A Gift From a Stranger

 

On a cold winter morning, the wind whipped through the city’s narrow alleyways, bringing a bone-chilling cold. Tucked away behind an old diner, huddled beside a trash can, a small dog with matted, dirty fur curled up, shivering. He had been wandering these streets for months, his stomach always empty, and fear a constant companion in his sad eyes.

People hurried by, none of them noticing the pathetic little dog. They were busy with their own lives, their own worries, and there seemed to be no room for a nameless, insignificant creature. Yet, one person did stop. Her name was Linh, a kind-hearted high school student. On her way home from school, she saw the dog trembling in the bitter cold. A pang of sympathy hit her as she met his sorrowful gaze.

The next day, Linh brought a small portion of her mother’s fried rice and a little bowl of water. She placed them in a secluded corner where the dog often slept. At first, the dog was wary, letting out a soft growl. But as Linh stepped back and squatted, watching him with gentle eyes, hunger overcame his fear. He cautiously approached, sniffed the food, and began to eat ravenously. From that day on, Linh brought him food every day.

A quiet friendship blossomed between the girl and the stray dog. Linh named him Vàng, which means “Yellow” in Vietnamese, because of the faint yellow streaks in his fur. Vàng no longer saw Linh as a threat; instead, he would wag his stubby tail and rub his head against her legs whenever she came near.

One evening, a heavy storm broke out, with thunder and lightning echoing through the streets. Linh, filled with worry, couldn’t sleep. Her first thought was of Vàng, alone in the rain. The next morning, she rushed to his usual spot. She found him huddled under the closed awning of a shop, soaked and shivering uncontrollably. Just then, a taxi driver parked nearby. He saw the scene, sighed sadly, and walked over.

“Poor little guy,” the driver said to Linh, his voice filled with sympathy. He took off his old raincoat and gently draped it over Vàng. “He won’t survive the cold like this.”

From that day on, Vàng was not only cared for by Linh but also received the compassion of the kind taxi driver. The driver would occasionally bring him leftover food, and the old raincoat became a warm, mobile “home” for the dog whenever it rained. Vàng continued to roam the streets, but the sadness in his eyes had been replaced by a glimmer of hope. He now knew that no matter how harsh life could be, there were still compassionate hearts willing to offer a bit of warmth and love to a helpless creature. And sometimes, a small act of kindness, a glance that doesn’t turn away, is all it takes for a lonely heart to feel the warmth of human kindness.