On a dusty, sunbaked road in Minas Gerais, Brazil, truck driver Helton Clay Brito was making his usual delivery run when a small movement caught his eye. Something — or someone — was struggling in the heat ahead of him.
As he slowed down, Brito realized it wasn’t debris or an animal crossing — it was a tiny armadillo, trudging weakly along the dirt road, baking under the relentless sun.
“I felt in my heart that I had to stop the truck,” Brito told The Dodo. “He seemed to be walking aimlessly. I decided to give him water.”
Brito pulled over, grabbed his canteen, and stepped down from his cab. To his surprise, the little traveler didn’t run away.
“When I got out, he ran to my feet,” Brito said. “It seemed like he knew I would help.”
Kneeling down, Brito gently poured cool water over the armadillo and let him drink. The tiny creature immediately perked up, soaking in every drop.
“When I poured water on him, I felt that he was relieved,” Brito said. “It seemed he hadn’t had a drink for days.”
Brito stayed with him for a while, speaking softly and watching as the animal slowly regained his strength.
“He was happy,” Brito said.
When the armadillo finally wandered back toward the brush — a little steadier on his feet and no longer so alone — Brito climbed back into his truck. He continued his route with a quiet smile.
“I still feel peace in my heart for being able to help him,” he said.
