Wealth

From the outside, Jim’s life looked perfect. He had everything most people dreamed of. He was successful at work; he lived in a big house and had a garage full of sports cars.

He and his beautiful wife had a busy and exciting social life. They enjoyed expensive holidays with friends and loved entertaining guests.

But inside, Jim felt empty. He told himself that money and success should be enough. Still, he had the feeling that something was missing from his life.

Slowly, Jim’s life began to fall apart. At work, the company was losing money. His boss no longer trusted him. Each month, the pressure increased. Finally, one morning, Jim was called into a meeting where he was dismissed from his job. He was devastated.

With no money coming in, Jim could no longer afford to maintain his expensive lifestyle. His friends and invitations to parties disappeared. He felt very alone.

At home, things were no better. Without a busy social life, Jim and his wife began to drift apart. When they were at home together, they hardly spoke. One day she packed her bags and told Jim she was leaving him for someone else. He never saw her again.

Without his job, Jim could not pay for the house or the cars. One by one, they were sold. The big house stood empty. Finally, he had to leave. The man who once had everything now had nothing.

Unable to pay for a hotel room, Jim found himself living in a small tent at the edge of the city. Nights were cold, and food was hard to find. He searched in bins behind shops and restaurants. Sometimes he ate old bread, sometimes nothing at all. The man who had once worn clean suits now wore the same old jacket every day. His wallet was empty, and his stomach was too.

One evening, a stray dog came near Jim’s tent. Its fur was dirty and its body thin. But in its mouth was a piece of food. The dog dropped it in front of Jim. At first Jim wanted to push it away, but hunger was stronger. He ate and then shared what was left with the dog. The animal licked his hand. For the first time in weeks, Jim smiled.

The next day the dog returned. Sometimes it brought pieces of food, sometimes only its company. Jim began to talk to it. The dog listened, as if it understood. Slowly, they became friends.

Weeks passed. Jim and the dog were always together. They looked for food during the day and slept close to each other at night. The dog gave Jim comfort, and Jim gave the dog care. Their lives were hard, but they were not alone.

One evening, Jim sat outside his tent, the dog’s head resting comfortably on his leg. He thought about the wealth he had once had and how it had left him feeling empty. Now, with nothing but a loyal friend by his side, he felt richer than he had ever felt before.

📒 Key vocabulary

• successful – doing well in work or life
• empty – without meaning, not full
• missing – absent
• boss – the person who leads at work
• dismissed – sacked; removed from a job
• devastated – extremely upset
• drift apart – become more distant
• tent – small cloth shelter used for camping
• bins – garbage cans
• stray – without a home (used for animals)
• fur – the soft hair covering certain animals
• wealth – money and possessions
• loyal – faithful and reliable

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