Nicky was a small, brown dog with a heart full of hope. He loved his family more than anything in the world. Every day, they would tell him how handsome he was, how smart he was, and how much they loved him. Nicky’s tail would wag so hard it seemed like it might fly off.
Today was Nicky’s birthday. He had been waiting for this day for what felt like forever. He expected his family to make a big deal out of it. Maybe they would bake him a special cake or buy him a new toy. But as the day wore on, Nicky realized something was wrong. No one was wishing him a happy birthday.
Nicky’s heart sank. He had been feeling a little insecure lately, thinking he wasn’t as beautiful as the other dogs he saw on TV. He wondered if his family had stopped loving him because of his appearance.
As the sun began to set, Nicky curled up in his favorite spot on the couch. He felt lonely and sad. He closed his eyes and wished that his birthday could be different. Just then, he heard a faint scratching sound at the door.
Nicky opened his eyes and saw a small, brown box sitting on the mat. He picked it up and tore it open. Inside was a brand new chew toy and a note that said, “Happy birthday, Nicky! We hope you love your new toy. From your loving family.”
Nicky’s tail started wagging again. He had almost forgotten about his family. He knew they were busy, but he was so happy that they had remembered his birthday. As he played with his new toy, Nicky realized that his appearance didn’t matter. His family loved him for who he was, not for how he looked.
