Lu wasn’t your typical picture of canine beauty. He was a small, scruffy mutt with a coat that was more brown than beige, and eyes that were more cloudy than clear. But despite his appearance, Lu had a heart of gold. He was loyal, affectionate, and always eager to please. Today was Lu’s birthday, a day he’d been looking forward to for weeks.
The morning started off bright and sunny, and Lu was full of anticipation. He wagged his tail excitedly as he waited by the door for his human, hoping for a special treat or maybe even a birthday party. But as the hours passed, Lu’s excitement began to dwindle. His human was nowhere to be seen, and the house was eerily quiet.
Lu wandered through the house, his tail drooping sadly. He sniffed at his empty food bowl and looked longingly out the window. He missed his human’s comforting presence and the playful games they used to have. As the sun began to set, Lu curled up on his favorite spot on the couch and let out a mournful howl. He felt so alone and unwanted.
Just as Lu was about to give up hope, he heard a faint scratching sound at the door. His heart raced with excitement as he jumped up and barked. The door creaked open, and there stood his human, a big smile on her face. In her arms, she was carrying a birthday cake, complete with candles and a small bone-shaped toy.
Lu’s tail wagged so hard it nearly knocked him over. He jumped up and down, barking with joy. His human knelt down and gave him a big hug. “Happy birthday, Lu,” she said. “I’m so sorry I was late. I wanted to make your day extra special.”
Lu licked her face gratefully. As they ate the cake together, Lu felt a wave of happiness wash over him. He might not have been the most beautiful dog in the world, but he had the love and affection of his human, and that was all that mattered.
