"I don't like space!"

Ok, interesting...

I'm standing in the doorway with my back propping the storm-door open when I hear what sounds like the voice of a young girl talking matter-of-factly to... to who? I'm not sure, but Ava seems as intrigued as I am. She's sitting patiently on the front steps with her head cocked to the side and both ears perked up. I've got her leash coiled loosely in my left hand.

And now we wait.

A man wearing a backwards hat and running garb is jogging by on the sidewalk with, I'm guessing, his daughter trailing behind on her bike. Feels best to give them some space before Ava and I set out.

As far as FOMO goes, Ava's is off the charts. She's a 5-year-old pittie/rhodesian ridgeback mix who wants to be wherever you are so she can lean her whole body into your legs. Or, you know, sit directly on your feet. She's a pretty big dog who thinks she's a very small dog, and she has the patience of a sports-crazed eight-year-old boy with ADHD. Yet, at the same time, her approach to affection sometimes resembles that of an indecisive cat.

"Wait—I thought... you... liked space??" dad says.

He doesn't stop jogging, though. And he didn't look back, either... But, after one very high-pitched giggle, I see his shoulders lean forward just a touch.

Yep, she's definitely still there lol.

"Ya I... I DO!" says the girl on the bike.

Dad starts talking about how she'll get to learn more about space at school, but he says it like he's reminding her. Ok, so maybe kindergarten or first grade?

They turn the corner, and Ava and I set out.

Now there's plenty of space.

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Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
359/365

If it means less stress for you, would you wait? What about for them?

onward. 

For more on this daily column and The MAP Year Project, read the backstory here. And if you know someone who'd appreciate this, pass it along.