Peaceful Evening
The evening was peaceful, the quiet hum of the dishwasher filling the house as she wiped down the kitchen counter. The stillness felt comforting after a long day.
In the dining room, their daughter sat in her high chair, slowly exploring her dinner. Her tiny hands fumbled with the food, her cheeks smeared with mashed potatoes, unaware of the world around her. Across the room, her husband finished his meal, his attention drawn to the phone buzzing with a work call. Little did they know, the calm of the night was about to shift in an unexpected way.
Family Of Four
The Johnson family lived in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Greenfields Santa Monica, where life moved at a gentle pace. Sarah and Ken were proud parents to their three-year-old daughter Beth and their loyal dog, Nibbs.
Nibbs was an XL Bully they’d gotten as a puppy, and he had grown alongside Beth. It was love at first sight for the parents-to-be, who felt that their family was now complete. From the moment they brought him home, Ken knew Nibbs would be an important part of their family. Still, people questioned the wisdom of having such a large dog around a small child.
Their Furry Pal
Ken and Sarah had always loved animals, but when they got Nibbs, a large XL puppy, a few months before their daughter Beth was born, people raised eyebrows. Friends and neighbors would murmur under their breath, warning Ken about the dangers of having a big, powerful dog around a baby.
It did cross the parents’ minds but they trained Nibbs to be obedient and he didn’t give them any problems so far. Ken dismissed them all with a wave.
He’s A Good Dog
Ken loved his dog. “Nibbs has the sweetest temperament,” he’d say. “He wouldn't hurt a fly.” “Isn’t he dangerous?” one neighbor, Mrs. Gibson, had once asked. “You shouldn’t trust that dog around Beth. Bullies can be unpredictable.”
Ken always brushed off the comments. "Nibbs is part of the family," he'd say confidently. "He’s gentle with Beth and has never shown a single aggressive bone in his body."
No Harm So Far
As Nibbs grew alongside Beth, his playful, protective nature became evident. He would lie beside her crib, watchful, and often nudged her toys closer when they fell out of reach.
Sarah had her reservations at first, but over time, even she relaxed, trusting Ken's assurances. Beth adored Nibbs. The bond between the two was unmistakable, a friendship that made people smile when they saw the little girl toddling beside the towering dog.
Watch Her
The worried mother never took her eyes off her child. “Just keep an eye on him,” Sarah would say. “We’re always careful,” Ken would reply, brushing off her concerns. Despite the concerns, Ken and Sarah never wavered.
Nibbs was calm and affectionate, and more than once, Ken had caught the dog lying protectively near Beth’s crib when she was a baby. Over the years, they felt their bond had only grown stronger.
The Usual Thing
One evening, the family was gathered around the dinner table. They always made time to eat together even if they had a busy day. Ken was cutting into his steak while Beth sat in her high chair, playing with her mashed potatoes.
Nibbs lay under the table, occasionally lifting his head to check on the family, his brown eyes watching Beth intently. It was a peaceful scene, the hum of the television in the background.
No Dogs Allowed
That evening, the family settled down for dinner. It had been a long day for Ken, filled with back-to-back work meetings, and Sarah was feeling drained from chasing after Beth. Their daughter was perched in her high chair, slowly picking at her food as she always did, the bits of peas and chicken scattered more on her tray than in her mouth.
“Nibbs stays outside,” Ken recalled as he shooed the dog toward the back door. Nibbs, playful as ever, let out a low whine but reluctantly went out. It was a house rule: no dogs at the dinner table. Nibbs was too excitable and prone to jumping on things, especially when food was involved.
Let Them Play
Sarah was getting annoyed, she did all the household chores on her own, and Ken never lifted a hand. “Don’t let her throw her food on the floor again,” Sarah said, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she started cleaning the kitchen. “Last time, Nibbs nearly knocked over the chair trying to clean up after her.”
Ken chuckled. “She’s practicing her artistic skills. Look at that masterpiece,” he said, pointing to the mess on Beth’s tray. But their family moment was interrupted.
