[Rhodes22-list] National Friends week sTORY

[Stephen Staum]

Dear Everyone,

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising
>>the 4 pups. And set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard As 
>>he
>>was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He
>>looked down into  the eyes of  a little boy.
>>
>>
>>"Mister," he said, "I want to buy  "one of your puppies."
>>"Well," said the farmer, as he
>>rubbed the sweat of the back of
>>his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of
>>money."
>>The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket,
>>he pulled out a handful of change and held  it up to the farmer.
>>"I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"
>>
>>
>>"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a
>>whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the
>>doghouse and down the ramp ran
>>
>>Dolly followed by five little balls of  fur.
>>The little boy pressed his face against the chain
>>link fence. His eyes danced with delight.
>>As the dogs made their way to the fence,
>>
>>
>>the little boy noticed something else
>>stirring inside the doghouse.
>>Slowly another little ball appeared, this one
>>noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then
>>in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup
>>began hobbling toward the others, doing
>>its best to catch up....
>>
>>"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to
>>the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's
>>side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy.
>>He will never be able to run and  play with you
>>like these other dogs would."
>>With that the little boy stepped back from the
>>fence, reached down, and began rolling up
>>one leg of his trousers.
>>In doing so he revealed a steel brace running
>>down both sides of his leg attaching
>>itself to a specially made shoe.
>>Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see
>>sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need
>>someone who understands."
>>With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down
>>and picked up the little pup.
>>
>>Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.
>>
>>"How much?" asked the little boy.  "No  charge,"
>>answered the farmer, "There's no charge for
>>love."
>>
>>The world is full of people who need someone
>>who understands.
>>It's  National Friendship Week.
>>Show your friends how much you care.
>>send this to everyone you consider
>>a FRIEND.
>>If it comes back to you, then you'll  know you
>>have a circle of  friends.
>>
>>WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER,
>>YOU'RE REQUESTED TO SEND IT
>>TO AT LEAST  4 PEOPLE, INCLUDING
>>THE PERSON WHO SENT IT TO YOU.
>>