Once upon a time there was a beautiful sunny spring day. The children were playing happily in the park playground, the squirrels were jumping from branch to branch and the dogs were playing happily on the grass with a ball. But a little abandoned dog, Thistle, was walking sadly alone in the park, watching from a distance the happy faces of the dogs who had a home. He longed so much to be one of them.
“Oh!” sighed Thistle. The little dog had no family. All he knew was the street and the empty shoebox he lived in. He believed that one day he too would have a master who would throw him balls and with whom he would be truly happy.
As Thistle bounced around the green park full of people, he heard a loud meow. He looked up at a large tree where a small stray red cat was sitting, wearing a pink sparkly collar around its neck. She was afraid to come down. Why was she just climbing up there, thought the dog, scratching his muzzle with his paw. He looked around, but no one saw the little cat. Thistle wondered how he could help the little cat in her need. Thistle was different from other dogs – he liked cats, and even though he lived on the street, he always tried to help everyone.
“‘Woof-woof! Wait, let me help you!” Thistle barked heroically at the little cat. The little cat clutched the tree branch she was standing on with her tiny claws, trembling in fear. She mewed tearfully at the whole park, but only Thistle came to her rescue. Thistle ran and jumped up onto one low tree branch, his paws and small claws gripping tightly onto her. In this way he jumped onto another and another tree branch. He was small, nimble and clever, and he himself did not understand how he had done it. But life on the street had taught him not to be afraid. The only thing he was afraid of was people. Because he never found anyone he could trust, no matter how much he wanted to. He jumped up on the last branch where the little cat was.
“I got you!” Thistle said, smiling at the cat. She was probably very afraid of him, but then she smiled sweetly and meowed a thank you. Thistle took her red fur in his mouth, so as not to hurt her, and carefully brought her down from the tree.
“Aaand! Here we go!” Thistle the dog landed on his paws and barked triumphantly at the cat.
And how will the story of Thistle and the little red cat continue? Will Thistle find his real family? That, dear children, is what we will find out in the next part about Thistle the dog.
