Haze Smith had a dog, a German Shepherd named Major. This book tells about the story of Haze and Major. Inspired by my own dog, Luna (a border collie.) Haze and Major's time together seemed short, even though it was 14 years.
Haze's vision spun, and soon, she was deep in memory.
7:46 A.M, P.A
"Haze!! Wake up!" She felt someone throw a pillow at her. Her eyes jerked open and looked at her sister, Lacey's face. "Happy birthday!" Lacey squealed. Haze sat up and smiled. "Thank you, Lacey." She said, pretending to be a princess, as she always did. Lacey sighed. "Arrgh, get out of that habit! You're FIFTEEN!" Lacey said, annoyed.
"Fine." Haze said.
"Haze, Lacey! Breakfast!" Their mother called.
"Okay, mom!" The sisters shouted. They scampered down, stopping in their tracks. "We forgot to brush our teeth." Haze realized with a snicker. "Oh.. yeah." Lacey sighed. They brushed the teeth, then went to eat breakfast. "Haze... you know what day it is, right?" Haze's father asked, with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, it's Saturday." Haze said with a glint in her eye. "No, I mean like, you know it's your birthday, right?" Dad asked. "Oh, duh! I would never forget." Haze said sassily. "Yes, so we have a surprise for you." Dad continued. "I would never be surprised, I mean, it IS my birthday!" Haze said entering 'princess mode.' "Yes, but we're going to Farmer Bill's farm to get that surprise," Dad said. 'Oh...' Haze thought, disappointed. Farmer Bill's farm was stinky, loud, and busy. The Smith family had been there a few times, but Haze never liked it.
"Alrighty, eat your breakfast. We'll be going to 12:30." Mom said gently.
Haze sipped her cereal, wondering what the surprise was. What could possibly be fun on a stinking farm? Her father got up and picked up his phone. He dialed a number and put the phone to his ear. "Bill Rogers? Yes, this is Aiden Smith."- silence-" Good! We will arrive at 12:30. Does she get to pick?"-silence-" Oh, thanks! See you at 12:30, Bill!" Dad hung up with a big grin on his face. "Hon, what's your favorite animal?" He asked Haze. "Dog." She replied with a mouth full of cereal.
"Yeah, and she has been doing research about how to take care of them for months!" Lacey added.
"What about it?" Haze asked, ignoring Lacey. 'We can't possibly be getting a dog!' She thought. Her father did not reply, nor did her mother. Confused, she sipped her cereal.
12:30 A.M
"P-U! Stinks." Haze whispered to Lacey. Lacey wrinkled her nose in reply. Mom put a blind-fold around Haze's eyes, making Haze jump. "Um, mom??" Haze asked, unsure. "It's okay," Mom said, guiding Haze by her shoulders. Haze heard Mr. Roger's (AKA farmer Bill's) voice. "This way, this way! Happy birthday, Haze!" Mr. Rogers shouted. "Thanks!" She said, waving toward the direction of the voice. She stumbled a bit, but her mother grabbed her. With the blindfold wrapped tightly around her eyes, all she could do was listen and feel... and smell. Suddenly, the dirt ground seemed to have changed into the soft grass. She heard horses neigh. 'We must have entered the barn.' Haze thought. She heard Lacey gasp. She also heard footsteps.... quiet footsteps. "What?" She asked. Suddenly, mom took off the blind-fold and she gasped at what she saw. Puppies! German Shepherd puppies! She knelt to the ground, laughing as puppies tumbled over her. "Happy birthday!!" She heard dad, mom, Mrs., and Mr. Rogers shout. "Thank you!" She gasped. "Choose one, Farmer Bill has the food, bowls, bed, and toys. Oh, and a leash and collar." Dad said.
"This one is Mya, Marley, Mars, Mason, Macey, and Major." Farmer Bill said pointing at the pups one by one. Lacey and Haze's eyes landed on Mars, the cutest and fluffiest one of the group. The mother dog watched the girls closely with a wagging tail. Haze picked up Mars. The fluffy dog yapped loudly, in a friendly way as if trying to tell the girls something. When Haze put Mars, down, he continued to yap. "Mars is very energetic." Mr. Rogers informed the Smith family. So Haze picked up Macey, a calm looking dog. Macey backed away from Haze's arms. "She's timid. Skittish little dog." Mrs. Rogers said. Haze's eyes landed on Major. She picked him up. Major wagged his tail and licked Haze. He reached over and licked Lacey too. Everyone smiled. They knew what this meant: Major was the new member of the Smith family.
"Alright, let's bring you home, Major!" Dad said, petting the little German Shepherd.
After that, they packed the dog bowls, leash, collar, bed, and toys in the car. Major sat with the sisters, wagging his black tail. That was the beginning of Haze and Major.
