darted by and took Muffles...finally! This was the best day of my life...until it started raining again.

Sunday 8^th January

Dear Diary,

I sort of miss Muffles.  She was my pillow, my stool, my bed, my food supplier and so on.  She may’ve been VERY annoying but I sort of LOVE her (only a tiny bit).

Monday 9^th January

Dear Dairy,

I MUST FIND MUFFLES! I miss Muffles so much.  She hasn’t come
back yet so I’m going out to find her...in the RAIN!

Still Monday 9^th January

Dear Diary,

I have just passed a tree where I think the vixen took Muffles. 
Well at least I think it’s the one but they all look the same.  I’m really starting to regret this!

Tuesday 10^th January

Dear Diary,

I am STILL walking (in the rain).  Some nutty, old tortoise came up to me and told me something about his claw breaking (which was of no help at all) then he staggered slowly back off...I think he was drunk?!

Wednesday 11^th January

Dear Diary,

I was hopping along grumbling about old people when KA BOOSH! I fell down a big hole!  The first thing I heard was giggles...IT WAS MUFFLES!  THIS is not a laughing matter!  Remind me again why I decided to search for Muffles in the first place??

Thursday 12^th January

Dear Diary,

I managed to escape the hole with Muffles but I was very tempted to push her back in! Then we walked and walked and walked before finally settling down for the night (until Muffles hopped on me!).

Friday 13^th January

Dear Diary,

Today was supposed to be unlucky but it was actually very lucky!  So we were hopping along when we bumped into a fence...I was back!  I squeezed through a gap in the fence but a rabbit was in MY cage!  It was black with sticky up ears and CLEAN fur.  It was horrible!!!  Maybe I spoke too soon about being lucky?!

Saturday 14^th January

Dear Diary,

Phoebe was feeding the rabbit MY food in MY bowl.  Phoebe is not
his, she’s MINE!

Sunday 15^th January

Dear Diary,

I have been sleeping outside with Muffles for TWO whole days and Phoebe still hasn’t noticed.  Is she blind?!

Monday 16^th January

Dear Diary,

Today when Phoebe was at school I hopped up to the new rabbit.  
He said his name was Midnight and he told me that he’s not leaving (hmmm
rabbits these days!).

Tuesday 17^th January

Dear Diary,

Today I had a plan.  If Phoebe doesn’t notice me then I’ll try and get Mr Copperwaite’s attention.  So what I’m going to do is I’m going to charge through the glass door of the new playroom and then I’m going to poop all over the carpet.  I’ll then hide and Mr Copperwaite will think it was Midnight and get rid of him...simple (not).

Wednesday 18^th January

Dear Diary,

Today I tried my plan but it did NOT work! Firstly I bumped my head, then I couldn’t get through the glass and then finally I fell off the step. I NEED another plan soon!

Thursday 19^th January

Dear Diary,

I REALLY need another plan soon.  The neighbour’s cat has been eyeing up Muffles.  It has been six and a half days we’ve been stuck in this garden. 
What is this...I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or something?!  And now it’s RAINING!

Friday 20^th January

Dear Diary,

Today I had an absolutely amazing idea!  So what I’m going to do is just squeak at the top of my voice when Phoebe feeds Midnight!  There’s just one problem at the moment...I’ve lost my voice.

Saturday 21^st January

Dear Diary,

I’m fed up of sleeping outside! I need my hutch.  Muffles is getting ill and I’m cold and hungry.  I’m tempted to bust through the side of my hutch and kick Midnight out!

Sunday 22^nd January

Dear Diary,

I think I’ve got another plan.  So all I have to do is when Phoebe opens the door I’ll run inside with Muffles and then I’ll get lots of food and cuddles.  Then Midnight will be forgotten about.

Monday 23^rd January

Dear Diary,

I’m in the house so now I just need to find Phoebe.  I’ve managed to snuffle out some lettuce so I might just take a quick nap whilst I wait for her.

