The next morning Mr. Jeffries awoke at 6:00 a.m. and went
through his usual routine. He brewed some coffee, placed
the unopened mail on the countertop, and reached for
George’s food dish. As he emptied the remaining bits of
dog food from the dish, he was surprised to see Hahona at
the door.

“It’s George, Mr. Jeffries. The children saw me leaving your
house and they followed me back to the clinic. They wouldn’t
let me do it. We’ve all been with him the entire night, and I
think he may just make it.”

“But how? You said that-”

“I know. I know. I was wrong.” said Hahona.

“Sit down. Would you like some coffee?” asked Mr. Jeffries.

It took three months for George to recover. And when he did die many years later, Hahona and Mr. Jeffries buried him on high ground, New Zealand’s Mount Egmont towering above.”

“There is an old Mäori proverb, Mr. J. Mehema koe ka tuoho, meinga ki te maunga tetei… Translated it means – If you should bow to greatness, let it be to the lofty mountain.”