Shooting Star

Once upon a time, a very old man rocked quietly in front of a crackling fire. Hearing a rustling outside, he slowly got up to open the door. There before him was a ghostly white dog with warm and gentle eyes. The dog soon settled beside him and as the man stroked his fur, he began to remember. It was many years ago...the air was crisp and the first heavy snow had begun to fall. He was just a young boy sledding with a group of friends at Robin's Nest Hill. With a running start, they would race down the slope towards the menacing boulder at the bottom, daring each other to swerve to safety at the last possible moment. When his turn came, he heard a whisper in the nearby forest and turned to see a shock of snowy fur. He abandoned his sled and chased after the shadow until dusk, but never could catch him.

Now many years later, he finally understood. "Is it time?", he asked. The dog gave a slight nod.  Soon they started out towards the glowing light of dawn at the edge of the woods. As they walked side by side, their footsteps in the snow slowly began to merge into one. They had reunited at long last...a boy and his guardian angel, traveling together through the falling stars.