Spring time in Japan, a boy and a dog were walking under a row of cherry trees.
The blossoms were in full bloom.
"わー、チャロすごいよ、見て、ほら。ピンクのじゅうたんみたいだね"
"Arf arf! ほんとだ！サクラきれいだね"
"きれいだねー"
Charo stopped and looked up at the pink blossoms.
They were shining so beautifully against the light blue sky.
Charo felt as if in a dream and his mind started to wander back to the wonderful friends that he had met in America.
"みんな、元気かな"
Charo's story had become the US media's favorite and it captured the hearts of many people.
Aimee in Chicago, was one such person. She was watching TV and beside her was Louisa, playing with her cards again.
"Hey, Louisa. Look at this cute little puppy. Isn't this a sweet story?"
"Meow."
Louisa drew a card.
The first one was "C", for Candy.
She was also watching the news, in Chicago.
"Charo! It's you!"
"What's the matter, Candy?"
"Arf arf! Look, Chris! This is my best friend."
"So you're amazed with this cute little puppy on TV."
"Arf! He did it. He really made his dream come true."
Louisa drew a second card. And it was an "A".
Purple smoke rose and there appeared Andorra.
"I always knew you would make it, Charo. Stay as you are, and you shall never lose your way again."
Louisa's next card was "S".
Sirius was walking in a park with Catherine. He was enjoying the sweet smell of the flowers.
"Yes. They are beautiful, aren't they?"
"Bow-wow! And I now know the true joys of life. I owe it to Charo and Dread. Thank you, you two. I'll never forget you."
Finally, Louisa drew the card "T", for Tomoko.
She was standing in front of the theater entrance.
The billboard had her name listed proudly beside Ken Matsumoto.
Tomoko looked at a photo that she had brought, the photo of Charo and herself.
"See, Charo? The premiere is to be held tonight. This is so unreal..."
Jane came with Louis in her arms.
"Hey, friend. Looking at that photo again?"
"Jane! Well, it's just that... everything turned out so perfectly, it's almost hard to believe."
"Come on! It's true all right.
"Arf! Yes, it is! And all thanks to Charo. That small pup was really something."
"Hey, have you noticed that Charo's story can be an even better one than my One Last Ticket?
"Then, why don't you write about him?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Maybe I will."
C-A-S-T, CAST, the letters were from the names of those who helped Charo get home.
Aimee turned off the TV and stood up.
"Okay, Louisa. Back to work. Can you wait a bit longer for supper?"
"Meow."
Meanwhile, in Miami, Rosa and Margherita were also watching TV.
"Hey! Margherita! Look! Isn't this Charo?"
"Arf? Yes! It is Charo! Oh my! He made it! He got back to Japan! Can you believe it? A miracle! That pup is a miracle. I'm telling you."
"Gee! What a story! Margherita, it seems you got a great friend."
"Arf arf arf."
And of course, there was good old Sally.
"Well, Charo was like a kid brother to me. And if it weren't for me, he wouldn't have gone west and if he hadn't gone west, he... anyway, he was a good pup. I gave him a ribbon as a present. And a sausage, too.
Over in Chicago, Sir Joseph and Frank were also sitting in front of the TV.
"I will. "
"Excuse me?"
"I was just wondering whether Charo remembered these two words."
"I will?"
"He must have earned the trust of others, and made his way through. What a pup."
And by the way, has anyone wondered what happened to Shirley, the snake who was supposed to be in the yellow pet cage at JFK Airport?
Well, she too was able to get back to her owner.
"Look at that, Shirley. A pup is on the TV. But if you ask me, you're the one that should be in the limelight. You were sent to Japan, then to Africa and back to New York again. What an adventure!"
Spring was just around the corner for New York. Warm sunlight were pouring into Dread's empty nest.
His eyepatch was still left on the sofa, just as it had been on the very day that he was carried away.
A tender gust of wind blew and down came a pale pinkish petal.
It landed softly on Dread's eyepatch.
A petal of ... a cherry blossom?
In Japan, Charo was still looking up at the blossoms.
He was thinking of Dread.
"Dread... these are the cherry blossoms that I told you about. Aren't they beautiful?"
Just then, a voice called out for Charo.
"チャロ、どうしたの？さあ行くよ"
"Arf arf! Wait, Shota! I'm coming!"
Charo ran straight to Shota.
Warm spring sunlight was sprinkling through the pink blossoms. The two were laughing and barking, romping their way back home.
And this was the long long story of Charo, the little pup. He was lost in New York, but found his way back.
How?
The answer is simple and easy.
He had a reason to live for Shota. But not only that for such a small pup like himself, he had a very big heart.
Yes, he cared for others and loved them from the bottom of his heart.
