THE NIGHT THE STARS FELL FIRST CONTACT

Mum had given up her job as a vet to care for him at home full time and dad earned enough money as a criminal lawyer to support them, but it was hard for everyone. This was the hardest part, leaving them all behind; He knew how devastated they would be when the time came. He was so frightened, but he never showed Mum or Dad how frightened he was, this was hard enough already without causing further distress to his family, so he had to be brave.

When the time came, would it be dreadful? Would he be awake? Would he have one unbearable pain that would shatter his brain? In addition, the always unanswered questions! Where would he go? Is there a tunnel with a gloriously bright light at the end with all his loved ones waiting with outstretched arms to welcome him? Alternatively, do you just die and evaporate to nothing? Become just ashes in the earth? What happens to your soul? Todd believed the soul is the essence of your life mirrored through the expression in your eyes that people say are the windows to your soul.

Todd had spent many hours mulling over these morbid thoughts. Until fear gripped him so tight, he that could not breathe; and during the feeling of panic, which turned reason into chaos, gave him hot sweats and a terrible fear in the pit of his stomach. So, he did the best thing he could to push the grim reaper away, and that was to pick up his Arsenal magazine or watch football on TV.

The night was cloudy, and a wind shushed the trees back and forth; branches danced macabrely swaying in the howling wind, and sleet slashed the window. He could hear Mum and dad talking downstairs in the kitchen, as she cleared up the dishes after dinner, she would soon come up with a mug of hot chocolate and ask if there was anything he needed before she went to bed. However, tonight he would ask her for one thing, that she would hug him and hold him in her arms, and he so desperately needed that. Finally, he heard her coming up the stairs along the landing to his room with the mug of hot chocolate held tightly in her hand.

“Hi, do you need anything, darling? She smiled as she handed him the mug, he took it and placed it on the bedside table. “Are you in pain honey?”

Todd smiled. “No, no just a dull headache, it will go when I take my pills so I can sleep.”

The room had a soft amber glow from the wall lights that gave Todd a feeling of calmness despite his frequent panic attacks. The room was warm, there were two radiators on opposite sides of the wall and during the freezing weather were kept on. The warm room also helped soothe his pain. Ellen sat on the bed and took his pale hand in hers. “Are you sure you’re ok Todd?” She smiled weakly and then asked him hesitatingly. “Have you given any more thought about going back on treatment?” He looked into her eyes and saw the desperate hope there.

“No Mum, I made my decision, please don’t start pleading with me, it makes me more depressed than anything. Whether it’s next month…or a few months from now I’m going to die and unfortunately, that’s the cold hard reality of the situation, no one can do anything about it…So why prolong the agony of hanging on and on in pain and sickness and God knows what else?”

Right at that moment, with her heart full of pain she knew what a bravely magnificent boy he was, and all she felt right now was absolute pride; she had given birth to a baby boy who had suddenly grown into a very brave man.

Ellen sat there in stunned silence knowing that whatever she said would not change his mind. Todd pulled himself up and tilted his head slightly to the left as if he had suddenly become so tall he needed to look down at her. “But can I ask you for a favour Mum?” when she looked up, he was smiling, his face radiant in the amber glow.

Ellen smiled desperately holding back her tears. “Of course, anything baby.”

“Could I have a long hug?”

Ellen opened her arms and he lay there just feeling safe and happy in his mother’s arms, she stroked his hair and planted tiny kisses on his forehead. “I love you so much Todd.”

“I love you more.”

They stayed like that for almost an hour, just talking and laughing, a bond between Mother and son. Ellen had often wondered how Todd could get the world’s worst brain tumour, now well on its way to becoming a grade 5, no one in her family or Brian’s had ever been diagnosed with cancer, let alone brain cancer. Ellen’s mother died of a heart attack at seventy-five, and Brian’s Mum was still going strong at eighty. She had Brian at forty-five and he was an only child.

Ellen always wanted two or more children so Todd would not grow up alone; but after thirteen years their hopes began to fade, then When Ellen was thirty-six along came Pixie unexpectedly. The strain of the last few years added a few wrinkles on her face, but Ellen could not care less if she looked like a wet crinkled map of England if she could only have her boy back, healthy, and strong! However, that was never going to happen.

“Well.” She said at last. “My eyes are closing, and you should get some sleep.” Todd smiled at her.

“I was thinking the same thing.” He rolled over on his side and pulled the covers up to his neck. “Goodnight, Mum.”

“Goodnight baby, I’ll leave my door open in case you need anything.” Ellen slowly got up and walked to the door, she turned halfway. “You took your painkillers, didn’t you?”

“Yes, yes I did, all’s cool Mum, goodnight.”

Todd tried to settle but his thoughts turned to Pixie, he sat up rested against his pillows, and gazed up at the stars. A half smile spread across his lips as he remembered her as a tiny little girl Toddling about on unsteady little legs, and now she was running on steady little feet and growing an inch each day. He loved her so much and fretted at the thought of leaving her. She still had an enormous relationship with her thumb despite Mum trying to give her a dummy; she found great comfort in sucking her little thumb with a fluffy comfort blanket to rub against her face when she finally decided to sleep.

