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.

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,

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

times, and he did more and

and given how he ignored me when I started

rudimentary, but at

and more with the

“What is your name?” I asked him.

he

have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m Mila. I live with Miki not far from here. Miki loves parks very much, so we came here for a bit of fun.”

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

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

right away what was going on, and suddenly ignore the kid

treat out

and sat, shaking his weight from

it twice until, his desire

The child looked at this scene

try it?” I asked.

He nodded.

I managed to make the

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

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

done, but he worked it out faster than

ended up feeding 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

gone, he looked at me

know what Miki loves?”