We met Max at the pickup area of Alaska Airlines. A standard poodle（鬈毛狗）born on Valentine's Day in 2002, he came to us in a small blue box. We had adopted him from a friend, who raised many dogs.
We were a sweet little family—me, my husband, and our children, Sophie and Jake. But for years I'd felt as if we wouldn't really be complete until we had a dog. Also, my husband travelled for some 200 days a year on business, and I knew I'd feel safer with a large animal sleeping by the door.
When we opened the box, we saw him. With his curly black hair and intelligent eyes, Max was beautiful. He was so small that he fit into the palm（手掌）of my hand, his big paws（爪子）lapping over the sides. He was also scared. As I pulled him close, I felt his heart pound and wondered if we'd done the right thing, taking him from his mother. But it was too late. Sophie and Jake were already fighting over who would hold him next.
Over the following months, we spent endless hours watching Max play with his toy or run around the living room. Like most poodles, he was smart. He mastered house-training quickly and never chewed on our furniture or shoes. He considered himself one of us.
Some days after school, I'd find Jake curled up with Max inside his box. When I suggested that my son get out of the dog box, Jake yelled, "Max wants me in here! We're brothers!"
By his first birthday, Max had grown into a 50-pound guard dog. He manned the front door like a soldier, barking fiercely at other dogs walking by. I felt safe with him there, especially when my husband was away. Sometimes, when I was missing my husband a lot, I held Max close.
Many years later, my husband passed away. My kids grew up and went to university. They worked in other cities after graduation.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
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And then, suddenly, I was alone.
Paragraph 2:
One Day, I found there was something wrong with Max's back legs.
