Puddles - the little puppy

3:30 PM drizziling day.

School bus was slowly sailing through the wet street ,little Lily a 2nd grader peeped out the window.
The sky was tar-black and the large clouds appeared as if they were moving towards her. She heard a tapping on the window and then it became a pitter-patter. People ran for cover outside and umbrellas were opened as the clouds spat out their beads of water. Puddles began plinking as the rainfall became heavier. The roofs of the bus danced with spray and one could hear the murmuring of the rain through the window.

Bus pulled up at the stop and Lily got out opening her umbrella embellished with Little Pony characters.
The foot-path was wet and reflective does the beautiful job of reflecting everything shown at it,Lily was happily dancing and singing as she stepped on the puddles.Some puddles that she missed felt affronted of their short existence.
She was trying to hop across a little large puddle when she heard a strange and cute crying.She could hear that someone needs some help.But the cry was so cute as stepped across the footpath in to that little bush group.And what she saw was nothing but irresistible cuteness.A tiny fur-ball shivering in the cold.
"Ohhhh..cute" mumbled to herself little Lily.It felt super silky as she picked the cuteness.
It was shivering a little with the low temp outside.Lily pulled her hat out and swaddled it around the puppy.And started to run home.

"Lily, Daddy may not like this idea" skeptical was mom
"Mommy,i can make him understand.She is so cute i want to keep her.My little Puddles,thats what i named her.Is it super cool" she moved into cloud 9.

Lily was waiting for her Dad to get home and meanwhile she cleaned-up Puddles,made a dog house using few card boards and blankets.
She ran towards the garage door as she heard her Dad's car.Both hugged and Lily narrated the whole incident with full excitement and he looked upstairs at the setup that she made.

Silence.

And rightway Dad asked  "Lily,so where did you say you found this pup ?".
"Near at the bus stop" muttered Lily
"Hmm ok" he paused and said " honey listen,this pup may belong to someone else,and no wonder they will be searching for it as we speak.We being good hearted people, should leave a note near the mail box for anyone to claim this"

Sadness covered little Lilys face.

Dad added "Its ok honey,may be next summer we will get our own pup"
"No i want Puddles and only her,the same exact one..no.." whined Lily
"Lily will you lower your voice now" bawled mom

Later a deal was agreed with Lily, if no one turns up in a month then we can keep Puddles ourselves and the note can be removed.
Dad and Lily took a picture of Puddles and pasted the note near the Mail box.

Days passed and no one claimed Puddles,Lily became so close to the puppy.And Puddles is now like her little sister and part of the family.

But everyday when Lily gets back from school, she will be super eager to find out if anyone approached to claim the dog.And every telephone ring or door bell she will run and wait to see/hear that its not the owner.

She was all-time worried if someone will seize away her sweet possession.

It was 2 months since they removed the note but Lily never settled within herself of the fear that someone will claim Puddles.

That one day.Lily was doing her Math work and someone was at the door ringing the bell.Before even Lily could run to the door, dad opened up the door and it was a middle aged lady.
"Hi" said dad.
"Hi, i am from Lake Park community and was told by my neighbour that she saw note about my missing puppy and gave me your address" explained the lady

She ran upstairs and buried herself in her bed/blanket started to cry.

Dad and the Lady came up, she saw Puddles sleeping happily in the beautiful dog house decorated all over with pink base materials and the little house presented her a christmas tree effect.

"Wow.So cute" said the Lady
"Lily can you please come out" pleaded Dad.Lily walked out of her room with face down
"So you are Lily " pleasingly asked the Lady
She nodded with out lifting her face up
"You love Puddles ? what is that you play with her daily " asked the Lady
It was like switching on a hi-lumens light ,Lily's face glowed and she started to describe the fun she was having with Puddle day and night, hearing to it was like melting ourselves to beautiful fairytale told under a cool moonlight.

Dad and Mom smiled to each other as Lily went on non-stop describing her cute pretend plays with Puddles.

The Lady took Puddles from the dog-house,it right-away jumped out of her hands and twirled around Lily's legs.
"Huh ? " exclaimed the Lady.
and she added "Lily.You know what, i am going to let you keep the little one,forever for you to keep"
The very next moment, Lily jumped out of joy and ran towards the Lady and hugged her tight.

Mom have never seen Lily to be so much expressive before, even with close friends and relative, and couldn't control her tears looking at the scene.

Dad, Mom and Lily thanked the Lady as she waved bye.

