The next morning, Charo woke up in the back alley.
He looked around, but nothing had changed.
It was still New York.
"ハァ～、ゆめじゃなかったんだ。"
He was really left alone, and this made him feel all the more tired.
Just then, something hit the ground right in front of Charo's
forelegs.
It was a bagel.
"Eat."
"おじさん。"
"What? You called me?"
"うん"
"Dread. My name is Dread."
"Dread. Thank you, Dread."
Charo jumped right to the bagel and munched.
He hadn't eaten anything for such a long time.
"And you?"
"ん？"
"What's your name?"
"えっと...Charo. I'm Charo."
"Charo, huh. Okay, Charo. You feel strong enough to walk now."
"Yes."
"Come on then."
"Where?"
"You've got to live by yourself, right?"
"Yes."
"Then there is a lot to learn. Come with me."
With this, Dread headed further into the alley.
Charo followed him.
He tried not to be left behind, wondering where they were going.
Soon, they came to the door of a restaurant kitchen.
As they approached, a woman came out.
"Dread! I almost thought you weren't coming. And hey, you've got company."
Rosa was the person who ran the restaurant.
She always brought leftovers and fed the stray dogs and cats.
She was quite beautiful, with her hair flowing gently down to her
shoulders.
Charo was struck by the charming way she looked.
Rosa took interested in the newcomer and stooped over him.
"So, you're still a little puppy. And look, there's a collar
around his neck.
Are you lost? What happened? Wait, I'll bring something special for you."
"She always does this, you know."
"She's kind."
"Humph. Not really."
"Why? Why do you say that?"
Rosa came back from the kitchen with a fairly large piece of
sausage in her hand.
She tossed it to Charo who dashed over and started to smell it
delightfully.
"You like it? I'm glad, baby. It's all yours. A nice-to-meet-you
gift."
She waved to him and she went back into the kitchen.
"Ciao!"
Charo was a bit surprised and sat in front of the sausage.
Dread was watching him from the corner of his eye, eating his
share of leftovers.
"What's the matter? You don't like sausage."
"I love them."
"Then, eat."
"Yes."
Charo brought his mouth to the sausage, but he couldn't see it well.
His eyes were filled with tears.
"Now what?"
"Sausage. Shota gave me a sausage, too. When we first met."
"Who's Shota?"
"My owner. I was just born. I thought I was dying. I was so hungry. Shota came and took me in. He fed me and saved my life."
"Humph. Is he a kid, too?"
"Eight. Eight years old."
"Humph."
"I want to see Shota. I miss him."
Suddenly Charo started to cry.
He couldn't hold back his tears anymore.
Dread seemed embarrassed.
He wasn't really good around sad crying puppies.
Charo kept on with it until finally he shed his last tear.
Still sniffing, he looked back at Dread.
"Feeling better?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"Then, eat."
But instead of eating, Charo looked at the sausage for a while, he then took in his mouth, hopped over and dropped it beside Dread.
"What?"
"Let's eat together."
Dread stared at the still half-crying puppy.
Yes, he was still a puppy.
But Dread sensed something strong and special about him.
He looked away and said,
"Thanks, but no thanks. It's yours, boy. Eat whenever you can whatever you can. That's rule number one in this city."
With that, Dread went back to his own plate.
At that moment, Charo realized something.
Being close to Dread made him feel safe.
Finally, Charo started to eat the sausage that Rosa had given him.
