Ngày đăng: 30/05/2024

 

 

 

Nothing is as sad as being left by the people you love. But don’t worry; you will still find many people out there who will love you even more. Let’s follow Ben and Lucky on a journey of survival, where their love, resilience, and bravery help them discover the true meaning of family.

 

 

***

In the dark night, under the bitter weather, a poor dog wandered in search of help. It was Ben. He had been left on the street this afternoon for an unknown reason. He thought his owners might be searching for him. So Ben walked around to find them.

Ben was an elderly retriever. He was pretty large. His fur had once been yellow, but it faded as he grew old. He once saw how beautiful life was with both his eyes. Now, one of them has turned white. The other was often covered with clouds. That made it difficult for him to see in the dark.

Suddenly, rain began to fall. People hurried to find a shelter. Ben ran around to find shelter, too. Then he hid himself near a trash can. Ben was hungry. His whole body was tired. Then, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

**

Ben was awakened by a noise nearby. A dog had knocked the trash can over. He was searching for something inside. He was a beagle, quite young, with a muscular build. He had large brown eyes. His hanging ears looked cute. What made him stand out was his weird walks due to a disabled leg.

When he saw Ben awaked, he greeted him.

“Hi, are you new here?” The dog asked Ben.

“I don’t get what you said,” answered Ben.

“C’mon! Don’t act like you don’t know your owners leave you here.” The dog laughed.

Ben was upset to hear this. He did not think his owner could leave him that way.

Ben used to live with a couple and their little daughter in a small house. The dad worked as a carpenter, while the mom was a maid in a hotel. Ben’s close friend was the daughter. Her name was Leila. She was a five-year-old girl with an adorable smile.

“My name is Lucky. What’s your name, Uncle Being Left.” Lucky made fun of Ben.

“Call me Ben… How long have you lived here?” Ben asked Lucky.

“One and a half years,” answered Lucky. Then, he moved his eyes to his leg and continued: “My owner was evil. He stepped on my poor leg once when he was drunk. After that, he kicked me out of his house.”

Ben felt touched by Lucky’s story.

“I’m starving,” Lucky told Ben. “There’s nothing inside the bin. Let’s go find some food.”

 

 

**

Both Lucky and Ben searched many trash cans along the street, but they could not find any leftover food. As they approached one can, an angry man shouted at them, “What bad dogs! Making a mess around!” He was about to kick one of them. But both dogs soon ran away from him.

They wandered for a while until they encountered a crossroad. Lucky suddenly stopped. He hid himself and waited for something. Ben spotted a lady who carried a bag of food came across. All of a sudden, Lucky jumped out of the darkness. In a flash, he darted forward and snatched her food with lightning speed. His heart raced as he made a swift escape with the food in his jaws.

Ben chased after Lucky, yelling angrily, “What are you doing? Stealing food?” Lucky did not say anything.

They ran and ran until Lucky found a safe hiding spot. Lucky laughed when Ben breathed heavily and waited for his breath to return to normal.

Ben frowned at Lucky and complained. “Stealing is not a good idea, buddy.”

Lucky laughed louder at Ben. “Uncle Ben, you may not die for doing a bad thing, but you will surely die of starvation.”

Lucky divided the food into two portions. “Now, eat your share.” But Ben did not even look at the food.

“Eat it for me, Ben,” Lucky lowered his voice. “You’ll be very sorry if you don’t eat that. What if you have nothing to eat for the next two days? Grab any chance to survive. Admit that it’s now your life.” Lucky looked at Ben with sad eyes. Then, he left.

Finally, Ben ate his food. He felt sorry for the lady.

**

Ben couldn’t help but reflect on the turn his life had taken. His thoughts drifted to his old life, the warm house, the caring family, and the giggles of little Leila.

Ben looked at Lucky. Lucky seemed to have embraced the street-smart lifestyle. His disability made him resourceful and tough. He learned to survive on his own. But beneath his toughness, there was his longing for a loving family.

As the night deepened, Ben and Lucky found a quiet alley to rest.

Lucky broke the silence, “Uncle Ben, I know this life is tough, but we have each other now. We can watch out for one another and share what little we find.”

