The Dog and the Shadow
Large text for little eyes.
One bright morning, Benny the dog trotted proudly through the meadow with the biggest, juiciest bone he’d ever found.
“Oh, this will last me for three whole naps!” he barked joyfully.
He paraded around showing it off to every squirrel and butterfly that would look. “No dog in town has a bone like mine!” he bragged.
Even his tail wagged in rhythm to his happiness.
But Benny wasn’t just hungry, he was greedy. And greed, as you’ll see, has a funny way of biting back!
The River That Played Tricks
As Benny walked home, he reached a narrow bridge over a sparkling river. The water shimmered so beautifully, he couldn’t resist peeking in.
And what did he see?
Another dog—down below, holding a bone!
Benny’s eyes grew wide. “What? That dog’s bone looks even bigger!”
He leaned closer. The other dog leaned closer, too.
He growled. The other dog growled back.
“Well,” Benny huffed, “I can’t let that dog have the better bone!”
The Bark That Cost a Bite
Without thinking, Benny opened his mouth to bark, “Hey! That’s mine!”
But the moment he did, PLOP!—his delicious bone slipped from his mouth and fell straight into the river!
Benny yelped in shock. “Wait—come back, my beautiful breakfast bone!”
He splashed his paws in the water, but it was too late. The river carried his prize away with a giggle and a glimmer.
And the dog in the water?
Gone too.
Benny blinked, realizing that it had been his own reflection all along!
The Laugh That Taught a Lesson
Dripping wet and bone-less, Benny trudged home. The frogs croaked. The ducks quacked. Even the fish seemed to chuckle.
He sighed, shaking water off his fur. “I guess that’s what I get for being greedy.”
Then he spotted his friend, Daisy the cat, sunbathing nearby.
“Lose something again, Benny?” she purred.
“Just my pride,” he muttered. “And my lunch.”
Daisy laughed. “Next time, look twice before you bark once.”
Benny chuckled too. “Deal. But maybe next time, I’ll bark after I eat.”
And from that day forward, Benny became the wisest (and wettest) dog in the village!
The End !
