Dog Star

Dog Star

  by Dory Lee Maske

  Copyright ? 2008 by Dory Lee Maske

  All rights reserved

  Illustrations: Copyright ? 2008 by Robert Maske

  All rights reserved

  Cover design by Robert Maske

  Dog Star

  Once upon a time, in a world where wishes sometimes came true, there lived a small boy who had a favorite star. Every night he looked up at the sky to find his special star and if the night was clear he would spend many happy hours watching it and wishing on it. The star knew all his secrets and all his cares and shone a little brighter for his friendship.

  Often the boy would wish for a playmate. "If only you were here, my shiny friend, what fun we could have," he wished aloud. That night as he slept he dreamed that the star flew down from heaven and sat at the end of his bed, warming him and watching over him.

  The next morning when he awoke he heard a scratching at his door. When he opened it - there stood a large shaggy dog with a great wagging tail. "Hello, I'm Dog Star," said the dog. He looked like a dog except for his eyes. They were like two jewels, sparkling with light. His voice was rumbling and not quite human. The boy stared at him.

  "I've come to play with you," said Dog Star, "let's go."

  From that day the boy's life was wonderful. He and Dog Star did everything together. Wherever they went flowers bloomed and small animals appeared. When they fished they always caught fish. When they went exploring they always found secret caves and trees good for climbing. They made friends with the crabs at the seashore, the ducks on the pond and the squirrels in the trees.

  Dog Star never spoke to anyone but the boy and no one thought it strange that they spent so much time together. Days and years slipped away in little adventures and soon the boy became a young man.

  "You should learn a trade," his mother said, "you are too old to spend all your time with Dog Star."

  The boy was very sad. He did not want to learn a trade and he could not bear to part with Dog Star for even one day.

  "What troubles you?" asked Dog Star.

  "My mother wants me to learn a trade," the boy said.

  "Well that might be fun," Dog Star said.

  "Oh no," the boy said, "Once you start a trade it is work only and no more fun."

  "Oh I see," Dog Star said, and he was very sad as well.

  As they sat together by the road with long faces there came a procession. There were jugglers and acrobats, trained bears and clowns, horses and dogs and many men and women in brightly colored clothes. The boy and Dog Star jumped up and forgot all about being sad. They followed the procession at a little distance. One of the men in the procession saw them and lagged behind.

  "Is this your dog?" the man asked the boy.

  "Dog Star is my friend," the boy replied.

  "I understand," the man said, "for I am a trainer of dogs and I know that you must first be their friend."

  "Where are you going?" asked the boy.

  "We go to entertain at the King's palace," the man said, "there is to be a grand celebration and the King will announce the tests by which the hand of his daughter and half his kingdom can be won. Come along, I have need of another dog and an assistant."

  And so it was that the boy became a dog trainer and his mother was happy that her son had a trade and was on his way to entertain at the King's palace. The group was always merry and the boy found that he liked having a trade. He quickly made friends with the other dogs and the trainer, but never let on that Dog Star could talk.

  At the palace the celebration went on for weeks. Dog Star was a great favorite for he delighted in performing. He walked back and forth on his front paws, jumped higher than all the others to catch balls and rings, and kept time to the music with his happy wagging tail. He always attracted the largest crowds and made the boy very proud.

  Finally the day arrived when the King would introduce the Princess and announce the tests. Suitors from every kingdom were present for the Princess was rumored to be very beautiful. As the King stepped onto the podium all was silence around him.

  "The time has come," the King said, "for me to find an heir to my throne, for I have been blessed with a beautiful daughter, but no son. However, such a one must be proven worthy and so I have devised three tests which must be passed by any who would try for the hand of the Princess."

  At this point the King paused and gestured to the veiled lady standing behind him. "This is my daughter."

  The young woman came forward, threw back her veil and smiled at the crowd. Everyone was instantly in love with her, so beautiful and free from guile she was. The King continued to describe the tests but the boy did not hear them - he was too much in love.

  That night the boy told Dog Star, "I must marry the Princess, I cannot live without her."

  "But why?" asked Dog Star, "Aren't you happy with me?"

  "Oh, of course I am," said the boy, thinking he may have hurt his friend's feelings, "but I can't explain it - I just know that without her my life is ended."

  "I see," Dog Star said, and he hung his head in longing much as the boy did.

  The next morning the boy told the trainer he would try for the hand of the Princess. The trainer laughed until he rolled on the floor. "Don't you understand?" he said, "the King doesn't really want his daughter to marry; that is why he made the tests impossible."

  "The tests are impossible?" the boy asked.

  "Of course," said the trainer, "who could catch 2000 fish in the Great Lake with only a fishing pole? Who could make a tunnel through the King's mountain with only a small shovel? Who could guess what is hidden in the golden box? Most of the suitors have already left; what chance could you have?"

  All that day the boy was very sad. Even Dog Star's amazing feats brought no smile. The first of the suitors to try the feats came back with 100 fish from the Great Lake and the King praised his valiant effort but even so he had failed to catch 2000 fish and so he was banished from the Kingdom. The Princess bid him good-bye and thanked him for trying.

  One by one the suitors who were left tried, failed and were banished after the first test. The celebration was fast losing its gaiety. One day while Dog Star was hopping on one foot and juggling balls with his nose and his tail, a young woman stopped to watch. The boy did not notice her at first, for these days his head was always downcast. When he did look up he saw the smiling face of the Princess.

  "Your dog is the best," she said, "I watch him from my window and he always amazes me and makes me laugh."

  The boy stared at her lovely face and said without thinking, "He is my friend."

  "Of course," the Princess said, "I hope he will be my friend as well."

  The boy finally gathered his wits together but it was too late, the Princess had moved on. He looked at Dog Star and said, "You see, I must try."

  Dog Star said, "Yes I see," and nuzzled his hand. They went together and put in their petition.

  When the King read the petition he smiled down at the young man. "You understand that failure on any one of the tests will mean banishment from the Kingdom?"

  "Yes," the boy said, "I understand."

  The next morning at daybreak the boy said good-bye to the trainer who wished him good luck and said he would hate to lose them both. The boy set out with Dog Star to the Great Lake. They gathered some worms along the way and the boy had good luck fishing. By noon he had caught over 100 fish. Even as he continued to catch fish tears rolled down his cheeks.

  "What is wrong?" Dog Star asked.

  "The day is already half over," the boy said, "I know I can't catch 2000 fish in one day but I had to try and now we will be banished from the Kingdom."

  Dog Star hung his head and would not play with the d
ucks anymore. When they asked why, Dog Star told them, for he could speak any language. When the ducks heard the story they said they would help and they began diving for fish and bringing them to the banks. The boy was overjoyed and he began to have some hope again.

  A little before sunset they could hear the horses of the King's soldiers. The boy asked Dog Star how many more fish were needed. "The ducks say about 1000 more," he said.

  "Oh no," the boy said, "We won't have time." Dog Star looked sad. His eyes began to glisten wetly and with it, rays of light spread out upon the lake. The sun was just setting and the fish began jumping toward the bright rays of light. As the King's soldiers rode up they thought they saw fish flying through the air. Unsure, they remained silent as they counted over 2000 fish.

  With news of the successful completion of the first test the celebration began anew. Everyone wanted to see the young man who had accomplished it. Some said he must be a sorcerer and others said he must have had help, but all ate the fish and celebrated. The King looked a little suspicious but praised the young man and said he hoped he would fare as well in the second test.

  Dawn of the next morning found the boy and Dog Star at the foot of King's Mountain with a shovel. The boy began at once to dig his tunnel but by noon he had made