JACK THE BLIND AND HIS DOG, SLOWPOKE...

Jack the Blind and his dog, Slowpoke...

* Now here's a story I wrote for my Journalism class back when I was in College... Just want to share it to anyone who would be interested to read it... And i hope you guys learn from it somehow... especially those who love dogs as much as I do :) Happy reading!


"JACK THE BLIND AND HIS DOG, SLOWPOKE..."


Every dog has his day.

True, isn't it? I mean, everyone gets some luck or attention sometime in life. Only, we aren't too certain if luck would mean bad or good or if the attention we get is for admiration or condemnation. But what's important really is how we rise above the situation and to give justice to this saying, let me tell you a story about my childhood friend and his dog - and what we both learned from it.

Meet Jack. A regular guy who loved nothing but to take pictures of his dogs. Oh, he had many. There was his black pit bull named Champ who later on gave birth to Camilia. He had Michika, a female Shih Tzu. There's also Mortiz, his golden retriever who did nothing but flirt with the other dogs (and how they liked him!) and the star of this column, Slowpoke, a St. Bernard dog who had three siblings, Beastly, Goofy, and Boxer.

Of all Jack's dogs, though, Slowpoke was the most special. Despite of being slow (as the name says it) and languid, he was dear to Jack for the simple reason that he's the only dog who would stay beside him all the time. Nevertheless, all these dogs were treated like kings and queens. Jack made sure they get the best of everything, pampered and all.

Things changed though when Jack met a car accident a year and a half ago. One day, he just woke up in total darkness - the tragic incident made him lose his eyesight. From then on, Jack no longer was his usual self. He would get pissed off all the time. He hated everything around him, his dogs included. To avoid more tantrums, Jack's mom decided to get rid of her son's dogs. Well they had to retain one, though because Jack needs a leading dog. The grouchy man needs a dog that's big enough to shield him from any harm and slow moving so that he can still be in control of his "bodyguard". The description fits Slowpoke to a T and so he stayed on.

This dutiful dog stayed and served Jack to the greatest of his ability but the latter would all the more show barbarity to his once favorite dog. He would baste Slowpoke for its sluggish movement and frailty. He would bawl out on the poor dog like what he does to the other servants of their home. Yet, Slowpoke would allow his master belittle him as if he has a bearing of the poor man's condition. Although at night, when his master is asleep, Jack's mom would hear this poor dog weep, as if feeling the pain Jack inflicted on him. She told me once that if dogs could only speak, Slowpoke would probably yell out: "Whatever happened to dear Jack? Once my master, now a monster!"

Days and months have passed and the treatment of Jack to his dog didn't change. He would always find faults on this four-legged mammal and would criticize it to a disgusting extent. But Slowpoke kept true to his job. Yes, he stayed a good servant - sadly, to a bad master.

Then another tragic incident came. It was late Monday evening, and the weather was not on anybody's side. It rained heavy while Jack was at St. Monica's Clinic, undergoing a seminar for the blind. His facilitator advised him not to leave the clinic until the rain subsides. But being the hardheaded that he is, Jack insisted on going home, braving the storm with Slowpoke. Due to the downpour, all roads went slippery - Slowpoke found it hard to guide his master. He would slip and slip, making his master stumble just the same. Infuriated, Jack attacks Slowpoke with harsh words and worse, batters the poor dog. He would kick him and would shoo him away. But fearing for his master's life, this faithful servant disregarded Jack's cruelty. Instead, Slowpoke would let his body lie over Jack and push the hapless man forward every time he falls. All throughout the night, Jack would try to get rid of Slowpoke while the latter would try his best to get his master out of the rain. Slowpoke tried - but to no avail. Jack, hard as a stone, wanted to prove he could get out of the mess on his own. He also wanted to prove to his dog how useless he is to Jack. Too much force caused a great exhaustion and before they know it, Jack and Slowpoke both lost their consciousness.

Morning came and the weather went fine. It was the extreme contrast of the other day's meteorological condition. People who saw Jack and Slowpoke lying in one corner came to the rescue and took them to the nearby hospital.

This was the second time Jack would wake up in a hospital bed. When his consciousness returned, he already asked for Slowpoke. No, it was not because he cared. Actually, he didn't have a bit concern for the dog. He was even blaming the animal for his condition. Then I gathered all my guts to tell him what has happened to the dog he once found endearing. "Don't worry, Slowpoke won't disturb you anymore... He died trying to save you, Jack"

Jack's throat froze. Not a word came out. He tried not to look at me so I won't see this huge word SAD written all over his face. Then tears stung his eyes and all he said was "My dog, my poor dog..."

When I was waiting for Jack to come around, I was beside his bed, in deep thought. Slowpoke may have not been my dog but I felt for him. I wonder why a dog as good and loyal as he could die a sad death? I wonder why he had to die when all he ever wanted was to save his master. I even wonder why Jack the Cruel lived instead of the dog. Then, I asked, "Whatever happened to my childhood friend?" Jack made a drastic change that I feel I no longer know him. He's a totally different person and it really hurts me... It hurts me a lot because I miss the old him. I miss my amorous and compassionate best friend ages of years ago.

Then I came up with a few realizations. Jack made a lot of criticism on anybody and everybody, especially Slowpoke to cover up his own inadequacy. He didn't just go blind - he was benighted. He didn't just lose his eyesight, he lost every part of him. And that's sad because I know that things shouldn't be that way. I remember how we argue about this and he would always give me his standard statement, "You don't know how it feels to be blind." I may not be blind but I do know how painful it is to have lost. Yet, I never allowed it to stand in my way. I never stopped hoping for better things to come because if I do, then I will forever be cynical. Besides, why is it that when people hurt, they want everything to hurt?

I left him momentarily to be in mourning. I know part of me wanted to castigate him. It was all his doing after all. But Slowpoke was his pet - and he once loved the dog so that gives him every right to grieve. Besides, I know that he will always have Slowpoke's blood on his head and that should make him ascertain his lessons.

Now think about your loved ones and how you disregard them whenever you are unhappy... whenever you are displeased... whenever you are in pain... whenever you are so full of yourself...

Then think of the lessons to be learned.