Kyle was sitting in his wheelchair waiting. He didn’t want to be here. This was his therapist’s idea. He didn’t need a dog. How could he play with a dog?
Kyle rolled to the room’s door trying to reach the handle. Groaning, he turned the chair to twist the handle. Once outside Kyle realized he still had to close the door. Struggling, he finally succeeded.
Hearing kids’ voices, Kyle’s curiosity sent him to investigate. He tried to peek in windows. Remembering he couldn’t run and play made him grab the wheels and stop. He whispered. “I hate this chair!”
Kyle saw his mom and a lady walking toward him leading a golden retriever. Beckoning to him, they went thru a door. The dog sat outside watching him as the door closed. Stopping by the dog at the dreaded door, he looked into big brown eyes.
“Sure wish you could open that door,” Kyle said.
The dog stood up to paw the handle and opened the door. Rolling thru Kyle watched as the dog closed it and sat down by his chair. Looking around, he saw kids in wheelchairs working with dogs. Smiling, Kyle realized this might not be so bad.
Dawn Compton, from Bellville, TX, writes that, "Living in Texas on a ranch is my best motivation to write. My family is kept busy with many animals that my son shows at all the major state livestock shows. Since I do the hauling and deadtime before the shows, my favorite place to people watch for inspiration is at the stalls. Two of my children's books have been published and I am working on the third as well as an adult novel that has been knocking around in my head for several years. I am so glad to find your website and look forward to participating in other contests."
© 2008 Dawn Compton. Original for CCF (Compton grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).
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