Still Monday 23^rd January

Phoebe’s back!! I’ve finally found her!  She was so happy to see me and now I can sleep in my own hutch with Muffles and I won’t have any more problems....except for the rain!

Tuesday 24^th January

Dear Diary,

So Midnight was collected today and has been taken to live with Mr Copperwaite’s Mum.  I’ve already been back up to my old tricks and managed to bite a nice big hole in my food bag this morning (just to remind
Phoebe that I’m back...after all nobody’s perfect!). 

Before I sign off I’ve just got one last thing to write...I’m slightly worried about Muffles!  Her tummy is growing...I suspect there may be
more rabbits hopping around here soon!

THE END

Goodbye

By Phoebe Copperwaite

We've had so many happy times but now I have to say goodbye...

To the brightly shining sun, to the sky that was so blue, to the sea that sparkled magically and the great big fluffy clouds too.

To the great big, green grass field, to the daffodils sat so still, to the frogs that hopped so happily and the swimming drake showing off his bill.

The sun has risen and now it's set but make sure that you do not forget, that even though you can't see me and I'm not there to guide you, there'll always be a part of me sat neatly right inside you.

Dash

By Phoebe Copperwaite

I was giving the stable a good mucking out when I heard a roar of pain from the field.  I went to see what had happened.  My horse, Dash, was lying on the floor in agony.  I didn't know what to do.  I ran over to him, my legs pumping like there was no tomorrow.

I could hear shotguns in the distance.  Before I even saw Dash properly I had guessed what had happened.  I was right.  There were hunters spread out everywhere, aiming their loaded shot guns at the horses.

"STOP!" I shouted through tears "LEAVE MY HORSES ALONE!"

"Or what?" snarled what looked like the leader.

"Or I'll call the Police" I snarled back.

With that the horrible hunters fled like mice.  I bent down to look at Dash properly.  He didn't look the same anymore.  He used to have glossy, white fur but now his fur was as dirty as the bin after I've done the mucking out.

I bent down further and saw a nasty cut with blood the colour of ripe strawberries, gushing out like a waterfall.

"DASH!" I shouted.

I looked in my pocket for my phone...it wasn't there.  I needed to get help but I couldn't leave Dash in this state.  "Maybe I dropped it in the field" I thought to myself.  So I checked every part of the field and at long last I found it...but it had been smashed to pieces.

I walked back to Dash solemnly.  There was still blood trickling out but more like a calm contented stream then a waterfall.  I tried helping him up but after a few seconds he fell back down to the ground.

I called for my oldest horse, Valentine.  She was a chocolate brown horse with a heart as pure as gold.  She still had the wagon on her from the morning of carting  people around the stable, showing them every nook and cranny.  There was a sort of ramp attached for people to walk up and down.  I carefully helped Dash walk up the ramp and laid him down on the floor.  Then I sat on Valentine and rode her out into the countryside.

It was a long journey so I had to keep on feeding the horses.  Valentine just had oats but Dash was given carrots.  He still wasn't the same, he wouldn't eat anything, not even his favourite food.  I didn't like seeing him like this.

I found a lovely meadow complete with a stream flowing gracefully.  I unhatched the door on the wagon and I took him over to the water.  I encouraged him to drink.  He wouldn't drink and he wouldn't eat.  

I took off his saddle and reins.  There were small, silver things a bit like needles in him.  I didn't know what they were but I knew that this was the last place Dash would ever be.

He tried standing up but fell down again helplessly.  With that his eyes rolled into the back of his head, he was gone forever.

I would never see that sparkle in his eyes again.  It seemed too real, I couldn't bear it.  I got my shovel out of the wagon and I began to dig.  I dug until my back ached and my hands were rubbed raw.

I carefully lowered Dash into the hole and I buried him up.  I placed some beautiful, Christmas white roses that I had found on a nearby rose bush and his saddle on top of the patch where he lay.  I said some last words and then walked off feeling blue.

Now I'm old and I forget a lot of things but I never have and I never will forget Dash.

The End

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