ESL Blogs

   Eventually the setter began coming into the yard when Mark was working in the garden. His approaches were always tentative, as if he had often been repulsed; his amber eyes would search Mark’s deeply as he waited for a friendly pat. Then as if his joy couldn’t be contained , he would race in mad circles until Mark coaxed him into quietness.

   Little by little the bond strengthened between the old man and the dog. Their friendship grew inevitably into love. Ricky’s amber eyes lighted up , when Mark came outdoors. As for Mark, without his quiet realizing it, his days took on new life and meaning. Ricky came often at night now, seeming to know the times when Mark was alone, just as he knew Mark’s room .The setter would lie on the mat in front of the door or stand waiting until Mark became aware of him. He would aware that he wouldn’t be invited to come inside, but if Mark came out and spoke soft , loving words to him , Ricky went home content. The love that Ricky gave to Mark was completely apart from the love he gave to Wilson children. It was the love of a dog and his master , a master who spoke gentle words to him, gave him a bone now and then , took him for walks, and waited tolerantly while he made explorations or foolishly chased a low flying bird…

   It had never occurred to Mark that Ricky might be taken away from him. Wilsons house was sold ;and then one bleak day , the moving van came. The void in Mark’s life those first few days was almost unbearable.” Uncle Mark, you are doing too much, “ Lucy told to him as he worked ceaselessly at one small task after another.” Have to keep limber,” he said , smiling .He didn’t talk about Ricky’s being gone. He didn’t say that a man eighty years old learns to live with pain and disappointment, And after few days he began taking walks again alone.

   A night after two weeks later ,an evening when Lucy and John went out that he heard it, the soft scratching at his door. His heart pounding , not daring to believe his ears. With a sudden trembling joy he went to the door and opened it. Ricky was weary and travel-worn, but his amber eyes were alight. And as Mark looked at him , he lifted one side of his mouth in the eager , homely smile. “ You didn’t forget !” Mark whispered. “ You have come back – come back to me. “ But he knew this was not right. though his hands ached to pat the setter’s head , he held back .One rapturous welcome from him and Ricky would be a tramp. Now his rightful home was miles away , and a dog so divided in allegiance was no dog at all. Perhaps he understood Ricky better that the Wilsons did , Mark thought , but the Wilson children loved the dog.

   As the dog whined softly and drew closer to Mark , the old man’s heart was torn between joy and anguish. He drew back from the door and closed it. And went to the telephone." I guess he missed your old house," he said , when he had Mrs. Wilson on the wire. " I thought I’d call before you worried.” When Mr. Wilson arrived , Ricky still lay outside Mark’s door, his eyes bewildered. " What ‘ll I do ?"Mr. Wilson said gruffly to the dog." Tie you up out there in the country ?"

   Mark had never talked to Mr. Wilson before except good morning and good evening. Now he said, "That’s a fine dog. I know you got him for your children , but part of him needs you too, if you don’t mind an old man telling you this ." He paused a moment , embarrassed, and then went on: "Talk to him . Let him lie by your fire at night. Walk through the woods with him. Take him hunting. Get to know him, and you will never regret it. Two children, country freedom, a man for steadiness – that’s heaven for a dog." Mr. Wilson listened. He had obviously been angry at having to make the long trip into town, but as he gazed at Mark and then down at the waiting dog , his expression changed. "I think you are right Mr. Tyler," he said . " I hadn’t thought about that ."He reached down and stroked the setter’s head. " well ,old fellow , how about going home?"he said . Ricky hesitated and then looked up at Mark, his eyes uncertain. With a hollow sense of loss, Mark knew it was over,he’d never see the setter again. " Go home Ricky, " he said with quiet authority. " Go home, boy. "

What do you think about the end of this one ?
How do you like the ending of this story?

and sorry for not so short story ,i couldnt brief it more ...there were some special sentences that helps us to feel and touch the soft emotions about them.