Have To Take This
The doorbell rang, and Ken checked his phone. “Work call,” he said with a groan, heading to the hallway to take the call in peace. Sarah was still clearing the dishes from the kitchen, balancing a glass in one hand and a plate in the other.
Beth was taking her time with her meal, barely eating but rather playing with the food, squishing the mashed peas with her tiny fingers. “I’ll be right back,” Ken muttered, distracted as he answered the call and walked out of the room.
You Do You
Sarah rolled her eyes but smiled. “I’ll leave you to handle that.” Just as she turned toward the sink, Ken's phone rang. It was an important work call. “I have to take this,” Ken said, standing abruptly in the hall. “Keep an eye on her, okay?” He quickly answered his call.
Sarah nodded, distracted as she scrubbed at a particularly stubborn stain on a plate. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t be too long.”
Busy Parents
Ken disappeared into his office, and Sarah continued cleaning, occasionally glancing back at Beth, who was now babbling to herself. The kitchen was filled with the sound of running water and the clinking of dishes, and Sarah felt herself getting lost in the task.
Beth giggled loudly, and Sarah turned her head briefly. Nibbs was now standing by the high chair, his large frame casting a shadow over the floor as he sniffed around for any stray food. "Nibbs, leave it," Sarah said absentmindedly, her back already turned. Nibbs trotted off, but his eyes lingered on Beth, who was now reaching toward him with chubby fingers. “Doggie!” Beth squealed, dropping a handful of mashed potatoes to the floor. Nibbs quickly moved back to clean up the mess, his tail wagging slowly.
Ken’s voice could be heard faintly from the office. He was still deep in conversation. Sarah was now focused on wiping down the counters, humming to herself, completely unaware that Beth had climbed down from her high chair. The toddler, always curious, toddled off toward the hallway.
Nibbs followed closely behind her, his nails clicking lightly against the hardwood floors. Beth wandered toward the living room, her little feet moving faster than Sarah or Ken could imagine. The dog stayed just a few steps behind, his nose occasionally bumping Beth’s back as if guiding her forward. “Ken,” Sarah called from the kitchen. “How much longer are you going to be?”
A Busy Mom
There was no response. She sighed, assuming he couldn’t hear her over his phone conversation. Sarah picked up Beth’s discarded sippy cup from the table and began rinsing it in the sink. In the background, she heard the soft patter of Beth’s footsteps.
Beth saw her mother and jumped back into her chair. Sarah hummed quietly to herself as she moved back and forth between the kitchen and the dining table. She kept glancing over at Beth, ensuring she was safe in her high chair, her tray a mess of food. The evening was calm, almost too calm, as the routine of the day settled in.
Too Much Time
A few minutes passed, and Sarah was lost in the rhythm of tidying up. She looked at Beth from the corner of her eye. Ken’s call went longer than expected, and the house remained quiet except for the occasional sound of Beth giggling or playing with her food. It was peaceful.
Suddenly, Ken re-entered the living room, still on his phone but glancing around absentmindedly. Beth was fine, she was still eating.
Taking His Time
The busy father was talking on the phone, but he still kept an eye on his daughter when he was walking up and down. "I'll be right back," Ken muttered, grabbing his phone and stepping into the living room. "Got an important call."
Sarah barely heard him. She was too busy scrubbing the stove, thinking about all the little chores that still needed to be done before bedtime. "Sure, just a minute," she called back absentmindedly.
Nibbs Wants In
Nibbs, their large and energetic Bully mix, scratched at the back door, his nails tapping against the glass. He whined, wanting to come inside. But they had a rule—no dogs in the house while they ate.
Nibbs had a habit of bouncing around and begging for food, and with Beth at the age where her food often ended up everywhere but her mouth, it was safer to keep him out. “Just wait, Nibbs,” Sarah sighed, not even glancing at the door.
