When the clock counted four, the kid peeped through the window. Quite anxiously to make sure that the dog was not there. But it was certainly there. Making its presence felt through intense barks.
“What's wrong with these dogs!”
“Why don't they leave me alone?” He shouted with anger.
It was Sunday. Which meant it was time for him to go visit the park. But the dog seemed to ruin his plans.
“I told you to stare in their eyes when they start barking at you.", a hollow but firm voice suggested. The voice was of his grandfather's. But the kid didn’t make a move. Seeing his gloomy face, the grandfather sighed and decided to go with him. He lifted his cane and slowly escorted the kid away from the dog.
***
When the floodlights turned on, the kid realised that it was time for him to go home. The sun was setting very quickly. On the way, he was caught off guard when he saw the dog. Expecting the usual traumatic confrontation, the kid decided to apply his grandpa’s trick. To stare indefinitely. His legs started trembling. And breath became shorter.
To his extreme surprise, the dog did not move a hair. The kid thought, ‘Maybe it can’t see in the dark. But it was not that dark. The kid started thinking about why it was not moving. He started thumping his legs. Possibly to try the trick. Possibly to end the matter completely. Even after provoking from a distance, the kid could not entertain the dog’s attention.
Seeing the enemy dormant, the kid became more confident. He stepped a little more towards the dog. The dog was still. No movement. He carefully poked the dog with his feet and waited for a response. The dog startled and looked at him. A strange feeling made the kid shiver. He saw tears in the eyes of the dog. The dog made a feeble howl. It was trying to show something. The wounded paw. The dog’s paw was soaked in blood. Some vehicle had run over it. The kid was still trembling. The breath was still shorter. But the fear was gone. New emotions arose in his heart. Emotions of tenderness. Of affection and care.
Wrapped in his small hands, the dog was probably feeling the same. It started licking his elbow.