"A Rather Small Ghost Story" by The Cat That Would Be Heard

I`m feeling slightly sluggish today. A strange tom that`s been causing Isobell to utter the most unlady-like curses was back at the weekend. This time it was I that came face to face with the mangey creature. He requested a fight from me almost at once as I tried staring him down. I may be an old man, but this is still my territory and I will take no nonsense from such an invader as he. I stood my ground as best I could, until he tried to tackle me. Shamefully I ran, after being ungloriously knocked over. Twas that same moment that the mistress, with Elvis anxiously by her side, opened the door in alarm glimpsing my humiliation. "Get him Elvis!" she exclaimed, as he, already steadfast on his way in pursuit, galloped off after the bugger. I came inside and in this very spot, my favorite at the moment, is where I layed down my aching bones.

But I digress from my original story of which I shall now begin. It`s a ghost story, you see. A very small one, but an interesting one indeed.

It was a clear winter morning some years back, when the young master was but ten years old or so. A carpet of new fallen snow lay fresh and sparkling on the trees and the ground giving all a quiet, deserted almost mystical atmosphere.
The young mistress, then thirteen, was taking the day off school due to a nasty cold, so was not accompanying the boy up the short lane to wait for the school bus. It was the habit of Ben dog to walk along with them each morning.
The nana and grampa lived nearer the road at the end of the lane and would glance out from the kitchen table as the children walked past with the dog trotting along beside them. There came the sad time when Ben was no longer with us and on this morning, two years had past, and the boy walked alone.

The school bus arrived and a few moments later, the grampa stepped outside to take the garbage up to the road. He left the yard and began walking on the lane when his eyes did espy a very strange sight.
For before him along the lane, were the boy`s fresh footprints in the new fallen snow going all along to the top of the road. Now you may wonder why the young master`s prints would make such a cause for surprise? Well, you see, alongside, all the way, side by side, were the fresh footprints of a dog.

Later that day after school, the boy was questioned. "Did you notice anything unusual this morning? Was there a strange animal outside with you?"
"No" said the young master. "Only me"

I surmise that dear Benjamin dog came back one last time to do a duty he onced loved very much.

And now I shall remove myself and these old legs back to my chair.

"До тех пор пока мы не встречать снова" or "until we meet again....."

Theodore