Chloe

As the clock struck midnight hour, on the 2nd of March, Vanessa who was overseas, made a Skype call to her mother in Mumbai. The room had a festive look to it. Balloons of different colours coupled with crepe paper ribbons adorned the walls. It was her 14th birthday.

Chloe was all decked up. With a lovely tiara on her head and a bright bandana in place, she looked like the queen she was! She wondered why she was woken up at this unearthly hour. She was a natural optimist and blessed with a sweet adjusting nature. She just went with the flow.

Who does she see in front of her? Her lovely mistress! Ah……this was good! Nay, this was awesome! The three people who meant the world to her were in the same room! She was in the seventh heaven! She couldn’t let this moment go without expressing her love and affection. She tried to stand up. She couldn’t. You see, she was paralyzed. She was, ‘bedridden’. Not one to be put down, she did the next best thing she knew. She wagged her tail. Oh! You should have seen the wagging tail! It could have caused a hurricane. Bumpity bump…..thumpity thump…it went. Nineteen to the dozen. Vanessa’s mother wondered if it would awaken the neighbours downstairs. Chloe’s excitement was contagious. The mother and son in the room in Mumbai, the daughter in her room overseas, couldn’t help it. Tears were streaming down their cheeks. Tears of joy!

Memories flooded back. Fourteen years ago, on this day, they had brought Chloe home. They had bought her from a teenage boy who was selling little pups on the street. True, Chloe got a lovely home and family. But the family got a very loving, cheerful, adjusting, and understanding member added to their home. A member who gave them her all. She was there for them in happy and sad moments. When their spirits hit rock bottom, Chloe was always there for them to hug, weep, or just hold on to. She could sense when a beloved family member was going through hard times. She would quieten down. Come as close as she could to them, lick them lovingly, look into their eyes with her warm, soulful eyes.Till they were upbeat and ready to face the hurdles life threw at them. On happy occasions, Chloe threw herself in with gusto! She let the world know that she was happy by barking and going in circles as fast as she could.

Chloe got a lovely, delicious lava cake. And she got her birthday treat. A really massive helping of ice cream. Oh my! How she enjoyed it! She did full justice to it. Not a teeny-weeny drop was left over. All the while the tail never stopped wagging. She heard the familiar birthday song being sung. She heard the birthday wishes coming her way. Did she understand? Maybe she did. Maybe she didn’t. But one thing was sure. She was happy! Woof woof…..Thank you. Thank you, said Chloe.

Chloe is a member of my friend’s family. She may not be around to celebrate her birthday next year. My friend and her family want to make whatever little time Chloe has left in this world a happy and comfortable one. She is truly loved. I just had to share this incident. It filled me with happiness. It ignited hope. The future looked bright! My hopes for a world filled with compassion and care did not look like a distant dream. Where there is no distinction between the productive and the not-so-productive members of society.