Helen and Nicky

By Wendy Green

Helen and Nicky is a story about a very special little girl and a deaf and partially blind Great Dane. The book is intended to engage, delight, and introduce many true-to-life topics to the young reader. It challenges the reader with a wide variety of vocabulary words and issues. The writing is simple enough to engage and yet is informative and heartfelt. The stories are simple and complex. Both parents and teachers will enjoy reading this book with their children and students. Helen and Nicky touches on many life issues that children as well as adults may be dealing with and achieves this with an educational and sensitive approach. Some themes are homelessness, disabilities, death of a loved one, and terminal illness and were chosen by the author after witnessing her own students go through these experiences with nowhere to process them. The book comes with a Christian perspective and includes several true history themes such as the introduction of Helen Keller and the tragedy of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. Helen and Nicky is based on real-life characters and events. There is a real Nicky who is the author's daughter, and Helen was the author's real-life Great Dane dog. The book also includes new vocabulary words and teacher lesson plan ideas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781641402354

Book preview

Chapter One

One The Rescue

You’ve got to help her. If you don’t take the pup in today, the shelter is going to put her down tonight, the woman’s voice squeaked from the speaker box. Her English accent was different from the American slang Nicky was used to. It sounded pretty, but the woman’s words alarmed the little girl.

It would really be such a shame, she’s such a beautiful little thing, her voice continued. It would be a terrible loss of a truly magnificent animal. I would hate to see her put to sleep.

Mrs. Sheldon was folding the laundry and trying to talk on the telephone at the same time. The speaker button on the phone was turned up full blast, and Mrs. Sheldon was almost yelling as she pointed her face toward the machine.

My dad just lost his two old hound dogs last year, but we’ve still got all those birds to feed. It’s a lot of responsibility.

Nicky Sheldon’s grandfather lived in a second cottage on the property. He previously owned two hunting dogs who got very old. He put the two old hounds to sleep the year before. Mrs. Sheldon did not want the responsibility of another dog.

And a blind and deaf Great Dane, she continued. I wouldn’t have any idea how to take care of her. I’m afraid I’ll just have to say no this time, Deb. I’m really sorry.

She reached over and pressed the off switch on the telephone.

Deb and Mrs. Sheldon were friends since their days in college together. Deb was born in England and moved to the United States during high school. She now worked as a veterinary technician at the SPCA. The two women were still good friends.

Little Nicky couldn’t help but listen to the women’s telephone conversation. She wasn’t trying to be nosy on purpose, but between her mother’s voice shouting at the speaker box and the nervous voice coming from it, she was left with no choice.

She flew into the room, her long golden hair riding behind her like a magic carpet. It landed on her back when she ran into the laundry basket her mother was holding in front of her.

What does that mean, put her down? They’ll kill her, won’t they? she shrieked to her mother. You can’t let them. We’ve got to save her.

Nicky’s mother set the basket of laundry onto the floor. Nicole Marie, you hush now and stop yelling at me, her mother said. Her mother used Nicky’s full name when she was frustrated with her. That conversation was not for your ears anyhow.

We simply cannot take in every sick or lost animal that will be put to sleep. We just can’t."

Nicky pushed the laundry basket out of the way and ran outside to her sanctuary. She opened the creaky gate of her bird aviary and closed it quickly behind her. The birds fluttered noisily over her head. The cool wind from their wings made the tears on her face feel cold and itchy.

Nicky Sheldon raised birds from the time she was seven years old. She started with only two parakeets. She now had over twenty parakeets in her aviary. She loved everything about birds—the way they sang, flew, and chose only one mate, usually for life.

Be quiet, she told the birds. Just let me think. She stared up at the blue sky and white clouds. The clouds began to form a face. A nose appeared in the middle, two friendly eyes on top of that, and then a round mouth melted into a long beard. Suddenly she knew what to do.

Daddy, she thought to herself. I’ve got to find my daddy.

She reopened the door to the aviary, careful not to let out any of her beloved parakeets. She spoke softly to the birds, murmuring and assuring them that everything was going to be all right. Talking to the birds was a habit she developed, but it made her feel calm. Nicky closed the door quickly and quietly.

