Long, long ago, in a green and gentle valley, there was a little village with yellow houses and gardens bursting with daisies and red-flowering beans. In this village lived a curious, clever boy named Joe. Joe had a heart full of questions, and more than anything, he wished he could talk to the animals in the valley. Joe’s best friend was Patch, the fluffy old village dog with a nose for mischief and a tail that wagged even in his sleep. Patch knew every secret path and every quiet burrow where rabbits hid. Patch had watched over the village since before Joe was born, but now Patch was very, very old. Some villagers whispered that soon Patch’s days would end. This made Joe’s chest feel tight, like he had swallowed a stone. One misty morning, Joe wandered into the woods, wiping away a tear. “If only I could talk to Patch,” he whispered, “I’d know how to help him.” Suddenly, a silky black...

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