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Leonard Berlow The Three Who Couldn’t-But Did
Billy Banks wasn’t able to keep up or even play with the neighborhood kids. Billy was born with one leg shorter than the other. That made him kind of hippity-ho when he walked or tried to run. The other kids weren’t mean to Billy because he was different than they were, but just the same he was always last to be taken when sides were chosen for tag or baseball. Often, when Billy say the kids playing in the empty lot next door to his house, he’d pretend that he really didn’t care about joining in. Mrs. Banks understood why he felt this way. "Now, Billy, you go out and join in and do as well as you can," she urged. But Billy would make all kinds of excuses and just sit on his front porch steps with his dead buried in his hands. He really wanted to have fun, but he didn’t want to slow down the other kids-and maybe even get teased. Billy’s parents were, of course, very concerned because they didn’t like seeing him so unhappy by himself. But there was little they could do until Billy made up his mind to play in spite of the way he had to hippity-hop. But, one night a strange thing happened that would change Billy’s life. There was a terrible storm that made the rain sound like pebbles being thrown against his bedroom window. It wasn’t the storm, though, that awakened him. It was moans and whining sounds that seemed to be coming from the porch right below his bedroom window. Billy tried to get back to sleep, but these noises wouldn’t let him. Billy thought about awakening his parents, but maybe he could find out for himself what these strange sounds were. So he slipped on his bathrobe and slippers and went down the stairs very quietly. When Billy opened the front door he was greeted by a torrent of windswept, icy rain. It was very difficult to see anything-yet he could hear even more clearly now- those moans and whines. Despite the terrible weather, Billy ventured out into the cold, rainy porch. It was almost impossible to see anything because of the fierce and stinging rain. Suddenly, just as he was about to return back into his house, a flash of lightning revealed what appeared to be an animal huddled in the corner of the porch. The moans and whines became louder. Billy put his soaking wet head down and cautiously bent over toward the cornered animal. And, there it was, a sopping we dog whining for help. Billy kneeled down on one knee and carefully reached out. His hand came to rest on the dog’s soaking we head. The moaning and whining stopped as the dog seemed to understand that Billy was going to help him. "Stay, boy," said Billy. "I’ll be right back with a towel to dry you off, and then we’ll get you into the house where it’s nice and warm." Billy sensed that the dog’s tail was wagging, gratefully. Billy hopped into the house and gathered some of his mom’s nicest towels from the downstairs bathroom. The towels quickly went to work until there was a yelp as he was drying off the dog’s front paw. Billy was startled and concerned that he had somehow hurt the dog. When he touched the paw with his bare hand the dog pulled back. Billy could tell that this paw was injured and very painful. Billy knew that it was now time to wake p his parents. He and the dog needed their help. "Mom, Dad, please get up," pleaded Billy trying to be as calm as he could. "What’s the matter, Billy? Aren’t you feeling well?" asked his startled Mother. Mr. Banks rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Has the storm frightened you, Billy?" Billy quickly told his parents what had been happening. And, although they were now wide awake, somehow they thought that this must be a weird dream. Just the same they got into bathrobes and slippers. Mr. Banks also grabbed a flashlight. Billy led the way down the steps and to the corner of the wet porch where the injured dog was huddled. His ears perked up, and his tail swished as he saw the boy and his parents looking down at him. Fortunately the wind and rain had slowed down considerably. Mr. Banks flashed his light down at the dog’s paw. He didn’t like what he saw. "Let’s take him inside, Dad" "I don’t think.." Mr. Banks started to say. But he hadn’t counted on the way Billy and his Mother would look at him. "OK., I’ll get a blanket and carry him down to the basement. Then early tomorrow we’ll see what has to be done." Mr. Banks was very careful not to touch the dog’s very sore paw as he carried the still damp animal down to the cellar. He laid him on an old sofa. "Please let me stay with him, Dad. He’s cold and frightened. He needs a friend." Again, Mr. and Mrs. Banks looked at each other. Nothing was said, but there was no question that Billy would set to stay. Billy gently petted the dog for just a few minutes until they were both fast asleep. But Mr. and Mrs. Banks found it difficult to go back to sleep as they wondered about what to do with this stray dog. First, they would certainly have to get medical attention t help the injured animal. Then it would be necessary to return the dog to its owner. Billy awoke early the next morning and found that the dog hadn’t moved his head a single inch. Hiss big brown eyes continued to look up into Billy’s as the boy petted him. Mr. and Mrs. Banks were anxious to see how Billy and the dog were. What they found was a pleasant change in the way the stray now looked. His coat was nice and dry and had turned into a beautiful reddish color. Billy had changed too. He was smiling and so happy to have a close friend in such a short time. After breakfast, which included a bowl of