Ben nodded, grateful for Lucky’s friendship. “You’re right, Lucky. We may not have our old lives back, but we can make the best of what we have.”

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the distant sound of footsteps. It was the sound of approaching humans. It sent shivers down their spines. They did not know the food they stole lately was from a scary woman. She reported the case to the authorities, who sent people to find them.

Both dogs tensed as their ears perked up. “We need to hide,” Ben whispered urgently.

The approaching footsteps drew closer, and Lucky saw the flashlights scan the area. Lucky’s heart pounded as he saw an officer. He was from the Wildlife Rescue Station. Lucky was scared of them. He and Ben, two disabled dogs, could end up locked up in iron cribs in the Wildlife Rescue Station if they found them.

Lucky’s heart raced while Ben’s ears twitched with anxiety.

The officers drew closer. One of them saw Ben’s tail. He yelled loudly, “There they are! We’ve got them now!”

“Run!” Lucky screamed at Ben. They tried their best to run out of the alley.

The officers pursued Ben and Lucky with a net with them.

The chase led them through crowded markets. The officers began closing in when Ben was left behind. How could an old dog deal with this case? Ben had run around the city the whole evening with blurred vision. He was too tired. As Lucky saw Ben’s situation, he ran backward to Ben. He encouraged him not to give up.

The officers’ nets were inching closer. It seemed like they were about to be trapped.

Luckily, Ben and Lucky spotted a narrow alleyway leading to an old, abandoned building. Without hesitation, they darted into it, their hearts pounding with hope.

The officers followed closely behind, their flashlights scanning the entrance. Inside the building, the darkness covered them. Ben and Lucky huddled together in a corner when the officers’ voices grew louder as they closed in.

Ben was exhausted. He told Lucky he would come out and distract the officers. Lucky should leave without him. But Lucky would never do it. He considered Ben as his family now. And he would never leave without his family.

At his last attempt, Lucky ran around and bumped something. The old building had a hidden exit! An old, rusty door at the back led to another alley. With a final burst of energy, Ben and Lucky sped towards it. The officers reached the door just moments too late. Ben and Lucky escaped successfully.

That night, they couldn’t sleep. They had an awful day but were happy because they had them side by side. From now on, they became wandering soulmates in their life journey.

**

Christmas Eve had arrived, and the town was bustling with holiday cheer. The streets were adorned with colorful lights, and a joyful atmosphere filled the air. Ben and Lucky walked through a flea market, searching for leftover food.

Suddenly, Ben noticed a familiar face in the distance. It was Leila! She was skinnier, but her adorable smile remained the same. Ben’s heart raced with excitement as he recognized his beloved friend.

Ben barked happily. His tail was wagging unstoppably. When Leila recognized her dog’s sound, she turned around. She was so excited to see Ben again. She ran forward to him, but unluckily, she slipped and fell into a pit of frozen pond water. Leila was about to drown in the deep, cold water. Some people around saw her falling. They screamed in panic. “Help the girl!”

Ben and Lucky sprang into action without hesitation. Ben grabbed one end of a scarf hanging from a nearby vendor’s stall. Lucky clamped onto the other end. They pulled the scarf toward Leila. The brave duo extended the scarf to Leila. She then grasped it with trembling hands. Ben barked to cheer her on. With their combined strength, the two dogs managed to pull Leila out of the icy water just in time. Leila’s parents rushed to her side, tears streaming down their faces.

The entire flea market had witnessed the heroic rescue. They clapped and cheered for Ben and Lucky. Leila’s father, still trembling, approached Ben and Lucky. He knelt down and hugged them tightly.

At that moment, something magical happened. The local authority recognized the incredible bravery of Ben and Lucky. He decided to honor the two dogs with special badges of heroism.

From that day forward, Ben and Lucky were no longer worried about finding food. Locals in the city knew them as the hero dogs. They generously shared their meals with the duo. Ben and Lucky had found a place in the hearts of the community.

 

 

***

The story conveys a strong message about friendship, resilience, and survival in tough situations. Remember that you never give up, and you will find your meaning in life.

 

– The end –

 

Một số truyện ngắn khác trong dự án: Luyện viết cùng Moira

 

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