She approached as I rested on the bench
her attention drawn to him,
who at first scurried under the bench
fearful but  slowly allowed her to pat
his white furry head.

She stayed for over 20 minutes sharing
her loneliness for her pets, her people,
ethnic food from her home- India.
A graduate student living in dorms
close by to this gorgeous Arboretum,
studying Social Work with her husband,  
who  was sleeping after working
a night shift on break from classes.

This chance meeting would never
occurred without Percy,
the ambassador of love and affection.