I can feel the attraction

The dog’s owner usually lets children come and pet their dog when they take the dog out. The small and peaceful dog catches the children’s attention. The children know they are allowed to pet this dog. Also the dog recognizes the situation, approaches the children and willingly accepts the petting. The owner always rewards the dog for the performance with candies that they pull from their pocket.

In this assemblage, the dog, the dog’s owner, the children, and the dog’s candies gather together, perhaps even with the cuteness of the dog and the children. The dog and the children encounter each other while the dog’s owner makes it possible. The dog makes possible the encounter between the dog’s owner and the children. Perhaps it is the cuteness of the dog that attracts the children, and perhaps the children attract the dog’s owner. The dog probably fancies the candies, getting of which the children make possible. Perhaps the dog also likes to be petted. I can only speculate about what each of them likes.

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A child under the age of a year looks at me from the table next to mine in the restaurant. Lovely. I look back and smile, they smile back. I smile even more, whereupon they stretch out their hand and reach toward me. They respond to my smile with a smile. I can feel the attraction that invites into communication, as we both become accepted by each other.