Funny To Her
Beth giggled from her high chair, smashing a piece of broccoli against her tray. "Mama!" she called, her voice high and full of mischief.
Sarah smiled, turning to look at her daughter. "Finish your food, sweetie. I'll be there in a minute." The busy mother was great at multitasking, but she often wished that she could spend more quality time with her daughter.
What He Saw
Ken, meanwhile, was pacing the living room, deep into his call. “Yes, I understand, but we need the figures by tomorrow,” he said into his phone, his tone tense. “This can't wait.” He kept walking up and down the hallway. It was a habit of his to work and watch his daughter at the same time.
Suddenly, a movement caught his eye. He froze mid-sentence. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Nibbs was inside.
How Did He Get In
Ken was in shock. “Nibbs?” he whispered to himself, his brow furrowing as he saw the dog standing in the middle of the room. Nibbs wasn’t supposed to be inside. How had he gotten in? The back door had been closed.
Then Ken’s eyes darted to Beth. The high chair wobbled slightly as Nibbs moved closer to her, his large, dark body almost blending into the shadows of the room. At first, Ken thought Nibbs was simply being his usual curious self, but the dog’s posture seemed... off.
The Bad Dog
“Nibbs, no,” Ken said sternly, trying to focus while holding the phone to his ear. His voice was low, almost uncertain. He took a step forward and saw Nibbs’s snout close to Beth’s feet, his teeth softly nibbling at her toes.
Panic shot through him. Beth couldn’t move, her little legs trapped in the high chair’s harness, and she wasn’t giggling anymore. She looked confused, her eyes wide and her lips quivering as she tried to wiggle her feet away. What was he doing to her?
Calling His Wife
The worried father froze in fright. “Sarah!” Ken’s voice boomed as he dropped the phone and rushed forward. “SARAH!” The tap was running and she couldn’t hear him at first. “What?” Sarah shouted back, still busy in the kitchen.
She wanted to finish cleaning so she could relax. She didn’t go to him immediately. It made him angry.
Naughty Boy
Ken’s heart pounded in his chest. The sight of Nibbs gently nibbling at Beth’s tiny toes, his jaws moving with a steady, deliberate motion, sent a wave of dread through him.
He was afraid that he would startle the dog and make things worse. Was the dog playing? Or was something else happening? “Get in here now!” Ken yelled; his voice thick with urgency. He yanked at Nibbs, pulling him back, but the dog resisted, his teeth still softly clamped around Beth’s toes.
She Doesn’t Realize
Beth let out a small cry, her face scrunching up in fear. She usually liked playing with him, but he was getting a little too aggressive.
Ken’s hands shook as he tried to pry Nibbs away, but the dog seemed fixed on what he was doing. His large brown eyes blinked, unfazed by the commotion, as if he were in some sort of trance. What was he trying to do?
A Frantic Mother
Suddenly Sarah appeared. “Ken, what’s going on?” Sarah asked, finally entering the room. Her hands were still damp from washing the dishes, and she looked at Ken with confusion before her eyes landed on Nibbs.
She had never seen him behave so wild before and was unsure how to act. For the first time, she was scared to touch him.
What Did The Dog Do
The worried mother stood frozen in shock. She tried to shoo the naughty dog, but he didn’t leave her daughter alone.
“Oh my God!” she screamed, dropping the dish towel and rushing to Beth’s side. “Get him off! What is he doing?” “I don’t know,” Ken stammered, his voice shaking. “He’s not... he’s not biting her, but...”
Unusual Behavior
His heart skipped a beat. The dog, who they had so carefully trained to stay outside during meals, was now in the dining room, head low, sniffing around Beth's high chair.
They had never seen him behave like this with her before. He was usually calm and gentle. From where Ken stood, it looked like Nibbs was nibbling at her feet. The little girl kept kicking her feet away. But Nibbs wouldn’t let go of her.
