The Old Man And His DogAfter a while they came to a high stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of the hill, it was broken by a tall white arch that gleamed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He was pleased that he had finally arrived at heaven, and the man and his dog walked toward he gate. As he got closer, he saw someone sitting at a beautifully carved desk off to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me. but is this heaven?"
"Yes, it is sir," the man answered.
"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
"Of course, sir. Come right in and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The gatekeeper gestured to his rear and the huge gate began to open.
I assume my friend can come in....." the man said, gesturing toward his dog.
But the reply was, "I'm sorry. sir, but we don't accept pets."
The ma thought about it, then thanked the gatekeeper, turned back to the road and continued in the direction he had been going. After another lon walk, he reached the top of another long hill, and he came to a dirt road that led through a farm gate. There was no fence and it looked as if the gate had never been closed, as grass had grown up around it. As he approached the gate, he saw a man just inside sitting in the shade of a tree reading a book.
"Excuse me!" he called to the reader, "Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure..... there's a well over there," the man said, pointing to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in and make yourself at home."
"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.
"He's welcome too, and there's a bowl by the well," he said.
They walked through the gate and sure enough, there was an old fashioned well and a bowl next to it on the ground. The man filled the bowl for his dog, and then took a drink himself. When both were satified, he and the dog walked back toward the man, who was sitting under the tree waiting for them and asked, "What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.
"This is heaven," was the answer.
"Well that's confusing," the traveler said. "It certainly doesn't look like heaven. There's another man down the road ho said that place was heaven."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?"
"Yes, it was beautiful."
"Nope. That's hell."
"Doesn't it offend you for them to use the name of heaven like that?"
"No..... I can see how you might think so, but it actually saves us a lot of time. They screen out the people who are willing to leave their best friends behind."
