-^-for posterity-^-

random stray dogs litter this place. one comes to a class of mine. she strolls in with the rest of the students quietly following one small girl. the girl is shy but speaks english well. she has honest eyes. the dog is large and black with a brown belly. it is fat and old. it is a woman and shows the scars of childbirth. she slinks around when i file through the rows looking at the student's work. she is afraid of me. she has met people and they have treated her badly. she doesn't like strangers. this dog also doesn't understand the flow of a classroom. when i have people come to the front of the class and present, the dog always diligently follows her master. she sits next to her watching everyone. she is wary of all but continues coming. she gets bored in teh one and a half hour class. i can empathize. she always finds a scrap piece of paper and places it between her dirty paws. she chews on it making ripping and chomping noises. by the end of class she has successfully created a small pile of wed confetti.

the bell rings and we all leave. she walks no less than a foot behind the small girl that rarely speaks. i always wonder who is protecting who. it doesn't seem like the dog follows out of fear. it seems to follow because it truly loves her.