Help Me Out
The scared father didn’t know what to do next. "Sarah!" Ken shouted; his voice sharp with panic. Sarah dropped the sponge, her heart racing. “What must I do?” she yelled, hurrying toward the dining room table.
She tried to shoo Nibbs away with the dish cloth but he wasn’t afraid of her. He thought it was a game and he wasn’t done playing yet.
Dad Steps In
Ken ran toward Beth, his breath quickening as he saw Nibbs hunched beneath the high chair, his snout nudging against Beth’s tiny toes. Beth’s giggles filled the air, but Ken's mind raced with fear. He was confused. Was Nibbs biting her?
His daughter seemed uncomfortable but she was also laughing at the jumping dog. He had always trusted the dog, but now doubt surged through him.
What He Did
The brave father knew he had to act fast. He stepped up to Beth. “Nibbs, get away!” he yelled, lunging forward. At the sound of Ken’s shout, Nibbs startled and scampered back, his paws skidding on the hardwood floor as he fled to the corner of the room, his tail between his legs.
His owners hardly ever shouted at him, he was quite an emotional dog and didn’t like to be told what to do. But this time they had to discipline him.
Nibbs Nibbling
Ken reached Beth in seconds, his hands trembling as he knelt beside the high chair. His eyes darted to her feet, expecting to see blood, expecting the worst. But there was no blood. Just… wetness. How did her clothes get so wet? Her clothes were damp, her little dress sticking to her body in patches. Ken frowned, confusion flooding his mind.
He looked closer and saw something lodged between the folds of her dress—a piece of chicken, sticky with sauce, had fallen between her legs.
What He Wanted
The parents were stressed. “Oh my God,” Ken breathed, relief washing over him like a wave. “Sarah, it’s just food. Nibbs wasn’t biting her. He was… he was trying to get to this.” He checked his daughter for any bite marks or scratches. “Oh God, Beth,” he whispered, his throat tightening.
He ran his hands over her legs, looking for marks, for any sign of injury. Her tiny toes wiggled freely. Then, as he lifted her higher, something else caught his eye.
Looking For Something
A small piece of chicken, lodged between the folds of her dress. Sarah rushed to him, her face pale. “Ken, what happened?” she gasped. “Is she—?”
The worried mother looked at her husband’s face for answers. “She’s fine,” Ken breathed, his voice shaky. “She’s okay.” Sarah stood beside him, her hands covering her mouth. "What—?" Sarah held her child, her eyes wide with concern. “What? What happened?”
What He Wanted
Ken held up the soggy piece of chicken, his chest still heaving. “He was just trying to get this. He wasn’t biting her. He was looking for a snack.” Ken held up the piece of chicken, his eyes wide. “Nibbs wouldn’t hurt her. He was trying to get this.”
Sarah blinked, relief washing over her face, though it was quickly replaced with a flood of guilt. "Oh, thank God..." she whispered, falling to her knees beside Beth, who giggled softly, still blissfully unaware of the chaos around her.
Just In Time
Sarah placed a hand over her heart, her face pale. “I thought… I thought…” she trailed off, staring at the dog, who now looked up at them with big, sad eyes from his corner. Beth kicked her feet happily, completely oblivious to the panic around her. “Nibbs funny!” she giggled, clapping her hands together.
Ken let out a shaky laugh, his heart still pounding in his chest. “Yeah, funny. Too funny.” But he knew it could have been worse.
Being A Good Boy
They both stood there for a moment, catching their breath, watching as Nibbs slowly crept back toward the high chair, his nose still twitching at the smell of food. Sarah knelt down and patted the dog’s head. “He wasn’t trying to hurt her,” she murmured. “He just wanted to eat.”
Ken nodded, rubbing his temples. “I freaked out for nothing.” He sat down, trying to calm down and catch his breath.
A Panic Attic
The frazzled parents tried to calm themselves down. It was quite the scare, but Beth seemed perfectly okay. As they both looked at Beth, who was now throwing bits of her dinner onto the floor again, they realized how close they had come to letting fear control them.
