The Puppy Who Became Family 成为家人的小狗

It was a chilly autumn afternoon when Lisa first saw the little puppy. She was walking home from school, kicking through piles of crunchy leaves, when she heard a soft whimper. Turning around, Lisa saw a small, scruffy dog sitting by the sidewalk. The puppy’s fur was a mix of brown and white, and his eyes were big and round, filled with a kind of sadness that tugged at Lisa’s heart.

"Hey, little guy," Lisa said gently, crouching down. "What’s wrong?"

The puppy wagged his tail weakly but didn’t move. Lisa could see his ribs showing, and his fur looked dirty and matted. She knew the puppy must have been out on the street for a while.

Lisa looked around. No one else was nearby. She reached into her backpack, hoping to find something to feed the puppy, but there was nothing. Then she had an idea. She carefully picked the little dog up and cradled him in her arms.

“I can’t just leave you here,” Lisa whispered. "Come with me."

She walked all the way home, the puppy snuggled close against her chest, shivering slightly. When Lisa got inside, her mom was sitting at the kitchen table, reading a book.

"Mom," Lisa said, "I found a puppy outside. Can we keep him?"

Her mom looked up in surprise, but then saw the puppy in Lisa’s arms and softened. “Oh, Lisa. He looks like he really needs help. Let’s see what we can do.”

They gave the puppy a warm bath, cleaned his fur, and fed him some leftover chicken. The little dog ate eagerly, his tail wagging faster with every bite. After his meal, he curled up on a soft blanket in the living room, falling asleep quickly, looking peaceful for the first time since Lisa had found him.

“Mom, can we name him? I think I want him to stay with us,” Lisa said softly, watching the puppy sleep.

Her mom smiled. “What do you think his name should be?”

Lisa thought for a moment, gazing at the little puppy. “How about Buddy? He seems like a Buddy.”