Bibi was a little girl full of curiosity and kindness. She had curly brown hair, bright eyes that sparkled with adventure, and a heart as big as the sky. She loved her grandma dearly, but sometimes, her adventurous spirit got the best of her.
One warm afternoon, Bibi was playing in Grandma’s garden, chasing butterflies and picking tiny white daisies. She was happy, but her mind kept wandering back to something she had seen on the way to Grandma’s house that morning.
It was a poor dog, a skinny one with ribs showing through his dirty golden fur. He had been sitting near the old wooden fence by the market, his eyes sad and lonely. Bibi had tugged at Grandma’s sleeve, pointing at the dog. “Grandma, he looks hungry!” she had said. But Grandma, carrying bags of fresh vegetables, had gently pulled her along. “We can’t stop now, sweetheart. Maybe someone will take care of him.”
But Bibi wasn’t sure about that. She had seen many people walk past the dog, and no one had stopped to help him. Her heart ached for the lonely creature. So as she played in the garden, an idea began to form in her mind. She would help the dog herself!
She looked around. Grandma was inside, probably making her famous mango sticky rice. The smell of sweet coconut filled the air. Bibi knew she should stay close to the house, but the image of the poor dog wouldn’t leave her mind.
Carefully, she tiptoed to the kitchen window. On the counter, there was a loaf of bread and a bowl of rice. That would be perfect! Quiet as a mouse, she climbed onto a stool and grabbed a piece of bread, wrapping it in a napkin. Then, she scooped some rice into a little plastic bag and tucked both into her pockets.
Then, before she could change her mind, she slipped through the back gate and ran toward the market.
The town was busy with people selling fruits, spices, and handmade goods. The smell of roasted peanuts and grilled fish filled the air, but Bibi had no time to stop. She weaved through the crowd, past stalls filled with colorful scarves and baskets of bright yellow bananas. Finally, she reached the old wooden fence where she had seen the dog.
There he was, curled up under a tree, his tail barely wagging. His eyes, big and brown, watched her cautiously. Bibi’s heart thumped with excitement and nervousness. What if he didn’t trust her? What if someone saw her and told Grandma?
Slowly, she knelt a few feet away. “Hey there, puppy,” she whispered. “I brought you some food.”
She took out the bread and rice and placed them gently on the ground. The dog sniffed the air, his nose twitching. He hesitated for a moment before creeping closer, his tail wagging just a little faster. He sniffed the bread, then quickly gobbled it up. Bibi giggled. “You were really hungry, huh?”
She reached out her hand, holding her breath. The dog froze. Then, ever so slowly, he took a step forward and licked her fingers. Bibi beamed. “See? I’m your friend.”
She sat with him for a while, stroking his dirty fur and telling him about her favorite books and the mango sticky rice Grandma was making. She even named him, “Lucky,” because she wanted him to have a lucky life from now on.
But time passed quickly, and soon Bibi realized the sun was lower in the sky. Uh-oh. Grandma must be looking for her!
She stood up, brushing dirt from her knees. “I have to go now, Lucky. But I’ll come back, okay?” She gave him one last pat before dashing off toward home.
As she reached the gate, her heart pounded. What would Grandma say? Would she be mad?
The moment Bibi stepped inside, she saw Grandma standing by the kitchen door, arms crossed, eyes full of concern. “Bibi,” she said softly, “where have you been?”
Bibi gulped. “I… I went to feed the dog.”
Grandma sighed but didn’t look angry. Instead, she knelt and took Bibi’s hands. “Sweetheart, I was so worried. You must never run off like that.”
Bibi’s eyes filled with tears. “But Grandma, he was hungry and alone. I had to help him.”
Grandma’s face softened. She wiped a tear from Bibi’s cheek and smiled gently. “I understand, my love. You have such a kind heart. But next time, you must tell me first. We can help him together.”
Bibi’s face lit up. “Really?”
Grandma nodded. “Tomorrow, we’ll take him some proper food. Maybe even talk to the vet about finding him a home.”
The next day, just as Grandma had promised, they returned to the market with a bowl of fresh rice, boiled chicken, and a bottle of water. Lucky was waiting by the fence, his tail wagging excitedly.
Together, they fed him, cleaned him up, and asked around if anyone knew where he belonged. When no one did, Grandma made a big decision.
“How would you like to bring Lucky home with us?” she asked.
Bibi gasped. “Really? He can live with us?”
Grandma smiled. “Yes. But you must help take care of him.”
“I will! I promise!” Bibi hugged Lucky tight.
From that day on, Lucky became part of their family. He slept on a soft blanket by Bibi’s bed, played in the garden, and never went hungry again. And as for Bibi, she never ran away again—because she learned that sometimes, the best adventures are the ones shared with the people (and animals) you love.
