The Old Man and His Best Friend

So there was this old man who was getting up in his years. His wife had passed a few years back, his kids were all grown and gone out in to the world and had their own kids. The only friend the man had left in the world, was his dog. Every day the man would take his dog out for a long laboring walk around the block, and he would spend his time lounging on his porch, just sitting with his best friend. 

One day in the middle of a very hot and humid summer, the man set out to take his best friend for a walk. It was particularly hot on this day, and the man was sweating and soon became very thirsty.  He was crossing the road when he was overcome with heat and lost his balance. Another man who was late for work that morning looked away from the wheel for a split second and the old man soon found himself walking down a very different road. 

His dog was still walking faithfully beside him as the old man walked up to a large golden gate. It was beautifully polished and he could see a beautiful drinking fountain on the other side of the gate. The old man suddenly remembered how thirsty he was and he went up and called out for someone on the other side of the gate. St. Peter came running with a large smile on his face and opened the gate for the old man. 

"Welcome to Heaven!" He said, "You can have and do anything in your wildest dreams! What would you like to do first?"

"Well," the man replied "I'm very thirsty and I would like to have a drink from that fountain!" He started moving towards the fountain when St. Peter stepped in front of him.

"Oh I'm sorry, but you can come in a drink as much as you want, but you can't bring your dog in here. They aren't allowed."

The old man smiled at St. Peter, and said "Then I guess I'll find somewhere else. Thank you very much." and with a gracious nod of the head he turned around and walked out through the golden gates.

The man walked for quite some time. He was getting very thirsty when he came across a second set of gates. These gates were rusted, and covered in vines. There were weeds growing up around it, and he walked up to them and called out as he had before. 

St. Peter came running towards him and opened the gates. The old man looked puzzled.

"Welcome! Come on in! There is a fountain for you to drink from and your friend is most welcome here!" he said

"I don't understand," The old man said "Why wasn't my friend allowed in at the first set of gates, but he is here?"

St. Peter smiled and placed a hand on the man's shoulder. 

"It was a test, someone who would leave his best friend behind doesn't have a pure heart. You understand the value of true friendship, and you shall stay here eternally and in eternal happiness." 

And the man and his best friend did.