Evan joined the boy’s scouts to meet people when his mother and he relocated to a new town. He got lost while hiking, though, and a stray dog found him and kept him safe all night. When Evan was eventually saved, his mother was faced with a choice.
“Evan, we’re not able to buy a dog or a cat right now. We recently relocated here, and I am employed. You have classes. A dog, especially a puppy, requires a lot of love, care, and trips to the vet. One morning as she drove Evan to his new school, Evan’s mother, Octavia, shook her head and said, “It’s not that simple.
Evan requested a dog or a cat because they had recently moved to a new place and he was weary of being alone and having no friends. His mother declined, though.
I’ll be accountable, I promise! I am of an age when I can do anything. Evan kept pleading, “I can take care of it and clean it up too. Saying “Please, Mom.”
Hey, I told you, honey. Right now, we are unable. Just getting settled in here. Is the goal of this to make friends? You’re a wonderful kid, and you’ll quickly make friends at school, Octavia added. Additionally, having a pet at home prevents you from joining some groups. Clubs are also the ideal place to meet new people. So, kindly. Let’s forget about it for the moment and concentrate on adjusting to our new environment. OK?”
Evan replied in a dejected manner, “OK. Even a small fish required a lot of care, and although Octavia felt bad, there were more important things to attend to right now.
Fearing his first day at a new school, Evan got out of the car, but he thought that perhaps his mother was correct and it wouldn’t be as horrible as he thought. Even though he was the new kid and it was unpleasant, it wasn’t the worst because he got to sit with some interesting friends.
The youngster, however, still had plans to persuade his mother to obtain a pet, and the first step was to be particularly responsible and conscientious. Along with dinner, he assisted with dishes.
“Have you looked into any of the school clubs? To avoid being alone until I come home, it would be great to attend an activity that lasts the entire afternoon, Octavia said.
“I’m not sure. I checked a few, but I’m not sure which one to choose,” an unfocused Evan said.
What might be enjoyable? Boys Scouts. We live in a forested location, so you might benefit from learning some wilderness survival techniques,” his mother said.
Isn’t that weird?
Please, kid, nerdy things are in right now. She chuckled and tried to be fun, saying, “Get with the times. In any case, they’ll teach some lessons about being autonomous and responsible in case something goes wrong.
“Do you think I’ll become responsible enough to own a dog if I join?” Evan spoke up, his eyes wide.
Octavia groaned. “Well, perhaps. Although I already explained why I don’t believe getting a dog right now is the best course of action. You’re still a child, and I don’t have time. We can talk about this again if you can demonstrate that you’re responsible enough to choose a group, give it your all, and maintain good grades. What sound does that make?
Evan finally started to smile at his mother. “Yay! I’ll join them tomorrow, okay.
Octavia shook her head while beaming. She might have to compromise on the dog issue at some point, but she would rather hold off until Evan was more mature and capable of taking care of any animal.
Welcome to our newest members, please. Let’s start with Evan over there, shall we? Evan, please get up and explain us why you joined the Boy Scouts, said Mr. Davis, the Scoutmaster and Biology teacher at the elementary school.
With their adorable uniforms on, the boys were all seated on the floor and prepared for their first session. Evan hesitantly got to his feet and introduced himself. “Hello, my name is Evan, and I joined the group because I recently relocated here and have no prior experience with trees. And my mother believes that if I do well here, I’ll be able to take care of a dog,” he continued, causing the other children to laugh.
Davis grinned. Your mother is correct. However, you’ll learn so much more with us than just how to care for animals. Have you previously resided close to a forest or the woods?
The young boy shook his head, “No.
“If something happens, you’ll need to learn how to survive in the outdoors. The Boy Scouts also provide a wealth of other skills, such as leadership, teamwork, and brotherhood. Therefore, Mr. Davis concluded, “We’re delighted you’re here, Evan.
Evan was relieved that he wasn’t the only new player on the team when other kids introduced themselves. The 11-year-old grew more enthusiastic about joining this group as their first meeting progressed, especially about all the activities Mr. Davis was showing them.
In reality, absolutely. The lads were all excited when Mr Davis announced, “We have a major walk a week before school ends for the winter holidays, and I need you all to be ready and to get these permission sheets signed by your parents.
Evan was thrilled when he went home and told his mother all about the club, even though he had only joined to appease his mother. At that moment, he had completely forgotten about having a pet.
The day of the walk arrived, and Evan was having a good time with his closest scout friends. The previous few weeks had been fantastic. He had established genuine friendships and was so preoccupied with school that he never bothered his mother about getting a pet.
He wanted a dog, but he was willing to wait until he was older and more self-sufficient before getting one.
His main goal was to learn everything there was to know about wilderness survival, and he had already excelled at a number of sessions thanks to Mr. Davis’ regular compliments.
“OK, men. Unless I say otherwise, we have to stay together on this walk. We’ll be searching for some of the plants that can grow in snow that I told you about, as well as several landmarks that can serve as a guide if you ever get lost in a winter forest. “Let’s go!” After Mr. Davis said this, they started to walk.
They travelled through an area that wasn’t extremely difficult or steep. Although it appeared to be a common hiking track that many other onlookers had taken, it was nonetheless thrilling.
Barton, an acquaintance of Evan’s, stated, “I can’t wait until we finish so I can get my first medal.” Kids in the area concurred.
They all nodded at Evan’s suggestion, “but let’s concentrate on finding the flowers or anything odd in the snow so that Mr. Davis will be more impressed.”
