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.

He finally dared look at me. It was brief, and he returned his gaze automatically to Miki. It gave me the strange vibe you get with autistic children. He had problems looking in my eyes, but

would not get too close to the kid and spook him,

I repeated the exercise a few times, and he did more and more

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

Granted this communication method was pretty rudimentary, but at least

he interacted more and more

your name?” I asked him.

as he

I live with Miki not far from here. Miki loves parks

thought that if I shared information first it could make me sound more

bag, and next to my drawing pad,

right away what was going on, and suddenly ignore the kid and turned to me.

a treat out slowly, making him

his excitement and sat, shaking his weight from his left paw to

lie down. I had to say it twice until, his

The child looked at this scene in pure fascination.

want to try it?” I asked.

nodded.

the kid say something. Silently, but still,

back on his paws going in circles and then sitting, but going back up and putting his paws on my legs to tell me he

he was more interested in the dog

for him to get the gist of what had to be done, but

He ended up feeding five treats

was working really well, and I had heard the boy say at least four words now, and they were not as hard

all gone, he looked at

you know what Miki loves?” I asked