Just one more Boris story This was the nightly plea I heard from my daughter just before bedtime. It meant another opportunity for me to conjure up a tale based on her experiences and my imagination that might help her sort through a question from her day. Boris is a mythical character, a dog that happens to be experiencing the same life challenges as Rebecca did when she was eight to ten years old and every problem seemed like an overwhelming conundrum, or at least a terrific drama opportunity. While Boris initially had the same feelings and thoughts as Rebecca, he was always able to find the possible solutions that existed, no matter how hopeless the situation appeared through the eyes of a young girl. The Boris fables are beloved because they are entertaining and also enable children to get a little distance from their concerns. They can get a new perspective on their world without feeling that they are being lectured to or that "parental advice" is being imposed. Boris is the perfect medium to share "un-discussable topics" and to discover creative solutions to problems. Most importantly, the stories serve as a stimulus for engaging in meaningful conversation about important life issues.
The Fables of Boris
Invitations to Conversations between Children and Their MentorsBy Richard BellinghamiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2009 Richard Bellingham
All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4401-6245-9Contents
Acknowledgments..................................................................viiIntroduction.....................................................................ixChapter 1: Boris's New Life Starts with a Thud...................................3Chapter 2: Boris Settles in to His New Neighborhood..............................9Chapter 3: Boris Finds a Wise Friend.............................................15Chapter 4: Boris Breaks the Rules................................................21Chapter 5: Boris Assesses His Current Life.......................................25Chapter 6: Boris Makes a Plan....................................................31Chapter 7: Boris Contemplates Freedom............................................37Chapter 8: Boris Connects to a Higher Purpose....................................43Chapter 9: Boris Recalls His Early Puppyhood.....................................47Chapter 10: Boris Clears His Mind and Thinks Positively..........................51Chapter 11: Boris Helps Create Peace.............................................57Chapter 12: Boris Discovers the Problem with Relationships.......................63Chapter 13: Boris Manages His Impulses...........................................69Chapter 14: Boris Expects Better from Himself....................................73Chapter 15: Boris Advocates for Gratitude........................................79Chapter 16: Boris Learns How to Learn............................................85Chapter 17: Boris Considers Himself in the Mirror................................89Chapter 18: Boris Meditates......................................................95Chapter 19: Boris Sizes Up His Friends...........................................99Chapter 20: Boris Believes He Can Fly............................................103Chapter 21: Boris Learns about Leadership........................................109Chapter 22: Boris Makes a Soul...................................................115Chapter 23: Boris Tries to Inspire Others........................................121Chapter 24: Boris Teams Up with His Friends......................................125Chapter 25: Boris Catches Himself Stretching the Truth...........................131Chapter 26: Boris Wakes Up.......................................................135Chapter 27: Boris Moves Up the Scale.............................................139Chapter 28: Boris Gets It Together...............................................143Chapter 29: Boris Takes a Risk...................................................147Chapter 30: Boris Shows Compassion...............................................153Chapter 31: Boris Takes the Initiative...........................................159Chapter 32: Boris Suffers a Loss.................................................165Chapter 33: Boris Discovers the Importance of Doubt..............................169Chapter 34: Boris Lightens Up....................................................175Chapter 35: Boris Adjusts His Expectations.......................................179Chapter 36: Boris Learns to Appreciate Differences...............................183Chapter 37: Boris Finds the Courage to Act.......................................189Chapter 38: Boris Practices Diplomacy............................................193Chapter 39: Boris Celebrates a Milestone.........................................199Chapter 40: Boris Becomes a Role Model...........................................205Chapter 41: Boris Asks Hard Questions............................................209Chapter 42: Boris Digs for His Biological Roots..................................213Chapter 43: Boris Creates Community..............................................219Chapter 44: Boris Is Content.....................................................225Chapter 45: Boris Shares His Love................................................229Chapter 46: Boris Reflects on His Transformation.................................233Chapter 47: Boris Centers Himself................................................237Chapter 48: Boris Talks Straight.................................................241Chapter 49: Boris Thanks Zelda...................................................245Chapter 50: Boris Faces His Own Death............................................249Epilogue: Boris Gets a Namesake..................................................251The Fables of Boris Live On......................................................253Appendix: An overview of learning objectives and life skills.....................255
Chapter One
Boris's New Life Starts with a Thud
"Boris, you're a sweet puppy, and we love you, but there are just too many mouths to feed in this family. We're going to have to drop you off in a nice neighborhood and hope you are able to find a kind family who will take you in."
