"So where exactly are we going?" you heard Lou as he followed you in the direction opposite of the nearby park to some buildings, specifically in the direction of a big gate which had a big forest that surrounded it and the other buildings, lining the street.
"Were going to the animal shelter!" you smiled back at him, opening a smaller door beside the big gate where cars and trucks presumably entered through.
"This animal shelter has a special programm where visitors can take one of the shelters adoptable dogs for a walk to the nearby park. The dogs learn to socialize with different dogs and humans and the visitors get to have fun with a sweet pup and sometimes get motivated to adopt a dog themselves, sometimes even the dog they took out for a walk!"
I explained the concept happily to him as we moved trough the property to one of the buildings inside it labeled "Dogs".
"They have a similar programm with cats where you can spend a certain amount with the cats there if you follow some basic rules and I think they're developing one for their smaller animals like bunnies and such but I'm not sure how they'll make that work."
You wondered out loud.
As you entered the house a blonde middle aged woman with her hair in a bun and leash in her hand poked her head out of a door to peer at the entrance you'd just come trough.
"Linda!" you called excitedly before you greeted eachother warmly.
"This is Louciano. He's a-" I turn quickly to peer at Lou behind me.
a friend of mine. We're here to take some dogs out."
"Match up as usual?"
you nodded and she left the room.
As you turn back to Lou you see his confused expression.
"Don't we have to go pick a dog ?"
"We can. But you don't know any dogs here so there's no point in having a preference. And anyway, I prefer the match up system, where they match with a compatible dog themselves. It sometimes has to do with temperament, like matching a dog with lots of energy with someone who wants to go for a jog or a small dog to someone who isn't that strong so they don't get dragged around.
I mostly do it so the dogs that haven't been picked for a while, get the chance to go out too. Since they may be taken to the nearby forest daily by workers and specific handlers that come here, it's not the same as playing with an exciting new person in the park and meeting new dogs. "
As I finish explaining Linda comes back with two leashed and a two small bags with things for the dogs like treats, plastic bags, and more.
"Take these and I'll bring out your dogs for today. " She smiled.
After some waiting Linda came out the door with two dogs on the previously carried leashes.
One was a young and attentive looking German Shepard which was apparently called Milo and a sweet and adorable golden retriever called Millie.
Linda explained that while Milo had been given up only a few months ago as a young pup because of time issues with his previous family, Millie had been rescued from a puppy mill, after being used to produce as many pups as possible, and had been here for almost two years because of her older age.
Before she could even say who was supposed to take who, Lou stepped forward and took Millies pink leash with redish eyes.
"Let's go Millie. "
You chuckled, knowing he probably thought he did something there, even though he was going to have to take Millie anyway since he was new here, but you still tought it was cute.
'What a softie...'
.
.
.
You walked with Milo along the parks bushes which he wanted to smell so badly while gripping his leash tightly.
While he had to be kept on leash since he was still too young and only barely listened to his usual handler, someone he hadn't had much contact with like you, woulndt be allowed to risk letting him off leash with no proper recall.
Millie on the other hand was happily trotting alongside Louciano, sniffing a little here and there. Like Linda explained, she had been at the shelter for a longer time and was used to listening to diffrent handlers besides, you had often walked her before, her age making her an unpopular pick for visitors who often came with kids.
Everytime you looked at her sweet face and docile demeanor, you wanted to cry your eyes out. You wished you could adopt her... but you knew you coulndt.
As you sat on a bench with Milo running around a feced green area for young and not totally trained dogs, you watched Lou play with Millie a distance away.
Lou had thrown a ball for Millie to catch, but when she did, she refused to give it back and started playing with Lou, trying to make him get the ball from her.
You felt your eyes burn a bit before you blinked quickly and continued appreciating the view.
You hadn't seen him so relaxed in.. well ever.
The stiffness he had while dancing his choreography was gone and he seemed like a completely new person.
You smiled and saw him look back to you and wave happily, forget his act.
.
.
.
"So... let's talk Lou. Why do you dance?" you asked as you came back with the drinks you had just ordered at the café in front of the parks entrance, sitting down on a nearby bench inside the park while Lou watched the dogs that were munching on their well deserved treat.
He looked at you stiffly and seemed apprehensive "I don't know.. I've just always done it. It's what im meant to do."he mumbled.
You looked at him and fixed your gaze on him.
"What to do you mean by that.?" You tried to dig deeper.
He sighed and took a sip of the coffee you offered him. It was awfully sweet, and full of caramel, but you had a feeling he'd like a sip, just one.
"Is this what you got me?" He asked with a raised brow.
You chuckled and shook your head streching out the matcha you'd been holding. Having a feeling he'd like it, even though you had no idea what he liked. Yet.
He seemed to approve and took a few sips.
You liked both, you'd been planning on letting him decide which one he wanted, but your guess had been correct so you took the coffee and sipped on it with an expectant look on your face directed at Lou.
He frowned but huffed and stood up, putting his matcha aside and making millie look up from her bone.
"Don't you see my body build? I'm fragile looking. " he stated agreesively before continuing with frustration.
"These legs werent made for running they are for jumping and doing pirouettes, and these arms, can only do basic lifts, they cant lift proper weights.
My complexion is pale, almost sickly and I'm not 'man enough' for many . It's like you said, "I'm purebred. Born and raised for this."
he finally sat down stubbornly.
You had never thought this way. Lou had always been a strong and lean looking guy. His skin was pretty and clear, not pale and sickly, sure he didn't get much light since he practiced often and had to wear sunscreen, but that's diffrent.
And you had seen the lifts he and the other boys had to do, they weren't easy at all.
But you guessed Lou grew up with a rather skinny build. It had probably been a big part of his life, since people treated him based on this and other reactors.
He has probably gotten used to the picture of his body he had grown up in, and couldn't see the differences now, he couldn't believe anyone would see him as anything else than the sickly, bony , fragile looking boy.
You took a deep breath but decided to only ask:
"Then why do you still dance?"
Lous eyes met yours, they were wide and you could see your own reflection in them, their blue tone was frosty and grayish, but they seemed so profound.
"I..." He shifted his gaze forward but had a distant looking in his eyes.
"I guess I never thought about it."
he seemed to be thinking hard.
"I felt trapped when I first started. It was just another thing my parents made me do, regardless of what I tought, but I didn't realize this one thing would remain throughout my whole life.
I guess I do it mostly because I'm good at it, if I fail at everything, I wanted ballet to be the exception. Sometimes I feel bad when I dance though. It's just me following my parents wishes again. I know they mean well but... I lose my sense of self."
"Do you like dancing?"
he froze,
then gulped.
"I-I do. I don't know why but .. at some point.. I started using it as an escape from reality. For a couple minutes, I can forget who I am, what I worry about, simply everthing. I can leave the role I play everyday behind, and dive into a new one. I can show who I am, as a dancer, as an artist, as a... person."
"Then show that side. The one who forgets everthing, the one who feels freest while dancing. Show them who you want to be, how you feel, who you truly are."
.
.
.
"Okay."
---~°~---
This one was... something !!!