An Unbreakable Spirit: The Legend And Legacy Of Chico

By Erick Gonzalez

This is the true and heartwarming biography of an abandoned puppy and a young police officer who seemingly adopts him by pure chance. But the reality was, they were brought together by crisis and a necessity...for each other.

The two go through life together in a journey filled with twists, turns, and every range of emotion. It is a love letter written by the officer to his valiant dog, Chico. In his life story, we learn of the strength, will, and heart that made Chico a legend and the lasting legacy he left behind. You will be inspired, and moved to reevaluate your own perception of life and those in it.

This incredible tale of love, triumph and resilience reminds us of the bond between man and dog, and how they can shape our destiny. In the pages of this work, you will truly understand how actions speak louder than words, and sometimes...a single word isn't even necessary.

This book can serve as a source of inspiration, and comfort for dog lovers...especially those experiencing the loss of one.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350929461

Book preview

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© 2023 Erick Gonzalez All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN 979-8-35092-945-4 eBook 979-8-35092-946-1

This book is dedicated to my soulmate and one of the biggest reasons I am where I am, today. I promised you I would tell your story. I was never good enough to give you everything you deserved, but I loved you with all that I had and you will forever be a part of me. Through the good times and the worst ones, if I could go back…

I’d do it all over again.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

The Breakup

Chapter 2

We’re The Same, You & Me

Chapter 3

What have I done? Part 1

Chapter 3

What have I done? Part 2

Chapter 4

Thumbs

Chapter 5

First Summer & Becoming Blue

Chapter 6

A Walking Wildfire

Chapter 7

It’s Never Enough

Chapter 8

The Note

Chapter 9

The Betrayal

Chapter 10

Homecoming

Chapter 11

Without A Trace

Chapter 12

Destiny Has Spoken

Chapter 13

Forever Home

Chapter 14

The Inspiration

Chapter 15

Big Brother

Chapter 16

The Fighter

Chapter 17

CHICOSTRONG

Chapter 18

Sunset

Epilogue

I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.

Carl Jung

Prologue

This is the biography of a life force—the times, experiences, lessons, and adventures of a unique being known as Chico. A special creature and truly an individual unlike any other. I was blessed enough to have known, raised, and loved him… but to know Chico was to love him. Though I’m not sure anyone could’ve loved him as much as he loved life. Some of you knew him really well, some of you never really met him, but through me, you’ve probably heard all about him one way or another. In any case, allow me to tell you the story of one of the most magnificent souls ever to walk this planet.

Chico Neal Gonzalez was born and raised in Bowie, Maryland. His improbable journey began when he was born, sometime in November 2011. On a frigid night in February of 2012, he was abandoned as a three-month-old puppy, left in a cardboard box near some train tracks in the southern end of the city.

From there, the hands of fate, which had already been at work before he was even born, saw to it that we would be assigned to each other in life. The person who decided to ditch Chico that night had no idea of the power and magic inside that cardboard box; none of us did. He would soon become the centerpiece of my life for the next eleven and a half years. I had no idea what I was in store for, but I suppose God did, and Chico was sent to me for a reason. He was my destiny, and nothing I did or could do was going to change that… you’ll see why as you read on.

Chico’s most amazing quality, aside from his raw problem-solving intelligence that made him a legend, performing incredible feats of escape, earning himself the nickname Houdini and Thumbs by some of my buddies… was his unwavering will, and ability to endure. No matter what health conditions, circumstances, or trials he went through, he always kept a truly genuine, upbeat, and joyful view of life that anyone and everyone could learn from. I know I did. Even though I still struggle every single day to live and handle hardships the way he did.

He provided me with countless examples.

Now, it’s up to me to follow his courageous legacy. Chico led an extraordinary life of resilience, triumph, and love. There were times in his journey that, just when you thought he was down and out, he would always bounce back even better. Chico was a beautiful soul and was always family-oriented. He was kind, gentle, and forgiving. I know this because he forgave me time and time again for coming up short of his expectations.

I look back now, and I realize that he had greater expectations for me than I had for myself, and it hurts to admit that. Chico was noble as he was tough and made an impact that can never fade.

