Someone Who Understands

Someone Who Understands

A farmer made a sign advertising some puppies he had for sale. As he was nailing the sign to the post in his yard, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down and saw a little boy with a big grin and something in his hand.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."

The farmer replied, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a great deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment, looked back up at the farmer, and said, "I’ve got 39 cents. Is that enough to take a look?"

"Sure," said the farmer. Then he whistled and called out: "Dolly! Come here, Dolly!"

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly, followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy’s eyes lit up with glee. Then out from the doghouse came another little furry ball, but this one was much smaller. Down the ramp it slipped in a feeble attempt to catch up with the others. It hobbled because it was born with two badly deformed hind legs.

The little boy looked at the puppy and said, "I want that puppy."

The farmer knelt down and said: "Son, you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play like the other little dogs."

The little boy reached down and slowly pulled up one leg of his pants. He revealed a steel brace attached to a specially made shoe. He looked up at the farmer and said, "Mister, I’ll never be able to run with the other boys either, and that little puppy will need somebody who understands."

People are like the puppy. They need someone who understands. (Source unknown)