cereal for the hungry dog, Mrs. Banks called Dr. Baker at his veterinary hospital. He would see them right away. "This is a fine Golden Retriever about two years of age." Said Dr. Baker. He was concerned. "After looking over his x-rays it appears that his injury was caused by a car. His paw is so badly damaged that there is really nothing I can do to make it normal again." "Then what do you suggest, Dr. Baker?" "First, I’ll bandage it, and give him an injection to prevent further infection. But, you must understand, Mrs. Banks," de continued, "he is not your god, so you really cannot make a decision about his future. I’m sorry to tell you that some owners would ask that a dog with this kind of injury not have further treatment since he will always be handicapped without the use of one of his paws." There was a sudden silence as Dr. Baker and Billy turned and locked into each other’s eyes. Nothing more had to be said. There was no question by anyone in that examination room that this dog would live and learn to do the best he could on his three good legs. The next few days were spent in searching for the dog’s owner. Newspaper ads and telephone calls to the police and animal protection organizations failed to turn up anyone who claimed the animal. In the meantime, Billy and the dog became closer and closer friends. He even gave his new pal a new name. From now on, he was Can-DO! And, as the days passed, he lived up to his name. He tucked up his injured paw and began to get around quite well. Each day Billy knew that this friendship might not last if someone should claim his new friend. All he could do was hope that the two of them would be together always. Several weeks passed and Billy was getting his wish. So were Mr. and Mrs. Banks who were pleased to see a remarkable change in Billy-and Can-Do, too. Both of them were learning quickly how to hippity-hop more easily. Everywhere that Billy went Can-Do was sure to be at his side. Then one day when the two of them were playing in the nearby woods, Can-Do suddenly became very excited as he sniffed and circled a small area were the leaves were piled against a large tree. "Come on, Can-Do," called Billy. But Can-Do insissted on sniffing and yelping. He looked up at Billy, and seemed to want him to come and see what he had found. Billy went to where all the commotion was, and didn’t see anything at first. He was about to leave when he noticed what might be the tip of a bird’s wing. He kneeled down and cleared away enough of the leaves to see a small colorful bird that Can-Do continued to sniff. Billy carefully placed the bird in his hands. "Shh," said Billy as he gently comforted the frightened bird. "We’ll take good care of you." It was then that Billy noticed something was wrong with the colorful bird. Its left leg appeared to be broken! Billy had to get this little fellow home as quickly as possible. "Mom!" Billy cried. "Come quick! He’s hurt!" Mrs. Banks rushed into the kitchen. Her first thought was that Can-Do had been injured again. Billy had tears in his eyes as he showed his Mother the bird’s injured leg. Mrs. Banks found a shoe- box and lined it with a soft towel. She then laid the bird down and gently stroked its head. Not a word was said as Billy and Can-Do hopped into the rear sear of the car. Billy held the shoe- box, and kept assuring the little fellow that he was going to be taken care of by Dr. Baker. Dr. Baker tried to force a smile after carefully examining the injured leg. "This is badly broken, and it just can’t be repaired." This hit Billy just like the time Dr. Baker told him about Can-Do. "But, Dr. Baker." Pleaded Billy, "look how well Can-Do is getting along with the use of his front paw. Can’t you help this little bird, please." "Sometimes birds do manage to learn how to stand on just one leg, and may even be able to hop around or even fly again," said Dr. Baker. "I’m sure with your help, Billy, he’ll make it just like your best friend, Can-Do. It was plain to see how pleased Billy was. Even can-Do seemed to understand that the little bird he had found would be coming home with them. Mrs. Banks smiled thankfully. As the days passed, sure enough he could stand just a bit on his one little leg. And, when he did fall, Billy was right there to give him support. In a short time there was noticeable improvement, and the proud bird was also able to hippity-hop just like his two friends. "Mom," said Billy, "I’ve got a good name for our bird. Let’s call him Sunky!" And Spunky he was as he flapped his wings enough to be able to stand on his one leg. I a short time he found that this wing-flapping was also lifting him into the air. Then one day Spunky decided it was time for him to fly even if he might have a little trouble making a landing on just one leg. Billy and Can-Do were not only worried about the bird’s injury, but that he might not decide to return to them. But, in just a few minutes, Spunky headed back to where they were. He seemed to be looking for a good soft landing spot. And, there it was! What could be better than Can-Do’s soft, furry back! Spunky circled slowly and made a perfect one-egged landing to the delight of both Billy and Can-Do. From then on-everywhere Can-Do went-so did Spunky riding on his friend’s soft furry back. The Bank’s house was now the center of attraction as many people stopped by to visit the sog, the bird and kid who couldn't but did.
Leonard Berlow is a freelance writer with over 75 magazine publication and several books. He is a Fellow of the American Medical Writers Association.
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