Come Play With Me

The dog is large, and the girl is small. The pair looks harmless from a distance and even more so up close. The girl’s tattered dress is patched in places and ill-fitting but clean. Like someone dressed in their finest after a long period of poverty and unrest for a ceremony of some sort, or a party. The dog could be any breed or all of them, its features scream lovable mutt and its fur shines in a way that said someone’s loving hands took the time to ensure it looked its best, down to the polka dot bowtie about its neck. They are a handsome pair. The kind that draws eyes and smiles and lowers defenses. You’d look at them and remember the things that were right in the world. The things that made you feel good, made you feel young.

The girl is small enough that when you see her you wonder if it is ok for her to be alone, but the presence of the dog allays concern. It tells you that she is old enough to know, old enough for trust because the dog is too big for her to handle unless she’s had time and practice. When they walk nearer you hear her singing, and the sound of her voice is sweet and high, a happy child’s voice, the voice of someone who with time could be something special. It has a tone to it, a note that draws you in and pierces the dimmest most jaded parts of you. It’s the sound that makes the birds pause and then join in. They like it and complement it by singing along.

When she reaches the group of children standing by the playground she pauses, her dog stands just behind as if protecting or waiting for some signal not tugging on the leash she holds loosely in her hand.

“Do you want to play?” The tallest of the children in the playground says scratching absently at the sore on his arm, a thin line of pus leaks from it in reaction and the girl shrinks back a bit her smile beginning to fade. The other children have sores too. Some a few, some a lot. All of them stinking with rot. There are no sores on the girl.

“We’re going for a walk, I have to keep moving la dee dah dolly, walking my buddy.” The girl sings and the other children laugh, realizing she is younger than they thought and not smart enough for their games. The tall boy smirks and turns away, leaving her to walk on, the dog at her side sniffing the other children as they pass. Not them, he says, and she nods, skipping now to speed away. Past the long line of houses on the rubble-strewn road.

There are few houses without some damage, most are fading and crumbling where they stand. Who cares to fix them when the world is fading. La dee dah dolly, fading away. The girl sings softer, slowing her skipping to a soundless walk, the dog following, tongue out, panting in the heavy early evening air. It’s always hot now, and seldom humid. The air is full of scents and sounds, the sound and stench of decay. All things are breaking, what’s left for remaking. La dee dah dolly walking all day. The girl comes to a place blocked off from the road, a tall wall of cars and boxes barring entry to a cul-de-sac. She pauses by the barrier, humming softly. The dog starts his sniffing and gives a nod. She smiles and looks around for a way to enter. Singing and humming as the dog sniffs the ground. There’s a hole near the bottom too small for an adult, but just the right size for someone like her. Down on her knees, crawling now softly, her eyes looking around as she hums to herself.

When she gets through, the dog crawls in after and the two stand quietly while she wipes the dirt from her hands. Her pretty dress has a spot that she frowns to see, but the dog is still sniffing so she follows him on. I think we have found them, oh yes we have found them. La de dah dolly found them at last. The girl resumes singing and alternates humming and around her eyes watching leveling guns.

“This is no place for children, pray where is your mommy?” A voice asks her softly from behind his long gun.

“Hither and there, she’s watching me careful while I go out walking my buddy for fun.” The sound of releasing and footsteps receding do carefully greet her as the evening air hums.

“She looks clean.” One man says and more people come out to and stare at and turn her in the soft setting sun.

“Did you lose your people?” A child comes to greet her, and the dog begins sniffing, oh yes this is the one.

“No, I know where they are, not far now, not far la dee dah dolly, my searching is done.” The girl sings so softly, so sweetly and softly the people around her all lower their guns.

The dog resumes snuffing his nose pressed and blessing each person who pets him with soft puppy hugs. What is better than a dog, tail wagging with love as he greets each new human to find what he seeks. A second and third child, their skin clear and eyes mild come carefully out now to meet the pair.

“Play with me please, come dance with my doggy and sing with me la dee dah dolly ho there.”

“What’s this about?” says one man with a shout as the children start spinning and floating, fading into the air.

“It’s only to save them. The Earth has naught for them, oh la dee dah dolly so have not a care.” The girl’s voice sang sweetly with sad screams receding as she and her dog rescue three more from there.