Maika was a small, brown dog with a unique appearance. Her lower jaw was noticeably shorter than her upper jaw, giving her a sweet, underbite smile. While this quirk made her stand out, it also made her feel a little different. People often stared, and some even made unkind remarks. Maika knew she wasn’t the most beautiful dog, but she hoped that her kind heart would make up for her appearance.
Today was Maika’s birthday, a day she’d been looking forward to for weeks. She waited by the door, her tail wagging hopefully, as she listened for the sound of her human’s footsteps. But as the hours passed, Maika’s excitement began to dwindle. Her human was nowhere to be seen, and the house was eerily quiet.
Maika wandered through the house, her tail drooping sadly. She sniffed at her empty food bowl and looked longingly out the window. She felt so alone and unwanted. Just as she was about to give up hope, she heard a faint scratching sound at the door. Her heart raced with excitement as she jumped up and barked. The door creaked open, and there stood her human, a big smile on her face. In her arms, she was carrying a birthday cake, complete with candles and a small bone-shaped toy.
Maika’s tail wagged so hard it nearly knocked her over. She jumped up and down, barking with joy. Her human knelt down and gave her a big hug. “Happy birthday, Maika,” she said. “I’m so sorry I was late. I wanted to make your day extra special.”
Maika licked her face gratefully. As they ate the cake together, Maika felt a wave of happiness wash over her. She might not have been the most beautiful dog in the world, but she had the love and affection of her human, and that was all that mattered.