Unfortunately, after a lengthy stroll, everything appeared to be covered in snow. Evan listened intently as Mr. Davis demonstrated a few tips for starting a fire in the rain and cold. He wanted to discover something special, though, to distinguish himself from the rest of the company.
A sudden burst of colour captured his attention, and he thought he spotted something purple off to the side. But he was unable to confirm. The trail was far distant from it.
“Hey, fellas. He said to his pals, who paused for a while as Evan moved off the trail and into the woods, “Cover for me.
They shouted, “Evan! Evan!” in a low voice as they tried to avoid attracting Mr. Davis’ notice. However, Evan didn’t stop and kept talking. He was so focused on finding this flower that he failed to notice when his friends continued to walk with the rest of the group.
A solitary camellia was growing there in spite of the freezing temperatures and heavy covering of iciness. Evan selected it to take it for Mr. Davis since it was excellent.
Because their leader had taught them so much, he had assumed he would be able to catch up with the other scouts quickly. From his new vantage point, however, everything appeared, and even the established track was essentially invisible.
He yet continued to walk, run, and walk. He called for help as he ran. However, he was unable to pick up even the distant voices of his buddies. It was so strange and perplexing. He finally became exhausted and sat down to rest at the base of a nearby tree.
He was completely shocked when a dog suddenly materialised. Evan initially feared it might be a wolf, which made him anxious and make him search for a weapon. Nothing in the area could have assisted him in fighting off the wild animal. But as the dog drew nearer, he noticed his tongue lolling and tail moving.
“Oh, hi there, pal. You scared me,” he said, gasping for air.
The dog was sitting next to him and was waiting for him to catch his breath. “I guess you’re a stray, huh? Why did you travel so far?
The dog only gave him a serious glance when he gazed at him. Now he desired to return home, not only for himself but also for the animal. So he got up and started walking once more. Nothing.
Unfortunately, the light was fading and the darkness was growing. As required by their boy scout training, he carried a tiny torch in his bag, although it was short-lived.
He was yet confident that he would be discovered shortly. They must be shouting out for him and searching the woodland. Evan told the dog, “Buddy, let’s wait here and see if we can hear my group calling,” and sat down close to another tree.
He lit a small fire to stay warm after heeding Mr. Davis’ earlier recommendation when it began to grow chilly. Unfortunately, they did not hear anything, and the temperature was rapidly dropping. He motioned to the dog, “Come on, boy,” and continued on. He eventually came upon a little rock formation with some shelter, so he entered it.
The dog curled up next to Evan as he sat down and created another tiny fire. The 11-year-old tried his best not to sleep, but eventually did. He heard snarling at some time, and his eyes opened. He was unable to see anything because the fire was out. However, he observed the dog at the door of their improvised shelter.
Evan could only partially see what he was growling at. Another animal growled back, though. Evan rubbed his eyes and attempted to determine what had the stray dog so alert and enraged outside. The child thanked God that he wasn’t by himself when he spotted what appeared to be a large fox as his eyes adjusted. Although he had heard that foxes were not hazardous, this one stood out.
The fox eventually disappeared, and the dog stopped growling but continued to be alert. He eventually relaxed and came back to Evan’s side, bringing much-needed warmth, after a little while. Evan began to sob despite the fact that it was now warmer. He couldn’t believe nobody had yet discovered him.
What if nobody realised he had vanished? How about his pals? Did they not search for him? Only his mother may be genuinely concerned. He giggled when he suddenly felt the dog’s wet tongue licking his tears.
“That’s right. I’m grateful. He gave the dog a tighter hug and said, “Thank you for keeping me safe and company.
Evan had strayed further and further from the main track in his desperate search for his comrades. The stray dog and some food and drink he carried in his bag were his sole companions during his two days wandering in the woods.
He managed to calm himself down after locating the rock shelter, and fortunately, on the second morning in the woods, he woke to the sound of his mother screaming.
Ewan, Ewan! Dear God! My child!” She ran into his arms while screaming. Even though he was aware that she had other company, Evan’s eyes became cloudy. He then apologised for leaving the group and gave his mum a hug like never before.
“Mom, I’m so sorry!”
Octavia wanted to go as their feelings subsided, but Evan explained what the dog had accomplished for him. “He protected me from wild creatures, kept me warm, and was my friend. The youngster begged his mother, “Please, we can’t leave him here,” and she was only too delighted to agree.
She said, “Let’s get home quickly,” and two days ago they began the arduous journey back to their starting location. Evan was shocked by just how far he had actually wandered.
When he got home, he had a warm bath with the dog by his side the entire time. After dinner, his mother gave him a peck on the head and made a dish for the pet. He heard her say, “Thank you for keeping my boy safe.
“Can we keep him?” you ask. When did Octavia arrive at the dining table, Evan wondered.
She nodded, “Oh, that dog is family now.” “Choose a name.”
Evan greeted him as Scout and grinned.
What can we take away from this narrative?
The ideal friend a boy could ever have is a dog. Having pets is a big plus for kids because they teach them empathy and responsibility. A dog can also save a child’s life.
Learning to avoid putting yourself in risky circumstances is a necessary part of maturing. Evan unfortunately discovered the hard way how simple it is to get lost in the outdoors. He was fortunate that Scout showed up.
Tell your friends about this experience. It might motivate them and make their day better.
If you liked this tale, you might also appreciate the following one about a woman’s father’s dog, who barked at her until she followed him.
