The Greedy Dog and His Bone

On a sunny afternoon, Bruno, a scrappy brown dog with floppy ears and a mischievous glint in his eye, trotted down the street. Life was simple for Bruno—he lived for chasing squirrels, digging holes, and most importantly, sniffing out a good meal.

As Bruno passed by a trash can outside the bakery, his nose twitched. “What’s that smell?” he muttered to himself. Peeking inside, his heart leapt with excitement. 

Nestled among some crumpled paper was a shiny, juicy bone.

“A bone! Jackpot!” Bruno yipped, wagging his tail furiously. He snatched the bone and bolted, his paws kicking up little clouds of dust.

Clutching his prize tightly in his jaws, Bruno dashed past the train station, past the bustling schoolyard where kids shouted and laughed, and through the park where birds chirped merrily. 

He felt like the king of the world.

Finally, he reached an old wooden bridge that stretched over a quiet, mirror-like river. Bruno slowed his pace, his tongue lolling happily as he admired his prize. The bone was perfect—meaty and fragrant, just the kind he liked.

As Bruno trotted across the bridge, something below caught his eye. Peering over the edge, he stopped in his tracks. There, in the still water, was another dog holding an even bigger bone.

“What’s this?” Bruno growled softly, narrowing his eyes. The dog in the water growled back.

Bruno tilted his head. “Who does this guy think he is? And how did he get a bone that big? It’s not fair! My bone should be the biggest!”

The dog in the water tilted its head too, mimicking Bruno’s every move. Bruno’s growl deepened, and sure enough, the other dog growled louder.

Fueled by greed, Bruno made a bold decision. “That bone is mine!” he thought. 

Without a second’s hesitation, he leapt off the bridge, determined to snatch the enormous prize from the other dog’s jaws.

Cold water enveloped Bruno as he paddled furiously, searching for his rival. But to his confusion, there was no other dog. The big bone he had coveted so much wasn’t real—it was only his reflection in the water.

“No! ” Bruno barked in dismay, droplets flying from his wet fur. And then, as he barked, the worst happened—his beloved bone slipped from his mouth and sank slowly to the bottom of the river.

Bruno watched helplessly as the bone disappeared into the murky depths. Panic set in as he realized how deep the water was. Shivering and exhausted, he paddled to shore, his once-proud stride reduced to a soggy shuffle.

Sitting on the riverbank, Bruno shook himself dry, spraying water in every direction. His floppy ears drooped as he let out a long, regretful sigh. Not only had he lost the “big bone,” but his own perfectly good bone was gone too.

“Why didn’t I just stick with what I had?” he muttered, his tail tucked between his legs. “It was a fine bone… maybe even the best bone I’ve ever had.”

Bruno trudged back toward home, his paws dragging in the dirt. The sun still shone, the birds still chirped, but Bruno barely noticed. He’d learned a hard lesson: greed doesn’t just leave you empty-handed—it leaves you wet, cold, and hungry.