Read time - 7 minutes -
The Cold Rain
Ceritasakti.com - The sky was overcast that afternoon. Two small children could be seen sitting inside an old bus stop by the roadside. Jun and Kiki watched the deep puddles grow larger on the quiet street. The sky looked cloudy is a sign that it will rain. The wind blew cold air against their faces.
Jun pulled his jacket tight. Kiki kicked a small stone into a puddle. They wanted the bus to arrive soon.
Then, Kiki heard a very soft sound. It did not sound like the wind. It sounded like a tiny cry.
Jun pointed toward the thick bushes behind the bus stop.
"Did you hear that Kiki?" Jun asked.
Kiki nodded. Kiki pulled her yellow raincoat over her head. She stepped carefully into the wet grass. The grass felt slippery. The rain hit her back hard. She walked closer to the tall bushes.
There, shaking under a large wet leaf, sat a tiny puppy.
A Safe Warm Towel
The puppy looked very sad and was trembling. His fur was completely covered in thick brown mud. His big brown eyes looked up at Kiki. He let out another tiny cry.
"Ooh you are freezing little puppy," Kiki said.
Kiki knelt in the mud. She gently picked up the puppy. The little dog pressed his cold wet nose against her yellow raincoat. His tiny body shook in her hands. He felt as cold as ice.
Jun ran over to help. Jun quickly opened his school backpack. He ignored his schoolbooks. He took out his dry gym shirt from the bottom of the bag. Jun wrapped the soft dry shirt tightly around the small dog.
"Hi little Odie...We will call you Odie," Jun decided. "Let us take you home, Odie."
They did not wait for the bus anymore. They ran along the sidewalk through the heavy rain. Kiki held Odie close to her chest. Jun ran ahead to open the gates. They brought Odie directly into their warm house.
The Warm Bath
Their mother saw the muddy puppy. She did not get mad about the mud on the floor. She smiled. She walked to the kitchen and found a small red tub.
"Children.. Let's make him feel the warmth," their mother said.
She filled the red tub with warm water. Jun gently lowered Odie into the tub. The warm water washed the thick mud away. Odie stopped shaking. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the warm bath.
Kiki used a soft blue towel to dry the puppy. Odie was actually a beautiful golden color. His ears were floppy and soft. Odie finally wagged his small tail. He licked Jun on the hand.
They placed a small white bowl on the kitchen floor. They filled it with fresh water and a little bit of warm milk. Odie drank the whole bowl very fast. His tummy looked round and full.
Odie Finds A Home
The rain continued to fall outside the window. The kitchen felt very safe.
Kiki found a sturdy cardboard box. She placed a thick blanket inside the box. She put the box right next to the warm heater in the living room.
Odie climbed into his new bed. He turned in a circle three times. He lay down on the soft blanket.
Jun sat on the floor next to the box. Jun watched Odie take a slow breath. The puppy closed his round eyes. The scary rain outside did not matter anymore. Odie finally had a safe place. Odie had a family.
Sometimes the world feels cold and stormy. You might feel lost. But there is always a warm place waiting for you. You just have to look for the kind hands ready to help.
Are you safe and warm in your bed right now, kids? Take a deep breath in. Feel the soft blankets around you. Close your eyes and see you tomorrow again.
Goodnight.
