By Richard Mabey Jr.
This past March, when my neighbor Martha was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, Little Rocco was left behind in her bathroom. Martha is in her early 80’s. She lives alone. My sister Patti and I kind of look after her, without being over bearing.
When I saw the ambulance drive by my house, something inside me told me that it was for Martha. It was an instinctive knowingness. And, sure enough, the ambulance did stop in front of Martha’s house. Sadly, Martha was having a heart attack.
I ran up my street, to Martha’s house. There was a bit of a confusing scene, as neighbors quickly filled Martha’s front yard. In what seemed to be a blink of an eye, Martha was carried out, in a stretcher, to the back of the ambulance. Martha was still conscious, but the mark of severe chest pains grimaced her face.
As the paramedics passed by me, in one split second, Martha whispered to me, “Richard, please take care of Little Rocco, he’s in my bathroom.” I promised Martha I would. Our conversation took place in all of about three to five seconds.
As the ambulance sped off, a solemn silence filled the air, within the half dozen neighbors that had clustered around Martha’s front yard. Tom, an elderly gentleman, looked me in the eye and simply said, “if you need help taking care of Little Rocco, let me know.” I told him I would.
I walked into Martha’s house. One of Martha’s next door neighbor’s had a key to her house, to lock up for after when I had taken Little Rocco. The sweet little Yorkshire Terrier shook as I held him in my arms. I walked down my street, carrying Little Rocco, with his lead in my pants pocket.
Martha was in the hospital for a little over two weeks. She was treated for angina, as the doctors debated if she would need to have heart surgery. Fortunately, Martha did not need heart surgery. However, she was treated for angina.
For those two weeks, Little Rocco stayed with me. I had one of those dog crate cages. Rocco slept in it nights, so that he would be undisturbed by my two cats, Opie and Floyd. Amazingly, Opie and Floyd actually took a liking to Little Rocco.
In my little backyard, I would play fetch with Little Rocco. We went for walks around the neighborhood, about five times a day. I quickly discovered that Little Rocco was the toast of the neighborhood. Everyone just loved the little pooch.
It was during that time, that I was working with a local printer to get my book of poems and short stories published. I would take Little Rocco to the printer with me. They all loved him. It was a most wonderful and enchanting little period of time.
Some time in the midst of Little Rocco’s stay with me, a shift occurred. I no longer became Little Rocco’s care giver, but rather evolved to become his friend. We developed a bond of good will, respect and love for each other.
When Martha came home from the hospital, she offered me money for taking care of Little Rocco. It seemed wrong to take money for caring for Little Rocco. So, I kindly refused Martha’s offer to pay me. It was truly a labor of love.
For another month or so, I walked Little Rocco three to five times a day, as Martha recovered from her hospital stay. Eventually, the doctor gave Martha the green light to walk Little Rocco, but only up and down our block.
Little Rocco changed my life. At the time, I was seriously considering the idea of giving up on writing. I really was. But the love that Little Rocco brought to my life, gave me the inspiration to once again pick up a pencil and write words down on paper. I confess that I am still a bit old school, and do my first draft of a story the old fashioned way, of writing with a pencil and paper.
Here’s the whole bottom line. It is impossible to give kindness to another person, without receiving back goodness and mercy many times over. Even if you help another person, and they seem rather ungrateful, your reward will come unto you from another person, another source. It’s uncanny how it works. Not that we should do kind acts for one another and then be looking for rewards. Not at all. But the virtues of kindness, goodness, compassion and mercy, have a way to come back unto us when we give them out to others.
None of us have a guarantee that we will see the sun tomorrow morning. Forgive others the wrongs they have done unto you. Love one another. Be kind to animals. Help those in need of help. For God will then greatly bless you.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.