Picture a landscape where the hills are covered in wild oak trees, with fallen leaves displaying colors of orange, yellow, brown, and green that blanket the ground in autumn. The ice plant grows in various areas across the ground, and if you're near the beach, you may catch an eyeful. Moss clings to some of the branches, which is a silent testament to such long-living trees. If you're quiet, you may see wild turkeys call this place home, or in the evening hear the coyote howl. You might spot a mountain lion or two in the distance, or see deer in the morning. The winding roads lead you to the rocky shores where a cherished fishermen's bridge once stood, but memories remain.
A grandmother’s voice could be heard across the hills, "Charlie, it’s time for lunch." In response, a small figure emerged, a boy of merely four years, his laughter mingling with the rustle of leaves as he bounded down the dirt-covered slope. Beside him, his loyal canine companion matched his pace, their bond evident in every synchronized step. From dirty jeans to mud-splattered shoes, the boy was a portrait of youthful courage, a tiny adventurer unafraid of the wild embrace of the woods. Such was the spirit of this young explorer. Whistling a lively tune from a song he had heard on the radio that week, he bounced along the path with pure energy! With an enthusiastic shout, he called out to his furry friend, "Hurry, Boonda! We have to tell Brother about the really big bird we saw."
Boonda, a mixed lovable dog about seven years of age, was a mutt, a blend of two well-known breeds: a pit bull and a golden Labrador. With a scruffy coat and an inquisitive nature, Boonda was truly one of a kind! To a young Charlie, he was the best four-legged companion a four-year-old boy could have, since Charlie’s older brother was away at school. Boonda had a knack for adding a bit of excitement to each day. Whether it was chasing after cars or popping over to see the neighbors' horses, you could say he enjoyed "bothering" them just a little! Boonda was Charlie's uncle's dog, and since his uncle was busy at work and wouldn't be back until later that evening, Charlie and Boonda had the perfect opportunity to explore the countryside near their home together. Boonda absolutely loved chasing after Charlie’s grandmother’s chickens, which upset her, so she had a sturdy fence made to keep Boonda out. Although Boonda would not be able to attack grandma’s chickens, he would certainly try to go after the neighbor’s down the road. When Charlie’s uncle heard from a neighbor that Boonda had attacked their chickens, he received a warning that they would take extreme action against the dog. Charlie's uncle quickly secured Boonda with a chain to prevent the dog from causing any mischief with the neighbors.
One rainy evening, the school bus that usually brought Charlie’s brother home from the local elementary school broke down just a few miles away. Charlie’s uncle, along with his mom, went to pick up his brother, leaving Charlie under the watchful eye of his grandmother. Now, Charlie was known for being a bit adventurous, and despite his mom’s warning not to leave the house, he couldn’t resist the call of the nearby hill. While his grandmother was engrossed in her favorite TV shows, Charlie decided it was the perfect time to sneak out with his trusty companion. At four years of age, Charlie found it very difficult to get outside since the front door was locked from top to bottom. However, Charlie discovered the small doggy door on the back door of the house, which he realized he could fit through.
The sky was filled with gray clouds, and a gentle rain was falling, accompanied by the distant rumble of thunder. It was around one in the afternoon, the usual time for Charlie's brother to get home, however Charlie’s uncle and mother had not returned yet from picking up his older brother from the broken down bus. You could hear the soothing sound of raindrops trickling from the tree branches and leaves, creating a soft melody as they landed on the autumn leaves scattered on the ground. The rain turned parts of the hillside into a muddy mess, mixing with the red clay that were only found in special areas on the hill. The collar and chain that Boonda was attached to was now laying on the ground, with no sign of Boonda in sight. Charlie spent around ten minutes calling out for Boonda and looking for him near the house, but Boonda was nowhere in sight. Wearing only a hoodie, Charlie decided to venture up the hill in search of the dog Boonda.
After about an 8-minute hike up the hill, Charlie reached his usual stopping point, however, today, he thought his beloved dog might have ventured further up the hillside. Determined to find his beloved dog, Charlie continued his hike, hoping to reunite with Boonda. The rain had finally eased up, leaving a peaceful silence all around. Charlie spotted something up ahead on the trail in the distance, a four-legged figure that looked just like his best friend Boonda. Charlie soon arrived at the spot where he had seen what looked like his best friend Boonda, but he did not see any sign of the dog.
