Max and David (ADGtH2)

David was in his backyard practicing magic tricks when suddenly, a loud excited bark rang through the air. David  looked up as a large gray and white sheepdog bounded over the fence and leapt into him, knocking him to the ground.

As David tried to sit up, the dog gave him a big lick across his left cheek, that left it covered with slobber. "Hey, boy; where did you..." David started to say. He was unable to finish as the dog began to repeatedly smack his previously licked cheek, stretching it up and up which caused David to fall back onto the ground.

Once the boy was on his back, the sheepdog placed his paws on the preteen's shoulders to hold him down. David smiled, then began to giggle uncontrollably as the lovable mutt began to lick both his cheeks as well as his chin, drencing them in warm slobber.

"AHAHAHAHAHA; THAT TICKLES!" GOOD BOY, GOOD BOY" David said through clenched teeth as the dog's giant tongue continued to pass over him.

"Alright, alright; stop for a sec" David instructed. The dog stopped licking him and let him sit up. "I think I should know what your name is". David began to feel around the dog's neck area for an identification tag. The canine didn't seem to have one but what he did have was a tattered collar with the letters M-A-X on it.

"Max, huh? Well, it's nice to meet you boy, I'm David" "Hey; wanna see a magic trick?"

Max gave a bark to indicate that he most certainly would, so David got to his feet and pulled a small rubber ball out of his vest pocket. "See it, boy?" he asked. "Well..." he waved his hands around in the air a bit and when he stopped the ball was gone.

Max gave a whimper of surprise and raised his bangs so that the boy could see that he was starting wide-eyed.

David chuckled a bit, then got down on his hands knees and lifted up Max's right ear. He blew into it and the ball popped out of the dog's left ear! David took it, stood up and and bowed.

Max barked happily, then decided he would show his new friend just how much appreciated such a neat trick. Max stood on his hind legs, placed his paws on David's shoulders and began to lick him all over his face again. Slobber flew in all directions as Max alternated between licking David's left and right cheeks. Sometimes, he would drag his tounge from the bottom of the boy's chin all the way up to his forehead, causing his ginger hair to slick back.

Eventually, Max knocked David to the ground and sat on his stomach, continuing to coat his face with glistening slobber.

David threw his arms around the dog's neck and gave him a big hug. "I love you, boy" he said gratefully.