Thomas was a lonely middle-aged divorcee. His friend got him a dog to try to assist with his loneliness. But after he loses his dog, he learns a couple of lessons about love from a young boy who is able to teach Thomas’ old dog some new tricks.
Thomas was a middle-aged single man who lived a rather mundane, simple life. He would waste away his time watching television and isolating himself in his house. His friends often worried about him.
“It’s one thing being alone. It’s another being lonely,” his friend, Don, often reminded him during their weekly bowling sessions. These were the few occasions Thomas got some time outside of the house.
Don and Thomas grew up together and were dear friends. Don worried about how Thomas’ life had changed since his divorce. Thomas became more secluded and spent most of his days alone.
Most people his age were married or had children, so Don never judged his friend for doing his own thing. His only concern was how his failed marriage had hardened his heart, making him untrusting and resentful.
One day, Don arrived at Thomas’ doorstep with the biggest surprise Thomas could have never been ready for. When Thomas came to answer the door, he was met by Don with a puppy in his arms.
“You got yourself a dog, Don?” Thomas asked, scratching his head in confusion.
“Nope! I got you a dog, Tommy,” Don said, handing the pup over to his bewildered friend.
“What? Are you crazy?! What in the heavens am I supposed to do with a dog?” Thomas said, refusing to take the puppy.
Don laughed at his friend’s disbelief. It was exactly what he was expecting. “So, are you going to let me in or not?” Don asked. Thomas rolled his eyes before ushering in his friend with a sigh.
They sat on the couch as Don played with the puppy. “You seriously bought me a dog?” Thomas said, confused as he looked on at Don playing with the puppy.
“Yep! You need a friend around, Thomas,” Don said.
“I have a friend. You!” Thomas said.
“Yeah, but…and I mean this with all due respect, Thomas…” Don started before an impatient Thomas chimed in.
“Oh, no! Everyone who starts their sentence with those words normally goes on to say something super disrespectful,” Thomas said, holding his head in dreaded anticipation.
Don laughed. “All I was going to say is, I have a family, Thomas. And I worry about you. You haven’t been the same since your divorce. I just want you to be alright, Tommy. You’re my best friend,” Don confessed.
“I am alright,” Thomas said, lying through his teeth.
“Just keep her around for a while and see how you feel. Please, man,” Don said.
Thomas looked at the puppy with great contemplation. The puppy suddenly came up to him and started liking his hand gently. Thomas tried to keep a straight face but couldn’t help but melt at the adorable pup.
“Alright. Just a few days,” Thomas said, playing with the puppy.
“That’s all I ask… So, what will you call her?” Don asked.
“I don’t know… She looks like a Molly to me,” Thomas said. “You like that name? Molly?” he said playfully to little Molly, who continued to lick away.
A week passed, and Thomas was growing to love his new friend, Molly. However, he lacked the patience and care needed to raise her. Molly was quite the handful for Thomas.
She would gnaw at his sofas and slippers and jump on his clean bedding after a long walk in the muddy park. Molly would stamp her dirty pawprints all over Thomas’ home and drive her new owner up the wall.
Molly was a lot to handle, but Thomas’ impatience didn’t make things any easier. He would constantly scold her harshly and even neglect her at times. Defeated by her unhinged behavior, Thomas sought to take Molly to trainers.
“Leave her alone! She’s obviously scared of you.”
After trying out a couple of dog trainers to no avail, Thomas gave up on getting Molly trained. He simply couldn’t control her, and the more he scolded her, the more afraid she became of him, yet never followed his orders.
One day, Thomas was walking Molly through the forest in the park. He would walk her through the forest to avoid other dog walkers in the main parks because Molly would often lose it the second she encountered other dogs.
As they exited the forest into one of the main parks near the parking lot, Thomas noticed a poster for an upcoming dog show in the coming month.
He then looks over at Molly with a disappointed glare. “You could have been part of this. But you insist on being stubborn and foolish, Molly!” Thomas yelled at the dog, who simply whimpered.
As they were walking home, Molly spotted a squirrel and suddenly tugged Thomas sharply to the side in her pursuit. Thomas hit his face against a branch and instantly dropped the leash.
“Molly, you idiot!”Thomas yelled, swinging at her. Terrified, Molly made a run for it.
Thomas ran after her, but he couldn’t catch up to her. As he watched her disappear in the distance, he suddenly realized his mistake. “Oh, no! Thomas, you idiot! How is she going to survive out there all on her own!” Thomas cried, holding his head in dismay.
Thomas looked for Molly the whole of that day, to no avail. He decided to ask Don and some of his other friends to help him. They put out a search party for Molly, but it was all in vain. She was nowhere to be found.
Days passed, and Thomas soon realized he may have lost her forever. Thomas was heartbroken. He finally realized just how lonely he was without Molly, his friend.
A month later, Thomas was returning from work and saw what appeared to be Molly in the park. He immediately stopped his car and ran to the park. When he got there, he found Molly, but she was not alone.
Molly was with a ten-year-old boy who appeared homeless in his old, worn-out clothes. The boy slept by Molly’s stomach as the dog wrapped her body around him, warming him.