They had trusted Nibbs all these years, even when people questioned them about having a dog around a baby. But tonight, their trust had wavered, and they had panicked.
It’s Our Fault
The exhausted parents watched their daughter and dog for a few minutes. They knew that if Ken hadn’t walked in when he did, things could have been worse. “Maybe we need to pay more attention,” Sarah said softly. “We can’t just assume she’s okay all the time.”
Ken nodded, staring at his daughter. “You’re right. We’ve been too busy.” But there was nothing he could do about his demanding job.
I Could Have Checked
Ken sat back on his heels, running a hand through his hair. "I thought he—" He shook his head, his heart still pounding in his chest. "I thought the worst." Nibbs, now peeking around the corner, slowly inched his way back toward them, his ears flattened, as if sensing he had caused a stir. He kept his distance, his eyes darting nervously between Ken and Sarah.
"I—I should have been watching," Sarah muttered, her voice breaking. "I was so focused on the dishes—"
No Harm Done
He felt guilty. "I was on the phone," Ken added, his voice hard with frustration. "I should've seen him get in. I should’ve—" He couldn’t finish the sentence. The image of Nibbs near Beth’s toes flashed in his mind again. It had looked so real, so dangerous in that split second.
Beth laughed, reaching for her father’s face, blissfully unaware. She wiggled her toes in the air, clearly unharmed. Ken held her close, kissing her forehead. Ken held his child. "You’re okay," he whispered again, though it felt like he was trying to reassure himself more than her.
Close Call
As Sarah picked up the discarded food, Ken watched Beth, her innocent face still shining with joy. Nibbs wagged his tail behind her, no longer a threat but just the goofy, loyal dog he had always been.
“Let’s make sure we don’t get too distracted again,” Ken said, his voice firm. But he knew that he couldn’t control his dog all the time. Sarah wiped her eyes, trying to shake off the lingering fear. “We need to be more careful,” she said quietly. “We can’t let something like this happen again.”
Finding A Balance
Ken nodded but didn’t respond. His mind replayed the moment over and over, every detail etched in his memory—the sight of Nibbs, the terror, the relief. They had both been so distracted, so caught up in their own worlds that they had almost missed something crucial.
But as he said that, his phone buzzed again in his pocket. He sighed, glancing at it for a moment before shoving it away. There would always be calls, always distractions. But tonight had taught him a lesson—he couldn’t afford to miss a moment.
All Better
Nibbs, still inching closer, let out a soft whimper, his tail wagging slightly as if asking for forgiveness. Ken glanced at the dog and sighed. "You scared me, buddy," he muttered. "You really scared me."
Nibbs lowered his head, but his eyes remained on Ken, hopeful. He was a thoughtful creature who displayed human emotion. Sarah stood and walked over to Nibbs, her hand resting gently on his head. “He didn’t mean any harm. He was just... hungry,” she said softly, scratching behind his ears. Ken exhaled deeply, nodding again. "Yeah... but that was too close."
A Moment To Think
They both stood in the quiet living room, the tension slowly fading, though the weight of the moment lingered. Beth squirmed in Ken’s arms, her tiny hand reaching for her plate, clearly still interested in finishing her dinner.
As Ken placed her back in the high chair, he glanced at Sarah, their eyes meeting. “We’ve got to pay better attention,” he said. “We can’t afford to be this busy all the time.” Sarah nodded, her gaze softening. “We’ll do better.” She was dreading having the conversation about rehoming Nibbs somewhere else.
Family Dynamics
Together, they sat down, both keeping a close eye on Beth as she resumed eating, Nibbs lying quietly at their feet, the danger now past, but the memory still fresh. Yet, even as he made that promise, Sarah had already turned back to the kitchen, and Ken was reaching for his phone again.
Nibbs sat patiently at Beth’s feet, his eyes trained on the next piece of chicken that was bound to fall. The house hummed with noise, and once again, the parents were too busy to notice.