Girl with Dog

The first time I saw her she was standing downtown by the corner of Nordstrom, almost obscured by the throng of busy shoppers bustling in and out and along the sidewalk. I probably would not have noticed her except for the dog.

There are so many people standing on the street corners downtown, every one asking you for something at every corner, that I often, avert eyes, rush by, too. By the time I walk two or three blocks I really just want to hang a sign of my own that says “ No, I don't want to save the children, contribute to Greenpeace, give you my spare change or take your advertising coupon....please, please don't talk to me at all!”

But there she was. a small girl anywhere from age twelve to twenty in a brown oversize coat beside an enormous furry dog. She had the ubiquitous small cardboard sign asking for help, and she was reading a small book.

What I really wanted to do was ask her where she was from, and what she was doing, and how she ended up on the corner of 7th and Pine with her large, large dog. I wanted to ask her to explain her story in her quiet, polite voice. But I didn't, I just jumped out of the car, handed her the $5 I had in my wallet and said 'good luck with whatever you are doing' and ran back to the car.

I saw her again, a glimpse from the bus, as I passed by lower Queen Anne and then again a month later walking along the back-roads in Ballard. Where was she going? How did she travel around the city? Where did they stay? Who is she? Is she still ok?