Charlie and Shep

Charlie was shaking his head in disbelief as he left the Doctor’s Green office. He couldn’t believe what Doctor Green had told him. He was a young man about 19 years old. He had what he thought was his whole life in front of him. The words that Doctor Green said, “Now, Charlie, I know this is going to hard for you to take. Are you sure you don’t have anyone you want to hear this news besides you?” Charlie frowned because he knew it had to be bad for the doctor to say that. “Well, I don’t have anymore family left. I don’t even have a girlfriend. I will just have to take whatever you are going to tell me,” whispered Charlie. “I will be to the point. Those tests that I had run on you did not turn out too good. You have blood cancer. I will tell you that you only have less than a year to live. There’s nothing we can do for you. I am truly sorry,” said Doctor Green.

Charlie had already guessed that. His father and brother died of that very same thing. His mother never got over it. She died of a broken heart two years ago. Charlie didn’t know what he would do. The only thing he had of value was the farm that he inherited from his family. He left the Doctor’s Office and went back to his farm. He sat on the porch for a long while.

Charlie watched the puffy white clouds in the sky as they slowly made their way over the Smoky Mountains. If he sold his farm, he would get a good price for it. He had many offers on it. He looked out at his pasture of cattle and horses. How could he sell the farm? What would happen to the animals he had? His dog, Shep, ran over to greet him and put his head on his lap. “That’s a good dog!” Shep was an old dog his brother had given him before he died. He promised to always look out for him. Shep licked Charlie’s face. “Now, Shep, I guess our days are numbered. I wonder which of us will go first. I promise I will stay alive just long enough to take care of you before you die. I promised my brother, Joe, I would do that.”

Charlie and Shep went out and fed the horses and cattle. They both moved a little slower. Shep because of his age and Charlie because of his sickness. As they were finishing their chores, an old man walked slowly down his driveway. “I was wondering if I could get some gas from you. I don’t have any money, but I am a good cook and will do chores or something,” said the old man. The old man had a dark red complexion with long white hair. “Are you the one my dad would get to help him sometimes train horses and take care of the cattle if they got sick?” Charlie asked. “Why yes? I am that man.” Charlie replied, “I was very young when you helped around here. My father thought very well of you. If I remember right, your name is White Cloud. I will be glad to help you, and you can stay for supper if you want. I need some good company right now.” White Cloud answered, “I hear that you are having a tough time with all your family having gone over the Rainbow bridge.” Charlie asked, “How do you know that?” White Cloud answered, “I heard it from on the winds of time.” Charlie knew not to ask White Cloud anymore questions.

After they got White Cloud’s old pickup back to the farm. Charlie fixed supper. “I know you must be lonely out here. I don’t have much family left either. I can see that you are very sick and Shep is not long for this world himself. I will help you both if you let me. Your father was always very kind to me and my family years ago. I told him that I would look out for his family if possible. I guess, I was a little late. How about I stay and help you for a while,” said White Cloud.

“My father told me several years ago before he died that you would come back to see me. He said that I was to treat you like family. I need your help as I am very sick, like you said. I would like that very much,” said Charlie. White Cloud replied, “The honor will be mine.”

The next several weeks, Charlie with White Cloud’s help, kept the farm going. White Cloud worked with the horses and trained them while keeping an eye on Charlie and Shep. Charlie decided not to sell the farm. He enjoyed White Cloud’s company and working with his animals. Each day he could feel that he was getting sicker. One day, White Cloud went up into the woods behind the big horse pasture and came back with some herbs and plants. He made a strong tea out of them. “I want you to drink this every morning. It will help you get though the day,” he said.

Two months later, a van drove up into the barnyard and several young kids got out. There were eight in all, ranging from six to ten years of age. They were all Native Americans children. A young Native American woman about his age walked up to him. “Is my Grandfather White Cloud here?” Charlie replied, “Yes, he’s in the horse barn.” White Cloud came out of the barn with one of the horses following him. “I am so glad you got my message. I am so glad to see you, Little Fox.” His Granddaughter replied, “Is this the place that you want us to stay the rest of the summer? It looks like a great place for children. The Reservation Orphanage is not a good place to be for them to be at in the summer.”

Charlie did know what to say. “Now, Charlie, you have a big house with many rooms. You need to have something to leave behind. What do you say? Can the children stay the summer with us?” asked White Cloud with a smile. Shep had already started playing with the children and some were even petting the horse that had followed White Cloud out of the barn.Charlie took a moment to think about it. “Why not? It would be nice to do that for them. I’m not feeling so well. White Cloud, you and Little Fox will have to get everyone settled. I need to go and sit on the porch to rest,” replied Charlie.

So it was, Little Fox and all the children stayed the summer. Charlie watched them play and enjoy the horses and cattle. They learned to help around the farm. He could see that Little Fox was like a mother to them all. Now, Charlie had one talent. He would have White Cloud and Little Fox fix a campfire out in the back yard. They would roast hotdogs and Charlie would tell them fairy tales that his mother told him when he was young. Everybody couldn’t wait for Charlie to tell his stories every night.

By the end of the summer, Charlie and Shep were getting very sick. The children helped him and Shep get around. He loved having them around. One night he asked Little Fox to come sit with him on the front porch. “It has been wonderful having you and the children around this summer. I know my time is near. I want to give you this. I went into town the other day and signed over my farm to you. It is yours to have as long as you take care of the children here. I have enough money in my bank account for you and the children to live on for a few years. Like White Cloud says, I want to leave something behind.” Little Fox replied, “You are too kind. I will do as you want. I will miss you, Charlie.”

The next morning, Little Fox had two horses saddled. “We are going on a trip today up to the far end of the forest to a little meadow,” she said to Charlie. Charlie asked, “Where is Shep and White Cloud?”Little Fox replied, “They are already there.” Little Fox helped get Charlie on his horse. They rode up to the far meadow together.

When they got to the meadow, White Cloud and Shep were waiting for them. There was a Great Medicine Man there, as well. Little Fox helped Charlie down from his horse and seated him on a log I front of White Cloud and Shep. The Great Medicine man spoke, “Charlie, I have come to take White Cloud and Shep over the Rainbow Bridge.” Charlie replied, “I hope you will take me with them. I would like that.” The Great Medicine Man replied, “I would like too but it isn’t your time. You are to take care of the children with the help of Little Fox for many circles of the sun. You have earned that right. I will come many years from now to guide you both.” With that said White Cloud and Shep followed the Great Medicine Man over the Rainbow Bridge.

Little Fox said, “Charlie it is time for us to go home. We have much to do before our life’s song is done. Little Fox and Charlie took care of the children and many others for many years including their own until they too crossed the Rainbow Bridge together.