Strangers On the Walk

Consider the chance meeting of a man and a dog on the street. The man smiles and smacks his lips – a calming signal to the dog. The dog, head down, tail at half mast, wonders what this stranger wants. The man asks if he may pet the dog and the proud parent says sure, but a little hesitant. He pauses, the dog strains at the leash. The man squats and smiles and offers the back of this hand below the eyes of the dog. No threat, no sudden moves, just soft words and a quick glance at the undercarriage of the dog to determine the correct greeting. Good boy...nope, Good girl. The dog knows a dog lover and a possible friend. The owner stands straight and proud of his four legged child and the man sees himself in the eyes of the dog and knows that he, too, would like to be greeted like this on the street by a stranger, and clicked at, and lips would smack, and he would be as calm and loved as the beast.