Cubis had always been the little star of the family. Whether it was his mischievous giggles, the way he clung to his father’s arm, or how he demanded bedtime stories, he believed no one could ever replace him in Dad’s heart. But one chilly morning, things began to change when Dad came home carrying a fluffy golden dog in his arms. “Meet Lucky,” Dad said with a smile, gently setting the pup down.
Cubis’s eyes widened. At first, he was curious—Lucky wagged his tail and tried to lick Cubis’s hand. But soon, he noticed something that made his chest feel tight. Dad stroked Lucky’s fur, gave him treats, and even let him sit on his lap while watching television. That lap, Cubis thought, used to be mine.
The jealousy grew. Whenever Dad played fetch with Lucky in the yard, Cubis stood by the window, pouting. During dinner, when Lucky curled at Dad’s feet, Cubis kicked his legs under the table, annoyed. He even whispered to himself, “Why does Dad love Lucky more than me?”
One evening, Cubis decided to test it. He grabbed his toy ball and rolled it toward Dad, hoping to play. But before Dad could respond, Lucky bounded over, snatched the ball, and ran back with it proudly. Dad laughed and clapped, praising Lucky. Cubis felt invisible. Tears welled in his eyes as he blurted out, “You love Lucky more than me!”
Dad immediately scooped Cubis into his arms, holding him tightly. “Cubis,” he said softly, “you are my son. No one can ever take your place in my heart. Loving Lucky doesn’t mean I love you any less. It just means our family has grown bigger.”
Hearing this, Cubis sniffled but slowly smiled. He glanced at Lucky, who wagged his tail as if asking to be friends. Carefully, Cubis reached out and patted the dog’s head. To his surprise, Lucky licked his cheek, making him laugh.
From that day on, Cubis realized he didn’t need to compete for Dad’s love. Instead, he found joy in sharing it—with a furry brother named Lucky.