The flame he lit upon this world and what he meant to me and my own existence is a story that must be told.

Chico is, has been, and always will be more than just a dog. In many ways, all dogs are the same, and in many ways, they’re not. Each one is so distinctly different. Most of all, they impact us in different ways. Chico taught me so many deep life lessons, and I sincerely believe in my heart that he prepared me for fatherhood. He taught me about patience... many, many... many painful lessons on patience.

My hope for you is that not only will you learn about the amazing story of my beloved Chico but that you’ll also draw inspiration for your own path. Lessons are not always learned through written or spoken word; in fact, the greatest ones of all come from actions. They come from fearlessness, determination, tenacity, and love. None of these things can be spoken. They can be spoken about, but they can only come to life through actions.

Chico passed peacefully, at home, on May 16, 2023, surrounded by those who loved him the most. He was eleven and a half years old. His body is at peace, and his spirit soars free. My life story could never be told without him. We were just two souls with an outrageous number of events that aligned for us to end up and stay together. And oh, what a ride it was.

I am personally convinced that we can have many soulmates in our time on this earth. There is no doubt in my heart and mind that Chico is one of mine. Chico’s outlook on life and the gallant stride he embraced it all in is something that’s hard to put into words, but I’m going to make my best attempt at it.

Chapter 1

The Breakup

It was an early morning in the first week of December 2010; I had been tossing and turning… I couldn’t get any sleep.

Most of the world was getting their day started. Mine was supposed to be at its conclusion. I was a young policeman on the permanent midnight shift. We worked a set twelve-hour schedule that began at six in the evening and finished at six the following morning. On this particular day, I could not sleep to save my life. I lay there and glanced at the alarm clock next to my bed in my tiny little studio apartment. I thought to myself, If I don’t fall asleep by 10:30, I’m just gonna get up and go do my Christmas shopping. I relaxed, set myself in my favorite way to sleep, which is on my side, took a deep breath, and made that last attempt to ease off into slumber.

Sure enough, it didn’t work. I tossed my comforter off me and got up just as I had planned. I got dressed, and I decided to head to Arundel Mills to do some Christmas shopping.

I figured, If I can’t sleep, then I might as well do something productive.

I am notorious… notorious for being a super last-minute Christmas shopper.

I’m that idiot who would be standing in line at the eleventh hour on Christmas Eve, grabbing up whatever was left to give to a loved one. Nowadays, of course, I’m team Amazon all the way, and it’s all good and easy.

I got to the mall and had absolutely no idea what to get anyone. The entire trip was feeling like a total failure. I didn’t get anything from any store until I reached one end of the mall. I saw a familiar and easy place; I saw Best Buy. I had actually wanted to give my mom a printer for Christmas to go with the computer I had recently given her. So this was good; I was happy to walk into Best Buy. I made my way toward the computers and printers area, and that was when she approached me. She had a warm, friendly demeanor… and wasn’t exactly hard on the eyes, either.

She greets me and asks me something to the effect of, You need help with something?

99% of the time, I never accept any help, even if I need it. It’s just how I am, especially back then. I was younger, not quite as confident, not quite as secure, and now that I’m at the age that I am today, I recognize that I still hadn’t truly come into my full manhood yet.

Now, despite all this, I accepted her offer to assist me. She was just too captivating not to. So, I told her about how I was looking for a printer for my mom, as a gift.

She basically responds by pointing out where they were and then walking with me right over to that area. About halfway through the brief walk over, one of her coworkers comes right up to her. Hey, can you do me a favor… And then he asked her to do some task, and you could sense that whatever it was, it was important. He was in a bit of a rush.

I froze, held my breath, and in my head, I was screaming, Noooo! Don’t take her away from me! She hesitated.

She starts to respond. She lets out an Uhhhhh… Then she looks over at me and again at her colleague and says, Yeah, right after I help this gentleman right here. Mental fist pump, Yesssssss.

So, we continued over to the printer area. Once we got there, I told her I was looking to get a basic but good printer for my mom. She did a good job of seeming like she had some knowledge of what she was talking about.

