Our house is in Urbanizacion Casalot, a brand new development in Miami Playa some three kilometers from the coastal road. When we first arrived here the whole place was abuzz with cheery tourists laughing and drinking until the wee small hours. People walked about with towels around their shoulders as they made their way to the swimming pools. You could sit on your front porch and listen to live music at the restaurant just down the road. It was one long holiday all summer long.
But, come the month of October, and the place becomes deserted. Even the German tourists disappear. From one day to the next, the 30th of September to the 1st of October, everything changes around here. There's a mass exodus. On the main road, shops and restaurants that were bustling in the summer close down for the winter. All that remains is an eerie silence as I ride my bike or go for a walk. I so look forward to the week-ends when the Spanish from Reus and Tarragona come back and spend Friday and Saturday nights in their holiday homes.
There is a visitor, however, who stops by every day. It's a large friendly dog who seems to be constantly pregnant. I've seen her many times meandering about with her pups. But then, the next time I see her she's alone. Before you know it she's pregnant again and then the cycle keeps on repeating itself. I feed her and give her water and pat her on the head before she plods off, sauntering away.
One cool autumn day I'm walking briskly when three dogs appear and follow me. I always find it best to ignore stray dogs for you never know how they will react. So, I continue walking, hoping that my uneasiness isn't sensed by them. They catch up with me and walk by my side. All the while I try to keep my eyes focused on the horizon as I hasten my pace. The largest of the three dogs begins to bark at me. I glance at it as it growls and snarls, showing its teeth. The other two dogs are watching closely as if to see what I'll do.
By now I'm scared. With all the tourists gone, there's nobody to help me. Although our one and only neighbour remains in the winter, he's visiting family in France just now. There's no way to communicate with anyone. I could get attacked, mauled even, and nobody would know.
Just then, a fourth dog turns up.
Guess what it does?
She whacks the dog barking and growling at me with her front paw, places her teeth on its neck and pushes it down to the ground. I'm astonished.
Guess who the dog is? It's the friendly one who visits each day! I'm thinking that the three dogs may have been from one of her many litters. She was chastising the one barking and growling for she recognized me as the one who feeds her and gives her water!
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