She ran across the yard and down the narrow dirt driveway that lead to her father’s office, and she was at a full-out sprint as she rounded the bend from the driveway toward the entryway to the building. Her speed and the sneakers caused her to skid, and she flew across the cement. She suffered a terrible scrape across the top of her thigh, and her right knee was torn open. Her leg was scraped and bloody, but she ignored it and jumped up.

Mr. Sheldon opened his office door.

Child, what in the world are you…? He stopped in midsentence when he saw her bloody leg, tear-stained face, and the determined look on her face.

What happened to you, Nicky? he asked.

Nothing, I’m fine. It’s the puppy at the SPCA. They’re gonna kill her, I just know it. I heard all about it. Deb called Mom and told her. It’s a blind and deaf Great Dane, and they’re gonna kill her if we don’t save her. Please, Daddy, don’t let them kill her. Talk to Mommy and tell her it’s okay, that we can keep her.

Nicky put her tiny nine-year-old hand into her father’s large rough one. She wrapped her whole fist around his first finger and tugged madly. Mr. Sheldon loved his little girl as much as she loved birds. He didn’t like it when she was unhappy.

Come on, lets hurry, she told her father.

Well, let’s just go see about it, he said. And get that leg cleaned up too.

When they got back to the house, Mrs. Sheldon was already waiting for them.

I’ve called her back already, she said. I said yes, but we will only be foster parents, just until they can find a permanent home for the dog, for a few weeks. Deb will bring her over in about an hour.

Thank you, Mommy. I love you, Nicky told her mother. And I love you too, Daddy.

I love you too, honey. Now let’s go get that leg cleaned up before they get here.

Deb was a large woman, and she wore surgical scrubs because of her job as a veterinary technician at the SPCA. But it wasn’t Deb’s clothes Nicky was looking at as she walked up the driveway. It was the white puppy Deb held in her arms. The pup was taking all of the large woman’s strength to hold. All four of the pup’s legs dangled down almost to the woman’s knees.

Oh my gosh, she’s huge, said Mrs. Sheldon. "I thought you said she was two months old. That puppy has to be at least four or five months old judging by the size of her’.’

No, she’s exactly eight weeks to the day, said Deb. The breeder brought in papers.

By this time, they had walked into the house, and everyone sat down and listened to Deb as she held the enormous puppy across her lap. Deb explained the history of the breed to the family.

The dog came from a top Great Dane breeder. She was supposed to be a champion Harlequin but was born solid white. A lot of times, with the white dogs, they come out deaf and sometimes blind too. It’s just a birth defect that happens every now and again. She has one good eye, though. The breeder brought her in to be put to sleep because they don’t want an irresponsible dog owner to breed a defective dog. And besides, most people have no use for a dog that can’t see or hear. Right?

Nicky started to say something, but Deb continued on.

I couldn’t bear to let them put her down. Seriously, this is one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever seen, and in my line of work, I see a lot of dogs.

Having said that, Deb put the puppy down onto the floor. She looked like a foal or a baby deer as her legs crumpled up under her. But she got up again and again as she walked aimlessly around in circles. Then her legs would give out again, and she would fall back down.

Nicky called the pup over and over again, but it was quite obvious that the dog could not hear her at all.

You must stomp your feet on the floor, like this, Deb said as she demonstrated with one, two, three stomps of her foot on the hardwood floor. She’ll feel the vibrations from your foot, and that will get her attention.

The puppy turned around and walked toward Deb, and she stomped her foot again, this time her left. The puppy walked directly toward the sounds.

See, she said, it will be no problem. You, guys, can be her foster family, and then as soon as I can find a family who will fully adopt the pup, I’ll take her off your hands.

Deb was secretly hoping that the Sheldons would fall in love with the puppy and keep her forever.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon just looked at each other and then back to the puppy. Then they smiled when they saw the look of pure joy on their daughter’s face.

Deb smiled and said, "I’ve got her food out in the car. Nicky, walk me out and you can carry it and the