Once upon a sunny morning, Lily skipped down her driveway to catch the school bus.

She spotted a small dog, fur matted and eyes sad, hiding under a bush.

The bus honked, but Lily couldn't leave the dog alone. She approached slowly.

“Hello there, little buddy. Are you lost?” she whispered, inching closer.

The dog whimpered, still unsure, but wagged its tail a tiny bit.

Lily missed her bus, deciding the dog needed her more than she needed school today.

She dashed back home, the dog following at a distance, to get him some food.

With a bowl of water and some bread, she coaxed the dog out of hiding.

He gobbled up the food. Lily's heart swelled as she saw him relax.

“I’ll call you Buddy,” she said, stroking his ear. Buddy nuzzled her hand.

Lily promised to help Buddy find a home, talking to her neighbors that afternoon.

By evening, Buddy was wagging his tail non-stop, a new member of Lily's family.