Rex the Dog and the Wandering Wolf

One cold and blustery evening, a large golden dog named Rex was trotting home after a long day when he came across a Wolf sitting at the edge of the road.

The Wolf was thin and shivery, and his fur was rough from sleeping under the stars. He looked at Rex's sleek, well-fed coat with very hungry eyes.

"Good evening," said Rex, stopping beside him. "You look like you haven't eaten in quite a while."

"Three days," said the Wolf. "I've been wandering all over these hills and there's barely a thing to eat anywhere."

Rex felt sorry for him. "Why don't you come with me?" he said. "My family keeps a warm house, and there is always a good meal at the end of the day. I could speak to them about finding a place for you."

The Wolf's eyes went wide. "A warm house? A meal every day?" He stood up at once. "I would very much like that. What do I have to do?"

"Oh, it's quite easy," said Rex. "I guard the house at night, greet visitors at the gate, and go on walks with the family. In return, they give me good food and a warm place to sleep and plenty of pats."

"That sounds wonderful," said the Wolf, and he trotted along beside Rex, already feeling warmer just thinking about it.

They walked together for a while, and the Wolf was just beginning to imagine a bowl of warm stew and a soft blanket when he noticed something.

There was a bare patch of fur around Rex's neck — a little worn-away circle where something had rubbed.

"What happened there?" asked the Wolf.

Rex touched the spot with one paw. "Oh, that's just where my collar goes," he said. "They put it on every evening to keep me in the yard. I've gotten quite used to it, honestly — I hardly notice it anymore."

The Wolf stopped walking.

Rex looked back at him. "Is everything alright?"

The Wolf stood very still for a long moment. He thought about the cold and the hunger and the empty nights. And then he thought about the collar.

"It was very kind of you to offer," he said at last. "But I think I would rather be cold and free than warm and tied up. Thank you, Rex. Truly."

Rex watched the Wolf turn and pad quietly back down the road and into the dark woods.

He thought about what the Wolf had said for a long time on the rest of his walk home.

When he arrived, his family was waiting for him at the door with a warm smile and a bowl of supper, and Rex went in gratefully.

He was happy with his life. He knew that. But he understood now that happiness looks different for everyone — and that was alright too.