Soothing The Baby...
It was a quiet night at the trauma center. It's an observation that you make quietly, without saying a word out loud. Medical people will tell you, "Shhhh...it's bad luck to say 'it's quiet in the hospital...!'" So, we made our appointed rounds, like Santa, or the Postal Carrier; and wound around the holiday lights and tree installations towards the exit.
Around the exit was a family, visiting their loved one, who was still in hospital. There were 3 adults and 2 children...one was older, probably 6, and one was very young, just a baby and probably only 2, with a half-nibbled chocolate-chip cookie in his hand. His parka was unzipped, and was secured at his wrists by mighty elastic, while hanging off his shoulders in a kind of half-cape; his t-shirt was dusted with crumbs from the cookie, and his 'binky' was hanging from a blue ribbon fastened at his neck. His little face was covered with melted chocolate and cookie dough...mixed with a little runny nose, and with loose curly dark hair, he was the picture of happiness. Rin saw him (and his cookie) right away, and tossed his ears forward in an effort to triangulate how fast he could get to the cookie before he could be reprimanded
by me. Seriously, I could see him doing the calculations in his head... The baby eye-balled Rin, as if to say, "Ha! I got a cookie!!" So, Rin sat, as if to say, "See? I'm being polite and sociable...don't I deserve your cookie?" But the baby looked back at Rin...secure with his cookie and his coat slipping further down his back. So, Rin laid down...ready to spring to a stand for a cookie offer whenever it came. It didn't come. So, Rin stood and looked hard at the baby...he took two steps forward, wagging his tail, to increase any chance the baby might want to share the cookie. Finally, Rin couldn't resist nosing a bit closer to get the subtle scent of chocolate chip cookie...well, that did it...the dance between baby and dog were over. The baby's face screwed up and turned red...he knew Rin was coming for his cookie and he was NOT having it! Rin immediately looked up at me as if to say, "Ooops. I think I pushed my luck and upset the baby." So, he sat. Then, he laid down...then he laid on his side...and in a final attempt at complete submission and apology, Rin laid over on his back, with his full- furry belly exposed and all four paws folded in prayer that he'd be forgiven. In the dog world, this was a sure fire apology. But dog-speak and baby-speak are like Latin and Chinese...totally lost in translation! The baby kept wailing... Rin popped up and stood firm, wagging his tail. He took a step toward the baby, now in his fathers lap; and stuck his nose a few inches from the baby's face and stood there like that...as if to say to the baby..."Why you cryin'? I said I'm sorry..." The baby opened his eyes to take another breath for another scream and saw Rin's face inches from his. Suddenly, the baby blinked hard, and stared at Rin's face...the two of them were transfixed, staring at each other. The baby blinked again, semi-hypnotized by Rin's warm, dark eye's looking into his soul. A smile crept across his face, and his two front teeth appeared. Fat tears on his cheeks rolled away and the baby started to giggle... it was An Armistice...!! Rin wagged his tail and sat; "Mission Accomplished...!!", I could hear him saying in his head. The baby's father said out loud, "Would you look at that! The dog soothed the baby because he didn't want him to be sad and be crying anymore...! Wow! What a great dog!"
We said our goodbyes and made our way to the door, with the baby in hot pursuit. Seemed he wanted another hit of Rin... I get it, most people feel that way. How lucky am I...?
