Lila and the Little Dog.

Lila skipped along the sidewalk, humming a tune as she carried her schoolbag. It was a bright afternoon, and she couldn’t wait to get home and tell her mother about the painting she had made in art class.

But just as she turned the corner near the marketplace, something caught her eye—a small, shivering dog curled up near a fruit stall. His fur was dirty and matted, his ribs slightly visible beneath his golden-brown coat. He looked up at Lila with tired, hopeful eyes.

Lila’s heart ached. “Oh, you poor thing,” she whispered, kneeling beside him. She reached out a hand, but the dog flinched and scooted back.

“It’s okay,” she said softly, keeping her voice gentle. She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out the sandwich her mother had packed for her. Carefully, she tore off a piece and placed it near the dog.

The little dog hesitated, sniffed the bread, then hungrily gobbled it up.

“You must be so hungry,” Lila murmured. She glanced around but saw no collar or leash. Was he lost? Or had someone abandoned him?

Just then, an old fruit seller walked over. “Ah, you found him,” he said, leaning on his wooden cane. “That pup has been hanging around for days. No one knows where he came from.”

Lila frowned. “Has anyone tried to help him?”

The old man sighed. “Some folks shoo him away, thinking he’ll be trouble. But he just wants a little kindness.”

Lila looked back at the dog, who now licked his lips and wagged his tail slightly. She knew she couldn’t just leave him there.

“I’ll help him,” she decided.

Slowly, she reached into her bag and pulled out her water bottle, pouring some into the bottle cap. She slid it toward the dog, who lapped up the water gratefully.

“Good boy,” she cooed. “You need a name. How about… Lucky?”

At the sound of his new name, the dog perked up, his ears twitching.

Lila smiled. “Lucky it is.”

Determined to help, she took out her scarf and carefully wrapped it around Lucky’s thin body to keep him warm. Then she turned to the fruit seller. “Can you watch him for a few minutes? I’m going to ask my mom if we can take him home.”

The old man nodded kindly. “Go on, little one. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Lila ran all the way home, her heart pounding.

When she reached her house, she burst through the door. “Mom! There’s a dog—he’s all alone and hungry, and I want to help him!”

Her mother blinked in surprise but listened patiently as Lila told her everything.

After a moment, her mother smiled. “Well, it sounds like Lucky has already found a friend in you. Let’s go see him.”

Excited, Lila grabbed an old blanket and some biscuits before leading her mother back to the market.

Lucky was still there, resting under the fruit stall. His tail thumped happily when he saw Lila.

“He remembers me!” she beamed.

Lila’s mother knelt beside him and gently stroked his head. “Poor little thing,” she murmured. “He does need help.”

“Can we take him home?” Lila pleaded.

Her mother hesitated, then nodded. “We’ll take him to the vet first. If no one comes forward to claim him, he can stay with us.”

Lila jumped with joy. “Did you hear that, Lucky? You might have a home!”

Carefully, they wrapped Lucky in the blanket and carried him home.

Over the next few weeks, Lucky grew healthier. His fur became soft and shiny, and his once-worried eyes now sparkled with happiness. He followed Lila everywhere—on her morning walks, during playtime in the yard, and even curled up beside her at night.

One day, as Lila sat on the porch petting Lucky, her mother smiled and said, “It looks like he’s already part of the family.”

Lila grinned and hugged Lucky tightly. “That’s because he is.”

Lucky wagged his tail, knowing he had finally found his forever home—thanks to the kindness of a little girl who saw him when no one else did.