It was a calm afternoon at the rescue home when baby Jasmine suddenly froze. She had been happily playing with her little toys, her soft fur shining under the sunlight. But then, from outside the door came a sound that made her heart skip — a loud “PIP! PIP!” followed by barking. A dog!
Her tiny hands flew up, full of the toy fruits she’d been holding. Her round eyes widened, her body stiffened, and she stood as still as a statue. The soft toys tumbled from her arms, but she didn’t even notice — all she could hear was the echo of that strange, scary sound.
The caretaker peeked out the window and smiled gently. It was just a friendly dog passing by the gate, barking playfully. But little Jasmine didn’t know that. Her tail curled tightly, her lips trembled, and she let out a small whimper.
Slowly, the caretaker knelt beside her. “It’s okay, my brave girl,” they whispered, holding out their hand. Jasmine hesitated for a second, then reached out and grabbed a finger tightly, refusing to let go. Her eyes darted toward the door one last time, just to be sure the dog wasn’t coming inside.
When the barking faded away, Jasmine finally relaxed. She looked up at her caretaker and let out a shaky little sigh, almost embarrassed by her fear. The caretaker chuckled softly and stroked her head. “See? All gone. You’re safe.”
Moments later, Jasmine picked up her toys again, her tiny confidence returning. Though she was still a bit jumpy, she managed a proud little smile — she had faced her fear, even if her knees had wobbled.
That day, baby Jasmine learned something new — courage isn’t loud; sometimes, it’s just standing still when you’re scared.
