Lyra Brings TJ Home

It was a little after 5am on Sunday morning.  Lyra watched the little family from her post on the shelf.  Mommy was sitting on the floor, holding TJ who was sitting in her lap, wrapped in her arms.  She was singing his special song to him.  The same song she'd sung to Max that TJ had also come to love.  Isabelle and Paddington were lying on the blankets just behind her, watching quietly.  She let go of TJ and watched him.  Daddy appeared in the room and they spoke.  Then Daddy left.  Mommy placed her hand on TJ's back, took a deep shuttery breath, and got up.  She called to the other two and they came to TJ.  Isabelle patted him and kissed him.  Mommy picked up TJ carefully and carried him out of the room.  The two little dogs followed, subdued.  After a couple minutes Lyra heard Mommy and Daddy leave the house with TJ.  She sighed.  This was the hardest thing for people who love dogs.

Lyra climbed down off the shelf and made her way into the living room where Isabelle was barking at the gate and Paddington was watching her.  She called the two to her.  Padddington came but Isabelle only paused in her barking.  She was too upset.  Patting Paddington, Lyra told them it would be alright.  She explained the situation.  She didn't want to leave them but she had to meet TJ at the vet for the next part of her job.  Touching the gold wings hanging from her neck, she closed her eyes and felt herself fade.  After a moment, hearing new sounds around her, she opened her eyes and found herself in the vet's office.  Mommy and Daddy were there.  TJ was lying on a blanket watching Mommy.  Lyra stood quietly in the corner.  TJ flicked an ear, he'd heard her come in.  She didn't want to bring attention to herself though she knew no one but the little Pom could see her.  Mommy and Daddy talked to the tech for a moment then she carried TJ out of the room.  Mommy started to cry.  Daddy held her close, trying to hold back his own tears.

After a while, the doctor came in and spoke softly to Mommy and Daddy.  Mommy nodded her head sadly.  'I'm so sorry,' the kind doctor said.  She left.  The tech came back within a moment carrying TJ.  Mommy held him against her chest, kissed him and whispered to him and lay him gently on the blanketed table.  Coming around where she was face to face with him, they gazed at each other.  Their eyes showed all the love in the world.  The doctor came back.  Daddy moved closer.  Mommy and Daddy's hands ran over TJ's soft fur.  The doctor spoke gently.  Mommy cried as TJ fell into the forever sleep.  The doctor put her hand on Mommy's, Daddy held her close.  Then the doctor left them alone.

Lyra had approached TJ the second he slipped away.  She lifted his spirit into her arms, touched her golden wings and faded away again.  Within seconds they had appeared in a beautiful sunny place.  It was lush and green.  They stood on a beautiful footbridge adorned with delicate flowers and vines, a stream of clear, cool water bubbled beneath.  Beyond was an enourmous meadow.  A bright rainbow arced across the sky.  Wispy clouds danced in the blue beyond.

TJ looked around and wiggled his nose.  After a moment he looked at Lyra.

'Where TJ be?' he asked.  Lyra, not much taller than he, patted him and scratched his ears.

'At the Rainbow Bridge,' she said quietly.  TJ looked around again, understanding.  Every animal knows this place though they've never seen it.

'Where Mama?' he asked Lyra.

'She's with the rest of her family,' she replied.

'TJ see Mama,' he said, watching her carefully.  'Actually, TJ,' Lyra started to say that he had to stay here but instead she said, 'I have a secret.'

'Tell TJ secret,' TJ said bouncing a little on his toes.

'Well,' Lyra said, 'Even though this is your new home, sometimes when pets miss their mommies and daddies, I can take them back for a visit.  Most of the time their families won't know they are there, but sometimes they can feel them.  And sometimes you can even visit in dreams.'

'TJ visit Mama,' replied TJ immediately.  'Ok,' Lyra replied, 'but remember, after that you have to stay here for a while.  Get used to it, meet friends.'

'TJ see Mama, then TJ make friends,' he said.  Lyra kissed his head, put her arm around him and touched her wings.  The Rainbow Bridge faded away and soon they were on the Big Bed.  Though minutes had passed at The Bridge, it was several hours later where Mommy was.  Mommy lay on the bed, crying, the therapy dolls gathered around her.  Each was touching her with a hand, trying so hard to give her comfort.

'Mama!  Is TJ!  Mama, TJ here!' cried TJ in his squeaky bark.  Mama suddenly stopped crying.  She lifted her head and looked right where TJ's little spirit was standing.  The dolls, shocked, all looked.  They moved away to give her room.  They, of course, could see them.  Though the two were like shadows.  Mommy reached out her hand nearly touching TJ.  'TJ,' Mommy said.

'TJ here, Mama,' he said rubbing his head against her hand.  Mommy closed her eyes and started to sing his song.  TJ moved closer until he was standing right with her, he leaned into her.  Mommy finished his song.  'I love you, TJ,' she said through her tears.

'TJ love Mama.  TJ be back, Mama.'  He looked into her eyes, knowing, believing she could see him.  He walked back to Lyra.  He gazed up at her with his brown eyes.  A tear touched his fur.  'TJ bye bye, TJ promise to make friends.'  'You are a good boy, TJ,' said Lyra, curling her arms around him.  With a touch to her wings, they faded and were gone.  The dolls moved back to Mommy, who had cried herself to sleep and touched her gently.

Back on the Bridge, TJ started to cross to the other side.  He was ready.  He looked back at Lyra.  'Remember,' Lyra called to him, 'if you ever need me, want to visit, just call and I'll come.  But stay here a while and meet everyone.  Mama will be ok.  I'll watch over her.'  TJ nodded, his little fluffy tail swishing.  When his paws hit the lush grass, he felt puppy tears again.  He would miss Mama so much.  She had loved him and changed his life when he thought no one would.  He took a deep breath and looked up.  He saw a blond dog running toward him.  It was a Pom like him.  Almost the same size.  The blond dog flashed golden in the sun.  He ran toward him, smiling, his tongue poking out one side of his mouth.  TJ had only ever seen pictures, but he knew this was Max.  He ran to meet him.  They touched noses.  'TJ had to leave Mama,' TJ said leaning on Max's shoulder.  The tears came freely now.  Max let him cry.  Then he said, 'Mama be ok.  Lyra take us back when we want to visit like she promise.  I been back.  I see you love Mama.  Thank you for loving Mama for me.  For all of us.  Now you come, we go play, you be happy here.  Everyone happy here.  Mama will be happy here too, someday.  Daddy too.  Everyone be family again.'

TJ looked up and saw figures coming toward them over the green hill.  There were several Poms, all boys, Poms Mama had loved and who had passed on.  They were all different colors, fluffy with gleaming ivory wings.  He recognized Chanon.  There was a woman with them, coming toward him, holding Jacob in her arms.  The Poms danced at her feet.  It was Mama's mommy.  TJ moved forward.  The woman placed Jacob gently on the soft grass.  The tiny white Pom  touched noses with TJ.  Mama's mommy took TJ in her arms and held him close.  'Welcome Home, TJ,' she said kissing him.  TJ felt a tingle at his shoulders.  He turned to look and there suddenly were the most beautiful pair of tiny wings he'd ever seen!  He stretched them gently and snuggled against his gammum.

And with that, TJ became an angel.