My Little Girl
The sign on the sidewalk said: free stuff, with an arrow pointing to a stoop halfway down the block. She followed the sign. All kid stuff, she thought, a little disappointed. The black pair of shoes was almost new. She bent over to pick them up. Vella Pelle—real leather. She smiled at first; then she started to cry. If I had a daughter, I would have bought her shoes like these. Now it’s too late for all that.
With Me
I walk the streets of Brooklyn. I see beautiful brownstones, some have dark wood front doors, while others have small balconies on the second or third floor. There are small gardens and hibiscus trees in front. I think of you, my little Pekingese dog. I think of you and I see you from way up there in Doggie Heaven. How you must have enjoyed these walks with me. You would have appreciated the aristocratic elegance of these homes. We were soul mates. We still are. I miss you very much.
With Me
I walk the streets of Brooklyn. I see beautiful brownstones, some have dark wood front doors, while others have small balconies on the second or third floor. There are small gardens and hibiscus trees in front. I think of you, my little Pekingese dog. I think of you and I see you from way up there in Doggie Heaven. How you must have enjoyed these walks with me. You would have appreciated the aristocratic elegance of these homes. We were soul mates. We still are. I miss you very much.
Invention
A person was kind to me today. They offered me something that I needed at that precise moment. I was surprised, but grateful. I couldn’t believe it. It was enjoyable, but will it happen again? If it does, how many more times?
Irinka’s
The pastries were large, with a generous amount of yellow cheese in the center and 2 or 3 blond raisins for decoration. There was no sugar glazing the dough, no excuse to scratch it off. A young girl enters the bakery. Her eyes stare at the cheese Danish. “Give me 4. Four please.” The employee places the pastries inside a pink bakery box and the young girl pays. A 1970s Ford is waiting outside the bakery. Someone opens the door. “Home. I want to go home and eat at least one.” The girl behind the wheel shakes her head.
“No, you won’t. You’ll just pretend to eat it.”
“I’ll eat this pastry. I promise.”
The young girl looks at her ankles. “Hard as a rock.”
The girl behind the wheel sighs. “That’s because they’re swollen.” Her voice is low and sad.
“What do you expect? I’m skinny. The rest of my body is skinny. I like it that way.”
A Dog Died Today
They put him on the grey table, all stretched out. He was large. He was young, no more than 2 years old. Is this the dog, someone wearing a white smock and holding a needle asked. Yes, she said. This is him. A shame, the vet said. It is, but we have no more space here at the shelter. He has to go. Do you know if he ever belonged to anyone? The woman shook her head. Her eyes were moist. A good Samaritan found him and brought him here. He’s been with us over 3 months. You are a good dog, lad. It’s not your fault. The vet petted the dog’s head. He was in his late 20s. Here we go. I am so sorry. It won’t hurt.
Could Have
A woman with short grey/white hair. Her face was wrinkled, her eyes were brown. The pants she wore were a little baggy, making her look older. The T-shirt was white with decorations, a little worn. The driver, the bus driver, she told the stranger. He let me off at the wrong stop an I had to walk 10 blocks to get here.My life has been hard—my husband is no good. He always cheated on me and I got tired. I waited too long to get tired, but one day I told him I’d had it. He learned where the exit door was. My life, the rest of my life has been hard. A factory worker with extra hours, not all paid. My life has been hard. I repeat this to you so you’ll understand.
Haunt
The same feeling over and over again. I see a German Sheperd on the street—any street—and I stare. I imagine Rubio, my Rubio, as he was then, when he was alive. I see him in these other dogs, whether male or female. In my heart and soul, Rubio never died. He was never terribly ill, with no hope except that horrible injection.
2 Dogs
A large blond dog, possibly a Labrador Retriever, on a street in Buenos Aires. He rested himself on the sidewalk in submissive position. Take me, somebody please take me. I am tired of walking all around the city. It is such a large city and there are so many cars, so many people—some of the people are not kind to me. Women have come after me with a broom. Get out of here, you filthy stray, they shouted. My brown eyes looked up at them in amazement. No, please, don’t. Don’t you see? Don’t you get it? If I am here, breaking the garbage bag with my bare teeth, it’s only because I am so hungry! I lost my home and I can’t find my owner. Walking a lot does that to a dog—it makes him even more hungry.
A black medium-sized dog. He is not young and he is not old. The dog collapsed on the sidewalk in front of Retiro Station, the Grand Central of Buenos Aires. So exhausted! I give up! My doggie brain can’t remember how far I’ve walked. It must have been several hundred kilometers. I think I must have gone past all the neighborhoods I have looked for a home—for a new owner. Now will I die here on the street? Will someone nice take me in at last? If I could only care!
Know
I know it well. The strong, lean body. I know it when it holds me, when it shelters me after a hard day. I know the comfort I get when I see it, when I see him. It is more than priceless. The feeling of always being able to count on him is unmistakably tender and warm.
Nostalgia!
Oh, I feel such a wave of nostalgia, of longing for those days—the days when I could pay and see a dentist. There was the dentist, the friendly dentist, one block away, and the dentist around the corner. And I remember fondly the dentist about 12 blocks from my old home. I didn’t feel vulnerable and naked in the freezing weather then. I do so now.
