The afternoon sun was warm over the farmer’s porch as a little boy came trudging up the dusty path, a few coins jingling in his hand.
“Sir,” he said softly, “I heard you’ve got puppies for sale.”
The farmer smiled kindly. “I do, son. Their mother’s in the barn. But they’re from good stock — they won’t be cheap.”
The boy opened his hand to reveal a few worn coins. “I’ve got 39 cents,” he said. “Can I at least see them?”
The farmer’s smile faded into a sigh. “Of course, son. Come on.”
He whistled, and from the barn came the sound of tiny paws pattering against the floorboards. Four healthy pups bounded into the yard, tails wagging and eyes bright. They barked and tumbled over each other, full of life and joy.
But then, a few seconds later, another sound came — a soft scrape. From the shadows, a smaller puppy emerged, dragging its back legs slowly down the ramp. Its movements were clumsy, but its eyes shone with the same spark as the others.
The boy’s gaze fixed instantly on that one. “I want that one,” he said, pointing.
The farmer hesitated. “Son, you don’t want him. He’ll never run and play like the others. The vet says there’s something wrong with his legs.”
The boy didn’t move. Instead, he bent down and rolled up the cuff of his pant leg. Underneath was a steel brace running from knee to ankle.
“I don’t run so well either,” he said quietly. “But that puppy’s gonna need someone who understands.”
The farmer froze. His throat tightened. For a moment, neither spoke — just the sound of the breeze rustling the barn door. Then the old man knelt, his weathered hand resting on the boy’s shoulder.
“Son,” he said, voice trembling, “you don’t have to pay a thing. That little pup’s already yours.”
The boy smiled, clutching the wobbly puppy close to his chest. The small dog licked his face, tail wagging weakly. It didn’t matter that neither could run — in that moment, both had found something stronger than speed: understanding.
As the boy turned to leave, the farmer wiped a tear from his eye and whispered, “Love doesn’t cost a thing.”
Years later, townsfolk would still remember seeing the two of them — the boy with the brace, and the dog who limped beside him — walking down the same dusty road together. Different in body, but identical in heart.