Larry's Wildlife Photography and Stories: April 2023

My name is Ben

By Larry J. Dellinges

It was six o’clock on a Sunday morning when the sun began to glisten over the distant snow covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains mystically overlooking the bedroom community of Willow Brook, Colorado. Spring was just beginning to warm the once snow covered ground with an occasional sprinkling of wildflowers in some yards and neighboring meadows just daring to bloom early. Ben, a handsome and mature Golden Retriever sat anxiously at the front door anticipating the sound of the daily paper to hit the driveway. He had learned from an early age to retrieve the morning paper along with the mail and an occasional package over the years but on this morning all of that was about to tragically change. Ben lived harmoniously with his owner and best friend Elizabeth Beck who worked tirelessly within the states school system. Ben often accompanied her on trips throughout the state visiting schools and delighting both students and staff with his enduring charm and clever antics. Ben could spell his name using large letters that Elizabeth would randomly lay out on the floor. His favorite trick was picking up the right numbers from one to ten when called out by the children. On one occasion a student wanting to put Ben to the test called out, “One hundred” prompting Ben to run over to Elizabeth for an extra zero causing the stunned forth graders to erupt into hysterical laughter. He was treasured within Elizabeth’s heart and a permanent part of her soul, together they spared a connection only found between mans best friend.

Elizabeth was already dressed and seated at the kitchen table when that unmistakeable sound hit the driveway with a louder thud than usual. Elizabeth took one last sip of coffee and went to the front door with Ben eagerly following just inches behind her. She had no sooner opened the front door when Ben instantly bolted outside in a golden flash but something was oddly different on this frosty morning. A shadowy figure dressed in all black stood near a dark colored pick up truck with the drivers door open and the vehicle running. Exhaust fumes from the truck clouded the crisp morning air making it truly difficult to clearly see what happened next. The darkened figure called out Ben's name and threw the newspaper into the cab of the truck in one smooth motion. Ben stopped suddenly just before the opened door of the vehicle but was instantly scooped up and forcefully pushed inside by the mysterious figure who almost appeared to double in size as the cloudy exhaust fumes began to clear. Elizabeth stood frozen for just a few seconds not believing her own eyes on what had just transpired but a voice inside her took over immediately directing her to react. She ran toward the truck as if possessed by the spirit of a lioness with cubs facing danger. Her face flushed with rage and her eyes fixed and focused on protecting her best friend but sadly she was too late.

Elizabeth desperately grabbed for the handle of the truck as it jetted forward nearly running her over. She quickly looked down and picked up a baseball size river rock that lined the walkway of her house and threw it at the fleeing vehicle striking the tailgate and breaking a taillight. The truck accelerated and quickly rounded the corner screeching it's tires and disappearing in a low menacing roar but not before Elizabeth managed to read the last three numbers of the license plate. She bolted inside and dialed 911 on her cell phone but before she had received an answer she was in her car heading in the direction of the speeding truck and asking God for help. She didn't have time to think and her body still trembled as she tried to explain to the 911 operator on what had just occurred. She continued to repeat the last three digits of the license plate over and over again until the dispatcher assured her she had written them down. For the moment thoughts of why Ben was taken didn't matter as she raced through the residential streets of Willow Brook in frantic desperation. Soon Elizabeth was joined by three Sheriff's deputies but nothing was found that fit that description. It was if the mysterious truck and driver had vanished in board daylight and as for those last three digits, well sadly they matched no existing vehicles leading them presently to nowhere for now?