Whenever the dog decides to stop on somebody’s front lawn in order to find a place to do her thing, I always get kind of embarrassed. As she squats there, I typically find myself hoping that the person who lives in the home doesn’t spot us.
Yesterday, Heidi chose to do her business in front of a house on Bolton Street. As I stood there hoping for things to resolve quickly, I happened to look in the front window of the home and saw an ancient Asian woman staring out at us. The room from which she was peering was completely dark, and she had a sour and disapproving look on her face. I imagined her eyeing us, and the entire world unfolding beyond her window, with hostility and resentment. Our gazes caught and as I wasn’t sure exactly what to do, I decided to just smile and wave. I expected the old woman to scowl and turn away, or perhaps wave her arms about in an attempt to shoo us away, but she broke into the biggest, happiest grin and began to wave right back—an unexpected treasure to carry home.