At that moment, I couldn’t tell and had no idea she was practically brand new on the job, but she was. That funny realization would arrive in a bit. So, we came to a consensus and picked out a printer. I picked it up, and she instructed me to follow her to the register area.

The whole walk there, my brain and stomach are doing backflips, you know why. I’m going back and forth with myself. You have to try, you have to… No, there’s no way she’s going to say yes… You’re just going to look stupid… She’s way too attractive for you... Get serious, man… And so on.

Finally, I made up my mind; there was no way I was going to leave that store without at least trying. I had to.

Take the chance; what’s the worst that could happen? You’ll never have to see her again, anyway.

We got to the register, and in doing the whole checkout process, I truly did have a genuine question about the product. It ended up being the perfect icebreaker, and I had no clue it would be. I asked her if the printer came with ink. (Don’t judge me, I’m not a tech guy at all.) She makes this hilarious face like I finally Got her with something she had no idea about. Her eyes got really big as she made a comically puzzled expression and went, Uhhhhhhhhhhh…

She starts shifting the box around in an attempt to see if it says so anywhere on there. I said, What?! You don’t even know?! And we both busted out laughing. She admits, Look! I just started here! But it might say it on the box, hold on! I got you!

I can’t even remember what the result of that was, but it was far from important. It definitely provided the path towards banter and conversation, which carried on for maybe a minute or two. We got to the part where they ask for an email address… and here’s where I look back and laugh, and maybe cringe a little bit, because yeah, I used it… I gave her my work email address, which was a government one… but it worked exactly the way I had hoped it would.

She raises her eyebrows and goes, Oh, you work for the City of Bowie? Here it comes, yes, I know, looking back at it, it was so lame, but hey, I had only been on the job for just under two years... and so I said it.

Yeah, I’m a police officer over there.

She makes a lighthearted impressed face and says, Ooh, okay, cool, Mr. Officer, alright.

So, right now, I’m feeling good! I feel like I’m getting somewhere. So then everything was finished, and the transaction was complete. Just as she’s passing me the receipt and all that, I went for it.

I say, So, I was wondering, um, uh, you know, in case I have any questions about the printer, do you think I can contact you? Since you were so helpful?

My heart was about to leap out of my chest. Everything in me felt like she was absolutely going to accept and provide me with her number… but she didn’t.

Instead, she replies, "How about you give me your number?"

I paused for like two seconds, but it felt like an eternity.

Uhh? What?! No! Error, does not compute… this is not how it’s supposed to go!

So, I played it smooth and cool as best I could and said, Yeah, sure, you got something I can write it on?

And I am 100% expecting her to rip out some blank receipt paper and hand me a pen or something. It didn’t happen.

She says, Just tell me the number, and I’ll remember it. My heart and stomach sank together. In my mind, I am being completely shut down. My brain’s active and pessimistic part gives me three words: I. Told. You.

I hesitated again, and I think I was visibly deflated this time. But whatever. I rattle off my number to her. She smiles. I just give a slight head nod in defeat, and I turn to walk away. I only got a few paces when she called out behind me, Hey! What were the last four digits again?!

I spun around, and I repeated them.

She points at me. Okay, got it.

So, I test her interest or memory on the spot.

I quickly shot back, Yeah? But what was the first part of my number?!

And she actually repeated it back to me.

Hmm, okay... maybe there is hope after all.

I smiled and went on my way.

A few days went by, and I didn’t hear anything from her at all. One week, two weeks, and three weeks… nothing. Not a word.

I remember sitting in front of the TV in my old, tiny little apartment with my best friend and brother, Michael Coleman. We’re sitting back, drinking a few beers, and I randomly bring it up. I can still see us there like it was yesterday.

I lament to him, Man. That cute girl from Best Buy never hit me up.

In typical Mike fashion, he just offers, Ehh… I’m sure she will. Just be patient.

I say, Be patient?! It’s been, like, three weeks! She’s never gonna reach out to me. Dammit, man.

I don’t remember his exact response, but I’m pretty confident it was probably just another, Eh, what’re ya gonna do? Like