The puppy's owner, a young woman with three kids and several other pets, had just lost her job. She opened the car door and dropped Boris gently to the ground. She had placed a name tag around Boris's neck with a note attached saying, "Boris is looking for a good home. I hope you will give him one."
In a choked-up voice and with teary eyes, she said, "Good luck, little puppy. We know you are a special dog and you will find your way. We will miss you."
Thud-Boris was on his own.
Boris, only two months old and looking like a brown, curly fur ball, felt his legs tremble. His eyes grew wide as he checked out his new surroundings: open fields, huge trees, a large hill, a beautiful lake, and tall weeds. He started walking carefully along the road looking for a friendly face. Boris was faced with his first choice in this new, suddenly scary and uncertain life. He could cross the major highway and head up a small hill to where he saw a big, brick building, or he could start walking down a steep road that led to a gorgeous, blue lake in the distance.
As he stared across the highway toward the building uphill, a huge truck whizzed past. All Boris could see from his little body on the ground were giant wheels spinning dangerously and throwing stones. It didn't take him long to make his choice. Like a magnet, Boris felt the pull of the cool, blue waters.
As Boris stumbled down the hill, calming his heart and steadying his paws, he passed by a large, red farmhouse with fenced-in fields and several small houses set away from the road. Halfway to the lake, Boris felt a flea on his back. Soon he was spinning around in circles trying to gnaw the irritating pest away.
"Ahh, I got it!" Boris sighed with relief once he'd scared the bug away. "But now I need to get back to my task." Not seeing any inviting signs, like playing children, abandoned toys, or food on a porch, Boris continued his search. His quest for something more in life had begun.
Being alone in a strange place made Boris nervous, but calming his fears, he felt more and more sure-footed as he trotted down the hill. As the lake came into clearer focus, so did his thoughts and feelings. Pausing at the bottom of the hill and surveying his surroundings, Boris gave himself permission to hope for an exciting new life in this unknown place. He admired the scenery before him: windblown fields to his right that stretched for what seemed like miles before they ran up to a dense, mysterious pine forest. He loved the contrast between the deep, blue water and the rich, green leaves on the trees.
But now, near the lakefront right in front of him, he had to make another choice. He could take a left turn down a paved street or a right turn down a dirt path lined with trees. He hadn't wondered long when he heard what sounded like a friendly dog's bark in the distance off to the right. He made his choice.
As Boris walked hesitantly down the dirt road, he passed a few more houses. His confidence grew as he spotted doghouses in some of the yards. Boris started panting hard with excitement, his tongue darting quickly in and out of his mouth. He took a deep breath and continued his journey. The barking grew louder.
"Lucky, stop that barking!" Mr. Knowles yelled out the door, not knowing that Lucky had seen another dog crossing in front of the house. Lucky charged toward the road with fur flying every which way and then came to a screeching halt, his tail wagging rapidly. Fortunately, he had stopped barking in response to Mr. Knowles's command, which eased Boris's fears.
"Whew," Boris panted a sigh of relief. "Maybe someday he'll be my friend," he thought as he slinked past the house.
When Lucky noticed that Boris was just a harmless puppy, he barked more gently to him. "Hey, you can come stay with me if you're lost," the friendly dog said.
"Daddy, Mommy!" shouted two young boys before Boris could respond. The kids, aged three and five, lived in the brown, two-story house next door to Lucky's house. It was at the very end of the street. "It's the sweetest little dog. Please, can we keep him? Look how nervous and hungry he looks. Oh please, Daddy?"
Boris wiggled his way shyly up to the boys and licked their hands. Mr. Hamm, as the man was called, looked at his wife, shrugged his shoulders, nodded his head, and said, "Okay, boys."
And just like that, Boris had found his new home. His quest was off to a good start.
Chapter Two
Boris Settles in to His New Neighborhood
Boris was thrilled with his new home. The Hamms, who adopted him, were immediately delighted with his playful antics. Mr. Hamm, a teacher at the local school, loved to play sports with his sons, Liam and Aidan, and he laughed out loud at the way Boris begged each of them to throw the ball to him. Mrs. Hamm, a doctor in a local clinic, enjoyed watching Liam and Aidan chase Boris all around the yard as the puppy cleverly evaded them. Inside, Boris would proudly prance around the house with a stick he had found.
Whenever Boris got excited, his eyes opened wide, and he wiggled all over. The Hamm boys thought Boris was the most adorable puppy they had ever seen. Liam screamed with delight when Boris licked his face every time he picked him up. Aidan jumped with joy when Boris ran into the kitchen and skidded across the hardwood floors. Boris thought, "How could I be so lucky to find a home where the people love me and there is plenty of room to play?"
