On an old, run-down farm, far from any other homes, lived a small dog named Max. Max had the bad luck to belong to a cruel farmer. He dreamed of freedom, but he was too scared to run away. He was afraid the farmer would find him and punish him. A chain kept him tied to an old doghouse with a hole in the roof. When it rained, water dripped on him through the hole. Max did not have an easy life.
It was spring, and one night a fierce storm rolled in. Frightened, Max hid from the lightning and thunder in his broken doghouse. He wished and wished for the storm to pass. Then the last bolt struck the doghouse itself. The crash and flash terrified him. He ran—and after running for a long time, he realized the chain no longer held him. That last lightning strike had snapped it. Max knew this was the moment he had longed for. He could escape the cruel farmer and be free.
Max didn’t hesitate for a second. He ran and ran with all his strength, just to get as far from the old farm as he could. He didn’t care about the strong wind or the big raindrops soaking his fur. He knew he had to keep going. He finally stopped only when the farm had disappeared from sight.
Max decided to live in the forest. He didn’t want to go to the village or be around people. Because of the cruel farmer, he thought people didn’t like dogs. Life in the forest was hard for a little dog. He wasn’t used to finding food on his own, so he often went hungry. He wandered through woods and meadows and only sometimes found something to ease his hunger. One evening, tired from a whole day of searching for food, he saw lights in the distance. At first, he was afraid they were lights from the farm he had fled. He decided to sleep under a big maple tree and check in the morning.
The first rays of the morning sun woke him, warming his fur. He would have loved to enjoy the moment longer, but his empty stomach wouldn’t let him. He got up and walked closer to the place where he’d seen the lights. Max sighed with relief—it wasn’t the cruel farmer’s farm but a small village. His empty stomach told him to go there; surely there would be something to eat. But his fear of people was still very strong.
A wise owl watched him from a tree branch. She saw that Max couldn’t decide, and she wanted to help. She explained that not all people are bad. In fact, most people have dogs at home and take good care of them. She told him there were kind people in this village, too. Max swallowed his fear and headed toward the village. Right at the edge of the village, a fair-haired girl sat on a bench. Max sensed she was very sad. He walked up carefully, looked at her with his big brown eyes, and gave a soft whine. The girl smiled warmly and petted him. In just that little moment, a smile returned to her face.
The girl had always wished for a dog of her own. Now her dream had come true. In Max she found the best and most loyal friend. She took wonderful care of him. She spent all her free time with him and played with him whenever she could. She took him on trips and on walks around their village. At last, Max discovered human kindness—and he found his happiness.
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