A police officer’s kid befriends a homeless guy and his dog, bringing them food every day. Then the dog emerges unexpectedly, alerting him to an injustice. Brian Devlin, aged twelve, was undersized for his age and not particularly athletic. Gary, his father, had difficulty understanding his timid, scholarly son. His son was not like him.
He had been a tall, muscular, exuberant lad who was often up to trouble. Gary attempted to boost his son’s self-esteem, but the harder he tried, the more Brian appeared to withdraw.
Brian was intelligent, something Gary couldn’t deny, and he had a scholarship to a prominent private institution on the opposite side of town. The youngster was afraid of taking the bus, but because the school was near his workplace, Gary took him up every afternoon.
Gary worked as a desk sergeant at the local station, and by 5:00 p.m., the school day had already finished. Brian spent the winter waiting at the library and doing his schoolwork. In the summer, however, he sat on the school steps, soaking up the sun while waiting for his father.
Gary arrived one day and discovered that Brian was not on the stairs. He was outside the school gates, caressing a dog. Brian gave his father a delighted grin.
Do not make assumptions about people until you know who they are.
“Look, Dad!” he exclaimed, then added to the dog, “Dance!”
The dog sprang up onto its hind legs and did a little dance, front paws up, tongue lolling out gleefully.
“Isn’t that so cool?” the youngster inquired.
“Yes,” Gary said, astonished by Brian’s eagerness. “Whose dog is that?”
“It’s Carl’s,” Brain replied, pointing to a man sitting on the pavement and leaning against the school gate. The man was in his thirties and plainly homeless.
A torn bundle of blankets lay on the ground beside him, and he was unshaven. However, the dog received excellent care. It was a Golden Retriever with well-groomed, glistening fur.
When Gary glanced at him, the father shrank back, and he told his kid, “Come on, now it’s time to go.”
On the drive home, Gary told Brian, “Listen, Brian, I want you to stay away from that man and his dog, OK?”
“Carl’s OK, and I love Goblin!” Brian objected.
“Goblin?” Gary asked. Is that the dog’s name? I am sure Goblins is a fine dog, but I do not want you to befriend vagrants, Brian. “Do you understand?”
“But dad…” Brian objected.
“Not another word,” Gary yelled.
Gary arrived the following day to retrieve Brian, who was studiously sitting on the stairs reading a book. However, that night, his wife arrived.
They complained that only half of the roast chicken remained.
“I don’t understand!” she said. “I put it aside to prepare sandwiches for Brian’s lunch, but now it’s missing!”
Gary looked across at Brian, and the youngster appeared so innocent that he became suspicious. Was Brian bringing food to school for the homeless and his dog?
Gary started monitoring the cupboard and became aware of the disappearance of sausage tins. He now realized that his kid was stealing to feed the dog and the homeless guy every day. Gary had a pang.
His child, who struggled to make human friends, had formed a bond with the dog. It was unfortunate that the dog belonged to a wanderer, a potentially dangerous man.
Gary left work early two days later, and when he arrived at school, he saw Brian outside the gates. He held a bag in his hand and said, “Hey folks, I have your favorite spaghetti, Carl. And here are your favorite sausages, boy!”
“BRIAN!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing?”
“Brian,” Gary spoke gently. “I’m sure Goblin is a wonderful dog, but you know what? Hitler had a wonderful dog that he adored, and I’m sure the dog reciprocated his feelings. A decent dog does not imply that this wanderer is a trustworthy person. Please keep away from him, Brian!”
“NO!” Brian threw back his chair and said, “NO!” “Carl is my friend, and I adore Goblin!” Brian said. Why are you continuously spoiling everything? “I hate you!”
That night, Gary made a decision. He planned to address the situation in his own manner.
That Saturday, Brian awoke early to the sound of nervous barking. He thought sleepily, “That sounds just like Goblin!”
Brain sprang out of bed and glanced out the window. Goblin was standing on the doorstep, barking nervously and appearing uncomfortable.
“Goblin!” Brian wept as he opened the door, and the dog instantly approached him. Goblin placed his head in Brian’s lap and began whimpering. “What’s wrong, boy?” Where is Carl?”
But the puppy merely whimpered and trembled, so Brian decided to do something he’d always been frightened to do: go to his father’s workplace and beg for assistance.
Gary was shocked to see Brian in the precinct, the dog by his side. “Brian!” he gasped. “What are you doing here?” “How did you get here?”
“Dad!” he yelled. “I believe something awful happened to Carl.” Goblin came hunting for me and was utterly terrified. On the other hand, Goblin was roaring at Brian’s father, showing no signs of fear.