I've been strolling for an hour along the outskirts of this sad empty town. My stomach grumbled upon the smell of the hot sweet corn cob sold at the nearby park. I hadn't eaten breakfast.
I see a lot of people at the park. There are street sweepers, lovers, and children. I stare directly into their eyes and they signify a common thing. But I can’t seem to describe it immediately. All I know is that I know they weren't happy.
One little girl playing a ball with her brother caught my attention. I always see them here. I know they are happy. They are laughing. The boy tosses the ball into the air then the girl catches it. Sometimes, she runs after it when she misses a toss. Then suddenly, the ball came rolling from her. She had a hard time chasing it. So I run after the ball and luckily I made it stop by blocking it with my body before it can completely reach the street. I’m also afraid the girl might get hit by any passing vehicle.
I guess that was a great leap. But I wasn't hurt at all.
Then the little girl picked up the ball and went back to playing. I was still there on that spot where I made the ball stop. I look around to see what the others are doing.
To my surprise, the little girl suddenly came near to me. She smiled, and then chuckled. Her cheeks were turning red as she gradually patted my head. Then the boy took something from their picnic box and later joined us. He gave me a half-eaten sandwich. I heartily ate it. My hunger was then satisfied. I barked twice as a sign of thanking those kids.
“Good!” the boy said as he was touching my back too.
I thought I would be having playmates this time. But the kids have to leave soon since it’s already lunch time. Their mom might be waiting for them.
Then they left. And I was left there at that park where I usually stay during day time. I see different people come and go.
I remembered one time when I met *****. She was so cheerful. We were playing for a couple of hours and soon she needs to go.
The next day, I wake up to the loud voices coming from business people having conversation about investments and sales. I hardly understand a thing about their talk. But I know they were arguing about big amounts of money. I know about money. They are pieces of paper and small circular objects which strollers used to buy food in the park.
Since I have no idea what those two people are dealing with, I just hopped and landed to the ground and ran away from that bench which they were situated.
Why do people keep on arguing about big complex things? This is a question which I can’t seem to answer. I have been living a simple life. My daily routines have never been changed since the day I made this park my home.
As I was running away, I bumped into someone. He was a frail old man with a wooden cane in his left arm. Our slight collision almost made him trip and fall to the ground. But he kept his balance, probably because of that cane which aids him in walking. I too kept my balance. Then, the old man stooped to sit down on the humid grassy ground. I was just there in front of him.
“You, little one,” he whispered in a monotone.
I was feeling a little bit of excitement upon being with this man for some moments. He talked a lot about his son named Abe who was taken away from him by the government because he can’t afford to sustain his needs. His wife too met another man while working abroad.
An hour has passed. A little girl suddenly came running near to us. She was Ashley, as what the old man introduced to me. I thought I’d be having companions for today but Ashley only came to fetch the old man because she was looking for him since yesterday. And soon, they left.
It’s always like this. I get to meet someone or some other people but then after a short moment of having enjoyed their companies, they would then leave. I know they have their own homes and lives to attend to. And they wouldn't be wasting their time to some ordinary being like me.
I wished of leaving the park, move to some other place and maybe hope that someone would like me and bring me home. But I guess there would be no one. And I, would always be that same hopeful park dog.