The Hamm fam, as Boris called them, lived at the end of a dirt road in the middle of the woods. The house had a sunny, screened-in porch, a serene deck overlooking the woods, and an open living area with a cozy fireplace. But from Boris's point of view, the best thing about his new home was not the inside-it was all the wilderness around it that invited adventure. The big lake at one end of the street seemed to call, "Boris, come in for a swim!" The small beaver pond at the end of a mile-long trail through the woods at the other end of the street was alive with activity that made Boris's ears perk up with the possibilities. To top it off, several other houses on the street also had dogs, so Boris couldn't wait to start making friends.
After Boris got adjusted to his new home and learned the new rules-no chewing on the furniture, no peeing on the rug, no jumping on guests-he yearned to go outside and get acquainted with all the neighborhood animals. Boris pranced across the yard and boldly walked right up to the neighbor's door. In his eagerness to meet new friends, he crashed right through the neighbor's pristine garden, knocking a few tomatoes off the vines.
Being just a puppy, Boris was surprised when the neighbor abruptly flung open the door with a serious scowl on his face. Mr. Knowles was proud of his garden and got angry when anyone disturbed the neat rows or ruined any of his precious plants. Boris's turbo tail suddenly went limp, and he cowered a bit on the porch, his knees as shaky as his sense of security. Mr. Knowles, quickly realizing that Boris didn't know any better, turned his scowl into a smile and called for Lucky.
Suddenly, the bigger dog that Boris had met briefly the other day came bounding out onto the porch. Boris brightened up. Lucky jumped around Boris, hoping this new dog would prove to be a fun-loving friend. Boris remembered that Lucky had been kind to him when he first stumbled into the neighborhood. The slightly older puppy had a soft, shiny, black coat and expressive, kind eyes. Boris was amazed at the size of Lucky's paws-they were huge compared to his own puppy paws.
After Lucky and Boris chased each other around the yard for a while, Lucky was satisfied that Boris would be a welcome addition to the neighborhood. He offered to introduce Boris to the other dogs in the neighborhood.
A few doors down, Lucky and Boris found Prudence playing out in her family's yard. Prudence was a small, white dog with curly fur and a pointy nose. Boris also noticed she was wearing a red ribbon in her fur. He was a bit curious what that was all about, but he decided not to ask about it. Not yet, anyway. Prudence seemed dainty and often held her nose high in the air. While Boris thought she might be boringly prim and proper, he was impressed by her obvious refinement. Boris sensed that Prudence might have some deep talent behind her surface features.
Prudence looked deeply into Boris's eyes with a thoughtful frown on her face. Lucky interrupted Boris's train of thought by introducing them. "Prudence, this is Boris. He's a new dog on the block, just moved in with the Hamm family."
Ever-polite Prudence welcomed Boris to the neighborhood and said she would be pleased to have tea and dog biscuits with him one day.
Lucky, a bit impatient, said, "Well, we'll have to get going. Lots more friends to meet. See ya, Pru!"
Boris and Lucky made a quick exit and strolled down the road. Before long, they arrived at Gabby's house. Gabby was a young, friendly dog with beautiful brown fur. She was taking a nap in her backyard, but she jumped up eagerly when she heard Boris and Lucky approach. She barked a warm welcome and immediately started sniffing Boris to make his acquaintance. Gabby bounced around the yard with her tail wagging and her ears flopping. Boris thought, "I like her energy and enthusiasm! I hope we'll be good friends." After a quick game of tag and chase, Lucky, Gabby, and Boris plopped down on the grass for a little rest and some chatting.
Boris was beaming with happiness over his new friends. Once again, he couldn't believe his good luck. "Is every dog in this neighborhood as nice as you guys?" he asked with wide eyes.
A serious look settled onto Lucky's face as he explained that that was not the case. He cautioned Boris against getting involved with some of the neighborhood gangs that had been forming over the past year. These gangs consisted of dogs that had not been well cared for and had had to survive on their own. They often attacked other dogs for no apparent reason.
Gabby nodded in agreement and then warned Boris of another danger. She told him he should not to do his business on Mrs. Sharpie's lawn or dig in her yard. Mrs. Sharpie took great pride in her bright green, weed-free lawn and could be very nasty to trespassing dogs.
But Boris couldn't stop thinking about Lucky's warning, wondering who these ominous other dogs could be and how to tell them apart from potential friends. He remembered Prudence's reserved tone and unmoving tail and how unsure he felt around her. "Is Prudence in one of those gangs?" he asked.
