Bibi was a small boy with a big heart. He loved animals, especially dogs. Every afternoon, he would play outside near his house, hoping to spot a stray dog or a wandering pup that needed love. One day, as he walked home from school, he saw a skinny, golden-colored dog sitting near a garbage bin. The dog had sad eyes and a drooping tail, and Bibi’s heart ached for it.
Bibi walked slowly towards the dog, afraid that it might run away. But to his surprise, the dog stayed still, only looking up at him with tired eyes. “Hello there,” Bibi whispered, crouching down and stretching out his hand. The dog sniffed his fingers hesitantly and then licked them. Bibi giggled. “You’re a friendly one, aren’t you?”
From that day on, Bibi visited the dog every afternoon. He named it Lucky because he hoped the dog would have a lucky life. He brought leftovers from dinner, small pieces of bread, and even some biscuits he saved from his own lunchbox. Lucky wagged his tail each time Bibi arrived, and soon, they became the best of friends.
But one day, Lucky was gone.
Bibi arrived at the usual spot near the garbage bin, holding a piece of chicken he had saved. He looked around, expecting to see the golden tail wagging in excitement. But there was no sign of Lucky. Bibi frowned. “Lucky?” he called softly. “Where are you, boy?”
He searched behind the garbage bin, under the old cart, and even walked down the nearby alley, but there was no sign of his furry friend. His heart sank. He couldn’t bear the thought that Lucky was gone forever.
Determined, Bibi decided to find him. “I have to look for him!” he told himself.
Bibi started asking around. He first went to the small shop on the corner where an old woman sold fruits and candies. “Grandma Li, have you seen a golden dog around here?” he asked.
The old woman shook her head. “A golden dog? No, I haven’t seen one today. Is it your dog?”
“No, but he’s my friend,” Bibi said with a sigh.
He continued searching, asking the neighbors and looking under parked cars and in every corner of the street. As he walked, memories of Lucky flashed through his mind—how the dog would wag his tail when he saw Bibi, how he would lean his head against Bibi’s leg when he was tired, and how he would happily eat the food Bibi brought him.
“I miss you, Lucky,” Bibi murmured.
He decided to check the nearby park. Maybe Lucky had wandered there? The park was big and had many trees and bushes where a dog could hide. Bibi walked around, calling out, “Lucky! Lucky! Where are you, boy?”
People in the park looked at him curiously, but Bibi didn’t care. He had to find Lucky. He checked near the swings, behind the benches, and even under a wooden bridge near the small pond. But there was no Lucky.
Just as he was about to give up, he saw a man sitting on a bench, feeding a dog. A golden dog.
Bibi’s heart leaped. “Lucky?” he called out.
The dog lifted its head, ears perking up. Then, as if recognizing Bibi’s voice, the dog wagged its tail and ran toward him. Bibi knelt down and hugged Lucky tightly. “I found you! I was so worried!” he whispered.
The man smiled. “Is this your dog?”
Bibi hesitated. “No… but he’s my friend. I’ve been taking care of him.”
The man nodded. “I found him wandering near the market. He looked hungry, so I gave him some food. I was thinking of taking him home with me, but it looks like he already has someone who loves him.”
Bibi looked at Lucky, who licked his face happily. “I do love him,” he admitted. “But I can’t take him home. My parents won’t allow me to have a pet.”
The man thought for a moment. “Well, how about this? I can adopt him, but you can visit him anytime you want. That way, he’ll always have food, a warm place to sleep, and you as his best friend.”
Bibi’s eyes sparkled. “Really? You mean it?”
The man nodded. “Of course. Lucky deserves a good home, and it looks like you deserve to keep your best friend.”
Bibi turned to Lucky. “Did you hear that, Lucky? You’ll have a real home now!”
Lucky barked happily and wagged his tail.
From that day on, Bibi visited Lucky at the man’s house whenever he could. They still played together, just like before, but now Bibi was happy knowing that Lucky was safe, warm, and well-fed.
Even though Bibi had been sad when Lucky disappeared, his search led him to something even better—a happy ending for his best friend. And that made his heart feel lighter than ever.
