Sandell’s Exciting Day

                                    by Carol Sumilas Boshears

“Don’t cry, Robin, Sandell will find her way home if we don’t find her first”.

Sandell was little Robin’s fawn colored Greyhound.  She was her best buddy who never failed to love and entertain her.  Her funny antics were so laughable.  When she was excited her ears stood straight up.  They were so darn cute when she did that.  Everyone told Robin that they just loved Sandell because she was entertaining and very pretty. She was very smart and lots of fun to play with.

One summer day Robin’s family, her mom, Mary, her sister, and her Dad, Jim were playing and having a family picnic in their back yard.  Everyone was so busy eating barbeque chicken that they did not notice what Sandell was doing.  Sandell spotted several large bunnies across the road in the woods.  She got very excited as any dog might, and before anyone knew it, she jumped the tall fence.  No one even suspected that she could jump so high.  The family thought that she was always safe in the yard because of the very tall fence.  In just a flash, Sandell disappeared into the woods along with the bunnies.  Since the family had lived only a short time in their new home, Robin was afraid that her girl wouldn’t know her way back home.  All of the family and friends searched the entire area.  There was no sign of Sandell anywhere they looked.

As the search for her was happening, deep in the woods lived a herd of deer that considered themselves one happy family.  They were thrilled right now because they just added a new member to their family.  A lovely little fawn wandered into their neighborhood crying that she was lost and her family was gone.  “Don’t cry little one,” said Sadie, the oldest of the herd.  “We’ll take good care of you until your mother finds you.”  This made the little one

feel a bit better, so she romped and played with the other babies until she got tired and curled up to nap.  Sandell was too shy to say anything to the deer at first.

 Sadie was whispering to her friend, Sally, “Sally, you don’t suppose that something has happened to our lost one’s mother, do you?”  “That may very well be the case.  No matter what though, she’s a cutie and still so young, we will have to take care of her.”

Sandell woke up from her long nap with a big yawn.  Nighttime had already passed.  She looked around and saw all the deer eating leaves off

the bushes and nibbling on the grass.  “Well,” she said to herself, “I’m hungry, so I think I’ll try some dinner.”  She poked at the leaves and grass.  While a tiny bit tasted pleasant, it did not satisfy her tastes or needs for dog food.  “Oh, my,” said Sally, “you won’t grow up very big if you don’t eat well.”   She tried again, but something was wrong.

Sadie stared curiously at the little one and turned to her friend, Flower,  “Have you noticed those strange ears and how they sometimes curl up on our visitor?”  Flower looked and replied, “Hmmmm, you are right.  They only stand up some of the time.  What do you think might be wrong?”

In the middle of their discussion they got startled by some loud noises in the bushes.

Hollering followed the noises, “Sandell, Sandell, where are you girl?  Where’s our special puppy?  Sandell, come to Robin, please.”

“Oh, my goodness,” exclaimed Sadie, “why our little one is not a fawn at all.  I think she is one of those Greyhounds we’ve seen walking in the park.  We mistook her for one of us.  She does look so much like us!  She must be reunited with her human family.”  “Wake up little one, I mean, Sandell,” said Sally.  “We’re sending you home.”  Sadie and Flower nudged Sandell’s rump with their noses and pushed her toward the voices.  “Now girl, you run to your family.  No need to be lost and lonely any more.” The deer then scurried away.

Out of the bushes and trees into a clearing appeared a very hungry pup in amazement to her family and friends.  “Sandell, my sweetie.  Thank heavens

you’re safe,” Robin shouted with joy as she hugged her. “Look at those deer running from us mom.”  The Greyhound was thankful to those deer for watching over her, but she figured being a deer for a day was plenty long enough.  No more leaves and grass, bring on the barbeque chicken and dog food!