Thomas was immediately elated. “Come, Molly! Come here, girl!” Thomas shouted joyfully. Molly and the boy instantly jumped up in shock. Molly hid behind the boy, who boldly stood before Thomas. Thomas was confused at the scene before him.
“Who are you?” the boy asked skeptically.
“That’s my dog,” Thomas replied. “Come, Molly!” Thomas cried, bending low, desperately trying to get her attention.
“Molly! I said come here!” Thomas shouted, getting frustrated. Molly began to whimper with her tail between her legs.
“Molly!” he yelled again. Molly began to run away.
“Leave her alone! She’s obviously scared of you,” the boy said.
“Nonsense! That’s my dog,” Thomas said with an awkward chuckle. “Molly! It’s time to come home,” Thomas said, calling to the dog. Molly didn’t move an inch, looking on from a distance with her tail still between her legs.
“Molly! I said come here!!” Thomas yelled, beginning to walk up to the dog. The people in the park began to huddle around them, disturbed by the man’s tone and what seemed like an oppressive situation.
“I think that’s far enough, sir,” one of the onlookers said, holding up his hand, signaling Thomas to stop.
“Yeah! You better leave that dog and boy alone if you don’t want any trouble!” another added.
Thomas looked around, utterly confused. “
No…but…you don’t understand, that’s my dog,” Thomas said anxiously, clearly having met his match in the crowd, which looked like they were ready to defend the boy and Molly at any cost.
“Get outta here!” another added.
Thomas began to back away with his hands held up in retreat. He then left solemnly, without Molly. Thomas barely got any sleep that night, tossing and turning, thinking about his precious Molly.
The next day, Thomas went to the park to try to apologize to the boy and Molly. When he got to the park, he was bewildered to see all the activity there.
As he saw the banners and various owners with their dogs there, he realized it was the day of the dog show. Thomas was frustrated at the sight before him because it meant it would only make making finding Molly that much harder.
He searched the whole park to no avail. He then decided he would try looking for them at the exhibition. He scanned the premises for the longest time but couldn’t find Molly.
As he turned to leave, finally giving up, he suddenly heard the MC announcing the next act. “Let’s give a loud round of applause for our next act… The Street Friends!”
Thomas turned around to see Molly and the boy coming to the stage. Thomas could not believe his eyes. Molly completely stole the show! She did all sorts of tricks, listening to the boy’s instructions to the tee. It was a completely different Molly.
After the performance, Thomas approached Molly and the boy. The boy was about to head the other way with Molly when he saw Thomas, but he suddenly stopped at the man’s plea.
“Please! I just need a moment. I won’t force her to go with me. I just want to talk,” Thomas said sincerely.
“Sit, girl,” the boy told Molly. Molly instantly sat down next to him. The boy then stood in front of her defensively.
“I just had to ask. All that you guys did out there,” Thomas said, pointing to the stage. “How did you get her to obey you like that? I tried for the longest, but she’d never listen,” Thomas said.
The boy, Billy, began to tell Thomas about his story and how he and Molly met…
Billy was an orphan who had grown up in an orphanage most of his life. He tragically lost his parents when he was five years old to a car accident on Easter weekend. One day, his caretaker and the rest of the children from the orphanage were on one of their weekly walks in the park. They walked in a casual line with their caretaker at the head.
Billy was trailing at the back of the line when he suddenly came across Molly. He initially feared Molly, who growled at the boy from the bushes.
“Hey there… You hungry?” Billy said softly, trying to calm the dog down as he reached into his pocket to pull out the sandwich he had packed for lunch. He took one half of the sandwich and held it out to Molly.
Molly calmed down, stepping forward and snatching the sandwich from Billy as he ate it next to him. A little calmer, Billy started to pat Molly as he ate the other half.
Molly began to lick his hand once both of their sandwiches were finished. Billy sat next to Molly. “I’m sorry, pal. That was the only sandwich I had,” Billy said as Molly started to lick his face. Billy laughed cheerfully, fully lowering his guard.
“Billy!!” the caretaker yelled from a good distance away.
“Sorry, pal…it seems like they are looking for me. I hope you enjoyed your sandwich,” Billy said, getting up. As he did, Molly began frisking around Billy, hoping to play with him.
“Sorry, buddy. I have to go,” Billy said, brushing Molly and then running off towards his caretaker and the other children.
Molly discreetly followed Billy back to the orphanage. Later that evening, Billy saw Molly through the window sitting outside the orphanage. He immediately ran out to her.
“Buddy, what are you doing here?” Billy asked as he playfully patted her. Molly wagged her tail, frisking and barking in delight.
“Alright. I tell you what? Let me try and see if our caretaker Miss Lloyd won’t mind taking you in. I know the other kids would love to have you around,” Billy said.
Billy ran into the orphanage and told his caretaker all about Molly. He explained how he would love for them to take Molly in as their own.
“Are you crazy, Billy? We barely have enough to sustain you guys. I can only imagine us now taking in strays off the street. I’m sorry, but it’s a no!” his caretaker blatantly told him.
Billy accepted his caretaker’s words and went outside to Molly to say his goodbyes. However, when he got outside, he noticed the heavy storm starting to brew and felt for his new friend.