Both Gabby and Lucky assured Boris that, although Prudence could be a little standoffish at first, she was really okay in their book. She definitely was on the approved buddy list.
Suddenly, Boris yawned and felt tiredness seep into his bones. He decided to trot back to his new home and relax by himself. Slowly pulling himself up, Boris thanked Lucky and Gabby and said he was going home for a nap. As he made his way home on the dirt road, he thought, "This was a very good day. I like this neighborhood, even if I do need to watch out for groups of mean dogs."
Chapter Three
Boris Finds a Wise Friend
After two weeks in his new home, Boris decided it was time to venture into the mysterious woods on his own. Liam and Aidan had taken him on walks to show him around the neighborhood, and they had led him down the trail in the woods so that he could get a quick look at the beaver pond. Although anxious to explore the wild unknown, he had been waiting to find the courage to blindly set forth.
Boris was not sure where his journey might lead or what he might find along the way. Trembling as he inched his way down the path, he began to feel overwhelmed by the large trees that surrounded him, particularly as he made his way farther and farther from the safety of his home. Birch, maple, pine, and poplar trees all grew randomly in a wild tangle of leaves and limbs that eerily swayed, making strange, creaking noises. There were white trees with pointy, green leaves; brown trees with prickly, red leaves; and gray trees with crinkly, orange leaves.
Boris started gaining confidence as he continued shakily, but steadily, down the trail. Even though his body felt tense and tingly in anticipation of what surprises or horrors he might find, he was calmed by the comforting canopy the trees provided and by the shafts of light that streamed through it, breaking up the darkness of the woods. As he went deeper into the woods, there were hills to climb, swamps to avoid, and ridges that blocked his view.
Suddenly, a squirrel darted in front of him, scrambled up a tree, and started to chatter right at Boris from a branch that was high out of his reach. This was Boris's first ever squirrel sighting, and he stared, fascinated by the creature's quick, sharp movements and scolding voice. Then a flock of birds swooped through the woods, startling Boris. As they passed low overhead, he'd felt like they were dive-bombing him. His confidence began to slip. He noticed that his tail was hanging between his legs and his ears were flat against his head. He was stopped, uncharacteristically motionless, but then he summoned up his courage and proceeded down the trail once more.
Soon, to his surprise, a bright space emerged out of the darkness of the forest path. He found an open clearing with a sparkling, fresh, clear stream with a makeshift bridge spanning it. Boris crossed over the stream and pushed ahead. He found that the trail had twists and turns at every juncture. He jumped over (or slid under) logs, avoided underbrush, and navigated the sharp turns. Trusting his instincts as a dog, Boris wasn't too worried about getting lost, but he was still in suspense about what might lie ahead.
After what seemed like hours (but was actually only fifteen minutes), Boris came to the remote beaver pond tucked into the forest. He was fascinated by the bustling activities of the beavers, who had cut down whole trees with their teeth and built a home for themselves in the pond. The beaver house looked like a mountain of sticks piled high along the bank of the pond. It shut out the light from above and created an internal world for the beavers to live in. Boris wondered what it must be like to live under the sticks at the edge of the pond.
The shallow pond had scattered trees that served as nesting points and perching spots for all kinds of colorful birds. Boris spotted ducks, swallows, and even an eagle sitting regally atop one of the trees.
A strange voice made Boris jump. His eyes widened as he tried in vain to locate the source. A dog-who looked kind, to his relief-had appeared from the shadows and was trying to introduce herself. She was a medium-sized, brown dog with curly hair and sparkling eyes. "I'm Zelda," she said, repeating her greeting now that she had Boris's attention. "I live on the other side of the pond. I've never seen you in this neck of the woods. You must be new. Welcome."
Boris relaxed. Zelda's voice had a calming influence on him. Boris knew immediately that Zelda was special. She moved slowly and showed great interest in him. He looked forward to getting to know her. He noticed that his tail had started wagging and that his ears were no longer glued to his head.
Though they had only just met, Boris learned a lot about Zelda that day. She was an intriguing dog because, unlike the other dogs he had met, Zelda didn't identify with any particular breed. She was a little bit of a lot of breeds. And she didn't mind being different or particularly unidentifiable as a type. To Zelda, breed didn't matter.
Even in a short amount of time, Boris found that he admired Zelda because she loved to think. Talking to Zelda gave Boris a sense of freedom he hadn't experienced before. She had the unique ability to stay calm, be attentive, and be respectful of Boris's obvious youth and inexperience.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Fables of Borisby Richard Bellingham Copyright © 2009 by Richard Bellingham . Excerpted by permission.
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