Later that night cuddling in the bed, Lily and Mom were so happy and smiling to each other,and they slept hearing to soothing music.

Dad smiled looking at them,then took his phone and started to type...

Dad : Thanks Aparna,it was indeed a great help,Lily will be in peace now.
Aparna: Np.You are welcome.Lily was so cute and she loves Puddles more than anyone in this     world.Hoping and wishing the real owner never turns up.
Dad :Ya. And i am also a strong believer that every 'True love' stories will for sure have happy endings
Aparna: smileface thumbsup

Zack the Zebra

No animal has a more distinctive coat than the zebra. Each animal's stripes are as unique as fingerprints—no two are exactly alike—although each of the three species has its own general pattern.

Once upon a time, in a deep deep tropical jungle, it was so deep that one get to hear just tranquility ,just that nothing else.Beautiful stream lazily flowing between green healthy lives.
All tropical rain forests resemble one another in some ways.

In this amazing setup is where lived a herd of Zebras,happily carelessly and merrily.All they do is eat,drink,run,run,drink,eat,run,run.The Run - fast across the creeks and streams down the hill and into the meadows.And all they do is just follow follow him,the line leader he calls himself Zack.

Zack - he thinks he has the best and unique pattern of those whites and blacks.And he states him to be the best stallion.Leading the herd,he feels so proud about that.After every meal,he starts kicking his left foot,keeping abreast and shaking his head that's when he signals that the run is all set.And the pack duly and dutifully blindingly follow Zack.

All is Well until....

One foggy dewy morning after a heart filled breakfast the herd started to run..a beautiful herd run speeding up aligning with the sunrise horizon.Zack was too excited and picked up the speed,the group was so excited when the chill wind bracing their body.The run got little overwhelming and that's when Zack stepped on it, his front left foot on the that wet slippery limestone rock ,a moment that changed his short life completely.

He wasn't able to walk or move,sat down there lame and dull.The herd surrounded him, filled with sadness.And soon the dusk dropped over the tropical land.

Zack sat there quiet, now he was able to limp around, but running seemed to be close to impossible.His immediate thoughts "who will lead the run,how will the herd have fun.Now is this called the end to all fun" and with the pain slowly settling in and with the cool moon breeze his eyes started to sunken in to deep sleep.

Next day he woke up to see a surprise.The herd was running,yes and he cannot believe his own pair of eyes.They were running even faster and he figured out that they found a new leader overnight.

That concluded,there is no one in this world who cannot be replaced all it may take is some time.

Zack spent his days limping around,he hated the very existence of himself every moment.The herd was aligning well with their new line leader and even if Zack gets well he may not be the leader again.

Days passed,and Zack was still grieving about his inability.Everyday he would look at the far away cliff and think of walking there and jump off to kill himself.

One saddest day, Zack decided to end his useless life,and had a look at the herd running one last time.
It was a hot day and the herd was super fast running with cloud of dust and smut backing them.
Zack put down his face, facing the ground started to limp towards the cliff.The sun was soaring up high and he was clear in his decision.

As he slowly lurching in the scorching sun,when he heard sweet soft voice "Uncle" ,
Zack looked back to see Molly,the youngest in the pack,he nodded to ask what.
"Uncle can you tell us how will it feel like running" and Zack looked little far behind Molly and there were all the young ones looking at him.In every zebra's life span these younger one aren't part of the run as they are too young for that.

Yes,no one but for Zack can explain how it is to be running in the herd.Anyone who had that and lost that feeling can only articulate it on how it felt.
Zack sat under a shady tree and the young ones around,he started to tell them different stories about running.

Years Passed and Zack never recovered again to run.

But.

The shady tree was renamed as Zack's Story Heaven.Everyday it was celebration time for the kids gathering there hearing him ,the way he describes the events its impossible for anyone to tune out.Every kid in the meadow grew listening to his stories, dreaming that one day they will be part of the run.

It was evening and sun started to set, setting ablaze the sky,a magnificent view.Zack stood there looking at the heard running along the horizon and he felt proud and this time right and straight from the bottom of his heart and its heartfelt.
Maggie (Molly's little sister) with her little foot steps approached and asked him "Uncle, today's session you did not end it with your awesome sayings for the day"

Zack smiled at her and both looked at the beautiful anxious moon trying to pop up even before the sunset,he looked at Molly and said

"Life may not be the same the very next moment,live to fullest your current moment.
If you do just one thing right,you are needed by someone,its all about ultimately in accepting ourselves as we are." 

Smiled little Maggie and Zack felt proud.