He had hoped that Molly would seek shelter somewhere, but she just sat there. He figured she was still waiting for him, so he went out into the rain to try to lead his friend to shelter.
“Come on, girl! Go!” Billy said, trying to shoo Molly away to the nearby sheltered car park. But she wouldn’t move an inch. She stuck right by his side. The rain began to pour in more furiously.
“Billy! Where are you? It’s lights out!” the caretaker said from the door.
“Get shelter!” Billy said, patting Molly again. Molly whimpered as the boy ran back to the orphanage entrance.
“I’m here. I was just saying goodbye to the dog,” Billy said, heading inside.
Later that night, a restless Billy watched from his window as Molly continued to sit in the rain. She hadn’t moved an inch since he had last left her.
“Buddy, you’re going to get me into trouble,” Billy muttered as he looked at the dog in the rain.
While everyone was sleeping, Billy climbed down the first-floor window to the orphanage entrance and then ran to the parking lot shelter with Molly. She finally followed him once he’d led the way.
“One thousand dollars!” Billy said in shock as he saw the cash prize in bold. “Alright! Let’s give it a shot! Yeah?”
As Billy looked at his new soaking friend, he learned a beautiful life lesson. At that moment, he understood the essence and value of love, loyalty, and friendship.
He understood that they had made a bond of friendship earlier, and in one way or another, Molly waiting on him in the rain was her way of honoring that bond. Billy stayed with Molly until the rain cleared and climbed back to the orphanage.
The next day, he brought his lunch to Molly, who was still stationed by the car park where Billy had left her. As he was about to share his lunch, he tried some tricks with his new pal.
“Sit!” he commanded with one hand while he held the piece of meatloaf in the other. Molly sat down, then Billy gave her the piece.
Billy was completely over the moon. He had not his and Molly’s bond from the night before and thought he’d try to test it. But he wasn’t prepared for such an immediate response.
“Lie down!” he instructed Molly, holding another piece above her and gesturing for her to go lower. Molly heeded his instruction and lay on her stomach. Billy was completely confounded.
As the days passed, Billy continued to train Molly. He would give her instructions and reward her each time she obeyed. He would also play with her regularly, their bond growing stronger each day.
Billy even named her Buddy because that’s what he’d always called her, and that’s what she was; his buddy. Easter was approaching, and it often saddened Billy as he thought of his parents. However, having Billy around comforted him and gave him hope for one day spending Easter with a new family.
One day, as they were playing, a poster of the dog show was suddenly swept by the wind into their path. Molly grabbed it with her teeth and dropped it before Billy.
“What’s this?” Billy said, picking it up and reading it. “You want to give it a shot, Buddy?” Billy said, patting her excitedly.
“One thousand dollars!” Billy said in shock as he saw the cash prize in bold. “Alright! Let’s give it a shot! Yeah?” Billy said cheerfully, to which Molly responded with a bark.
Billy and Molly started to prepare for the competition, day and night. And when the day finally came…
“Well, you saw our performance. She was amazing!” Billy explained to Thomas as they sat on the park bench. “Weren’t you, Buddy?!” Billy said, hugging Molly, who sat next to him. She barked in agreement.
“Wow! That’s quite the story. I get why she likes you so much. You were there for her in a way I could never be,” Thomas said with a kind smile as he watched the boy patting Molly with reciprocated delight and affection as she wagged her tail with each stroke of his hand.
“So…is she really your dog?” Billy asked curiously.
“Uhm… She lived with me. But truth be told, she isn’t mine anymore,” Thomas said, momentarily pausing as he watched the two. “No… I don’t deserve her. She’s found her rightful owner. Who am I to separate that?”
“So you’re not going to take her from me?” Billy asked anxiously.
“Heaven’s no! I just want to help you both as an apology,” Thomas explained.
“And how will you do that?” Billy asked.
As Thomas was about to respond, the MC suddenly sounded through the speakers again:
“The judges have tallied their votes, and we have a winner. Can we have a big round of applause for the Street Friends!”
The crowds burst into large applause and cheering. “Looks like you guys are up,” Thomas said to Billy. Then he turned to Molly with a sincere, warm smile, saying, “Well done, Molly. I’m sorry I ever doubted you,” Thomas said.
Molly responded with an approving bark and approached Thomas, liking his hand, just like the first time they met. Thomas was almost in tears as he watched them going to the stage to receive their $1000 prize and trophy. Seeing Billy and Molly collect that prize was one of Thomas’ most beautiful and treasured moments. He even cried a little. Tears of peace and joy.
After that day, Thomas stuck to his promise. He did indeed help Billy and Molly. He became Billy’s foster parent and was a way better parent to Billy than he had been to Molly. He’d even thank Billy now and again for teaching him how to love again and be a parent.
After a while, Billy learned to love Thomas. Thomas later officially adopted the boy, and they added another addition to the family. They bought a new dog and named her Molly because Billy had already rightfully named her Buddy, something she was to both Billy and Thomas.
Buddy and Molly got along amazingly and quickly produced several puppies together. After the puppies were born, they all celebrated Easter as a newfound family. Little Billy finally got his wish.
