Barnaby was a small, fluffy dog with very big ears. He loved living with the Miller family, but Barnaby had a secret: he was afraid of the dark! Every night, when the sun went down, Barnaby would tremble and hide under the kitchen table. He worried about shadows and strange noises.
One evening, Mrs. Miller asked Barnaby to help her bring in the newspaper. It was almost dark, and Barnaby’s tail drooped. “Oh, Barnaby,” she said kindly, “I know you’re a little scared, but I need a brave helper.” Barnaby wanted to be brave, but his paws felt wobbly.
He took a deep breath and followed Mrs. Miller to the front yard. The shadows seemed to stretch and dance, and a little breeze rustled the leaves. Barnaby whimpered. Suddenly, he heard a tiny squeak! It was Millie, the little field mouse, who was trapped under a fallen flowerpot.
Millie was very frightened. Barnaby forgot all about his own fear. He knew he had to help! He barked loudly to get Mrs. Miller’s attention, then carefully nudged the flowerpot with his nose. It wasn’t easy, but Barnaby pushed and pushed until Millie was free.
Mrs. Miller gently lifted Millie and placed her safely in the grass. “Barnaby, you were so brave!” she exclaimed, giving him a big hug. “You didn’t even think about being scared, you just helped a friend.”
Barnaby wagged his tail proudly. He realized that being brave wasn’t about *not* being afraid, it was about doing what was right even when you *were* scared. He had been so focused on helping Millie, he hadn’t noticed the darkness at all!
As they walked back to the house, Barnaby held his head high. The shadows didn’t seem so scary anymore. He knew that even a small dog like him could be brave and kind. He even sniffed at a particularly interesting shadow, just to show it he wasn’t afraid.
That night, Barnaby snuggled close to the Miller family, feeling warm and safe. He closed his eyes, remembering how good it felt to help Millie. He wasn’t afraid of the dark anymore, because he knew that even in the darkness, he could be a brave and helpful friend. And that, he thought, was the best feeling in the world. Sweet dreams, little one.