Sighs of the Heart

"We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks since we started all of this," the woman told the volunteer.

"What is it your daughter keeps asking for?" the latter asked.

"Puppy size!"

"We have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."

"I know. We have seen most of them," the woman added, in frustration. Just then her child walked into the office.

"Well, did you find one?"

"No, not this time," the little girl said, with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.

"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a fresh supply," the volunteer said.

The child took her mother by the hand and headed for the door. "Don't worry. I bet we'll find one this weekend," she said.

Over the next few days, Mum and Dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular.

"It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad said, finally. "We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mum added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now, the child knew her was around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, Mum sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during the times when visitors weren't permitted.

The girl walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."

She reached the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it close. This time, she took a little longer.

"Mum, that's it! I've found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. Mum, startled by the commotion, came running.

"What? Are you sure? How do you know?"

"It's the puppy sighs!"

"Yes, it is the same size as all the other puppies you held the last few weeks," Mum said.

"No, not S-I-Z-E Mum, S-I-G-H-S. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," the child said.

"So?"

"Mum, don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me "Love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sighs!"

The tow women looked at each other. Mum didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped to hug her child, she did a little of both.

"Mum, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms."

Then. holding the puppy up close to her face, she said: "Mum, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart."

Written by Bob Perks
Sent to Starmag by G. Suresh Kumar