The Timid Puppy Just Wanted to Be Friends, but the Bricks Came to Him
There was a small alleyway in the heart of a bustling city, a place most people ignored as they hurried to their destinations. Among the trash and litter that covered the ground, there was something that shined brighter than anything else—an innocent little puppy named Buddy. His fur was a mix of soft brown and white, with big, round eyes that gleamed with curiosity, hope, and an undeniable longing for connection. Buddy was young, barely more than a few months old, and he had already experienced more of the harshness of life than any creature so young should ever have to endure.
Buddy had wandered into this alley one cold evening, shivering from both the chill of the wind and the deep sense of loneliness that seemed to follow him wherever he went. He had no home, no one to care for him. He was just a puppy, born into a world that seemed to offer him nothing but rejection. His mother had vanished a long time ago, leaving him to fend for himself. With no family to protect him, he had quickly learned that the world was not a safe place for a small, defenseless creature like himself.
Despite the harshness around him, Buddy still had an unshakable belief in the goodness of others. He would watch the people passing by, his tail wagging eagerly as he hoped for a kind glance, a gentle hand, or even a simple smile. But those who saw him merely turned their heads or quickened their pace, avoiding his gaze as if he were invisible.
Buddy didn’t understand why people didn’t stop. All he wanted was a friend. He wanted someone to show him affection, someone to care for him. His instincts told him that humans were meant to be kind, that they were the ones who could offer him the comfort and safety he so desperately craved. But instead of kindness, the world had greeted him with indifference.
As the days passed, Buddy became even more timid. He no longer ran to greet people, no longer wagged his tail at every passerby. Instead, he sat in the shadows, watching with sad eyes as the people around him continued on with their lives, leaving him behind in the cold.
One day, a young boy named Jake came walking down the alley. He was carrying a backpack, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. His eyes were glued to the ground, and he barely noticed Buddy sitting there in the corner, looking up at him with those large, hopeful eyes.
Buddy’s tail gave a small wag. Maybe, just maybe, this boy would stop and pet him. Maybe this boy would see him and smile. But instead of stopping, Jake sneered when he saw the puppy. “Ugh, a stray,” Jake muttered under his breath, before turning to walk away. But something inside Buddy refused to give up. He took a few steps forward, his body trembling from both fear and excitement. He whimpered softly, hoping Jake would hear it.
The boy paused. He turned around, a smirk forming on his lips. Buddy stopped in his tracks, instinctively sensing that something was wrong, but his need for love and affection pushed him forward. He took another step, his eyes wide and pleading. He didn’t understand what was happening, only that he wanted to be noticed, to be loved.
Suddenly, without warning, Jake reached into his backpack, pulling out something heavy and hard. It was a brick.
Buddy’s heart stopped. He had never seen a brick before, but he could sense the malice in the boy’s actions. The boy didn’t speak. Instead, he raised the brick above his head and hurled it towards Buddy with a cruel laugh. The puppy had no time to react. The brick struck him hard on the side, sending him sprawling to the ground with a yelp of pain. He whimpered, his body trembling not just from the physical pain but from the crushing realization that the world was not kind, not kind at all.
Buddy tried to move, but his small, fragile body was overwhelmed with pain. His ribs ached, and his legs shook. He had no strength left to escape, and no one was there to help him. The boy stood over him, laughing, mocking the puppy’s suffering, and then he turned and walked away as if nothing had happened, as if Buddy were nothing more than a nuisance to be discarded. The alley was silent once more, save for the faint whimpering of the broken puppy.
Buddy lay there, eyes wide with shock, struggling to breathe through the pain. His body ached, but more than anything, his heart hurt. All he had ever wanted was love, affection, and friendship, yet what he had received in return was cruelty, something that was incomprehensible to a young puppy like him. He didn’t know what he had done wrong, why he was treated this way. All he knew was that he was alone, abandoned, and unwanted.
For hours, Buddy stayed there, too afraid to move, too hurt to get up. The world felt overwhelmingly cold and unwelcoming, a place where only cruelty seemed to reign. The hope that had once sparked in his eyes had dimmed, replaced with the heavy weight of despair. His body may have been small, but his pain was enormous, and it seemed as though the entire world was against him.
As the sun began to set, casting a dull orange glow over the alley, something unexpected happened. Another person appeared. This time, it was a woman. She had long brown hair and kind eyes, and she was carrying a small bag in her hands. She looked down at the puppy, her expression immediately softening as she saw him trembling in pain.
Without hesitation, the woman knelt down beside Buddy. She didn’t make any sudden movements, didn’t try to force him to come closer. She simply sat there, offering him her presence, her warmth, and her kindness. Buddy, despite his fear, instinctively knew that this woman was different. She wasn’t like the others. She wasn’t here to hurt him.
“Hey there, little one,” she said softly, her voice gentle and soothing. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. I won’t hurt you.”
