A sign read “Puppies for Sale” outside a small pet shop, where the sound of playful barking could be heard from the sidewalk. Inside, the air was filled with the warm, earthy scent of animals waiting for homes.
A little boy, eyes bright with excitement, entered the shop, his gaze fixed on the joyful tumbling of puppies in a pen. He approached the shopkeeper and asked, “Sir, how much are you selling those puppies for?”
The shopkeeper replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50, young man.”
The boy reached into his pocket, pulled out a handful of coins, and with a hopeful look, said, “I have $3.27. Can I please look at them?”
With a gentle smile, the shopkeeper whistled, calling the puppies. Five little furballs scampered towards the boy, but one puppy was noticeably slower, limping behind the others.
The boy pointed to the lagging puppy and asked with a frown, “What’s wrong with that puppy?”
“That pup’s got a bad leg. Won’t ever run like the rest,” the shopkeeper explained, his voice tinged with sadness.
Without hesitation, the boy exclaimed, “That’s the puppy I want. Can I pay for him in installments?”
The shopkeeper knelt down to the boy’s level, saying, “Son, you don’t want to buy that puppy. He’s never going to be able to run, jump, and play like the other puppies.”
But the boy reached down, rolling up his pant leg, revealing a brace running down both sides of his leg attaching to a specially made shoe. Looking back at the shopkeeper, he said, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands.”
The shopkeeper, now with a tear in his eye and a lump in his throat, just hugged the boy. “I’m sure he’s going to a good home. I’ll take that $3.27 as a down payment.”
With a beaming smile, the boy agreed, knowing that he and the little puppy would share a bond of understanding and support that would last a lifetime.
Moral of The Story
what might seem like imperfections can be viewed through a lens of shared experience and compassion, creating a deep connection between individuals.
Also Read: Bambi the Deer – Hansel And Gretel
Follow Up Questions
- Why did the boy choose the limping puppy instead of the other puppies?
- How did the boy feel when he saw the limping puppy, and why do you think he felt that way?
- What does this story teach us about how we should treat others who may be different from us?
I read this story in my childhood. Very inspirational story. We have shown concern for those who are different from us. We have to love them like that boy. It’s an inspiring story that inspired me to buy a puppy.