| I wasn't paying attention. My back was turned until I heard the woman ask if she could watch the dog so the other woman could go get her hot-dog. Complete strangers to one another. But instant trust. "Yes. I'd appreciate that, thanks so much." "Oh, and the dog is deaf." She said that as she let go of the leash the other woman had taken, as she moved out of the way so the new friend could sit next to the dog. Next to this smallish dog with dark grayish, wiry hair and one freaky white eye. And then she signed "stay" to the dog. She went off, as we all turned and stared at this dog that couldn't hear. And the dog half-sat, half-lay, looking around, looking into faces, scanning in a steady, relaxed way. And the new friend talked to it as she stroked it, petted it, loved it as if it were hers. Her hubby comes up, he'd gotten a frozen yogurt, and she said she'd offered to watch the dog and it'd just be a minute so they sat there talking, and eating and she never did mention to him that the dog was deaf. Shortly the owner comes back with her hot-dog and soda and she thanks the lady so much and they hand the leash back and say what a nice dog and we all sorta turn away but keep listening and the lady sits and the couple stands and they walk away. They laugh about the timing, having just finished the yogurt and being just ready and here she is. And it's all so easy. The lady unwraps the hot-dog as they walk away. She talks and gestures, praises the good dog and then signs to the dog "eat" as she readies a piece for it and as she leans over to give it to the dog I get up. I walk into the store thinking it's all so easy. |
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RD Savage
08/14/94 © 1994 |