Story # 7 Charlie the Canine Companion (Small Workshop)

Danielle Orner
3/12/07
Story # 7
(Children’s Story)
Charlie the Canine Companion
My name is Charlie. Well actually, it is Charles Winston Barthalamule Mc Clayton but that is such a big name for such a little dog. You can just call me Charlie. Everybody else does. My owner’s name is James. We do all the ordinary dog and owner things together like play catch in the park, take naps on the couch, and go for walks around the neighborhood. But we also have a very special job to do together every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.
On those days, we get in the car together and drive to Hope Hospital. When we get to the hospital, we meet Wendy the Nurse who gives us our special nametags. “Well, look whose here. It’s my two favorite guys,” Wendy says when she sees us. I wear my nametag on my red collar and James wears his clipped to his t-shirt pocket. The nametags have our pictures and the words “Canine Companions” on them in big blue letters. The word canine is just a fancy way of saying dog and the word companion is just a fancy way of saying friend. My special job is to be a dog friend. I had to go to school to learn how to be a good dog friend. I learned how to give wet kisses on cheeks and how to do tricks with a ball. When we visit the hospital, James and I go into every room to cheer up the sick kids with kisses and tricks. Some of the kids have big bandages and others have no hair. I am not afraid of them because I know they are just kids who like to laugh and play even though they are sick.
Today, we visit a boy named Ricky first. When we come into his room, Ricky is resting in bed. James says hello and then hides a treat for me in the folds of Ricky’s blue blanket. I do a fancy jump up on to the bed and wiggle my tail all around while I sniff out the treat. My fluffy tail tickles Ricky’s face. Ricky laughs and laughs while I hunt around in his blanket with my little pink nose. I find the treat and Ricky rewards me for my good work with a pat on the head. I give Ricky a wet sloppy dog kiss and he pets me. Then James says it is time to go and I do a fancy leap off the bed. “See you next week. Thanks for visiting.” Ricky says with a wave.
Next is Janie’s room. She gives me a lick of peanut butter from her sandwich. She laughs when I stick my tongue out to get the sticky treat. Janie uses a wheelchair to get around. I hop up and curl up in her lap. She takes me for a ride around the room by moving the wheels with her hands. “Hold on tight, Charlie,” Janie giggles as we spin around the room. “No jumping down while we are in motion.”
In Ben’s room, I do a dance by standing on my back legs and waving my front legs in the air. “You’re good enough to be a circus dog,” Ben cheers as he claps. I agree that it is a very good trick. Ben likes to draw and paint. He gives James a picture of me with my nametag hanging from my collar. It is a very good picture. “Thanks very much. We will put it on our fridge at home,” James promises.
James and I visit rooms all day making the sick kids smile and laugh. I get lots of treats and kisses and friendly pets. At the end of the day, we drive home very tired and very happy. We have a yummy dinner and then curl up in bed. When I fall asleep, I dream of playing with all my friends in the park when they are all well. I am proud that I have such an important job to do.