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DAKOTA DISCOVERS THE SPIRITS BEHIND FIRE HYDRANTS

The Spirits Speak

Sniff-sniff. Sniff-sniff. Another curb ahead. Another street to be crossed. He is a guide dog. A professional, trained to guide the blind and visually impaired.

As he did every morning, Dakota guided his blind partner down the street toward their favorite restaurant. This morning was different though. They were going to the restaurant to meet old friends. He was anxious to meet his guide dog buddy, Jeffrey, and his partner.

It had been over two years since he had last seen them. Jeffrey was a large yellow Labrador Retriever much like himself. They had trained together at the same guide dog school. When problems arose there was no better friend to have. He was a bit of a skeptic but you always knew where you stood with Jeffrey. He was a straight shooter. It would be nice to see him again.

Dakota had been traveling to this restaurant for the past two years and knew every crack in the sidewalks and every pothole and fire hydrant along the way.

He also knew that Sammy was hanging around the area. A small German Shepherd with an attitude. Dakota had tangled with him before. Sammy had nothing to back up his bark. He was the neighborhood pest and a distracting influence to guide dogs at work.

However the voices that spoke to Dakota from fire hydrants were another matter. He could handle Sammy but what do you do with a voice coming from a fire hydrant?

They were beginning to annoy him. Their words “Be careful Dakota, be careful” made him uneasy. He would often shout back at them, but it did no good. All the fire hydrant ever said to him was “Be careful.”

By doing a little sniffing about Dakota had discovered what they were but not what they wanted of him. Sooner or later he knew that he must confront them in spite of the danger of doing so.

Six blocks to Main Street and hang a left for six more. The restaurant was on the corner of Palm and Main. In the late 1890’s it was a two-story building that served as a temporary courthouse. It had a courtroom on the second floor, a restaurant on the ground floor and a basement that served as a jail.

All that remains today is the ground floor restaurant. The basement jail sealed off and long forgotten. The restaurant serves Italian food and is considered one of the best in town. It was Dakota’s opinion as well. As he approached the restaurant his mind was not on food however, but what was below the restaurant.

Dakota Reveals His Concerns to His Friend Jeffrey

As Dakota entered the restaurant with his partner he could see Jeffrey and his partner had arrived early. Before he had a chance to get to their table, Jeffrey spoke out.

“Dakota, I have to tell you about Arthur the black Labrador Retriever that we trained with at guide dog school. It seems that while guiding his partner across a busy street Arthur became distracted by someone or something”

“His mind elsewhere he nearly became a hood ornament on a Mercedes. Neither he nor his partner was injured but Arthur was never quite the same after that. He became skittish of traffic and the guide dog school retired him. I understand that he was adopted and now spends his days chasing chickens on a farm in North Dakota.”

Jeffrey, you have been telling me that story for all the many years I’ve known you. So what’s the point?

“The point is that many of your friends have noticed that your guide work is getting sloppy. If you don’t change your ways you will end up like Arthur. Dakota it gets very cold in North Dakota. You wouldn’t like it.”

Jeffrey cut me a little slack will you? I have been under a lot of pressure lately. I’m as nervous as a cat in a kennel. Let’s get under our partner’s table where we belong and I will try to explain. Before I do I would like to know whether you believe in the existence of spirits?

“Dakota you know better than to ask a question like that. Those kinds of questions always lead to arguments. But, I will answer your question in this way. There are many beliefs, and beliefs within beliefs, as there are people on this earth. Who is to say which one is correct or whether any are.”

“There are those that say that the Earth is a living thing that must be shown respect, a place where powerful spirits dwell. To them the weather has a spirit, the mountains, the trees, the rivers, and all the Earth and beings of the Earth have spirits. To show disrespect for the living Earth would anger the spirits and bring harm to those that did so. To ensure the goodwill of these spirits one must not offend them nor neglect them. Prayer or offerings should be given to those spirits who are friendly. Evil or troublesome spirits are to be avoided or appeased.”

