THE HUNT

 

I'm told this endearing, old story-tale was portrayed on a

Rod Sterling episode of

Twilight Zone...

'The Hunt'

And The Moral of the Story is one most of US, Kindred Spirits, Vehemently Live by...

"A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. Standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, when he saw a man at a desk to one side.

He called out, “Excuse me, where are we?”

“This is Heaven, sir,” the man answered.

“Would you happen to have some water?” the man asked.

“Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up'”

The gate began to open.

“Can my friend come in, too?” the traveler asked, gesturing towards his dog.

“I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.”

The man thought a moment, turned back toward the road, and continued on his way.

After another long walk, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside leaning against a tree and reading a book.

“Excuse me!” he called to the man. “Do you have any water?”

“Yes, there's a pump over there, come on in.”

“How about my friend here?” the traveler gestured to the dog.

“There should be a bowl by the pump.”

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was a pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

“What do you call this place?” the traveler asked.

“This is Heaven,” he answered.

“Well, that's confusing,” the traveler said. “The man down the road said that was Heaven too.”

“Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.”

“Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?” the traveler asked.

“No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.”

Author unknown.