It was a sunny afternoon in the countryside, and the smell of fresh corn filled the air. Thuy, a kind village girl, was preparing to boil corn for the whole family. She had gathered a basket full of golden ears from the garden and set up a big pot over the fire. But just as she was about to start, she realized—there was no firewood left!
“Oh no,” Thuy sighed. “How can I boil the corn without firewood?”
Sitting nearby was her little helper, Lala—a clever and curious puppy with soft brown fur and bright eyes. Lala tilted her head, watching Thuy with concern. She didn’t understand everything, but she could tell her best friend needed help.
“I’ll figure something out!” Lala barked with determination.
First, Lala ran to the edge of the forest, sniffing around for sticks. She dragged back a few twigs in her mouth, but they were too small. Next, she tried barking at the chickens, hoping they might help somehow. That didn’t work either—they just clucked and ran away!
Lala thought hard. Suddenly, she remembered Grandpa Minh’s old cart, often loaded with firewood. Maybe there was some left behind!
She raced to the back of the shed and—yes!—found a pile of dry sticks hidden under a tarp. Wagging her tail excitedly, she began dragging one piece at a time back to Thuy.
“Lala! You found firewood?” Thuy exclaimed in surprise. “You clever girl!”
With Lala’s help, Thuy had enough wood to start a fire. Soon, the pot was bubbling, and the delicious smell of boiling corn filled the yard. Lala sat proudly beside the fire, her tail thumping with joy.
When the corn was ready, Thuy gave Lala the first bite. “You earned it,” she laughed. “You saved the day!”
Lala munched happily, knowing that even a little pup can make a big difference—with love, loyalty, and just a bit of determination.
