She'll never be another YOU

KIRI:
Small Human person!

ALLY:
Yes?

KIRI:
Who is that in that photo?

ALLY:
That is Rona.

KIRI:
I don’t know anyone called Rona.

ALLY:
Neither did I until a month ago. She’s just a baby. She’s nice.

KIRI:
Nice?

ALLY:
Yes, she’s a gentle soul. But very young. You’d like her.

KIRI:
No I wouldn’t. I don’t like other dogs. Except the ones I do like.

ALLY:
I think you’d like Rona.

KIRI:
I’d growl at her.

ALLY:
And she’d growl back.

KIRI:
I’D BARK AT HER TOO!

ALLY:
Rona is good at barking. She’d just bark right back at you.

KIRI:
Then I’d snap at her! See how she’d like that!

ALLY:
I wouldn’t allow that. I don’t let my friends fight each other.

KIRI:
Oh, so she’s your friend now?

ALLY:
I have lots of friends. But I lost my very best one.

KIRI:
Who was that?

ALLY:
You, of course.

KIRI:
I’m sorry about that. I didn’t plan to get lost.

ALLY:
I know. But I’m still sad. I needed someone a bit like you to take the edge off the sadness.

KIRI:
So this Rona is a bit like me?

ALLY:
Well, she’s clever and smart and wilful and sneaky, and she comes from a line of sheepdogs. And she’s beautiful. Just like you. Well, no, never as beautiful as you. But she’s a pretty wee thing.

KIRI:
Hmph. I hate her.

ALLY:
Good. I’m glad you haven’t changed. That’s just what I’d expect you to say.

KIRI:
Has she got her own blog?

ALLY:
No. She hasn’t learned to read and write. She’s just a baby.

KIRI:
Ha! Useless creature! So I can be rude about her here, and she’ll never know!

ALLY:
Go ahead!

KIRI:
This is through gritted teeth, but ... I hope she loves you as much as I did.

ALLY:
She’ll never be another You. But I think we’ll get along.

A VOICE FROM BEYOND

  KIRI:
Where am I?

ALLY:
Oh, hello Kiri! I don’t know where you are. I can’t see you.

KIRI:
I’m somewhere! 

ALLY:
Describe it.

KIRI:
Green. It’s green. There are trees and grass and there’s a river, and hills, and it’s warm. But there’s snow on top of the hills.  The sky is blue with big white fluffy clouds. There are birds singing in the trees. Oh, and the meadow over there is full of wild flowers: ox-eye daisies, cornflowers, meadowsweet, lots of things... 

ALLY:
Sounds like my idea of Heaven!

KIRI:
Mine too. 

ALLY:
We like the same things, you and me. Is there anyone else there?

KIRI:
I don’t know. Oh, wait – I see a dog. A black and white dog.

ALLY:
Do you recognise him?

KIRI:
He reminds me of Old Creaky Dog from long ago. But it can’t be him. He’s not dragging his back legs. He’s bounding over to meet me!

ALLY:
Oh Kiri... It’s Ghyll! He’s not creaky any more. He’s a fine young dog again. You can play together properly now!

KIRI:
What about me? Am I a fine young dog too? Last thing I rememeber, I wasn’t feeling too good. I felt like shit to be honest. 

ALLY:
And how do you feel now?

KIRI:
I feel FINE!! I feel like a fine young dog! Yes!!!
Oh. Ghyll says “Hi!”

ALLY:
Aw that’s nice. Hi Ghyll. 
Is there anyone else there?

KIRI:
I think I heard someon miaowing.

ALLY:
A cat, perhaps?

KIRI:
Ooh, it’s two cats! I used to know them too!

ALLY:
I think maybe I can guess which cats those are.

KIRI:
SmallCat and LargeCat! They disappeared.

ALLY:
Aineko and Oscar. They died. We buried them in the garden, beside Ghyll.

KIRI:
They’re not buried now. They’re climbing trees!

ALLY:
Say “Hi” to them for me, will you? Tell them I miss them, but I’m glad they’re in the same happy place that you are.
Anyone else there?

KIRI:
There’s another dog coming over. I don’t know her. She’s all black and grey and white with big sticky up ears. Ghyll seems pleased to see her.

ALLY:
Oh, how wonderful! Pace is there too! We lost her such a long time ago. You can all be friends together now.

KIRI:
That sounds nice.
Where are we though?

ALLY:
You’re in the place where all the good dogs go. And all the good cats, too.

KIRI:
Yes, I can see three more cats in the distance. There’s an orange and white one, a calico one, and a tabby. They look a bit shy but they’re coming over.

ALLY:
Please tell Charlotte, Rover and BB that I miss them a lot, and I’m glad they’re in the place where the good cats go, because they are very good cats.

KIRI:
And people? Do they come here too?

ALLY:
I hope so. I Want to go there one day.

KIRI:
Will you come soon?

ALLY:
I hope not. But when I do come, it’ll be joyous, because we’ll be together again.

KIRI:
I miss you.

ALLY:
I miss you too. But when I come, we’ll be together forever. 

KIRI:
That’s worth waiting for.