Hot tears filled my eyes as I said frantically, "Here boy! Good boy... where are you???" My parents stood behind me, in disbelief. I swung around and asked, "You do believe me? You know he was here? You've GOT to believe me.... a dog did save us in the fire! I...I saw him!" "Ben... I know what you're going through is hard. You wanted a dog and one suddenly appeared in our shed, and you thought it would stay, but it left. I have to tell you... after you went to bed I went out and opened the door so he would go away. I'm sorry, honey but I know you were going to grow too attached to it. You think your dog came back, but he didn't. He's gone. A fireman saved us... its the only logical thing. You were too full of smoke to see right, Ben." My mom said as she stroked my hair. Doubt flooded my mind... was mom right? Had the dog left and a man had saved us? But I remembered him licking my hand and dragging us through the house.... I know I did. "No Mom... my dog saved us." I said confidently. "Ben, he's not your dog." My dad said sternly, his voice rising. "Dad, he needs me! He came to me!" I shouted desperately! "Ben, NO! No dog and thats final! He's gone anyways, so stop back talking me and your mother!" My dad said angrily. I sunk into the tall grass that was outside our shed and weeped into the palms of my hands. I felt my mom rub my shoulder lovingly, then I heard them walk away quietly. After a few minutes I sat on my knees and talked to myself as if I were a parent talking to a child. "No no, no more of this cryin' stuff. You're a grown man... gotta stop all this weepin' and get thinkin'. My dog is here somewhere... he probably ran off because of all the noise. You just gotta find him and bring him back, where he belongs. He must be hungry, too." I got to my feet and went around the yard, calling for him, but no sign. I slapped my forehead and said, "Why didn't I take a picture of him? I could post ads in town! Ugh...." Suddenly a cat emerged from the bushes, yowling its head off as a dog came bolting out of the bush after it! The cat ran off towards my driveway, hissin' and spittin'. The dog ran after it, enjoying himself in this game of chase. I looked closer at the dog... it was my dog! No, it couldn't! He wouldn't hurt a cat... would he? When he gained on the cat.... I suddenly realized that it wasn't a game... it was real. He bared his teeth and snapped at the tail of the cat! "NO!!!!!!!!!!!" I yelled.