"Final Reward"©
by Evelyn Colbath
 Final Reward  © 2000 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

   It was sunny and bright at the Rainbow Bridge. All of the inhabitants were playing games and lying on clouds, ...nothing to do all day except relax and bask in Love's Glow that fills the world they now live in. But something began to happen! There was a wrinkle in the air and suddenly something dark and foreboding was thrust into their world.

   The dark shape was a woman. Unbeknownst to the new ones at the Rainbow Bridge, often, on their own journey, those that abused and harmed the animals, puppy mill owners and the ones that profited from the sale of tiny souls to pet shops and research labs, were thrust into their world to answer a question.

   Running across the fresh grass the Guardians came, quickly surrounding the new ones, they shielded tiny eyes from this sight as a barrier was erected to protect them from the darkness. Then, in hushed voices they softly told them the story:

   "Dearest little ones here at the Rainbow Bridge, sometimes a human refuses to accept responsibility for things they did to us while they were alive. When this happens, they are sent here. There is a question they must answer to continue on their journey. Until they can answer it, they remain here, visible only to the Guardians, shielded from your sight, but they are allowed to see all the beauty that is denied them.
   "What is the question?" eager little voices wanted to know. The Guardian was getting ready to explain, while the group was getting larger as word had spread. Then one of the Guardians pointed to the woman.

   The first feeling she had was cold. Intense cold! She was shivering! Before she had passed away she lived in luxury. Surrounded by crystal and jewels, she did not experience cold. She had new cars, expensive clothes and food; ...the best medical care money could buy. But all of her money could not buy her time. Then she began to experience fear. She looked around and saw a sea of faces; Boxers, Westies, Scotties, Great Pyrenees and Poodles. There were so many more, but these were the breeds she specialized in. Before she passed away she earned her living by selling puppies. She had been a puppy mill owner. Every dollar she earned came from the suffering of a living soul. She kept the dogs in small cramped cages. They were often forced to stand in their own filth and cheap food was thrown on the dirty floor for them to eat. Constantly breeding dogs to have litter after litter, she cared nothing for the loneliness and deep-seated need for companionship the dogs felt. She did not care that the puppies were not healthy, all she wanted was money. It did not matter to her how she was getting the money, because after all, they were JUST dogs, right?

   However, still thinking she knew everything about animals, she reached for the nearest dog trying to take control of the situation, but her hand touched a barrier. For at the Rainbow Bridge, nothing is allowed to harm the ones that reside there. They are always protected, something that many of them did not experience in their former lives. Confused, she asked out loud why she was there.

   The only ones that are allowed to go through the barrier are the Guardian Dogs. One slowly walked through. He did not feel the cold she felt, nor did he feel the fear either. Unlike her, he was warmed by Love's Glow. He felt nothing for her, for he knew this one. She had been his former owner. She had always called him #5. She had removed him from his mother when he was 4 weeks old so she could recover and come into season faster with the help of hormone shots. He was sold to a pet store. He would never forget all the people pressed up against the glass, staring and giggling at him. The ones that wanted to tease him were the worst. Then he was sold to a so-called "breeder" and he was kept in a cage for the next 3 years of his life. The puppies he produced were light boned with poor coats and not good quality, so he was eventually sold to a farmer. The so-called "breeder" told him that #5 would be a good guardian for the farmer's sheep, even though he had never seen a sheep before. When the farmer put him out on several acres with a flock of sheep, it was the first time he was UN-caged in his life. He did not know how to act around these sheep that had never had a guardian dog, and his presence and odd behavior scared them. The farmer was very angry and beat him for bothering the sheep and broke his leg. Instead of taking him to a veterinarian, he decided the dog wasn't worth it, and shot him instead. The memory of the pain of his death came back with such force that he became weak. #5 did not die quickly. He lay in the pasture in pain as his lifeblood seeped into the ground. That is how #5 came to join the group at the Rainbow Bridge.

   As the memories flowed through his mind, he looked at her with his deep brown eyes, and asked if she remembered him. Of course she did not. With a strength he never had in life, he grabbed her hand with his large white paws. With all of the memories now gathered in his mind, he gave a huge push and sent every feeling and pain he experienced from his birth until his death into her mind and soul. She reeled with fear and terror! Then she fainted. Hours later when she awoke, he said that for her to have a chance to move on with her own journey she had to answer a question. Grateful to have this nightmare end, she eagerly leaned forward. The question was:  "WHY?"

When she heard that word she froze. For she could not think of an answer.
They sat there for awhile as he looked at her. Feeling a twinge of shame, she dropped her head in her hands and began to weep. Then he slowly stood up. As he prepared to pass through the barrier to return home again, she reached out a hand to him. Looking at him in his magnificence, white tail full and lush, gleaming fur, and eyes sharp and clear, she wept.."Is there nothing you can do for me? How long do I have to stay here?" He turned and just said one word: ETERNITY

   Passing through the barrier he returned to his home, but then another Guardian pointed at a wrinkle in the air. However, this one was different. Emerging was a bright light! ...A man and his wife. They were both enveloped in the pure essence of Love's Glow! Suddenly several animals broke from the group and flew into their arms! This time there were tears of joy! These were their pets when they lived in their other life and they had died from old age. As hugs and kisses were being given to all, the woman looked at this scene. She recognized the couple. They had been very active in rescue work and had even been a part of one of the huge raids on her puppy mill! She remembered hating them so much as she lost a lot of money due to their interference. Others in the group shyly walked up to them and began to introduce themselves. "You will not remember me but my name is Mac. You rescued me and the home you found for me was full of love! They loved me unconditionally and never let anyone hurt me. Although I never forgot the pain and abuse of my former life, they understood my fears and treated me with tenderness. The day I came here I was wrapped in their arms and felt their tears on my face. Because of you, the last several years of my life were filled with happiness and love!" "My name", said another, "is Sissy." The people you placed me with loved me too! I had great food, a nice veterinarian and they had the kindest hands!" A Guardian came up and reached out his mighty white paw. "My name is Randy. You sent me to a sheep ranch to protect sheep. The shepherd knew I did not know what to do, so he gradually put me in with experienced guardian dogs that taught me. He had such patience and love for me. It took me a long time to learn my job but when I did the lambs and sheep were safe on his ranch! I remember he cried so hard when I was 15 ½ and left my retirement to come here. Because of your help, I was loved!" And so the group went on and on. So many souls they had helped; so many souls learned of kind hands and love thanks to their deep commitment to rescue.

   The couple were crying so much for they had often wondered how each rescue had turned out, there had been so many. As the group settled down, the Guardian walked up and gently placed his paw on their lap. "This is but a resting stop for you as your journey is down the Crystal Path to your final reward!" As the couple prepared to walk down the path, their pets accompanied them. Once gone from their sight, but now, reunited forever!

   The woman behind the barrier was yelling, "Take me! Don't forget about me!" But all on the other side were unable to hear or see her. She was receiving her final reward. She fell down clutching her head and his question kept booming at her, over and over again. There would be no peace for this one, no relief until the question was answered, and then that person would still have to face his or her own creator. As darkness filled the place and the cold swept through her bones she was filled with terror. For the first time in her life she was alone, subject to the will of another. She tried to crawl into a corner but there was none. Fear, the emotion that every rescue knows well, filled her soul.

   On the other side of the barrier, the group watched as the family, finally together again, joined hands, and with wagging tails walked toward the Crystal Path. Then everyone began to play and romp once again, while the Guardians took their places, watching the air for the wrinkle that they knew would come again, ...always ready to keep the others safe from darkness and fear, ...waiting for the next time they would ask a human the question: "WHY?"