He got up and walked silently to her room. There she was all tucked up in her bed with the blanket on her face secured neatly by her little fingers wrapped around her nose with her thumb stuck in her mouth. Todd stood there for a moment just looking at her she looked like a little cherub, and he bent over and kissed her on the cheek. He always kissed her every night in case he never got the chance again.

By the time, he got back to his room it was gone midnight. The wind had died down, the sleet had stopped, and the sky was an ocean of stars again. He lay back on his pillows rubbing a hand over his tired eyes and wiping away the last remaining teardrop. Again, he gazed up at the stars; they were like a trillion sparkling diamonds.

Sleep had now escaped him; worry instead took its place. He sat up; his dark hair had now started to grow in wispy little curls over his blue pyjama top, his large dark eyes stood out in crystal clarity against the moon’s bright face, peering down at him through the skylight. Todd felt a heat rush through him almost stifling him, he threw his legs over the bed and sat on the edge for a second then went over to the window opening it wide to let in some air. For a while, he stood there inhaling the fresh cool air. Suddenly Todd looked over to the back hedge in the garden, and for a moment he froze! The moon’s face pointed to a large grey shadow lurking by the hedge, it looked like the shadow was sitting on the grass shaded by the hedge, and the opaque streetlights hovering over the drive made it look eerie. He watched for a moment hardly daring to breathe. Was this an intruder? Alternatively, it could be a figment of his imagination. Todd strained his eyes just in case they were deceiving him, but no, there was something there! He leaned forward and opened the window wider; he could see clearer now and frowned, as the figure seemed to be sitting on the grass. ‘Oh no, surely it is not the Grim Reaper already!’ he thought and then grinned at his morbid sense of humour. He guessed that it was a bag of rubbish that may have blown there in the wind earlier.

He was about to close the window when the ‘bag’ moved, and Todd’s heart quickened. “That was no bag of rubbish,” he muttered. The bag moved to the centre of the grass, and Todd realised it was a huge dog, it sat there staring up at him as if it knew he was there watching it. The dog did not bark it just sat there with huge paws flat to the ground and a shaggy head tilted slightly to the right, as if it were asking him ‘Are you coming down here or not?.’ Todd grabbed his dressing gown put on his slippers and hurriedly padded down the landing to the stairs. He took the key from the side unit and opened the back door. At first, he approached the dog with caution. It could be vicious, so he took no chances. Dogs can bite especially when they are scared. He stood on the patio leading down into the big garden, when suddenly an intoxicating warmth spread through him, and a great feeling of calmness seemed to take away all his fears. Todd smiled and slowly went down the four steps to the garden walking slowly towards the dog as it pattered along on its belly shuffling towards him in a submitting gesture.

They met at the bottom step; the dog gave a soft whine as Todd reached out his hand to stroke the dog’s massive head.

“Now where on earth have you come from?” he said softly, the dog nudged his hand. “Are you lost?” the dog replied moving his head from side to side. He looked for a disc but there was no collar so he guessed he must be lost or stray and probably very hungry. He could not see what breed of dog he was, but he had an immense coat of shaggy fur. He had never seen a dog this size before, only a Great Dane, and on closer inspection, Todd thought he saw silver at the tips of the gently swaying fur. He had such a good feeling about this dog; it was a warm intense sensation of needing this animal in his short life. He bent down and ran his hand across his huge back, the fur was so soft, and it appeared to sparkle like glitter. The dog could be his comforter, his best friend always there to share his problems with and his fears. Just lately, Todd had developed a numb feeling in his left hand that had now travelled up his arm and down into his foot and was now progressing up his right leg. It scared him because this is usually what happens before the end. But as soon as he touched the dog’s head life returned to his limbs.

Todd sat on the grass and spoke softly to the dog. “Are you lost? Don’t worry, I will take good care of you, and we will find out to whom you belong. Are you hungry and thirsty? You must be.” Todd got up and patted his leg for the dog to follow; he padded behind him as if they had been together forever.

Todd opened three large tins of corned beef and a packet of digestive biscuits; he tipped the corned beef into a large pudding bowl and put the packet of digestives on a side plate, then filled a large container of fresh cold water and placed them all on the floor by the sink. As soon as he put the food down the dog wolfed it down in two huge gulps, then drank the whole container of water.

“Oh man, you must have been so hungry and thirsty!” The dog padded over for another dose of ear scratching and backstroking. Todd smiled, “OK we can go to bed now, You can sleep in my room, and then we’ll try and find your owner in the morning…How’s that sound?” The dog looked up at him, his eyes so full of gratitude, and for a moment Todd thought he saw something else, a flash of blue, and a single tear that ran down his furry face like a tiny minute waterfall glistening in his brown eyes, and when he looked again the blue had gone.

Todd got down on his knees, a whirlpool of emotion went through him as he wiped away the tears.

