I had always dreamed of having a dog. Every time I saw one wagging its tail in the park, I felt my heartache with hope. One day, everything changed.

After school, I walked into the living room and gasped. Right there, in the middle of the room, was a tiny, fluffy puppy. 'Surprise!' [Mom](633PXFTF) said with a smile.

But I frowned when I looked at the dog. 'Ugh, I don’t want that ugly rat!' I yelled. [Mom](633PXFTF)’s smile faded as I stomped into my room.

I threw myself on my bed and grabbed a bag of Takis. I called my best friend, [Eva](5PX4TZZW), and told her what had happened.

[Eva](5PX4TZZW) laughed so hard that I couldn’t help but laugh, too. 'A puppy's not ugly! You’ll love him soon. Trust me,' she said between giggles.

That night, I heard tiny paws tapping outside my bedroom door. Curious, I opened it a crack. The puppy was lying there, looking up at me with the saddest big brown eyes.

Slowly, I picked him up and held him close. His fur was softer than I thought, and he let out a little yawn. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

Over the next few days, I noticed how clever and funny the puppy was. He followed me everywhere, wagging his tail and making me laugh.

I named him [Max](YSNZ9KDC). [Mom](633PXFTF) was right. [Max](YSNZ9KDC) wasn’t just a puppy; he was my best friend. I’ll never forget the day he joined our family.

[Eva](5PX4TZZW) was right—I couldn’t imagine life without [Max](YSNZ9KDC). He taught me that love sometimes comes in furry little surprises.