Heart of Hope

Prologue

It had been 57 years since Charlie Barkin was last on earth, and already he had missed so much about Earth. Don't get him wrong he did like being in Heaven, but as time went by it became perfectly clear that compared to earth and the life he left behind, Heaven was starting to become... dull. Boring and very uneventful. He had been begging for more excitement in this cloudy kingdom but everyone else wasn't on the same page as he was. They liked Heaven just the way it was... which made Charlie want to change it even more.

He tried again and again to change Heaven's strict rules and laws and such but the one rule remained the same; no going back to earth. It was making Charlie wish he had been born a cat instead, he had heard that cats had nine lives after all... but then again that was just a silly myth. He just wished he had someway to go back. He was desperate for an escape from behind the pearly gates.

Today he heard that some new dogs were coming to Heaven, and he was hoping one of them was a good friend of his. The last few times were a bust but this time he was hopeful. Once he was up and about, Charlie ran towards the gates with several other dogs and among the new arrivals he recognized one of the familiar furry faces. He did look older with gray fur around his muzzle and hazy looking eyes but once he touched the golden ground of Heaven, he began to age backwards, back to how he looked in his youth.

"Randi?" Charlie asked "Randi!"

Randi looked around in confusion, one minute he had been put down at the vet's and the next here he was... but where was he? It wasn't until he saw Charlie rush up to him that his memories came rushing back and he exclaimed "Charlie!"

Charlie tackled Randi into a hug and the overjoyed mutt hugged him back. As they hugged they parted ways in time for a familiar female to come rushing towards him with tears in her eyes.

"Lola? Lola!" Randi exclaimed with joy. He hadn't seen her since she died during childbirth and now here she was, still as beautiful as ever.

Lola kissed Randi and said "Oh Randi, I missed you so very much! Heaven was never complete without you in my life... or after life."

Randi chuckled and kissed Lola back "I lived my life to the fullest and took care of our children as best as I could. Now our babies have children of our own and... Oh, how I missed you in my life my darling."

"I did my best to keep Charlie out of serious trouble while you were still alive." Lola said "And believe me, it wasn't easy."

"Hey, you know I am not a puppy!" Charlie said "I can take care of myself just fine."

Randi's smile changed into a frown as the other angels gave him his halo and wings and Charlie noticed "How was things back on earth? Is Anne-Marie doing alright?"

"More then alright." Randi said "She's started a family of her own, and she's become a very successful and very loving mother... and grandmother."

Charlie felt his chest swell up with pride and he almost teared up. Anne-Marie, his darling little Squeakers was all grown up and raising a family of her own. He couldn't be any more proud of his girl. How he wished he could go back and give her a great big hug, even for a few moments.

Lola grinned at Charlie and said "Looks like you still have a soft spot for that little dumpling."

Charlie cleared his throat and shook his body as he said "What? No no! I mean a little but... a cloud got into my eye and..." he sighed in defeat and said "Okay, I admit it. So I'm not made of stone."

"Last I heard," Randi said "Anne-Marie's family is moving from New Orleans to San Francisco to start a new business in culinary. I hope they'll be okay. Especially my grandson Robert."

"Please," Charlie said "If Robert is anything like you, I think he'll do just fine."

Meanwhile on Earth, San Francisco

Robert had lost all track of time as he slept in the family car while taking a nap as memories from a whole year went by in a blur. But he was startled awake when the car went over a speed bump and shook his head. He was still in the stuffy and cramped up car with the moving van right behind them. Drawing away in her coloring book was his beloved little owner and very best friend, eight year old Molly.

Molly was playful, full of imagination and couldn't sit still for one moment. Robert had been his 7th birthday gift to her from her grandmother and they have been the best of friends ever since. Molly had always heard of her grandmother's adventures when she was a child like her and wanted to be able to talk to animals too... before Anne-Marie lost that incredible gift the moment she became an adult. And sadly it was one skill nobody could teach or regain. Robert heard about Charlie and Anne-Marie's stories as well but unlike Molly, who believed in every word that was told, he didn't believe a single word of it. He had always thought that those stories were made up and would much rather focus on the here and now then in what happened way back then.

Yawning, Robert stretched his body forward to see himself in the rear view mirror and winked at his reflection.

"Now that's a handsome Dalmatian." he said to himself "Not a pure breed Dalmatian, sure, but still handsome none the less."

"We're almost there boy, keep your paws in." said Molly's father, as he kept his hands on the wheel before he let out a yawn.

"Need to trade places again?" Asked Molly's mother "I'd be more then happy to drive us the rest of the way."

"No, we're almost there. I can manage." Molly's father said.

"Daddy, will I like Aunt Sierra?" Molly asked as she looked up from her coloring book.

"Of course you will, at least I hope." Molly's father said "I haven't seen my sister in a very long time, but I'm sure you two will get along great. And guess what? She has children of her own, cousins who are about your age. They could be the first of your many new friends you get to make in our new home."

"I hope so." Molly said

"Oh Molly," said Molly's mother "I know change can be scary but no matter how things turn out, never forget that you are never alone as long as you have someone you love and trust by your side."

Molly smiled and continued to doodle in her drawing book while Robert sat beside her and licked her cheek lovingly.

"I love you Robert." Molly said as he nuzzled her with affection.

"I love you too." Robert said.

He knew Molly couldn't understand him but he couldn't blame her. He had often wished that he could talk to her when he was a puppy, but now all he wanted was to get out of the car the moment they move into their new home and sleep in his nice warm dog bed again.

He had no idea that in a few weeks his life would change in ways he never thought were possible.