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SHIBJIT MITRA

Drama Inspirational Children

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SHIBJIT MITRA

Drama Inspirational Children

She: The Heart of Joy

She: The Heart of Joy

13 mins
383


The House with the Smiling Dog

She was the heart of the home, a source of warmth, joy, and constant companionship. Her presence lit up every corner of the cozy house they shared, a house that seemed to hum with laughter and love whenever Kiwi was nearby.

Donald had always known that Kiwi was special. Her fur, soft like a ray of golden sunlight, gleamed in the morning light, and her wide, ever-present smile seemed to spread to everyone who crossed the threshold of their home. But it wasn’t just Kiwi’s appearance that made her unique—it was her soul. Kiwi loved with her entire being, and nowhere was this more apparent than in her affection for the neighbourhood kids.

The house sat in the heart of a lively neighbourhood, where the sound of children playing was as regular as the rustling of leaves in the wind. Kiwi adored these sounds. The patter of tiny feet on the sidewalk, the shrill laughter that floated through the air—these were the melodies that made Kiwi’s heart race with excitement.

Every day, Donald would find her sitting patiently by the front window, her nose pressed to the glass, waiting for the moment when the children would come into view. And without fail, they did.


The Doorbell’s Magic Spell

The sound that Kiwi loved the most, however, was the chime of the doorbell. That single note was like a magic spell, casting over her an uncontrollable burst of energy and excitement. It was as if her entire body was wired to that sound.

The moment the doorbell rang, her ears would snap up and her tail would become a blur, thumping rhythmically against the floor. She would dash towards the door with such enthusiasm that her paws would skid on the wooden floor, sending her into a joyous dance.

Donald couldn’t help but laugh every time it happened. "Hold on, Kiwi! Let me get the door," he would say, his voice barely audible over the symphony of Kiwi’s happy barks and the doorbell’s echo.

And as the door swung open, Kiwi’s whole world lit up. Standing there, in a clump of giggling, smiling children, was the reason for her joy. The kids were no less enthusiastic, shrieking, "Kiwi!" in unison as they reached out their tiny hands to pat her golden fur.

Kiwi, in her usual fashion, would wiggle with excitement, her body moving in rhythm with her wagging tail. Her smile—wide and genuine—was returned by each child, their hands reaching down to rub her soft, golden coat. It was a love shared in simple gestures, one that required no words, just wagging tails and joyful laughter.


Hide and seek, Labrador Style

The games the children played with Kiwi were endless, but their favourite by far was hide-and-seek. It wasn’t a traditional game of hide-and-seek, though. With Kiwi in the lead, it became something more—a blend of mischief and adventure, all under the watchful eye of their smiling dog.

The children would scatter throughout the house, giggling as they tried to find the best hiding spots behind furniture, under tables, or even behind the long curtains in the living room. Kiwi, with her keen nose and playful spirit, was always on the hunt.

Her head would tilt as she sniffed the air, her eyes squinting in concentration as she tried to locate her hidden friends. Once she caught the scent of one of the kids, her tail would start wagging even faster, thumping like a drum on the floor as she approached.

One by one, she’d find them. And each time, the discovery was met with a triumphant bark and a wag of her tail so fierce it was a wonder it didn’t lift her off the ground. The kids, too, would erupt in laughter, their hiding places having been discovered so effortlessly by their four-legged friend.

“Oh, Kiwi! You always find us!” they’d say, half in admiration and half in mock frustration, though they secretly loved how much better Kiwi was at the game than they could ever be.

But Kiwi wasn’t one to boast. Each time she found a child, she would nuzzle them with her nose, as if to say, “It’s all in good fun.”


The Fetch Champion

Hide-and-seek may have been a favourite, but Kiwi was also the reigning champion of fetch. The backyard of Donald’s home became a playing field for endless rounds of the game. The kids would toss a bright yellow ball as far as their little arms could manage, and Kiwi would bound after it, her legs moving like pistons as she soared through the air.

Her ears would flop wildly as she ran, and her eyes would lock onto the ball, her focus unwavering. With every leap, Kiwi seemed to defy gravity, catching the ball mid-air and landing with the grace of a dancer.

The children would cheer as she returned, the ball clutched proudly between her jaws, her tail wagging as if to say, “I’ve done it again!”

There were times when the kids tried to race her to the ball. "I’ll beat you this time, Kiwi!" they’d shout as they sprinted beside her. But Kiwi, with her athletic legs and boundless energy, always won. And yet, even in victory, she remained humble, waiting for the next throw with the same enthusiasm as the first.

