Mario, the Dog, and Miles

It was young Mario’s suggestion that his mother’s method could also work for dogs. “A Montessori dog school, Mama. Can we get a puppy, Mama?” Maria shook her head. If she said yes, it would be a whole new venture; if she refused, that would be betraying her method. “Very well, Mario”. But you will be in charge of choosing the dog and educating it.” “Thank you,Mama! I love you! When can we go and find the right dog?” “The right dog. Dogs are like people. They’re not all the same. There are different races. Some more advanced than others. Some brighter than others.”

“Which should I choose, Mama? I’d like a big cuddly one. He will be my friend.”

“That’s not how it works, Mario. He will have to learn to obey you. There will always have to be the distance of respect, even when you play.“

The next day, Maria sent Mario off with the chauffeur to fetch a dog. He came back with a small black Labrador. „It’s a girl,“ he said. „I will call her Liquirizia.“ The puppy jumped up to lick Mario‘s face. 

„You have to teach her manners,“ Maria said, and then to the dog with a stern voice: „Get down!“ 

The dog was confused by what happened and so was Mario.

“I’m sorry, but they just smell kind of weird…”

“What does, Mario?” Maria said and stroked her son’s head.

“You’re online friends,” Mario said. Liquirizia feels it, too.”

“If they are online, how can you smell them?”

“Metaphorically, I mean.” Mario said. “There’s something wrong, and I don’t want to be part of it. Neither does Liquirizia.” Maria shook her head. She wanted to speak to another woman about this. Benito was of little use since he had ended up on the other side. Had Mario smelled his treachery? 

“He’s using you, Mama, to make himself look good, look more human. Were you using him too? To become more grounded in Italy?” 

Miles would have something to add. “It’s the seesaw effect”, Miles said. “We were on the black end because we feared the red one, but now it has turned, and the black end is rearing  an even uglier head. It’s online already. There are wars. There will be more. If Mario wants to take his dog and run away, where can he run to? Mars?”

“Anything is possible these days, Maria. What the mind can imagine can become true.” 

“It would then seem that a boy and his dog are more attuned to what’s happening? Interesting approach.”

“We should explore it,” said Miles, and pulled at the end of her plait, dislodging her boater.