Bleeding Edge

A man and his pup were walking along a winding country lane.

The road was long and the sun has risen at his highest, heating up the two travelers.

Both man and dog, were enjoying the scenery, when the Man suddenly remembered that he died in an accident, while driving with his dog in his lap…

It occurred to him right then and there, that he must be dreaming, since he could not be dead, and walking with his dog in this nice shady country lane, that looked like a place he had visited many, many moons ago…

But then, he remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him was killed in the accident and he died in his lap too.

But then again he was enjoying this constitutional walk, because it seemed like he was floating, and not even exerting any effort at walking. His dog walked beside hi without a lead to hold him, and that is when they both stopped and stared seemingly as if to wonder where the road was leading them.

Not exactly knowing — they kept walking for another hour or so, until after a while, they came to a tall white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When the traveler and his puppy were standing before it — they saw a magnificent gate with a beautiful overhead arch, that looked like it was made from abalone (mother-of-pearl), and the street that led to the gate looked freshly tarred, perfectly clean, and shining like gold as it reflected the brilliant sunlight.

Duly impressed the traveler and his pup walked toward the gate, and as they got closer, they saw a man sitting at a desk inside an air-conditioned cubicle, acting as a security office, on the right side of the door.

When the traveler was close enough, he called out:

Excuse me sir — do you think that you could tell us where we are?

This is Heaven sir, the man answered.

Then the traveler asked: Would you happen to have some water?

Of course, sir.

Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up.

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

The traveler asked: Can my friend, gesturing toward his dog, drink some water too?

I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t allow pets in Heaven.

The man thought for a moment, appraised the situation and thanked the man, as him and his pup turned back toward the road and continued the way they had been going all along.

The traveler was quite comfortable with his companion, and wouldn’t dream of being separated from him, any more than the dog would even dream of being separated form his human.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a dirt road to a horse gate that was hanging from her hinges and looked as if it could never be able to swing forth, let alone to close.

There was no fence.

As he approached the homestead, he saw a man, sitting down with his back leaning against a big mature shady tree, reading a book.

Excuse me, he called to the man: Do you have any water?

Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in.

How about my friend here?’ the traveller gestured to the dog.

There should be a bowl by the pump.

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveller filled the water bowl, he carefully gave water to his pup, and then he slowly took a long drink himself.

When they quenched their thirst, the Traveler and his pup, walked back toward the man who was standing by the big leaf shady tree.

Then, the traveller asked:

What do you call this place?

This is Heaven; he answered.

Well, that’s confusing, said the traveller.

The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.

Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and the pearly Arched gates?

No…

That’s hell.

Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?

No, we’re just happy that they take all of those folks, who would leave their best friends behind.

For us, as it is for you — pups are family.

Yours,

Dr Churchill