Hamburger

Mantle met a dirty stray dog while buying a burger, fed it, and it followed him home. He and his wife decided to adopt it, naming it Hamburger. After a bath, its gray fur shone.

That day, Mantle went out to buy a hamburger. He pushed open the glass door of a burger shop and said to the clerk, "I'll take a double cheeseburger, extra onions." As he spoke, he counted out the cash to pay. Through the glass partition, he could see the cook grilling the patties, the sizzling sound accompanied by the mouthwatering aroma.

Mantle carefully tucked the wrapped burger into his coat and headed home. As he turned the corner, a faint whimper caught his attention.

Next to a trash bin piled with pizza boxes, a dark shape was curled up. It turned out to be a dog, so dirty that its fur color was indistinguishable, its ribs visible beneath its thin frame. Yet its eyes were strikingly bright, gleaming like amber under the streetlight.

Mantle crouched down and broke off a small piece of the burger. The dog hesitated, backing away cautiously, but the lure of food was too strong. It inched closer, its cold nose brushing against Mantle's palm, sending a gentle tug at his heart.

"Hey buddy," Mantle said softly, "you hungry too?" He broke off another piece. This time, the dog didn't retreat, its warm tongue licking his fingers. Now he could finally see the dog clearly—its fur was matted and filthy, but those eyes were impossibly clear and bright.

The dog followed him for three blocks, and soon they reached his apartment building. Mantle called his wife downstairs and told her about the encounter. In the end, they decided to adopt the dog and named it Hamburger.

In the bathroom, Mantle gently washed Hamburger's fur. As the black grime washed away, a soft gray undercoat emerged. Hamburger shook itself, splashing water everywhere, and Mantle couldn't help but laugh.

The next morning, Mantle was woken by a soft rustling sound. Hamburger sat by the window, waiting. Sunlight streamed in, making its fur shimmer. Mantle reached out and ruffled Hamburger's head, feeling an unexpected warmth in the morning light.