The warm afternoon sun filtered through the branches of the tall tamarind trees that lined the edge of the small village. Sumi, a cheerful girl with bright eyes and an endless imagination, was sitting in the yard with her best friend—her loyal brown dog, Lulu. Lulu wagged his tail excitedly as Sumi tossed a stick across the grass. With every throw, the dog bounded after it, ears flopping and paws kicking up little clouds of dust.
“Good boy, Lulu! Bring it back!” Sumi cheered, clapping her hands. Lulu barked happily, dropping the stick at her feet before nudging her hand for another toss. For Sumi, these simple games were the happiest part of her day. Lulu was not just a dog; he was her playmate, her protector, and the friend who understood her better than anyone.
But this peaceful playtime was about to change. From the corner of her eye, Sumi noticed someone approaching along the narrow path that ran by her yard. It was Kevin, the tall, mischievous boy from the next village over. Sumi froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. She wasn’t ready to deal with him—not today.
Why Sumi Didn’t Like Kevin
Kevin wasn’t exactly a bad boy, but he had a habit of teasing Sumi. Sometimes he would hide her books at school, or pull funny faces at her just to make her flustered. Other times, he would laugh at Lulu, calling him a “muddy street dog,” which always made Sumi furious.
Sumi preferred peace, fun, and kindness. But Kevin was unpredictable, loud, and—if she was honest—a little scary. So whenever she saw him coming, her first instinct was always the same: run away.
The Moment of Escape
Sumi quickly grabbed Lulu’s collar and whispered, “Shh, Lulu. Kevin is coming. Let’s go!” Lulu tilted his head, confused, but wagged his tail anyway, ready for adventure.
Kevin hadn’t spotted her yet; he was whistling a tune, walking slowly as if he had all the time in the world. His shadow stretched across the dusty road as he got closer.
Sumi’s heart raced. She didn’t want him to find her sitting in the yard, vulnerable. So, holding Lulu tightly, she tiptoed around the back of the house, her bare feet silent against the warm earth.
But Lulu, excited by the sudden sneaky movement, thought they were playing a new game. He barked loudly—“Woof! Woof!”—his tail wagging furiously.
“Shh, Lulu! You’ll give us away!” Sumi hissed, pulling him along.
Unfortunately, Kevin’s sharp ears picked up the sound. “Hey! I hear you, Sumi!” he called out, a grin spreading across his face. “Where are you hiding?”
A Chase Through the Garden
Panic shot through Sumi. “Run, Lulu, run!” she shouted, breaking into a sprint across the back garden. Lulu barked joyfully, running beside her as if it were the best game ever.
Kevin spotted them just in time to see Sumi’s braids flying behind her as she darted between the banana trees. With a laugh, he gave chase.
“Come back, Sumi! I just want to talk!” he shouted.
But Sumi didn’t believe him. She raced faster, Lulu bounding alongside, their footsteps crunching on fallen leaves. Her small feet carried her through the garden, past her grandmother’s mango tree, and around the little chicken coop.
“Faster, Lulu!” she urged, though Lulu was already ahead, barking like a wild drumbeat.
Kevin was quick, but Sumi was quicker. She knew every twist and turn of the garden. She leapt over a fallen log, ducked under a clothesline, and dashed behind a tall bush of hibiscus flowers.
Lulu stopped there too, tongue hanging out, tail thumping against the ground. Together they crouched, peeking through the red blossoms.
Kevin slowed down, looking left and right. “You can’t hide forever, Sumi,” he teased. “I’ll find you!”
A Clever Distraction
Sumi’s heart pounded, but then an idea popped into her head. She picked up a small rock and tossed it toward the chicken coop. It landed with a clatter.
Kevin immediately turned toward the noise. “Aha! You must be there!” he said, running in the wrong direction.
Sumi giggled softly, covering her mouth so he wouldn’t hear. “Good trick, right, Lulu?” she whispered. Lulu tilted his head, as if to say, Yes, but when do we get more sticks to chase?
For a moment, it seemed like she had escaped. But then—CRACK!—a dry branch snapped under her foot as she shifted her weight. Kevin spun around, spotting her hiding place.
“There you are!” he shouted, dashing toward her.
Sumi squealed, bursting out from behind the hibiscus bush and running again. Lulu barked wildly, thrilled by all the running.
A Surprising Twist
Just as Kevin was about to catch up, Lulu did something unexpected. With a playful growl, he darted in front of Kevin and jumped. Not to hurt him, but to playfully block his path.
Kevin stumbled, surprised, and had to stop short. “Whoa! Your dog’s got some guts!” he exclaimed, stepping back.
Lulu barked proudly, standing between Kevin and Sumi like a tiny guardian. His tail wagged, but his eyes were alert, watching Kevin carefully.
Sumi stopped too, catching her breath. “See? Lulu doesn’t like you chasing me,” she said firmly.
Kevin raised his hands in surrender, laughing. “Okay, okay! I get it. I wasn’t trying to scare you. I just wanted to say hi.”
But Sumi wasn’t convinced. “Then why were you running after me?”
Kevin shrugged, scratching his head. “Because you ran away first! And when someone runs, it makes me want to chase them. That’s all.”
Learning to Understand
Sumi frowned, unsure whether to believe him. But Lulu, sensing no danger, wagged his tail and trotted up to Kevin, sniffing his hand. Kevin hesitated, then gently patted Lulu’s head.
“Your dog’s actually pretty cool,” he admitted. “I guess I shouldn’t have teased him before.”
Sumi blinked in surprise. Kevin… apologizing? That was rare.
“Do you mean it?” she asked carefully.
Kevin nodded. “Yeah. I didn’t realize it made you upset. I was just trying to be funny. But maybe it wasn’t funny to you.”
Sumi looked at Lulu, who licked Kevin’s hand as if forgiving him already. She sighed, her shoulders relaxing. “Well… if you stop teasing, maybe we can all play together.”
Kevin grinned. “Deal. But only if Lulu lets me throw the stick once in a while.”
A New Kind of Game
So the three of them returned to the yard, where Sumi picked up the stick again. She tossed it across the grass, and Lulu bolted after it, tail flying.
This time, Kevin joined in, laughing as Lulu came racing back. “He’s faster than me!” Kevin said, impressed.
Sumi giggled. “Of course he is. He’s my Lulu.”
For the first time, instead of running away from Kevin, Sumi was laughing with him. Lulu barked happily, enjoying the attention from both his favorite humans.
Conclusion
That afternoon, Sumi learned something important. Sometimes people act in ways we don’t like, but often it’s because they don’t realize how their actions affect others. By standing her ground—and with a little help from Lulu—she helped Kevin understand her feelings.
And though she might always be a little cautious when she saw Kevin coming, she also realized that running away wasn’t the only answer. Sometimes, facing the situation with honesty could turn a potential problem into the start of a friendship.
As the sun set behind the trees, Sumi, Lulu, and Kevin sat in the yard together, laughing and playing until the fireflies came out. It was a day that started with fear but ended with new understanding—proof that even the most unexpected moments can lead to something good.