“I do find one particular belief to be of interest. Being a creature of nature our ancestor, the wolf, roams the mountains and forests of the Earth. The wolf is said to be one of many wise and powerful animal spirits that people seek for guidance. Whether there is evidence to support such a belief is not up to me to say. I leave ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night to others.”

Dakota thought for a minute and replied, Jeffrey what I am about to say I strongly believe to be so. I am beginning to hear voices on the City Street’s, voices that speak to me of caution, voices that should not be there. I believe them to be spirits.

“Dakota you have got to be kidding! Do you have proof of such a thing? I’m surprised that you would bring such a story to me.”

Jeffrey please let me finish, Dakota said. It all started about a year ago when people began asking my partner whether they could be allowed to speak to me. This unusual request originates from a segment of the public I will call “the mystical.”

They believe in the healing powers of crystals, vibrations and spiritual therapy. They looked within me for some healing power that I was thought to have. They sought comfort in my presence. They spoke of the spirit world and called me “the healer.”

I was flattered that they thought that way, but considered it no more than wishful thinking on their part. As I look back on these encounters I now think that it was an attempt by some entity to show me that there is another side to this world I live in.

Dakota Remembers His Friend Sidney

Sidney is a guide dog friend of mine Dakota went on. Sidney strongly believes the spirit world exists.

In the past he and I would lie beside his partner’s swimming pool and speak of our lives as good friends often do. Sidney had retired from guide work. He was older and his life was coming to an end.

One day Sidney passed away, a sad day for all that knew him. A week later while walking past a fire hydrant I heard Sidney’s voice whisper to me, “Be careful, Dakota be careful.” His voice came from the fire hydrant. I believed then that Sidney had passed over into the spirit world.

Dakota Reveals He Hears More Voices

“Good grief Dakota! Jeffrey said. You have been crossing too many busy streets. You need a rest. If you tell anybody about this you will be joining Arthur in North Dakota.”

“It was probably nothing more than the wind. Besides, why would any spirit, if there are such things, want to stuff himself into a fire hydrant when he could seek refuge in a beautiful tree, river, lake, or forest?”

Jeffrey it is not important where a spirit lives, but why it lives there is very important. Earlier I said that I heard Sidney’s voice coming from a fire hydrant. His is but one of many. Nosing around I discovered a small brass plate located at the base of each one of the fire hydrants that spoke to me. They were stamped with a name, a date and a symbol. The symbol is a small red fire hydrant.

In the evening men and women meet in this restaurant, use the same names as the guide dogs, wear red fire hydrant symbol, and their voices are the same as those coming from the fire hydrants. This seems more than just a coincidence.

So I looked into the Guide Dog records and confirmed my suspicions. The names of the guide dogs and the date they passed away were the same as those found on the fire hydrants.

Jeffrey Is Skeptical

“Dakota, are you saying that the people you meet in the restaurant in the evening are the spirits of guide dogs that passed away?”

Something like that, I suppose.

“This story of yours sounds suspiciously like the human spirit that lived in a cemetery. He had a bad overbite, slept in a wooden box during the day, and frightened people at night. He was an evil spirit as I recall. If you are thinking of confronting a spirit such as this by driving a wooden stake through a metal fire hydrant you might as well forget it. It can’t be done. Besides that spirits are believed to be all-powerful, live forever and can be unforgiving.”

Be serious Jeffrey, these are not Vampires. You have been watching too many old movies. I am not trying to battle with the spirits. I believe they mean me no harm. I am however, trying to find out from them what they want of me.

“Dakota to do this yourself may prove difficult. It has been said that one cannot communicate directly with a spirit unless it is in the spirit’s best interest to do so. You must enlist the aid of people who have special knowledge of the spirit world. They are called Shamans.”

“While in a trance like state the Shamans soul is thought to leave his body and ascend to the sky or descend into the earth. There the Shaman will gain knowledge, communicate and meditate with the spirits on behalf of people. As talented as some Shamans may be, they might find your story a bit unusual. It makes little difference anyway for Shamans are for people not guide dogs.”

