For two days, relentless barking from Carla’s dog, Buddy, echoed from her pale blue house next door. Ignoring my dad’s dismissal, I investigated, finding Carla collapsed on her floor, weak from a fall. I broke a window to reach her, and with Dad’s help, we called an ambulance. Carla had been there for days, unable to move. We took in Buddy, who was scared but loyal. When Carla returned from the hospital, she tearfully thanked me, saying I
saved her life. I offered to walk Buddy daily and check on her. Those visits turned into cherished talks, making Carla and Buddy more than neighbors—friends. Buddy’s barking, a desperate plea, taught me to listen to small signs; they can lead to life-saving actions.
