The Dog and its Reflection

One bright afternoon, a hungry dog found a big, juicy bone. His tail wagged with joy as he picked it up. "What a lucky day!" he thought, firmly holding the bone in his mouth. He couldn’t wait to find a quiet spot to enjoy his tasty treat.

As he walked home, he reached a wooden bridge over a clear, gentle stream. The water sparkled in the sun. Curious, he looked down and gasped.

Below, another dog was staring back at him, holding a bone that looked even bigger and juicier! The dog’s eyes grew wide with excitement. "That bone looks better than mine!" he thought. "I want both!"

Without thinking, he barked loudly, "Woof!" trying to scare the other dog away.

But as he opened his mouth, plop! His bone slipped from his teeth and fell into the stream. He watched in shock as it sank into the water and floated away.

The dog leaned over the edge of the bridge, trying to grab his bone, but it was too late. It was gone. When he looked back at the water, the other dog had disappeared, too.

It wasn’t another dog at all. It had only been his own reflection!

With a heavy heart, the dog turned and walked away. He wished he had been happy with what he had, instead of trying to get more.