Expecting Somebody

In the sleepy little town of Green Valley, there was a dog named Buster. Buster was a scruffy, spotted pup with ears that flopped when he ran and a tail that never stopped wagging—except for one special time of day.

Every afternoon, when the sun began to dip behind the hills, Buster would trot down to the old, quiet railway station. He didn’t go there for treats or to chase the station cat. He went there for Leo.

The Soldier’s Promise

Leo was Buster’s best friend and a brave soldier. A long time ago, Leo had patted Buster on the head, whispered, "I’ll be back soon, buddy," and stepped onto a big red train to go help people far away in a war.

Since that day, Buster became the station’s most famous passenger who never actually bought a ticket.

The Daily Watch

As the clock on the station wall ticked toward 4:00, Buster would sit perfectly still. He would tilt his head, listening for the faint chicka-chicka-chicka of the wheels on the tracks.

Suddenly, the air would fill with a loud WHOOO-HOOO!

The big red engine would puff into the station, hissing steam and screeching to a stop. Buster’s heart would thump with excitement. He watched every person who stepped off the train:

He saw a grandmother with a tray of cookies.

He saw a teacher with a bag full of books.

He saw a tall man in a hat.

Buster’s nose would twitch, sniffing the air for the familiar scent of Leo’s old green jacket and peppermint gum.

The Journey Home

One by one, the passengers would leave. The conductor would blow his whistle, the train would disappear into a cloud of smoke, and the station would fall silent once again.

Leo wasn’t there today.

Buster would let out a tiny sigh, his tail giving one slow, hopeful wag. He wasn’t sad for long, though. He knew that "soon" meant he just had to be patient. He would turn around and trot back home, dreaming of the day the train would finally bring his hero back for the best belly rub in history.

The seasons changed in Green Valley. The summer heat turned to crunchy orange leaves, and the orange leaves turned to sparkling white snow. Through it all, the spotted dog remained a permanent fixture on the wooden bench at the 4:02 station.

One crisp Tuesday afternoon, the whistle sounded a bit louder than usual. The big red engine pulled in, hissing white clouds of steam into the cold air.

The Special Passenger

The train came to a screeching halt. The doors slid open, and a crowd of people stepped onto the platform. The dog sat tall, his ears perking up as he scanned the legs of the passengers.

First came a man with a giant briefcase. Then came a girl with a bright yellow backpack.

Suddenly, a pair of dusty, brown leather boots stepped onto the platform. Above the boots were green trousers, and above that was a face the dog knew better than his own paws.

The Reunion

The dog’s heart did a somersault. He didn't just sniff the air this time—he caught the scent of old peppermint and home. He let out a joyful YIP! that echoed through the entire station.

The soldier dropped his heavy bag and knelt down on the snowy platform with his arms wide open.

"Buster! Is that my best friend?" he called out.

The dog didn't just trot; he turned into a furry blur of excitement. He leaped into the soldier’s arms, his tail wagging so fast it looked like a propeller. He licked the soldier's face, and the soldier laughed, hugging him tight.

The Walk Home

The conductor tipped his cap and blew a final, happy whistle as the train pulled away. This time, the dog didn't watch the train leave with a sigh. He didn't even look at the tracks.

The soldier picked up his bag with one hand and kept the other hand on the dog’s head. Together, they walked down the station path, side-by-side. The long wait was finally over, and the best belly rub in history was only a few blocks away.