Buddy’s heart raced as he heard her voice. His tail began to wag, slowly at first, then with increasing speed as he realized that maybe, just maybe, there was someone in this world who would show him kindness. The pain was still there, and his body was still weak, but the presence of this woman gave him hope again, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
The woman reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of bread. She held it out to Buddy, and he slowly, cautiously approached her, his legs shaking from both the physical pain and the emotional relief. He sniffed the bread, then looked up at her, his eyes filled with gratitude. This woman, this stranger, was offering him something no one else had ever given him: kindness.
After taking the bread, Buddy lay down on the ground beside her, resting his head on her lap. She gently stroked his fur, her touch tender and reassuring. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Buddy allowed himself to relax. He was no longer alone. He was no longer in pain. There was someone who cared for him, someone who wanted to help him heal.
“I’m going to take you home with me,” the woman said softly. “You don’t have to be alone anymore. You don’t have to be afraid.”
And with that, Buddy’s life changed forever.
The woman, whose name was Sarah, took Buddy to her home. She cleaned his wounds and fed him a warm meal. She gave him a bed to sleep on, a space where he could feel safe and loved. The next day, Sarah took Buddy to the vet to make sure he was physically healthy, and over the weeks that followed, she nursed him back to health, both physically and emotionally.
Buddy learned to trust again. He no longer feared the world, no longer expected cruelty at every turn. He had found his friend, the one person who would always be there for him, the one who had shown him that kindness still existed in the world.
And in return, Buddy gave Sarah something she had never known she needed—unconditional love and loyalty. For the rest of his life, he would never be alone again. He had found his forever friend, and together, they would face whatever challenges life had in store.
First impression
There’s a taut elegance to the four-door coupe-like rear.
The new long-wheelbase E-Class headed to India later this year is clearly improved in almost all areas. It isn’t perfect. The evolved looks are fairly safe and don’t really stand out or grab your attention. The boot space is likely to remain compromised due to the insertion of a spare tyre. And if you want more power, punch and refinement, you will have to upgrade to one of Merc’s creamy-smooth straight sixes. You’ll also have to part a vast sum of money, with the expected starting price going north of Rs 85 lakh. But importantly, it’s a noticeable step forward from what was already an excellent starting point. It’s more comfortable and better built on the inside, material quality is superior, it rides better, steers better and drives better, and is also more silent on the inside. The new E, however, isn’t just a more accomplished and updated version of itself. It’s more. A car loaded to the gills with the latest digital tech and cool features. It’s a car that can take on even the best EVs at the tech game and win. So, if you’re looking for the most comfortable, luxurious and elegant sedan in this class, look no further than Merc’s new baby S-Class, the new long-wheelbase E.
2024 Mercedes E-Class LWB: How different is it?
The V214 (top) is practically an all-new car when compared to the regular W214 (bottom).
The long-wheelbase E-Class (V214) isn’t just longer and heavier than the regular W214; it’s also different in many important areas. To begin with, the additional weight puts more load on the engine, the gear ratios or final drive need to be altered on some versions to allow for optimum performance and economy, and the car needs a longer propeller shaft. The extra length also means a whole new body section has to be added without losing out on stiffness – the rear door is new. Then the suspension has to be re-calibrated for the new geometry and the entire rear section with its reclining seat is new. Hence, engineers say the V214 is practically an all-new car, one that’s significantly closer to the S-Class than many realise.
View PhotosMarc Urbano|Car and Driver
- The 2025 Mercedes-Benz E-class lineup will add a rear-wheel-drive E350 variant.
- This model joins the all-wheel-drive E350 4Matic and E450 4Matic versions.
- We expect it to have a base price of around $63,500, although Mercedes hasn’t yet confirmed final pricing.
Mid-size luxury-sedan buyers in the sunbelt who have no need for all-wheel drive will be pleased to know that Mercedes-Benz will offer a new rear-wheel-drive variant of its new E-class sedan for the 2025 model year. A Mercedes spokesperson confirmed to C/D that an E350 RWD model will be part of the 2025 E-class lineup launching later this year.
Though Mercedes hasn’t yet confirmed final pricing, we know that this base E350 will be less expensive than the all-wheel-drive E350 4Matic that was previously the base version for this W214-generation’s first model year. We expect the E350 RWD to start at around $63,500, accounting for the usual price upticks for the new model year; the 2025 E350 4Matic version will likely be around $66,000.
The six-cylinder E450 will continue to be available only with 4Matic all-wheel drive for 2025, Mercedes said. The E350’s turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 255 horsepower and the E450’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six makes 375 horsepower; both engines use a 48-volt hybrid system, and we expect the RWD version’s specs to be identical to the AWD car’s aside from its lighter curb weight and possibly better EPA fuel-economy ratings.
Look for more information on the E-class to come within the next few months as Mercedes continues to release its 2025 lineup for the U.S.
