Buddy slunk down the alley keeping to the shadows. Recent life had taught him that a low profile approach to most things was the best. Plus, he didn't want anyone to see him digging in the garbage cans for his supper. It was embarrassing. Sometimes a shop or restaurant owner would catch him and run him off as if the can suddenly contained something of value they felt the need to protect. One man even threw a perfectly good loaf of bread at him in anger. Buddy wasn't very smart, but in that instance, he was certainly smarter than the ignorant cook that threw supper at him.
This alley was the same as most of the others. Small, narrow and littered with broken bottles and trash. It was dark, dirty and had the smell of urine that could never be washed away. It was an ugly odor. It was found somewhere between rotting and death. Even after a hard rain, a rain that could last for days it was there, just underneath the other smells. Like a calling card for the cities homeless and less fortunate. It never occurred to him that he smelled of the alley. That he smelled like urine. He had seen from time to time a person wrinkle his nose when he was forced to walk by them. He thought it was his appearance they were disgusted with. Not that it was any better than the odor he carried like an overcoat. His hair was matted and stuck to his head on one side as an obvious result of sleeping in something brown and sticky. His eyes had the watery look that the homeless often get. Whether it was the poor health, or the loneliness one could only guess. And the rest of him was filthy as well. It had been a long time since he had a bath. The only thing that ever seemed to get clean was his feet from having to walk through puddles after it rained. He had hated bathing when he was growing up. And as an adult had learned that it was just something you did to remain socially acceptable. But he would have welcomed a bath right now. And then maybe a good meal and a warm, safe place to lay his tired head.
It was not always like this for him. Like many of the others, he had once had a nice home, a family and a good life. He could remember lying on the couch, the radio playing softly in the background as his beloved Jenny absentmindedly stroked his face. She was good to him. She loved to go for long walks, talking all the way about this and that. Hiking was the best. Whether it was a long hike in the forest, or a wonderful run down a beach, they had both found joy in nature, in being outside, and having each other to love. He never realized how lucky he was until she was gone.
The woman startled him out of his dream. Normally someone would never have gotten that close to him without his realizing it, even if he had been sleeping soundly. She was different from the rest, looking at him with pity instead of loathing. Her voice was warm and inviting as she spoke. Most people seemed afraid of him. Or at least they were disgusted enough to not get close. But here she was, no more than 3 feet from his face, unafraid, talking to him.
"Don't be afraid" she said. "I'm not going to hurt you, I want to help" She even extended her hand towards him in a gesture of friendship. Buddy suppressed the urge to run, and then did the exact opposite. He licked her fingers. "Good Doggy" she said.