Counter Surfers Unlimited
The Brown Ghost
By Beverly Coulter
The clouds obscured my vision.....the wind my hearing. The silhouette rushed past me in the darkness. I could feel my heart racing and my mouth going dry. I tried to stay calm but being scared was never one of my favorite things. I was more of a mittens and kittens person.
Then, the wind ceased and the clouds uncovered the moon as I stood searching for that illusive silhouette. That brown ghost had eluded me many times before and I was determined to befriend this creature and vanquish my fear. In the distance, I heard its cries. First in fear...was I the cause? Then the cries became howls of anger and the sound pierced my chest like the sound of the drums in a passing parade. Perhaps he was tired of running. I tried once again to quiet my heart by calling softly through the dark; "come to me...come to me", I wanted to comfort him. With me he would be well fed and kept warm. I would give him reason to cease his endless running in the cold darkness.
All of a sudden, the noise was deafening as the brown ghost crashed through the brush. It was coming straight for me in response to my plea to come! This had never happened before! It rushed past me with its legs tucked strangely under its body. It turned quickly and ran straight for me once again as I stood in awe at its speed and grace and beautiful brown color. To my amazement, the brown ghost as if we had been friends for years, jumped up and licked my face. His body trembled from side to side as he cried. But this time they were cries of joy; the anger and fear had disappeared.
I took him home and fed him....I made him a bed by the fire where he sighed
contentedly as he slept. I named the brown ghost Regis. My friends say he
looks like a chocolate Labrador!
Dedicated to all of you who rescue Labradors from the darkness and cold.
Used with permission (c) Beverly Coulter
We support Labrador Life Line - they're saving Lives, One lab at a
time!!!