Barnaby was not what you would call a "fast" dog. While the Golden Retrievers at the park spent their afternoons sprinting after tennis balls and the Border Collies leaped into the air to catch flying discs, Barnaby was content to waddle. He was a stout English Bulldog with a face full of wrinkles, a jaw that stuck out just a bit, and a walk that looked more like a determined shuffle. Most people who saw him thought he looked a little grumpy, but his owner, Leo, knew the truth: Barnaby was the friendliest dog in the neighborhood.
One Saturday, Leo and Barnaby were at the local park when they noticed a group of children gathered near the old wooden equipment shed. The kids looked upset. A soccer ball had rolled deep underneath the shed, which sat on very low concrete blocks. The gap was too small for any of the children to reach under, and the ground was muddy from the morning rain. Even the smaller dogs in the park couldn't seem to help because the ball was wedged tightly against a heavy wooden beam.
"My dad says we need a long stick," one girl said, "but there aren't any around here."
Leo looked at Barnaby. Barnaby wasn't tall, and he certainly wasn't afraid of a little mud. "Hey, do you think Barnaby could help?" Leo asked. The children looked at the squat, wrinkly dog. He didn't look like an athlete, but he did look very sturdy.
Barnaby trotted over to the shed. He sniffed the air and let out a low huff. He lowered his heavy chest to the ground and began to crawl into the tight space. Because bulldogs have low centers of gravity and strong shoulders, he was able to push through the sticky mud where others couldn't. With a determined grunt, Barnaby used his broad head to nudge the ball. He pushed once, then twice. Suddenly, the ball popped out the other side!
The children cheered as the ball rolled across the grass. Barnaby waddled out from under the shed, his white chest now covered in brown mud. He wagged his short, stubby tail and let out a happy bark. The kids took turns patting his sturdy head, realizing that you don't have to be the fastest or the tallest to be the hero of the park.