“Oh my god, you’re crying, don’t worry boy, I’ll take care of you I know Mum and Dad won’t mind. Have you been badly treated, boy? You must have been out in the cold for ages poor boy, I suppose they dumped you huh? Couldn’t be bothered to take care of you maybe because you are so big? Never mind, you are safe with me.” He put his arms around his neck and planted a warm soft kiss on his cold wet nose. They both went up to Todd’s bedroom without making any noise, he did not need to tell him to jump on the bed, he had already made a beeline for Todd’s bed. He put his head on the pillow, and within seconds was snoring softly. Todd watched him and smiled climbing in beside him and pulling the covers over them both. There was no way this dog was going to the animal shelter, because in such a short while they had formed a bond between them that was so strong, it was as if this dog had been sent to him, but Todd couldn’t understand why because his lifespan was going to be so short. He put his arms around the dog and soon his eyes closed.

The next thing he was aware of was the startled scream when Ellen entered his room. His eyes shot open, and the dog lifted his head from the pillow nonchalantly wondering what all the noise was.

“Where the hell did that come from?” Ellen said, her eyes wide as she looked at the huge animal in her son’s bed. Brian, Todd’s father appeared looking over Ellen’s shoulder, equally shocked to see a huge animal with a huge mound of fur in his son’s bed.

Todd quickly pulled himself up and blinked then rubbed his tired eyes.

“I found him in the garden last night, he was hungry and thirsty, so I bought him in, he was so tired, I think he’s lost Mum, I gave him three cans of corned beef and a packet of digestive biscuits, I hope you don’t mind?”

“Oh Toddy, you can’t keep him in your bedroom, especially in your bed! Darling, you’re still vulnerable after the chemo, For god’s sake Todd! ”

“I won’t Mum, it’s been over six months now and I feel okay.” Ellen looked at Todd’s pleading eyes and her heart melted; She crossed the room and laid her hand on the dog’s head. “My good God he’s enormous, someone is looking for him you bet.”

Ellen looked into his mouth he had the cleanest whitest teeth and sweet-smelling breath of any dog she had ever examined in her whole career.

“Well, he seems to be in very good health and well-fed, obviously my three cans of corned beef and a whole packet of digestives helped.” She said with a teasing glint in her eyes.

Todd grinned. “I couldn’t find anything else to give him.”

“I’ll go to the supermarket and get him some large tins of dog food and a large bag of kibble, but we must find out who he belongs to, I’ll contact the RSPCA, and a few animal welfare charities to see if anyone’s reported him missing.”

“Why not take him to the dog’s shelter; they will get him a good home. Brian said staring quizzically at the dog.

“Oh no Dad, please! He’s such a lovely dog, he’s quiet and obedient, God knows what might have happened to him since he’s been wandering the streets.”

“I can’t imagine.” Brian frowned seriously. “But Todd he is so big, and he is very unusual, isn’t he? I mean look at his coat it looks to me like he is some exotic breed, look at the tips of his fur; it’s just like he’s been sprayed with stardust, and someone must be frantically looking for him.” Brian went over and stroked the dog’s head, and he responded with a warm gentle lick to his hand.

Ellen came back. “Well, no one has reported him missing, and to be perfectly honest I cannot imagine anyone dumping such a beautiful dog as this one, and as I say, he looks to me to be a high pedigree, although I have never seen a dog like this one before.”

“Can he stay here? Mum, Dad?”

“Of course, we have the room.” Brian smiled.

Todd’s face lit up like two bright lanterns.

“Thanks, Mum; he won’t be any trouble I promise you.” The dog pressed tighter to Todd’s legs, and as Ellen looked at the dog, she could swear he was smiling at her.

The house was big and right on the edge of a field, with an immense garden and plenty of space to accommodate a dog of his size, and secretly she hoped no one would claim him.

After a few weeks, they had become attached to the huge furry giant, and Todd got up early every morning to take him for walks. His whole life had changed, and his energy levels were so high that Ellen had to make him rest for an hour each day, she was afraid that he would collapse from exhaustion.

Todd came in through the garden door carrying the dog’s lead in his hand. Ellen was cooking dinner and boiling chicken for the dog.

“You should keep him on the lead in case he runs away.”

“He won’t run away Mum he stays right by my side.”

Ellen glanced behind at Todd while she turned down the heat on the chicken, her heart fluttered as she smiled to herself, Todd was going to go nuts when she told him he could keep the dog.

“Anyway, Dad and I have decided that if no one claims him in a month, then we are keeping him, whoever he belonged to had enough time to claim him.” She smiled at Todd.

“Oh my GOD! really! Thanks, Mum, I will look after him, you won’t regret it!” Todd was almost bouncing off the ceiling.

Ellen bent down and patted the dog’s head then scratched him under the chin. “You are such a good boy. Anyway, you cannot keep calling him `Dog’ You need to find a name for him.”

“I have a few names lined up, I thought ’fluffy, or Boona, Blue is another, I’ll have to think.” The dog looked up at him with a quizzical look on his face.

Ellen had noticed Todd was different since the dog arrived, she saw a change in her son, his skin was clear, he looked healthy, and she could hardly believe the change in him that had occurred overnight. He looked so bright and happy she wished he could always look like this; the dog had worked miracles, and perhaps now he may change his mind about going back to treatment.