Inside the warm, cozy hollow beneath the roots, Melony spoke softly to the mother dog.

“I’d like to take Big Paws to my house today. We have lots of milk boxes! I bet he’s been pushing his siblings aside and eating more than his share, haven’t you, Mama Dog?” she said with a gentle laugh.

“Don’t worry—I’ll bring him back this evening.”

The gentle mother dog gave a slow nod, then rose, licked Big Paws on the ears, nudged him gently to stand, and gave his bottom a final push to send him off. Melony smiled, turned, and began to crawl carefully out of the hollow—with Big Paws trailing behind her, step by wobbly step, until he was out of sight.

When Melony reached home, she tiptoed inside. Her cloth bag wiggled a little. She hurried past her mom, who was watching TV intently.

“Where did you go so early, sweetheart?” her mom called out, making her jump.

“I just went to sit under the giant tree,” Melony answered quickly.

Hic… hic…

A hiccup from the bag made her mother suspicious.

Melony quickly turned the bag to hide it behind her and whispered to the lump inside, “Shh, stay quiet—don’t make a sound.” But before she could finish…

Hic hic hic… hic hic hic…!

It got even louder.

When Melony turned back again, her mother was already standing beside her.

“What’s in the bag, sweetheart? Let me see.”

Her mom reached for it and opened it at once—revealing a round-faced, furry little pup, mouth puckered in a hiccup, eyes wide and sparkling.

“Oh my! Where did this little pup come from?”

She lifted Big Paws out and cradled him proudly. Melony stood frozen. From that moment on, he instantly became her mom’s new favorite.

“Don’t let your dad find out—he’s allergic to fur… AH… AH-CHOO!!”

The towel and bag flew in all directions as her mother sneezed three times in a row. Mucus splattered across Big Paws’ face. He froze, shocked.

“We’d better give this little one a bath,” her mom laughed to Melony.

They looked at each other—and couldn’t stop laughing. That was the moment Melony realized… her mom was allergic too.

After school, Melony went to visit Big Paws and Mama Dog every day. Day by day, their bond grew stronger—just like Melony’s heart, which slowly became braver and sturdier. All the while, the mother dog watched from a quiet corner.

“There comes Giant Melony!” her classmates called out as usual. But this time, Melony stood tall, confident. She smiled—laughing along with the tiny kids at school. Even if they teased her, she was finally happy to be herself… without needing anyone’s approval.

On weekends, when her dad wasn’t home, she brought Big Paws to visit.

Her mother gave him a name: Hamby—because he was chubby, loved to eat, and had a soft pink belly like ham.

“Hamby and I—we’re friends now.”

The tall, lonely house had begun to feel warmer with Hamby’s little hiccupy sounds… but Melony didn’t yet know that this precious friendship was about to be tested more than ever.