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 eyes, but clearly none

keeping my hand on him to make sure he would not get too close to the kid and spook him,

a few times, and he did more

sure he talked, and given how he ignored me when I started with this line of questioning, I decided not to push on too

was pretty rudimentary, but at least it was one.

either, and as minutes went by and he interacted more and

“What is your name?”

smiled disappeared as he looked briefly at me.

Mila. I live with Miki not far from here. Miki loves parks very much, so we came here for a bit

if I shared information first it could make me sound more trustworthy, but I wasn’t sure if this technique worked with children.

next to my drawing pad, I found a little

what was going on, and suddenly ignore the kid and turned

took a treat out slowly, making him sit.

hardly contain his excitement and sat, shaking his weight from his

the treat above his head and made him lie down. I had to say it twice until, his desire for the biscuit overcame his excitement

child looked at this scene in pure

you want to try it?” I asked.

He nodded.

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

as Miki was now back on his paws going in circles and then sitting, but going back up and putting his

coaxing out of me to finally make the kid talk. I guessed that if he was more interested in the dog than me that he might be more willing

to be done, but he worked it out faster than I

five treats in a row to

so much feeding, but it was working really well, and I had heard the boy say at least four words now, and they were

were all gone, he looked at me expectantly.

“Do you know what Miki loves?” I asked him.