Back home, Charlie's uncle, mother, and brother had arrived home, but Charlie's grandmother had not seen Charlie since she dozed off while watching her television shows. When everyone realized that Charlie was missing from the house, they called out to Boonda the dog, hoping to locate him. They must have called for Charlie and Boonda for 15 minutes before getting a call from the local neighbor who owned the horses down the road. Charlie's brother knew that if they found Boonda, Charlie would be with the dog. If Charlie somehow left alone, something was wrong, but his brother couldn't understand how he wandered off by himself.
Meanwhile on the hill, Charlie accidentally tripped over a wire from an old fence that laid hidden beneath the tall grass on the ground. As he was busy untying his boot, he suddenly heard a strange sound coming from the bushes nearby. Charlie heard a growl, and out of the bushes emerged a coyote. Its teeth protruded from its lips as it stared at Charlie, who froze in shock. Charlie was slowly able to get free from the wire and gently started to move away. The coyote was about 20 feet away from where Charlie was, and the distance was closing as the coyote moved closer. Charlie, without knowing, began to walk backward, carefully creating distance, knowing that if he turned to run, he would be chased.
Suddenly, the dog Boonda emerged from the brush right behind Charlie and ran toward the coyote. Charlie stood in shock, amazed, watching as Boonda let out a defensive growl. Boonda lunged at the coyote's neck, causing the coyote to yelp in pain. The coyote managed to break free, turning to guard its back while snapping its teeth at Boonda. The two animals locked eyes, each waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Tension filled the air as they calculated their next move. The dog Boonda once again lunged at the coyote, latching onto the coyote's neck and viciously jerking it back and forth. Just then, Charlie heard his family calling him from down the hill, and he eagerly ran home to tell them what had happened.
When Charlie arrived home, he saw that his mother was visibly upset. She expressed her disappointment in him for leaving his grandmother’s supervision. She warned him that going up the hill could be very dangerous and advised him never to return there again. Charlie's grandmother, although upset that Charlie had snuck out of her supervision, was very relieved that he had returned home safely, and hugged him. Charlie promised his mother that he would never again climb that hill or wander off on his own. glancing around, he couldn’t help but wonder, had Boonda made it back home yet?
Charlie's mother had some bad news to share about their uncle's dog, Boonda, now that his brother was home. She explained that earlier that day, before she left, the neighbor down the road had called to say that Boonda's body was found after being struck by a car. Charlie’s mother had waited to tell Charlie until his brother returned home from school that day. She conveyed that Charlie's uncle wanted to comfort him by informing him that Boonda the dog would not be coming home.
Charlie couldn't wait to share his chilling experience with his brother. He recounted the terrifying moment he encountered a coyote on the hill, as he described the coyote's growl and sharp teeth. His brother listened intently, captivated by the thrill of the story, and couldn’t help but listen to Charlie relive the moment Boonda saved him. Boonda, the fearless dog, bravely battled the coyote, allowing Charlie to run home safely. When Charlie's brother heard about this, he informed his uncle about Charlie's encounter with a coyote up the hill and how Boonda had saved him.
Charlie’s uncle was on his way to pick up Boonda’s body from down the road, near the neighbor who had discovered it. After hearing the story from Charlie’s brother, he chuckled to himself, surprised that Charlie would still invent tales about Boonda. After raising Boonda from a young pup, Charlie’s uncle felt a deep sadness at the thought of burying his beloved dog. He soon arrived at the neighbor's house, where Boonda's body had been recovered.
When he arrived at the neighbor's house, the neighbor led him to a horse stall where he had previously left Boonda's body wrapped in sheets. They walked to the far end of the stall, but instead of finding Boonda's body, all that remained was an empty stall with the sheets spread out on the ground. Charlie's uncle remembered the story his nephew had told him about Charlie's encounter on the hill. With that in mind, he excused himself and headed home.
Charlie's uncle arrived home, walked toward the hill at the back of the house, and began his hike. After about three minutes, he had covered a considerable distance and reached an old wooden fence that used to have a gate, but was now open to anyone who ventured up the hill. There in amazement, he saw the bodies of not only one but two lifeless coyotes. Charlie's uncle called out to Boonda, but there was no sign of the dog anywhere.
As days and weeks passed, Charlie and his brother were often seen playing outside near the tomato garden with one of Boonda's favorite footballs. Boonda was never seen again, and sadly, his body was never found. Charlie held on to the cherished memories of his brave friend, finding comfort in the memories of Boonda and how his friend saved his life. On the hill, Charlie's uncle graciously placed a post and sign near the spot where the bodies of two coyotes were discovered. The heartfelt inscription read: "In memory of Boonda, the dog that bravely saved Charlie." This tribute honors the loyal companion who put himself in harm’s way to protect Charlie, reminding everyone of the brave dog that once was, and will always be.
