Animals: Part Two

 Following on from last night, today was proof that animals really do make the world a nicer place. 

I had two very different interactions with two very different beasties today. Both brought a lot of joy. 

The first one occurred on the way to the tram.

There is a building site across the road from me. I waked by. Behind the fence there was a strapping, grey Staffordshire terrier. I looked at her. She looked at me. I nodded at her. She nodded at me. I said hello to her. She wagged her tail. 

As I walked on the road around the site, she followed me. 

Her dad was busy digging a ditch, or whatever tradies do on building site. The dog kept following me. 

"I think your dog wants to say hello to me," I said to her dad. 

"That's about right."

"Would it be okay if I said hello to your dog?"

He looked over at the dog coming towards us. 

"I think she wants to say hello to you. She's very friendly. Her name's Zoe."

"Hello, Zoe."

Zoe came up to me, wagging her tail. She gave me a good sniff before sitting on my feet and demanding a pat. Staffies like to do this, the feet sitting thing. 

"I think she likes me."

"Yes, she does."

Once she got off my feet, I gave her one last pat, before saying goodbye to her dad and heading off to the tram. 

Made my morning. 

This is an AI representation of Zoe, complete with her pink collar.

The second interaction happened when I got home. 

Arriving home after work, on climbing up the stairs, I found my next-door neighbours on the landing. They're a lovely Taiwanese couple and they have a three-year-old daughter, Lily. She's a cutey. 

The two-minute chat was obviously too much for Lucifer, as he was yowling on the other side of the door. 

"Do you hear that, Lily? It's a pussycat. Should we have a look?" I unlocked the door. 

Please remember that Lucifer is and obstreperous beast. I love him dearly, but he's not great with other people. 

I opened the door. 

There was the full expectoration that he would run away back into the flat. 

But no, he walked up to me. 

Lily was besotted. A kitty cat! Her parents held her back. 

Then Lucifer saw her. The look on his face said everything. And remember, Lucifer has a particularly expressive face.

An AI representation of Lucifer looking pissed off. 

I don't think he's ever seen a child before - well not on my watch. 

The first thing I could see was the thought, "What the hell is that thing? Can I eat it?"

The second was, "Why are you talking to them, when you could be feeding me my dinner?"

The third thing that showed on his face was, "Where the hell have you been?"  I did explain to him that I needed to go to work so that I can buy him cat food. He was asked to look after the place when I was at work. 

He brings me hours of joy. The range of emotions that cross is little face is just glorious. 

Today's song: