Several times a month I meet with my friend Dina and write together. Here is one of my writings from our last time together.
Yesterday at the café, warm sunny morning, a couple sat outside by the front door, two big dogs on long leaches stood in front of the open door. Standing away from the front door, I said to the older man, I’m afraid of Dogs. He wanted to argue with me while his dogs continued to block my way, demanding some price from me, a pat on the head, a treat, a kick, something. His owner smiling. I said again, I’m afraid of dogs, could you move them so I can enter the café. He called his dogs to his chair and I walked in and the dogs moved back to his place blocking the door.
I am afraid of dogs and dogs seem to know this and push me, their owners think it’s cute that a grown up can be so silly, stupid. They say, Don’t you know this is a friendly dog, he wouldn’t hurt a flea. I want to say, did it have a lobotomy? But I stick to my pat phrase, I am afraid of dogs.. I’m not saying anything is wrong with dogs or dog lovers, I’m admitting my own defeat, my fear of dogs.
I personally believe it is reasonable to have this opinion, I have been chased and bitten by dogs, I’ve seen people mauled by dogs. I am wary of lots of things but it is only dog owners who feel they have a right to laugh at me. Oh this is getting painful to write about. I don’t like being mocked. I would like to like dogs.
I owned a family dog once who bit people, sweet loving dog and then he would lunge at a neighborhood kid, unpredictable and dangerous, sweet and loving, all together. Maybe I will get a t-shirt with the slogan I’m afraid of dogs so I no longer have to say it, I can just point and grunt. Maybe.