dog.

When I went out of our car it felt like a different world. The winding road was empty, and the ricefields in front of us rich. They spread all over the deep valley like civilization flourishing. Some parts brown mud, other parts fuzzy golden fields. And then some green spots, and all the bare-chested farmers.

I sat down on the side of the street. The driver told me he wanted to look for something to eat. It sounded impossible. He said, however, that he saw some foodstalls on our way to this spot. I dragged my bag out of the car. You did too. Then you said you would try to get the shot from a bit down in the valley. I tried to help you find a way down through the mud. You found it before I did, and went down with your tripod.

I went back across the street. What should I do what should I do now, I thought. I put my camera down on the ground and set it on time lapse. A motorcycle passed. Perfect. I sat back down and pulled my sketchbook out. And a pen too.

That is when that dog came walking by, limping. Very skinny. White with gray specks, dirty. He walked to me. Our eyes met. His recounted millions of undecipherable stories. He stopped and sat his butt down, his front feet erect. Right in front of me.

We stared. Then, realizing the obviousness of the pen in my grab, I started sketching him. He posed. And while doing that he looked at my eyes silently. He looked at my pen too, sometimes, but then calmly returned to my eyes.

I was almost finished when our car came back. The dog stood up on his four feet, and graciously walked away.

Perhaps this was how he collected those undecipherable stories in his eyes – encountering people like me on his way around the island, looking deep into their eyes? – establishing a firm handshake and downloading everything of my life from the center of my pupil? – sketching me while I was sketching him?

Our driver told me he couldn’t find anything. Well yeah, I said, it sounded impossible – but we should try and get lunch soon. Right about then, you came back and told me you’ve got all the necessary shots. Muddy tripod.

Done. We drove away.

That dog. His eyes. The way he looked at me.

He was just such a personality.