To the kids, Kiwi was unbeatable, but to Kiwi, the thrill wasn’t in winning—it was in the shared joy of the game. The way the children’s laughter filled the air, the way they clapped and cheered for her—those were the real rewards.

 

A Restful Pause

As the afternoon turned to evening, the games would eventually slow down. The children, exhausted from their play, would collapse onto the soft grass of the backyard, their faces flushed with happiness. Kiwi, too, would feel the effects of the day’s adventures, though her wagging tail never quite stopped.

She’d saunter over to the group, her body moving with the grace of contentment, and then flop down beside them, rolling onto her back in a silent request for belly rubs. The children, never one to deny Kiwi her favourite treat, would giggle as they scratched her soft, golden tummy, their hands working in unison to give her all the love she deserved.

Kiwi’s eyes would flutter closed, her mouth curling into that familiar, happy smile. Her legs would twitch ever so slightly, as if she were still chasing after that yellow ball in her dreams.


The Promise of Tomorrow

As the sun dipped lower and the sky began to turn shades of pink and orange, the children would reluctantly rise to their feet. "We have to go, Kiwi," they’d say softly, patting her head one last time.

Kiwi, sensing their departure, would sit up, her eyes following them as they made their way to the front gate. But her gaze was never filled with sadness. Instead, it held the promise of tomorrow—a silent understanding that they would return soon for more games, more laughter, and more love.

Donald would stand by the door, watching the scene unfold, his heart swelling with warmth. He knew that Kiwi had a way of making every day feel like a celebration, a way of spreading happiness to anyone who crossed her path. And as the kids waved goodbye, their giggles echoing down the street, Donald would smile, knowing that Kiwi had, once again, filled the day with joy.

Kiwi would sit at the gate for a few moments longer, watching the children until they disappeared from sight. Then, with a satisfied sigh, she would trot back inside, her tail still wagging, already dreaming of the next adventure.


A House Full of Memories

It’s hard to imagine the house without Kiwi’s bright presence. The golden glow of her fur, the sound of her paws skidding on the wooden floor as she raced to greet the children, and most of all, that wide, ever-present smile—these memories have woven themselves into the fabric of Donald’s life. Even though Kiwi is no longer physically by his side, her essence lingers in every corner of the home.

The laughter of the children still echoes in the backyard, an

d sometimes, Donald can almost hear Kiwi’s excited bark as she chases after the ball or finds a hidden child in a game of hide-and-seek. But Kiwi, despite no longer being there to greet the children at the door, left behind more than just memories. She left behind love, and that love took shape in the most beautiful way: in the form of her little sister, Cherry.


Cherry’s Arrival

Cherry, the newest member of Donald’s family, came into the household like a soft breeze on a summer’s day. She was a fawn-coloured Labrador just like Kiwi, with the same soft coat that shimmered in the sunlight, and though her smile was uniquely her own, it carried a familiar warmth that instantly comforted everyone around her.

When Cherry first arrived, the house was still heavy with the weight of Kiwi’s absence. Donald had been unsure whether bringing another dog into the home would ever fill the void. But from the moment Cherry bounded into the house, tail wagging and eyes sparkling with curiosity, it became clear that while Kiwi could never be replaced, Cherry was here to continue the legacy of joy, love, and companionship that Kiwi had started.

Cherry had a playful spirit, just like her sister. Her favourite game quickly became fetch—no surprise to Donald. She would dart after the ball with the same boundless energy Kiwi once had, her ears flopping in the wind as she raced across the yard. And just like Kiwi, she had a special gift for comforting those around her.


Cherry and the Children

It didn’t take long for the neighborhood kids to fall in love with Cherry. The first time they came to visit after Kiwi’s passing, they were tentative, unsure of what to expect. Their tiny faces were still marked with the sadness of losing their beloved playmate, but Cherry greeted them with her own brand of joy.

Her tail wagged furiously as the door opened, and she barked in excitement, just as Kiwi had done countless times before. "Cherry!" they shouted, and in that moment, it was as though the sun had returned to the house. Cherry wiggled with happiness, her body language so much like Kiwi’s that the children instantly felt at ease.

The games began again, just as they had in the past. Cherry proved to be an eager participant, racing to find the kids in their favourite hiding spots, sniffing out their presence with her sharp nose. She took to fetch with a natural grace, catching the ball mid-air, her floppy ears bouncing with each leap.

