The Volunteer

Ricardo came from Venezuela to study in Portland, Oregon. He was a good student, but he felt lonely in the big city. One Saturday, he decided to volunteer at an animal shelter. He went there to help with cleaning, nothing more.

The manager, a woman named Joyce, gave him a bucket and a brush. "You need to clean the cages every morning," she said. "And please don't fall in love with the animals. It's hard to say goodbye." Ricardo promised to be careful.

In the last cage there was a small brown dog with three legs. His name was Lucky. The other dogs barked and jumped, but Lucky just sat and watched Ricardo with big, calm eyes. When Ricardo finished cleaning, Lucky put his head on his shoe.

Every Saturday, Ricardo went back to the shelter, and every Saturday Lucky was still there. Nobody wanted to adopt a dog with three legs. "He runs fine," Ricardo told Joyce. "He just runs a little differently."

One day Joyce asked Ricardo to help her. "Nobody has chosen Lucky in six months," she said. "I want you to find him a home. Make a video. Tell his story." Ricardo made a video of Lucky running on the beach. Many people watched it.

Three families wanted to adopt Lucky. Joyce was happy. Ricardo was not. The night before the adoption, he couldn't sleep. In the morning, he walked into Joyce's office. "I would like to adopt him," he said. "I know I promised not to fall in love. I'm sorry."

Joyce smiled. "Everybody says that," she said. "Lucky is yours." Now Ricardo isn't lonely anymore, and Lucky runs on the beach every Saturday, a little differently, but very fast.