A story of the Valbasca Band
Sam was no ordinary dog.
He had the calm gaze of someone who listens even to silence.
Strong but light legs. Big but never heavy heart.
He walked slowly, but left bright trails.
That's why everyone called him the Professor of the Heart.
Not because he wore glasses or used difficult words.
But why with his warm voice and his gentle way,
taught the most important thing:
that love heals, guides, and keeps hope alive.
He was the master of the 1st Basque Valley,
the liveliest, most tender and undisciplined class of the forest.
Every morning he opened class under the great oak tree.
Skye always arrived first, soft as the dawn light.
She was cheerful, sweet, wise, and full of life.
Her joy was contagious, her singing, a caress.
Then Frida arrived, grumbling as always,
but by now everyone knew that it was just a way to protect
his great sensitivity.
He had a tender and deep heart, and he guarded it carefully.
Camilla danced among the branches, with her contagious smile, her happy eyes.
Shiva chewed grass with the air of a librarian.
Marduk, with his loyal heart, jumped on him and hugged him on the muzzle,
while Lina — very quick and curious — already did three laps of the lawn before sitting down.
Sam looked at them all, one by one.
And with a slow smile he said:
“Let’s begin, my little ones. Today we learn to see with our hearts.”
His classes had no books or grades.
They were silences that taught us to hear.
Laughter that taught healing.
One day, Lina — after one of her runs — suddenly stopped in front of him and asked:
“Professor… but how can you not be afraid of making mistakes?”
Sam looked at her sweetly, then replied:
“Running together. Because if you stumble, someone will help you get up.
And if you help others, you learn not to fear even your own uncertain step.”
Later, Marduk lay down beside him and whispered:
“Do you know that you're a bit like our dad?”
Sam licked his head softly, speechless.
But his eyes were shining.
And when Skye, with her voice clear as a stream, said:
“Professor… today I feel full of love and I don’t know where it comes from!”
He smiled and replied:
“It comes from you. From every kind gesture, from every caress you give without thinking.
Love does not run out. It multiplies.”
Nobody took notes.
But from that day on, everyone started to look at each other more carefully,
to say “thank you” just for being there,
to run together without fear of stumbling.
And when the sun went down through the branches and the day was over,
The Professor of the Heart closed his eyes for a moment and thought:
“There is no lesson more beautiful than love that is renewed, every day,
in the hearts that choose to walk together.”