But Cherry, despite her energy and youth, had a tenderness that was different from Kiwi. She was the kind of dog who knew when someone needed a quiet moment, a soft nuzzle, or simply a comforting presence. The children, who had learned to love Kiwi so deeply, found a new source of joy and solace in Cherry’s playful companionship.

 

Comfort in New Beginnings

Donald couldn’t help but smile as he watched Cherry integrate so effortlessly into the life Kiwi had once filled. There was something healing about watching Cherry chase after the children, her paws kicking up soft tufts of grass as they played. It wasn’t that she was replacing Kiwi—no, that could never happen. Instead, Cherry was continuing the story that Kiwi had started, bringing her own light and joy into the lives of everyone around her.

In the quiet moments, when the house was still and the kids had gone home, Cherry would curl up at Donald’s feet, resting her head gently on his lap. In those moments, Donald would run his fingers through her soft fur, feeling both a sense of peace and a bittersweet longing. He would glance over at the framed photo of Kiwi that sat on the mantle, the one where she was captured in mid-bark, her smile wide and her eyes gleaming with happiness.

Donald would sigh softly, but it wasn’t a sigh of sadness. Kiwi had given him and the children years of joy, and now Cherry was here to offer the same love in her own way. It wasn’t about replacing the past, but about embracing the future while cherishing the memories.

Cherry seemed to understand this too. On more than one occasion, she would walk over to that same photo of Kiwi and nuzzle her nose against it gently, as if paying her respects to the sister she had never met but whose presence she could feel so strongly.


The Legacy of Love

As time went on, Cherry grew into her role as the new heart of the household. She became the centre of attention at every gathering, the children’s new best friend, and Donald’s faithful companion. Yet Kiwi’s memory was never far from anyone’s mind, especially when Cherry would do something that reminded them all of her sister.

Whenever Cherry bounded across the yard with a ball in her mouth or snuggled up to a child who had scraped their knee, there was a moment of recognition—a reminder that love never really leaves us. It changes form, grows, evolves, but it remains at its core the same.

Kiwi had taught everyone in the house how to love unconditionally, how to find joy in the simplest moments, and how to smile through it all. And now, Cherry was here to continue teaching those lessons, not by copying Kiwi but by being herself, a unique soul with her own brand of affection and joy.

The neighbourhood kids, who had once feared that no dog could ever replace their beloved Kiwi, soon found that love wasn’t about replacement. It was about expanding their hearts to make room for more. And Cherry, with her soft golden fur and kind eyes, had found a way to fill the house with the same warmth and laughter that had once defined it.


A New Chapter Begins


Though Kiwi was no longer physically present, her spirit lived on in every playful bark, in every wagging tail, and in every game of fetch that Cherry led. The love Kiwi had spread over the years was now Cherry’s to nurture and grow, and she did so with the same boundless joy and enthusiasm.

Donald knew, deep down, that Kiwi had fulfilled all their dreams. She had given them endless memories, taught them how to love without restraint, and shown them how to find happiness in every moment. Now, it was Cherry’s turn to carry that torch forward, and she was doing it beautifully.

On quiet nights, when the world outside seemed to slow down and the house was still, Donald would sit by the window, Cherry curled up at his feet, and think of all the joy Kiwi had brought into their lives. He would look at Cherry, who would lift her head, give him a knowing glance, and then return to her restful sleep. It was as if Cherry understood that her purpose was to continue the legacy of love, not as a shadow of Kiwi, but as the bright, new light that now filled their home.

And in those moments, Donald would smile, not with sadness but with gratitude. For Kiwi had given him everything he could have hoped for, and now Cherry was here to give them even more.


Epilogue

Kiwi wasn’t just a dog; she was a best friend, a loyal playmate, and a source of endless happiness for everyone she met. She loved with her whole heart, and in return, she was loved just as deeply. In the laughter of children, in the shared moments of play, and in the quiet stillness of the setting sun, Kiwi found her purpose—a purpose that filled her life, and the lives of those around her, with immeasurable joy.

The house that Kiwi once filled with love and laughter is still full, not just with memories but with new moments of joy brought by her little sister, Cherry. Cherry, like Kiwi, has woven herself into the fabric of Donald’s life and the lives of the neighbourhood children. Though Kiwi is no longer with them, her spirit lives on in every game of fetch, every belly rub, and every loving nuzzle.

In the end, the story wasn’t about losing Kiwi but about continuing the love she started. And as long as Cherry is around, that love will never fade. It will grow, evolve, and carry on—just as it always has.


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