Road Corner Under the Rain
The rain was pouring down on the red dirt road leading to a small village nestled among endless rice fields. The cold wind swept dry leaves, creating small swirls on the ground. At the corner of the road, under the shade of an old banyan tree, three skinny dogs huddled, their wet fur clinging to their bodies, leaving only skin and bones. Their eyes shone with hunger and fear, but still had a glimmer of resilience.

The leader was Vang, his golden fur had faded from dirt, his ears drooped as if to shield himself from the cold. Vang was named by his friends, because his fur used to shine as brightly as the summer sun. Next to him was Mit, a pure white dog now covered in mud, its tail drooping from exhaustion. Finally, there was Nho, a jet-black dog with a small scar on its nose – a mark of the time he was kicked while begging for food at the village market.

The three of them used to have a home. Gold was a boy’s joy, fed meat and rice, and petted every afternoon. Mit used to lie on the porch of an old lady’s house, listening to her tell old stories. Nho lived in a large family, where the children always cuddled him. But then, life changed. Vang’s boy moved to the city, leaving him with his uncle who didn’t like dogs. Mit’s grandmother passed away, and no one in the family wanted to keep a “useless” dog. Nho’s family fell into difficulty, they said that it was not enough to feed a person, let alone a dog.

Three fates, three stories, but the same ending: abandoned. Now, they depend on each other, wandering on the cold, windy streets, looking for a little food to survive.

“I’m so hungry, Vang,” Mit groaned, his empty stomach growling. “Yesterday I only picked up a piece of moldy bread, I can’t stand it anymore.”

Vang licked his nose, trying to stay optimistic. “Don’t worry, I heard from the ladies at the market that there’s a wedding at the village entrance today. There’s definitely food spilled. Let’s go get something to eat, okay?”

Nho, who was usually quiet, just nodded. He believed Vang, because Vang was the only one of them who had survived the harsh winter last year. Vang’s experience was what kept them alive until now.

The three of them trudged along, their feet covered in mud, their eyes constantly searching. The rain was still falling, the cold seeping into every fiber of their flesh, making them shiver.

The Short Party
The wedding took place in a large house with a bright red tiled roof and flower lights hanging all over the yard. The music was loud, the smell of grilled meat, banh chung, and rice wine wafted out to the alley, making the three dogs swallow their saliva repeatedly. Vang took the lead, cautiously hiding in a corner of the yard, where the children were running around, scattering candy and cakes.

“Nho, you go over there and pretend to sleep,” Vang whispered. “Mít, follow me, make a pitiful face. Don’t bark, don’t run around, or you’ll be chased away.”

Vàng’s plan was simple but effective. Adults often soften when they see well-behaved puppies, while children are easily attracted to smart dogs. Sure enough, just a few minutes later, a little girl in a pink dress ran over, holding a piece of chicken in her hand.

“Puppy! Are you hungry?” The little girl sat down and gave the piece of meat to Mít. Mít wagged his tail happily, but still kept his obedient expression, gently taking it.

Seeing that, a few other children ran over, throwing the dogs cakes, meat, and even a piece of green bean sticky rice. Vàng and Nhợ also enjoyed it, their empty stomachs gradually filling up after many days of hunger.

But the joy didn’t last long. A middle-aged man, probably the owner of the house, came out with a broom in his hand. “Where are those stray dogs? Chase them all away, or they’ll bite the guests!”

The shout startled the children, who rushed into the house. Vang was quick-witted, holding a piece of sticky rice in his mouth, signaling Mit and Nho to follow. The three of them rushed over the fence, just in time to escape before the broom hit the ground, leaving a dry “thump”.

“We almost did,” Nho gasped as they stopped under an awning. “But… the sticky rice is really delicious.”

Mit smiled, his fur still standing on end from fear. “Vang, you are truly the leader. Without you, we would have starved to death long ago.”

Vang did not reply, just looked into the distance. A full meal was only temporary. The rainy season was still long, and not every day there were weddings for them to find food.

Encountering Shadows
One morning, when the rain stopped, the group decided to leave the village to find a new place. They heard some stray cats gossip that in a nearby town there was a large market, where people were bustling with trade, with countless leftovers.

On the trail leading to town, they met Bóng – a grey-haired stray dog, bigger than Nho. Bóng did not live with a pack, he preferred to go alone. His eyes were cold, his voice hoarse.

“Where are you going?” Bóng asked, his voice full of suspicion. “This land has laws. There are dogs guarding every place. If you trespass, you will not survive.”

Vàng stepped forward, undaunted. “We are just passing through, not fighting for anything. I heard there is food in town, we want to try our luck.”

Bóng sneered. “Town? You naive kids. That place is not for weak dogs like you. But… I like your guts. Follow me, I will show you where to find food without fighting.”

They thought for a moment, but Vàng agreed. Bóng led them to a garbage dump near the shore, where fishermen dumped spoiled fish and garbage. The stench was unbearable, but to the hungry dogs, it was heaven.