Tom jumps out of bed and scans the room. His dog's bed is flat and cold. Max is not here.
Tom's hands clench into fists. He runs down the hall to the kitchen.
He looks behind the sofa. Under the table. In the laundry basket. Nothing.
His ears droop. Tom opens the back door. He steps into the garden.
A butterfly flutters ahead. Tom follows it past the flower beds.
The butterfly lands on a red tulip. Tom creeps toward the big rosebush.
Tom pushes aside the thorny leaves. Something moves. Max sneezes!
A puff of yellow pollen floats in the air. Tom sneezes too. Max's tail wags.
"There you are, Max!" Tom lifts him up and holds him close.
Max licks Tom's cheek. The sun warms their faces.
They sit together in the garden. Tom rests his chin on Max's head.
Everything is okay. Tom and Max go home together.