The stars had just started to show. One bright star out shone all the rest. Bronte stood for a moment and with her arms folded looked up at it.

That is my star. The voice startled her.

Don’t do that. You frightened the livin’ daylights out of me again. I thought you’d still be eating.

I’m sorry, but I thought this was why you came outside and wanted to talk.

I do, it’s still hard to believe though.

Yeah it has been sprung on you rather sudden.

I can’t help feelin’ it’s all a weird dream.

I can understand that.

Well I suppose I’m gonna have to accept it.

Yeah.

Bronte sat down on the short grass and crossed her legs in a lotus position. Her mother always kept a wide stretch of grass around the house neatly mowed with their Ride-on in case of bushfires or snakes.

Kosta came and sat in front of her.

So what’d you mean that’s your star? She pointed up at it.

That star is Sirius, or as some call it the Dog Star, because the stars around it are supposed to represent a dog. It’s part of the Canis Major constellation, meaning big dog.

Whooo there… where’s all this comin’ from? How can a dog know all this stuff?

I use to be an astronomer in my past life, that’s why.

Now you have me curious. Tell me more.

Kosta then explained that the name Sirius meant scorcher, because it appeared in the northern hemisphere at the time when it was starting to get hot. These days were then called the dog days, because people use to say that only a dog would go out in weather like that, therefore, the name Dog Star.

Wow, that’s interestin’.

I found it so. I used to love my work. There are new stars discovered all the time, and they may have formed thousands of years ago, but their light has just reached us.

So where do we go from here? I can’t tell anybody about our telepathy, as no one would believe me.

I agree, you’ll have to keep it to yourself. I can’t tell anyone or even back you up.

Okay Mr. Smarty Pants Astronomer Dog, do you have any more surprises for me?

Only that I’m psychic.

Only psychic. You also say it like it’s no big deal, and you mentioned something about that before, that you get info from your star?

Well maybe I should explain. When I say I’m psychic, I’m probably what you’d call a Medium, a sort of go-between, I get all my information from my star, and I can pass it on.

So like how?

The same way we’re communicating now, in thought transfer.

And what sort of information do you get?

All sorts of things about what is going to happen and where.

Really, you mean predictions of the future?

Yes.

How cool is that, and when was the last time you spoke to the star?

On Saturday.

Okay, spill.

I was a little worried when you were late home from ice-skating.

So?

I asked the star if you were all right.

And what’d it tell you?

It said that you were okay, and you’d be home in half an hour, which you were.

So it tells you just like that?

No, actually, it tells me in cryptic, and I have to work out the meaning.

Okay, so what did it say?

It said, The wind that is cool will arrive when I move seven and a half degrees.

That’s sounds like a load of crap, how does that tell you when I’d be home?

Well the wind is the star’s name for you, because you run like the wind, and cool meaning you’re okay, and the earth revolves fifteen degrees every hour, so half of fifteen is seven and a half, which means you’ll be home in half an hour. So do you understand that?

Like wow, I do, that’s awesome.

It’s a pity I couldn’t tell your mum, she was worried too.

Yeah, she was.

Just then, Bronte’s mother came out onto the veranda and called Bronte to let her know her favourite Soapy was on. So the conversation ended she stood up, brushed herself off, and went inside.

Bronte’s mind was in too much of a turmoil to concentrate on her favourite program and consequently most of it was just a blur. When it had finished she lay back in the lounge chair with her head resting against the back cushion and was deep in thought. How cool is this, a dog I can talk to and find out all kinds of stuff?

Yeah, I think it’s just great.

Bronte was amazed that she could pick up Kosta telepathically, even when she was inside. You can hear me think even when I’m inside?

Yes, when I concentrate on listening.

So why can’t I hear yours all the time?

You have to be quiet and concentrating like now.

Cool.

In addition, it doesn’t matter where you are, you could be kilometres away, even thousands, and we can still communicate.

“You okay, Bront?” her mother asked, seeing Bronte sitting quietly with a solemn look. This was most unusual for her—she was normally not subdued like this. As a rule, the only time she was quiet was when she was ill.

“Yes, Mum, why?” she asked.

“It’s all right. I thought you might have been sick, or there may have been a problem. You were sitting there so quietly, and you didn’t seem to take a lot of notice of your program. Normally your eyes are glued to it.”

“No, I’m fine Mum, really and no problems.”

“You sure? For one minute you lock yourself in the house and, the next minute you’re running around outside in the dark.”

“Yeah, sure. I’m cool now that you’re home.”

“Okay, whatever.”

Next morning as soon as Bronte went outside Kosta was waiting for her, and he tried to jump up on her in his excitement. In the light of a new day, she was uncertain with the events of the previous evening, as they seemed too unreal to believe. Did it happen or was I dreaming.

No, you weren’t dreaming. It did happen.

“Will you stop reading my mind, it’s spooky,” Bronte said aloud, but she was smiling.

Bronte moved off toward the large shed. Kosta trotted after her wagging his tail furiously. The property on which she lived had many large trees and a lot of scrub area, and three dams. It was slightly off the beaten track, but it was a lovely quiet and peaceful spot.