It was a very sad morning that day, as Muriel walked out of the hospital, wiping away the tears from her eyes. She and her husband, Eustace, had talked about having a baby, but after a visit to the doctor and being told she was incapable of having any children, the possibility of them starting a family seemed unlikely.

Walking back to her husband's truck, Muriel was about to open the door to get in and head back home, but just then, her ears caught wind of a crying sound coming from somewhere. Looking in the direction of a veterinary clinic, Muriel started walking away from the truck and over to the building to find out what that sound was.

Turning the corner, Muriel gasped in surprise at what she discovered: a little pink puppy dog sitting in the alley behind a dumpster, crying his eyes out. He wiped away the tears that continued to stream down his face, looking sad and miserable.

"Oh, my, you poor thing", said Muriel with sympathy. She walked over to the pink puppy wearing a diaper and asked him, "Out here, all alone?"

The pink puppy whimpered and wiped away another tear before looking up at the kindly Scottish lady. She was wearing glasses, a long green coat and a hat to match, along with a pair of black boots. Her hair was brown.

"Huh?" The pink puppy asked, scratching his head in confusion.

Muriel looked around to see if there were any other dogs or people who might have lost him, but there was nobody around. Looking down at the little pink puppy, Muriel smiled and bent over to pick him up, holding the puppy in her arms and protecting him with a warm, loving hug against the cold. The pink puppy had stopped crying, though there were still tears in his sad-looking eyes. His whimpering had ceased, too, as though he knew he could trust this strange, but kind-hearted lady.

"What courage you have", said Muriel to the puppy. "Would you like to come home with me?"

The pink puppy whimpered happily, smiling up at Muriel, his eyes lit up with hope.

"I'll call you Courage", Muriel decided. "We'll have a grand time."

When she got back to the truck, Muriel placed the little pink puppy, now named Courage, into the passenger seat, strapping him in with a seatbelt. She patted Courage on his head and started the engine, then drove to the store to pick up some things she knew Courage would need, like puppy chow and toys and a leash with a collar.

When she got back to the farm and told Eustace about her day, she introduced the newest member of their family to her husband and told him that Courage was going to live with them from now on.

"I don't want that dog living in this house", Eustace protested, grouchy as usual.

Hearing those hurtful words, Courage looked like he was about ready to burst into tears.

"Now, Eustace, have a heart", Muriel told him. "He's all alone. Besides, I think Courage needs me. Please, Eustace?"

"Well...Okay", Eustace finally gave in. "But whatever you do, don't let that dog sit at the table."

Later that night, Eustace and Muriel sat in their chairs watching their favorite show, while Courage lied on Muriel's lap, sound asleep.

When it was time for bed, Muriel convinced Eustace to allow Courage to sleep in the bed with them. Eustace allowed it, but only if Courage stayed on her side of the bed.

Muriel lied Courage down at the foot of the bed, draping a sky blue blanket over him that she had knitted herself. It was originally intended for the baby she and Eustace were hoping to have, but now it belonged to Courage, for he was more to Muriel than just a dog. He was a baby. He was her baby. From the moment she laid her eyes on him, Muriel knew in her heart that Courage needed her. More importantly, she knew she needed him, too.

With Courage in their lives, Muriel knew that she and Eustace would share many memories with Courage and be together for as long as they lived.