"The Way To The Sky"
An old woman, her horse and her dog were walking down a hot, dusty road lined with a beautiful white fence on both sides. As they walked along, the old woman and her team became very thirsty and tired.
Soon, they came to a gate in the fence where, on the other side, they saw a nice grassy, wooded area surrounding a cool clear pool of fresh water. "Just where a thirsty trio would like to rest!" thought the old woman. But there was a sign over the gate that read "No Dogs" so they walked on.
Further on, they came upon a man in a flowing white robe standing just inside a strong iron gate across a path that led to a beautiful, sunny meadow with a cool clear stream running through it.
" 'Scuse me, Sir," said the old woman, "We have been on this road all day. Mind if we come in and sit in the shade for awhile?" "Of course!" The man said. "Come on in and rest. You look thirsty and tired." The old woman said, "We sure are!" and started through the gate.
The gatekeeper stopped her. "Sorry, you can come in but your horse can't come with you, nor the dog. "You see, this is Heaven, and animals aren't allowed here. He has to stay out here on the road." "What kind of Heaven won't allow animals?" said the old gal. "Well, if he can't come in, then I'll stay out here on the road with him. They've been my faithful companions all their life and I won't desert them now."
"Suit yourself," said the gatekeeper, "but I have to warn you, the Devil's on this road and he'll try to sweet talk you into his place. He'll promise you anything, but animals can't go there either. If you won't leave that dog on the road, you'll spend all Eternity on the road with him. Better if you stay here."
"Well, I'm stayin' with my pack," replied the woman; and she and the two walked on. Gradually, the fence became more and more faded and rundown until they finally reached a spot where the boards fell away completely leaving a gap. Another man dressed in old, ragged clothes sat just inside the broken fence under a shady tree.
" 'Scuse me Sir," said the maid, "My companions and I have been on this road all day. Mind if we come in and sit in the shade for awhile?" "Of course!" The man said. "Come on in and rest. There's some cold water here under the tree. Make yourself comfortable."
The old woman paused, "but what about my horse and dog? Can he can come in, too? The man up the road said animals weren't allowed here, and they had to stay on the road." The new man answered, "Well, you look pretty tired and thirsty. Would you come in here and rest if you had to leave that duo?"
"No sir!" the lady replied, "A glass of cold water and some shade would be mighty fine right about now but I won't come in if my dog here can't come too. I didn't go to Heaven because my horse couldn't come with me, so I sure as how ain't about to go to Hell without him neither."
The man smiled and said, "Welcome to Heaven, and bring your dog!" The old woman exclaimed, "You mean this is Heaven? And my horse can come with me? Then why did that fellow down the road say they weren't allowed in Heaven?" The man clarified, "That was the Devil and he gets all the souls who are willing to give up a life-long companion for small comfort because they think it will make their lives a little easier."
The man continued, "They soon find out their mistake, but, then it's too late. The horses come here, the fickle people stay there. God wouldn't allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, He created them to be man's companions in life, why would he separate them in death?"
- Story is based on an episode of The Twilight Zone by Rod Serling
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