All That Is Left Behind

I took my dog in my arms, and I made my way to the boy. I was no older than four of five, and there was absolute distress written all over his face.

I made sure to have a good grip on my dog as he could get exited easily, and I knew a lot of people, including children, are easily intimidated by dogs, especially the overly expressive ones.

“Hey there,” I said.

The boy didn’t even look at me.

“Are you lost?” I asked him.

He didn’t turn around, but I knew he heard and understood me as he pointedly put his back to mine. There were silent tears in his eyes, but contrary to most children I’ve encountered, he wasn’t expressing his sadness very openly, which I found quite strange.

“You see,” I began. “My dog is named Miki, and he kept asking me to come around here. I really don’t know why. Do you? Maybe there’s a tennis ball hidden here somewhere. Would you help me look?”

He finally turned around, but his eyes were automatically drawn to Miki.

Miki gave him a doggy grin and waved his tail so hard, his little booty went side to side in my arms.

The boy had brown hair and gorgeous large brown eyes. He was wearing good clean clothes too that fit him perfectly. And he looked at the dog, hypnotized.

“Do you want to pet him?” I asked.

He said nothing, but I knew he heard me. He didn’t look at me, still glued to Miki.

“Here, let me show you how.” Then I spent the next minute showing the boy how to pet a dog.

“Do you want to try?” I asked him.

children. He had problems looking in my

to the kid and spook him, whom eventually caved and gave the first pet. It was short and just one finger on the forehead for maybe two seconds, then he pressed his hands together

few times, and he did more and more every

even sure he talked, and given how he ignored me when I started with this line

was pretty rudimentary, but at least it was one.

more and more with the dog,

your name?” I

as he looked

Mila. I live with Miki not far from

me sound more trustworthy, but I wasn’t sure if this technique worked with

into my bag, and next to my drawing pad, I found a little bag.

on, and suddenly ignore the kid and turned to

a treat out slowly, making him sit.

contain his excitement and sat, shaking his weight

twice until, his desire for the biscuit overcame his excitement and then I gave it

looked at this scene in pure

you want to try it?” I asked.

He nodded.

make the kid say something. Silently, but still, it’s an achievement.

on his paws going in circles and then sitting, but going back up and putting his paws on

the kid talk. I guessed that if he was more interested

gist of what had to be done, but he worked it out faster than I expected. So the kid was intelligent enough.

five treats in

encourage so much feeding, but it was working really well, and I had heard the boy say at least four words now, and they were not as hard to get out of him than they had been

the treats were all gone, he looked at

Miki loves?”