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.

with autistic children. He had problems looking in my eyes, but clearly none in

he would not get too close to the kid and spook him, whom eventually caved and gave the first pet. It was short and just

the exercise a few times, and he did more and more every

but I wasn’t even sure he talked, and given how he ignored me when

communication method was pretty rudimentary, but at least

He was not crying either, and as minutes went by and he interacted more and more

your name?” I

disappeared as he looked briefly

don’t want to. I’m Mila. I live with Miki not far from here. Miki loves

me sound

dug into my bag, and next to my drawing pad, I

what was going on, and suddenly ignore the kid

a treat out slowly, making

sat, shaking his weight

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

The child looked at this

“Do you want to try it?”

He nodded.

to make the kid say something. Silently, but

have to tell him to sit though,” I said as Miki was now back on his paws going in circles and then sitting, but going back up and

was more interested in the dog

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

five treats

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

the treats were all gone, he looked

“Do you know what Miki loves?”