Once upon a time there was a little girl named Nikki. She loved animals, especially dogs. She had a pet dog named Charlie, who was her best friend. Charlie was a golden retriever, with soft fur and a friendly wagging tail. He liked to play fetch, cuddle, and lick Nikki’s face.
One day, Nikki and her parents went to the zoo. Nikki was excited to see all the different animals, but she was most curious about the ones that looked like dogs. She saw a big gray animal with pointy ears and sharp teeth. It was in a cage with other animals of the same kind. They were howling and growling at each other.
“What is that, Papa?” Nikki asked.
“That is a wolf, honey. Wolves are wild animals that live in packs. They are related to dogs, but they are not the same. Wolves are more aggressive and dangerous than dogs. They hunt other animals for food and defend their territory from intruders.” Nikki’s father explained.
“Wow, they look scary. Can I pet them?” Nikki asked.
“No, sweetie. You can’t pet them. They might bite you. Wolves don’t like humans very much. They prefer to stay away from us.” Nikki’s father said.
“Oh, okay.” Nikki said, feeling a little disappointed.
They moved on to another section of the zoo, where they saw a smaller animal with reddish fur and a bushy tail. It was running around and digging holes in the ground. It had a long snout and bright eyes.
“What is that, Papa?” Nikki asked.
“That is a fox, darling. Foxes are also wild animals that are related to dogs and wolves, but they are not the same either. Foxes are more clever and cunning than dogs and wolves. They use their intelligence and speed to survive in different environments. They eat small animals like mice and rabbits, but they also eat fruits and vegetables.” Nikki’s father explained.
“Wow, they look cute. Can I pet them?” Nikki asked.
“No, honey. You can’t pet them either. They might scratch you. Foxes don’t trust humans very much. They are very shy and sneaky.” Nikki’s father said.
“Oh, okay.” Nikki said, feeling a little sad.
They continued their tour of the zoo, seeing many other animals like lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, elephants, giraffes, and more. Nikki enjoyed watching them all, but she still wished she could pet the ones that looked like dogs.
When they returned home, Charlie was waiting for them at the door. He barked happily and jumped on Nikki, licking her face.
“Hi, Charlie! I missed you so much! You are the best dog ever!” Nikki said, hugging him.
Charlie wagged his tail and snuggled with her.
Nikki realized that she didn’t need to pet wolves or foxes, because she had Charlie. Charlie was her dog, and he loved her unconditionally. He was loyal, friendly, and fun. He was not wild or scary or sneaky. He was just perfect for her.
Nikki smiled and kissed Charlie on the nose.
“I love you too, Charlie.” She said.
And they lived happily ever after.
Short stories for kids 