Knowing What You're Doing - Judith Albietz

“Traveling through paintings…hmmm…how did you know how to do it and what to do once you got there?” Lily asked, as she looked around her at all the paintings which she now knew weren’t just pictures—there were entryways to the past through the Time Portal. The light in the huge cavern was brighter now. Lily thought how tired and grimy she felt after their last battle in the corridor. She sat down again and pushed a dirty red curl behind her ear as she studied one of the paintings. It was a scene of an older blue monkey gesturing with her hands to five smaller and younger monkeys. It looked like a classroom. Lily noticed each monkey’s skin was slightly different. Some had skin the color of the sky and others had darker blue arms and legs.

Sam tried to shake off the dirt on his coat and then he too sat down, cocking his huge brown and golden head to the side. His collar shone with the sparkling pastel colors which Lily had learned to associate with Sam’s process of carefully preparing an answer for her.

Lily had never met a dog like Sam, in fact she had never met anybody like him. She had gotten used to talking to him—telepathically—but she knew she would be constantly surprised by his extraordinary powers, like flying, communicating with his collar, traveling through time, just to name a few.

Sam looked into Lily’s eyes as he spoke up. “The funny thing about dogs—we are just born with that kind of knowing—knowing what to do. We come into the world knowing right from wrong. Unless something intervenes to change that, dogs always want to help others. Obviously, something has happened to Mort to make him so selfish, cruel and angry. I just don’t understand it.

I have to know what I am doing because I was given certain gifts—actually an extra trainload of them—so obviously it is my job to help others. My life has been completely focused on that job ever since I can remember.”

“But Sam, how did you know how to travel through the Time Portal the first time? How did you know what to do--once you were somewhere in the past--where you were supposed to save a life? And what if you put yourself in danger when you try to save a life?” Lily asked.

“I’ve never really thought about it. I have and always will at least try to rescue someone, no matter how risky it is, no matter if I die trying.”

“Great. So if you die…Sam…you won’t be around… to save… anyone,” Lily said with tears creasing the dust on her cheeks.

Sam spoke softly, “Lily, of course I have taken chances…so have you. Right now we both are facing danger and I know how scared you are. I am too. But it’s a good thing that you were born with enough courage for both of us with a lot left over.