It had been a freezing cold couple of days this past week, and the forecast showed more flurries of snow on the way. The warm feeling and pleasurable aroma of hot chocolate filled the air in the little cottage, located in the dense, green woods. They weren’t so green anymore, as winter created a plethora of bare branches throughout. Jack and his family weren’t used to living here, but ever since the passing of his grandfather they’ve kept his memories by staying in his old home. After a very stressful year for everyone, this was a time to relax and take in the scenery of the holidays.
As he lay on the couch, Jack recalled a moment coming home from elementary school, and seeing his grandfather waiting for him on the front steps. He sprinted over to his arms like a track star, and his grandfather always had something exciting to give him. This particular time it was a ball, red like an apple, and Jack could not have been more excited. He jumped in the air, thanking his grandfather for the gift. Jack invited his friends over to play with him and his new toy, but no one ever came. Was it because he lived in the woods, or did nobody want to play? “Don’t worry about it Jack,” his grandpa used to say, “you’ll find someone eventually. For now, just play with me.” It was better than nothing, of course, so Jack decided to go out and play with him every day. It became their tradition each day after school to go out back and throw the ball around.
However, one Friday afternoon, the ball rolled down a hill after an off-target throw and into the river behind them. Jack felt bad, knowing he was the one who threw it. Those days from twenty-two years ago are long gone, and Jack still never recovered the ball. Now, laying on the silk leather couch, Jack had recalled the “good old days” and what he could never get back. After a while of deep thought, Jack stood up to prepare dinner. The temperatures had dropped since he sat down, so he grabbed his coat, insulated with fur, so soft it felt as if he had a cloud on his back. The coat was passed down to him from his grandfather in their final days. The fur coat had a keychain linked to the collar that included a phrase: “Don’t worry about me. I’ll always return to see you.”
Jack found these words to be a little strange and disappointing as after all these years he never had reunited with him. Brushing the keychain off to the side, Jack continued toward the kitchen. In that moment, a faint howling and barking of what seemed to be dogs rang out in the distance. He didn’t think anything of it, just that the neighbors had let their pets out. Jack grabbed the heavy gallon of milk out of the refrigerator, prepping to pour himself a glass. However, as the first drop of the thick, white liquid splashed into the clear cup, there was a raucous outside the window.
Jack was caught off guard by the noise, especially considering he lived in such a quiet area. Now petrified, Jack stood still and watched. He trembled and accidentally spilled his milk all over the table. “Mom,” Jack exclaimed, “there’s something outside!” Hesitant, Jack’s mom, Sue, got up and went to talk with him. “Are you sure?” said Sue. “I think it might just be the wind blowing or maybe even a branch fell.” Jack denied everything, saying, “No mom. I’m positive. There’s something outside.”
Sue made the trek downstairs and stood watching out though the clear glass window pane with her son. Suddenly, there was a tapping sound at the door. Jack and Sue knew now that something had to be there. Sue crept towards the door and very slowly turned the doorknob to slightly open it. She couldn’t see anybody there through the crack, so she fully swung the door open. Down below, a creature stared right back up at her. Jack ecstatically yelled, “It’s a dog!” This majestic pup had eyes shaded blue like the ocean. His golden fur coat was not for fashion. This coat of fur was his body.
Shaking in hysterics, Jack approached the dog and patted him on the head. As he pulled away, he noticed something attached to his collar was dangling. Jack knelt back down and squinted to see what it was. It was a tag that had an inscription on it. Jack read aloud, “I’ll always return to see you.” In a moment of utter deep shock, he took a step back. Meanwhile, the dog trotted down the plank wooden steps and retrieved an object it appeared he had brought. He came back up with a red ball in his mouth, covered in a lake of saliva. Jack’s bright red ball had finally been brought back to him. He knew this was no coincidence. His grandfather had come back. His mom, putting her arm around her son with a tear slowly rolling down her face, said, “He’ll never leave us.”