Tag: fiction

Lincoln Stories: The Day Lincoln Got Locked Out

Life lessons from the dog I’ll never forget.

It still makes me laugh a little — and cringe — when I think about the day Lincoln accidentally got locked out of the house.

It started when Madison came running up to me, barking and spinning in circles like she was trying to tell me something. Then she ran straight to the front door. I thought, Okay, maybe there’s someone outside. So I looked through the peephole… nothing. I shrugged and walked away.

But Madison wasn’t having it. She darted back to me, barked again, and ran right back to the front door — this time even more insistent. She would not leave it alone. So I finally gave in, opened the door, and there he was.

Lincoln. Sitting outside, trembling, looking terrified and confused. My heart dropped.

I gasped his name — “Lincoln!” — and he came running in, tail wagging like crazy. He ran straight to me, then to Madison, like he was saying, “Thank you, thank you!”

It took me a few minutes to piece it together. Earlier, I had stepped outside to grab something from my car. The door must’ve stayed open just long enough for Lincoln to slip out without me noticing. When I came back inside, I didn’t even think to check if he’d followed me. Poor little guy had been sitting out there silently the whole time.

And somehow, Madison knew. She didn’t bark at him or make a sound herself — she just knew her buddy was missing and came to get me.

That day, I learned two things:
1️⃣ Always check who’s following you inside (especially the four-legged ones).
2️⃣ Madison might have been small, but she was a little hero with a big heart.

Lincoln may have been scared that day, but thanks to Madison, he was never alone.

Life lessons from the dog I’ll never forget.

Lincoln Stories: The Day Lincoln Came Home

Life lessons from the dog I’ll never forget.

When I first brought Lincoln home, he didn’t actually come home right away. My fiancé and I were visiting my mom at the time, so that’s where his first big adventure began — and it’s also where he met Madison.

Madison, my Cairn Terrier, was only two then. She was a little ball of energy and attitude, always ready to play. So when Lincoln trotted into the room — all tiny paws and curiosity — she was thrilled. I don’t think she realized he’d be sticking around permanently. But Lincoln? Oh, he was instantly smitten.

Fast forward a few days, and it became clear that Madison wasn’t the jealous type. She didn’t care about sharing her toys or losing attention. What she did mind was this little guy constantly wanting her time. She was independent. He was clingy. It was the beginning of a beautiful, slightly one-sided friendship.

But then something changed. Madison had this big stuffed horse — about her size when she was a puppy. She never really played with it, but one day Lincoln picked it up by the neck and claimed it as his own. It was hilarious because the toy was basically the same size as him. He’d try to run with it, trip over it, wrestle it — but he never let it go.

As the years passed, that horse stayed his favorite. Fifteen years later, it was still by his side. He never tore it up, though it did get a few holes and some missing stuffing. And even though I’m no expert with a needle and thread, I broke out a sewing kit more than once to patch it back together.

I still have that toy. It’s a little worn, a little lopsided — kind of like love after it’s been through a lifetime. When I look at it, I see everything Lincoln was: loyal, determined, and full of heart.

Oh, and for the record — Madison eventually came around. She learned to love Lincoln too. They became the best of friends.

Life lessons from the dog I’ll never forget.