Rusty was a fluffy Australian Shepherd puppy with one very important job: being the best helper on Farmer Giles’ farm. He loved herding sheep (even though they sometimes wandered!), fetching the newspaper, and making sure everyone had a wagging-tail welcome. But tonight, Rusty was tired. Very, very tired.
The sun had set, painting the Australian outback sky in shades of orange and purple. Rusty yawned a big, puppy yawn. Farmer Giles tucked him into his cozy bed in the barn, filled with soft hay. “Time for sleep, Rusty,” Farmer Giles said with a smile. “Tomorrow will be another busy day.”
But Rusty couldn’t quite drift off. He heard a tiny squeak. It was Millie, the little field mouse! Millie was trying to carry a big seed back to her family, but it was much too heavy. She was struggling and squeaking with effort.
Rusty wanted to sleep, but he remembered what Farmer Giles always said: “A good helper always lends a paw!” He carefully climbed out of bed and trotted over to Millie. “Can I help?” he asked gently.
Millie’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Rusty, would you? It’s for my little brothers and sisters. They’re very hungry!” Rusty gently nudged the seed with his nose, carefully rolling it along the path towards Millie’s burrow. It was much easier with Rusty’s help!
Together, they delivered the seed to Millie’s family. Millie’s mama and papa thanked Rusty with tiny squeaks of gratitude. Rusty felt a warm glow inside. Helping others felt even better than a long nap!
He trotted back to his hay bed, feeling peaceful and happy. Now, with a full heart and a sleepy head, Rusty curled up and closed his eyes. He dreamed of herding fluffy clouds and helping all the little creatures on the farm.
Farmer Giles peeked into the barn. He smiled to see Rusty sleeping soundly. He knew Rusty wasn’t just a good helper, he was a kind and selfless friend. And that, Farmer Giles thought, was the best kind of puppy there could be. Sweet dreams, Rusty!
As Rusty slept, the stars twinkled above the Australian farm, watching over the little shepherd and all his friends. It was a peaceful night, filled with kindness and the quiet joy of a job well done.