Colleen Nelson - Harvey Comes Home

First published in Canada and the United States in 2019

Text copyright 2019 Colleen Nelson

Illustration copyright 2019 Tara Anderson

This edition copyright 2020 Pajama Press Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright licence, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free 1.800.893.5777.

The publisher gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for its publishing program. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for our publishing activities.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Title: Harvey comes home / by Colleen Nelson ; illustrated by Tara Anderson.

Names: Nelson, Colleen, author. | Anderson, Tara, illustrator.

Description: First edition.

Identifiers: Canadiana 20190050632 | ISBN 9781772780970 (hardcover)

Classification: LCC PS8627.E555 H37 2019 | DDC jC813/.6dc23

Publisher Cataloging-in-Publication Data (U.S.)

Names: Nelson, Colleen, author. | Anderson, Tara, illustrator.

Title: Harvey Comes Home / Colleen Nelson.

Description: Toronto, Ontario Canada : Pajama Press, 2019. | Summary: A young boy volunteering at a retirement home finds a stray dog and notices that it revives decades-old memories for a bitter resident. The boy bonds with the resident as he listens to stories about growing up in Saskatchewan during the Great Depression. Thanks to his new friend and his canine companion, the elderly man is able to pass away peacefully, immersed in fond memories of his youth Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: ISBN 978-1-77278-097-0 (hardcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Dogs -- Juvenile fiction. | Retirement communities Juvenile fiction. | Depressions1929Canada Juvenile fiction. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Dogs. | JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Canada / Post-Confederation (1867-) | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Adolescence & Coming of Age.

Classification: LCC PZ7.1N457Ha |DDC [F] dc23

Original art created with graphite pencil on Canson drawing paper

Interior illustrationsTara Anderson

Cover designRebecca Bender

Text designLorena Gonzalez Guillen

Cover imageOscar, running fast Christopher Walker

Manufactured by Friesens

Printed in Canada

Pajama Press Inc.

181 Carlaw Ave. Suite 251 Toronto, Ontario Canada, M4M 2S1

Distributed in Canada by UTP Distribution

5201 Dufferin Street Toronto, Ontario Canada, M3H 5T8

Distributed in the U.S. by Ingram Publisher Services

1 Ingram Blvd. La Vergne, TN 37086, USA

For Gordon and Marie Pickering

C.N.

For Uncle Bruce

T.A.

Chapter 1

Harvey

H arvey is a West Highland Terrier; a ratter with a white coat, extra shiny and clean because he was just groomed yesterday. He trots ahead of Maggie, feeling quite smart. He enjoys the chill of the early November air as it rustles against his skin.

Tail held high, ears pricked and nose down low, Harvey follows the scent left by Rosie, another Westie who has been here recently. He lifts his leg and, with a little squirt, adds his scent to a lamppost.

Maggie tugs at the leash, reminding him they are meant to be walking, but all the smells are too distracting. He could spend all day drinking them in at just one lamppost. Not like his yard, where everything is familiar. The only excitement is the squirrels that scamper and race through the treetops, taunting him.

He loves and hates those squirrels. He cant imagine his days without them. Like any good ratter, he watches for them. When he sees one invade his yard, he paws at the door and barks to be let out, desperate to chase it.

So far, on this walk, there have been no squirrels, but the bright smells make up for it. They zip up his nose and into his brain.

Harvey cant see bright colors, but if he could, he would know that Maggie has the most beautiful color of hair. Like a hot metal poker, it glows red, orange, and copper, and curls at the ends. Maggie takes her hair for granted, even though it is the first thing people compliment her on. The hair is from her mother, but the slight build and lanky frame are both from her father. She has a smattering of freckles across her nose, and more appear in the summer. Her eyes are small, but sharp and quizzical, and teachers think of her as the quiet, studious type. Maggie is at an age when a uniform of tights and a long hoodie is worn daily. Her hair is most often tied up in a ponytail. She doesnt care about clothes or boys, at least not yet. She is happiest at home with Harvey.

Harvey never knows what the day will bring with Maggie. Some days she is at home with him and other days she leaves and comes back with a bag layered with so many smells. Harvey could sniff it all day and never catch all the scents. Maggie lugs that bag up to her room. She unzips it and sighs, then sits down to work, pencil scratching and papers flipping. Harvey is content to lie on her bed and watch, pleased that Maggie is home.

But today, something is different. There is a lot of activity when he and Maggie return from their walk. Harvey lets Maggie unclip his leash. He waits by the door, trying to make sense of the hustle and bustle. He sees Maggies parents, walking with quick, rushed steps and speaking loudly to each other.

The two little girls, twins, who often try to grab Harveys tail, are being jostled about. Harvey can tell something is going on. There are new smells at the front door, and Harvey goes to inspect them. Besides the usual scents of leather, wool, and outdoor grit, Harvey sniffs out three big things. They are lined up in a row and smell of the damp basement. He catches a whiff of the stuffed bunny from Maggies roomthe one hes not supposed to grablocked inside one of the cases. What is it doing in there? he wonders. He paws at the case and sniffs intently, looking for other trapped scents. He is concentrating so hard that he doesnt know Maggie is behind him until she reaches out and grabs him.

She holds him close to her chest and whispers in his ear. I love you so much, Harvs. Im going to miss you!

Harvey hears the catch in her voice. He pokes his black nose into her face and sees that her eyes sparkle with tears. Harvey licks at her chin, desperate to make sense of all this.

A car pulls up outside. He barks to let everyone know but gets an annoyed Shush! from Maggies father before hes even finished. Harvey takes a few steps forward. Natural curiosity makes his tail point straight in the air as he waits for the door to open. When it does, a girl, taller than his Maggie, steps in. Voices rise with excitement and greeting. Joining the fray, Harvey runs up to welcome the girl, but is gently scolded to stay back.