Scotty

12-28-10 9:24AM

This morning I walked to the park with my breakfast. The snow hadn't been shoveled, but where the trail is it's stamped down. None of the benches had been brushed off or sat on. As I was walking towards the back and lost in thought I heard a call from behind me.

"Scotty, come back!"

I turn around and there's a dog following me, his owner further back. I turn and walk on, figuring that the dog will lose interest if I don't pay attention to him. Besides, I had my mind on other things. By the time I reached the bench in the back, though, the dog was still following me. He jumped at me and pushed at my hand with his nose. His owner walks up.

"I'm so sorry for disturbing you," he said.
"It's alright."
"Are you eating?"
"Yeah. That must be it," I laughed.
"It must smell really good."
"Do dogs usually like bean paste?" I was eating a 豆沙包.
"Is that what it is? He's a mooch," the owner replied.
Under my breath, "so are my friends."
"Do you have dogs, too?"
"No," I said, laughing, "I have friends."

I walked away, thinking about Scotty. He was small and playful, not much older than a puppy, I'm guessing. His mottled red-brown and black fur reminded me of Asian hair and eyes. I walked toward the park entrance, finishing my breakfast. As I neared the gate, I turned to see Scotty running at me full speed, his owner, once again, left behind. Scotty circled me and I scratched him behind his ears and petted him until the owner caught up.

"He really likes you," he remarked. "He's usually very friendly but he's acting like he's your dog."
I left off with a soft "He's cute" and left, heart crying with joy at that last remark.

Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was and my mind doesn't want to think that it is. Maybe Scotty could sense what I was thinking in that way dogs have. Or maybe, for a few minutes there, he was my dog.