There once was a dog. Not just any dog either, the most beautiful dog in all the land! From the moment this puppy was born, people looked upon him with admiration. “How were you so lucky to have such a fine dog blessed to you?” They would say, but the owner never took it to heart, seeing the beauty within the dog first. Being at a ripe, old age, the man knew the puppy would be better in someone else’s hands, and made it known far around that this puppy was looking for a home. As possible owners came to the man, he turned them all down. The people were infuriated! “A dog of this beauty, and you keep him only to yourself? Let me buy him from you and I will display his beauty to the world,” one claimed - confident this would win the old man over. The man simply shook his head, and politely dismissed the suitor. A woman came to him ready to bargain. “Why, such a lovely dog of his stature must be worth a fortune! I understand why you’re holding out on him, but do tell me, how much would you like for him? He would be a beautiful addition to my mansion, so no price is too large! If you wish for the stars, I will rope them in for you so long as this gorgeous puppy will be mine.” The old man once again shook his head and politely declined the offer, sending the now fuming woman on her way.
A string of other suitors came throughout the next week, but each one the man would dismiss. Some believed he was just trying to fool with them; that he was never intending to sell the puppy in the first place. They called him selfish and inconsiderate, but the kind-hearted man didn’t pay it any attention. He knew it wasn’t foolery and whom he wanted as an owner for the puppy.

One day, a small knock came on the door. Such a small knock that it would have gone unnoticed if the man hadn’t been sitting nearby in the living room playing with the puppy. He rose and slowly made his way to the door, but when he opened it, he didn’t see anyone. Beginning to close the door, he heard a small “’Scuse me sir!” and looked down to see a wide eyed little girl looking at him before exclaiming, “I heard you had a puppy here, and my mommy and daddy said I’ve been doing well enough in school that I could get a puppy! Could I see the puppy, please?” He brought the puppy to the door and the first words out of her mouth before she scooped him up into a big hug were, “He’s so fluffy!”
The little girl spent the whole afternoon playing with the puppy before getting up to talk the old man. “Mister, I know you must want an awful lot for a puppy that’s so sweet and gentle; I have ten dollars right now, but I’m working on all my chores really hard and I think by the end of the month I’ll have fifteen dollars! Would that be enough, sir?” The man looked at the girl and then at the puppy, whose wide eyes were fixed adoringly on the little girl and said, “Ten dollars is perfect! But only if you promise to take extra good care of this puppy.” The little girls eyes were wide as saucers as she stared at the man. “Really?! Oh boy, oh boy, I promise!” She reached into her pocket and fished out her ten dollars before handing it over to the man with excitement written all over her face.
After everything was settled, the little girl walked home with her new puppy, feeling as though she had just won the lottery. After all, she had made the purchase all on her own. She named the little puppy Jasper and they soon they were inseparable; even being addressed as a singular item: the little girl and Jasper. Everyone was jealous the girl had been able to convince the old man to sell her the beautiful dog, gossiping amongst themselves that it was the puppy dog eyes that he couldn’t refuse, and the amount of money her parents paid must have been phenomenal. Hearing the whispers of those around him, the little girl always told the dog, “Don’t listen to them Jas, they’re just jealous they weren’t as lucky enough as me to get such a sweet and brilliant pup like you!” And then they’d be on their way again, happy being with the other and ready to face all the adventures life had to offer them.