"You can talk " exclaimed Clayton, looking at the new puppy he had picked for his birthday. "Of course I can," Max stated, with a hint of wonder in his voice. "Why wouldn't I?" Then the pup informed Clayton, "My name is Max. That's short for Maximum." "Why am I the only one that can hear you?" "I guess it's because you have problems with your ears. They don't work right." "How would you know that?" Clayton asked skeptically. "I saw it on Animal Planet, 'When Animals Help, ' episode twenty-nine, channel two eighteen." Max looked smug, but then admitted sheepishly, "Also, I kinda overheard Mama...

Clayton hopes to have a wonderful summer with his best buddy, Max. Little does he know there will be some very hard lessons on friendship, bullying, and loyalty. The summer starts out great until the return of Dale, AKA "Booger." Clayton must learn what is important in life while he struggles with what is right and wrong. He will learn the hard way, and while doing so, might lose the most important thing in his life, his friendship with Max. Join the boys for a fun filled, and, at times heartbreaking adventure.

Max lay under the abandoned car in the litter-strewn, weed-infested backyard of the strangers, thinking about the events that led to his present situation. He was hungry, tired, and sore. These people and the yard were nothing like his home with his Pet Boy and family, nothing at all. In his family, everyone loved and respected each other, while these people seemed to not care about anything or anyone, especially him. He could not understand why they would not let him go home, but kept him trapped in this long-neglected, walled-off prison of a yard. Max's day had begun innocently enough with...