It started as a happy afternoon. Baby Zika was playing in the yard with her favorite puppy, Kun. They chased each other around the trees, rolled in the grass, and laughed under the warm sunshine. Kun barked playfully, wagging his tail so fast it looked like a blur. Zika clapped her hands, full of joy.
But then—everything changed.
“Kun?” Zika called, turning around. The puppy was gone.
At first, she thought he was hiding behind a tree, waiting to surprise her. “I see you!” she giggled, running to check. Nothing. She looked behind the bushes, under the bench, even near the gate.
Still nothing.
Her smile slowly faded. “Kun… where are you?” she called again, her voice softer this time. The yard suddenly felt too quiet.
Zika’s heart began to beat faster. She remembered what her mom once told her: “If you can’t find something important, don’t panic. Think carefully.”
Zika took a deep breath. “Okay… think,” she whispered to herself.
First, she checked the gate—it was slightly open. Her eyes widened. “Oh no… did Kun go outside?” she said, worry filling her voice.
Instead of crying, Zika decided to be brave. She ran inside and grabbed Kun’s favorite toy—a small squeaky ball. “He always comes when he hears this,” she said.
Zika stepped outside the gate and squeaked the toy. Squeak! Squeak!
“Kun! Come back!” she called loudly.
She walked slowly down the path, looking carefully around. Then suddenly—
Bark! Bark!‘
Zika froze. “Kun?!”
From behind a nearby bush, the little puppy jumped out, tail wagging wildly. He ran straight toward her, barking happily as if nothing had happened.
“Kun!” Zika shouted with relief, dropping to her knees and hugging him tightly. “Don’t scare me like that!”
Kun licked her face, as if saying sorry.
Zika laughed through her tears. “Next time, don’t run away, okay?”
From that day on, Zika learned something important: when things go wrong, staying calm and thinking clearly can help solve the problem.
And as she carried Kun back home, she held him a little closer than before.
