rainy day

They say it's raining because there's a typhoon blowing down in Okinawa. This means that the PRE-rainy season rainy run has begun, whatever that means.

Walking from Waseda to Takadanobaba today, I saw this ratty little dog standing stock-still in the middle of the sidewalk. At first I just walked by, but then I realized that the dog a) had no leash and b) wasn't "waiting" in front of any store an owner would potentially be inside.

So I stopped and turned around. The poor, soaking little creature stood rooted to the spot, looking back and forth, searching the feet of everyone passing by. I swear the thing's face was as close as a dog's can get to an expression of worry. Still, it stood not moving one inch, as the crowds parted around it.

I watched it for five minutes or so, taking pictures (because I'm weird like that) or listening for the few comments of passers-by. I grew genuinely concerned for the poor animal and was wondering what to do when, just as I snapped this picture, the man in the suit made a very gruff noise (either at me or the dog), scooped up the pup, and trompsed away. I'm still not sure whether to be relieved or quite concerned.

The whole thing was really rather strange and surreal.