With her hand in Graddad’s to steady her walk, the baby toddled down the sidewalk. Days of winter bleakness had kept them inside, but when the sun broke the clouds, the two year old ventured forth.
Dressed in cheery yellow, she was as bright as the day itself. As the warm rays shown down on her, her baby fine hair glistened in the light. She smiled often.
The two walked slowly along in front of the house. Up and down they traveled, stopping often for her to poke a finger in each crack and study every rock.
They hadn’t been out too long before they met up with a gentleman out walking his puppy. Everyone stopped. The two men shook hands and exchanged greetings. And babe and pup stared eye to eye. The toddler looked up at the stranger and grinned when he spoke to her. Grandpa was proud; there. Was no denying the smile on his lips, the look in his eye.
The men talked for a while, but Granddad kept a close watch on his young charge. Standing ever so close to his leg, she watched warily as the puppy sniffed her white high top shoes. She wrapped her arm around Granddad’s leg.
She looked up at the two men and back down at the puppy bouncing friskily in front of her, unrestrained by leash in his exuberance. She hesitantly reached out to touch, but he wouldn’t be still. She wanted to touch, yet…time after time, she reached out, pulled back, wanting, fearing.
Finally, Granddad stooped down to her level and encompassed her in his arms. It was all the extra security she needed With both arms outstretched, she touched the pup’s soft brown fur. And as if one act prompted another, the puppy licked her face. She giggled and petted some more.
It was a simple scene- Granddad, child and dog; but there’s nothing simple about what had happened. At the moment, one generation provided the perfect support for his progeny and she responded by conquering a real fear and reaching out to learn.
Learning is never simple - the child must still learn not to pet all dogs, not to tease or taunt dogs she does pet, the list is endless. Yet, this simple act added to the foundation necessary for the complex task of learning.
1978
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