dialysis

 Leave the path and stand aside to allow a young girl with a young dog to pass. She has the dog on a lead, and she and the animal stay to their side of the path. They are headed up the path, they have come all the way up the hill.

Walk on down the slope to the favourite park bench with the view over the freshly ploughed field. Sit down and relax. The young girl comes back and her dog is more curious now. She says hello, saw you on the way up. Chat about the dog, it is an Australian sheep dog, a popular breed, there have been a few others around. Mistake it for a collie, but it is so young and fluffy, almost anyone might have made the mistake.

Talk about one thing and the other. She explains that she is only fifteen and would rather not be addressed formally. German is like French in that respect, English only has the "you" form left. It is strange, but it is always important to maintain distance.

She goes to the same school as the son, and is a year younger than he is. She explains that she will be doing her final exams in two years, and will give up Spanish and Latin to concentrate on English. Ask her why she is so keen on English, she says that she can have dual citizenship, American and English. She was born in America and adopted, she differentiates between her old parents and her new parents.

She says that she must be getting on now, her father is waiting, he needs a dialysis treatment, she has to attend this at home.

Wish her luck with the dog, and that the training of the animal goes well. She goes on her way. Wait a while longer, there is no need to catch up on her, no need to be an elderly nuisance.

But she certainly has a load on her mind.