Read an Excerpt
Chapter 1
At a shelter in Livingston, New Jersey, lay a red dachshund puppy in a cage behind a glass wall. His brother had left the day before and now he was alone. Only when he got up on his hind legs and leaned against the side of the cage could he talk to the old cat and the shaky Chihuahua. To make the time go by, he took a nap. He dreamed about his family on the farm-his brother; his mom, LeeAnn; and his dad, Bossy Joe. His mom said he was just like his dad. She'd find him in the afternoons hidden in a clump of dandelions, watching Emily the horse being brushed. In the fall, the farm was sold. LeeAnn and Bossy Joe moved with the family. The brothers were old enough to find new homes.
A tapping on the glass woke the puppy. He saw a boy smiling at him. He smiled back, got up, and started wagging his tail. This was the first time he was happy since leaving the farm and he felt a new life was about to begin.
"I want this one!" yelled the boy.
"I want this one!" the puppy barked.
"Dad, what kind of dog is that?"
"It's a dachshund, Jimmy."
His name is Jimmy, the dachshund thought.
"Can I have him, please, Mom, please, Dad?"
"Well, okay. But he has to be your responsibility," said his mom.
"And remember, Jimmy, you'll have to help more around the house. Wash the car with me. That was our deal," his dad said.
"I promise I'll do it," said Jimmy. "Can I pick him up?" And suddenly, the shelter owner whisked the dachshund from his cage and the little dog landed inthe outstretched hands of Jimmy.
"Paws! That's what I'm going to call you. Paws!"
Wow! I'm Paws! I've never had a name before. I'm somebody now! I'm Paws!
What more could a dachshund want?
Jimmy still held Paws close as he and his family left the store. It was a windy day and he didn't want Paws to be cold. When they got to the car, Jimmy's dad opened the back door and Jimmy, with Paws, got in.
"Everybody strapped in?"
Jimmy's dad started the car and they drove home, Jimmy and Paws hugging all the way. No sooner had the car stopped in the driveway, than Jimmy opened the door and he and Paws ran right onto the lawn.
Paws rolled over and over in the grass.
The feel of grass again!
When Paws got on his feet, he looked over his shoulder and gave Jimmy a big smile.
"Here, Paws." Paws ran to Jimmy.
"Mom, Dad, do you see how fast he is? I knew it."
Jimmy picked Paws up. "Here's your new home." They went in through the front door. Paws squirmed out of Jimmy's arms. He knew he needed to get right to work exploring. Because if a dachshund is going to do his job of protecting his new family, he has to be familiar with every sight, sound, and scent.
The family burst out laughing at the sight of Paws's nose going right into action. There was a familiar scent, very similar to Jimmy's. A girl came down the stairs.
Jimmy leaned toward Paws and whispered, "That's my sister, Donna. Don't get too close to her when she's playing with her dolls or she'll dress you up in one of their clothes." Paws didn't know what Jimmy meant, but he was happy to meet another member of his new family. He stopped exploring and ran up to Donna, wagging his tail. He sat down, barked, and stretched his head high. She reached to pet him.
"Aw, he's so cute. What's his name?"
"Paws," Jimmy replied.
"Welcome home, Paws. You'll play with me and my dolls."
"No, he won't," said Jimmy. "He's going to play catch with me and my friends."
Donna scratched Paws's ear and whispered, "Don't worry. We'll play dolls later."
Paws smiled and walked away. He still had more exploring to do.
I love my new family and I'm never going to let them down. Ever!
"Why don't you go to the car and get Paws the surprise we bought him?" said Jimmy's dad. Paws waited with big bright eyes for Jimmy to return. In a minute the front door banged open, and Jimmy stood there with something big in his arms. He came into the living room and put it down. Paws walked to it. It was a pillowy dachshund bed. His eyes welled with tears and he slowly made his way to the center of the bed, scraped a small flat area with his front paws, and lay down. He would never have to sleep in a cold, lonely cage again.
"Gee, look at that. What a smart dog! Can Paws sleep in my room? Please?" said Jimmy.
"Jimmy, Paws should stay downstairs for now until he gets familiar with the house," said his dad. "And later he can be in your room."
"Mom, please?"
"Your dad's right," his mom said.
"Okay." Jimmy bent down to hug Paws and whispered in his ear, "You'll be up in my room before you know it."
Jimmy carried Paws, still lying in his bed, over to the fireplace. Dad, Jimmy, and Donna went upstairs, and Paws saw Mom go over to a square on the wall. When she touched it, the house went dark. Paws put his head down between his front paws and took a deep, contented breath.
He thought about his old friends at the shelter-the cat and the Chihuahua. He hoped they would find new families and that they would have big warm beds to sleep in. And as these thoughts ran through his mind, a quiet sense of love-the love of a family-filled the house.
Paws's first day with his new family and his new home came to an end. And he began to dream as only a dachshund can.
Copyright 2006 Minted Prose, LLC