“Dakota, my beliefs are shaped by persuasive evidence not blind faith. You have given me no evidence to support your story. Granted what you have told me is interesting, however in it falls into the category of superstition and speculation. Those nameplates on the fire hydrants and the people in the restaurant could be a coincidence. The voices you hear on the street could be your imagination or the wind.”

“There is one thing that intrigues me though. Please tell me why these spirits of yours frequent this restaurant in the evening? From what I’ve heard spirits are not supposed to eat.”

Jeffrey, believe me when I tell you there is a connection between the spirits and this restaurant. This evening when I am off duty you and I will return here together.

Dakota and Jeffrey Meet The Brick Wall

Jeffrey, we made it back to the restaurant just in time. Perhaps we will see them this evening.

“See what Dakota?”

Spirits Jeffrey, spirits.

“You didn’t say anything about seeing them tonight.”

If I had you wouldn’t have come this evening and I am hoping we will see them together. It will be proof of what I have seen before with my own eyes.

I have seen the spirits enter this restaurant through that brick wall then materialize and take human form. Jeffrey, from what I have been told there is a stairway behind the brick wall that leads down to an abandoned city jail under the restaurant.

Some people that have gained access to the jail speak of rattling jail cells, strange bright lights and voices. They say the jail is cold and damp and not a place for the living. No one has been down there in years.

I have watched the spirits come and go for weeks now. They have approached my partner and speak of my guide work. The answer to the mystery must lie behind the brick wall. A brick wall that I believe separates the living from the spirit world.

To enter the realm of the spirit world without permission can be dangerous. It has been said that many that have dared and have not returned. But there must be an entrance here somewhere.

“Dakota, does this mean you are now willing to confront the spirits?”

Yes Jeffrey it does. Why do you ask?

A smile appeared on Jeffrey’s face. Dangling from his neck was a bright red fire hydrant, on a gold chain. “Goodbye Dakota…. until we meet again.”

Dakota Meets The Guardian Spirits

Dakota suddenly found himself alone on a stairway leading down to the underground jail. Entering the jail he was embraced by a mass of cold air and swirling lights. Voices rang out.

“You are one of us Dakota. You are now truly one of us!”

From the dancing lights Dakota heard the familiar voice of his dead friend, Sidney.

“We have been waiting for you. I hope we are not as frightening as you may have thought. Fear is a powerful force to overcome. To put your mind at ease, you are in no danger. In years to come you and others like you will join us in the evenings, take human form and savor the pleasures of the world. We have served mankind well and this is our just reward.”

“As you have discovered, our spirits reside in fire hydrants, the symbol of the streets and our gateway to the living world. The restaurant above this abandoned city jail is our meeting place.”

“However we are never at rest. We are the guardians of all guide dogs that pass our way. Unless directed to do otherwise by one that we call the “Living Spirit”, we will change the course of events if need be, to protect those guide dogs whose time has not yet come.”

“Dakota you must be more careful with your guide work. We have intervened many times on your behalf. This however is not why you are before us. You have demonstrated your skill as a guide dog during difficult times, and have shown the courage to overcome fear and confront the unknown.”

“Most important of all you believe in our existence. We would never have allowed you to find us if you had not. When the time comes for you to leave the world of the living, you would have entered the realm of lesser spirits, a place of the ordinary, a place where you do not belong.”

“We are powerful spirits and we welcome you. One day in the distant future you will take your rightful place beside us. Until then the memories of us will disappear from your mind.”

“Dakota you must leave now and take your place beside your partner. This is a place for the spirits not the living.”

Bathed in a shower of flickering lights Dakota was instantly returned to his partner’s side.

Life is Good

Passing a fire hydrant on the street Dakota heard a voice whisper, “Goodbye for now.” Just the wind, he thought, just the wind. Guiding his partner down the street he did not see nor would he understand the meaning of the little emblem that had been attached to his harness. It was an emblem worn only by Guardian Spirits. A little red fire hydrant. When his time came to leave this world Dakota would join them. Until then….

Sniff-sniff. Sniff-sniff. Another curb ahead another street to be crossed. Life is good.

Dakota