“Would it be okay if Zelda comes and sniffs you? She loves people.”
I keep petting Zelda, waiting for some kind of permission from Juliette. Zelda yawns, and lays down.
It takes a long time before I get what I’m looking for. In a tiny voice, I hear Juliette say, “I love puppies.”
This is the confirmation I need to start the conversation we require. “Is it okay if Zelda and I come over to you?” Here is where I’m giving Juliette all the power in the world to say yes or no. We’ll work with her and try to reestablish how important it is that she has a voice. Juliette doesn’t say anything, but she gives us a small nod. I stand to my feet, and move closer to Juliette. When she flinches, I know I’ve come as close as she’s comfortable with. “Zelda, would you like to say hello to our new friend, Juliette?” Zelda wags her tail. I give Zelda a sign to tell her she can go over to Juliette.
Zelda lowers her head, and with a wagging tail, she slowly walks toward Juliette. I watch carefully, because once we had a young boy who freaked out and started screaming, and tried to punch Zeus in the head. But most children have a positive reaction to my dogs.
Juliette gives Zelda a small side glance, before I notice a glimpse of a smile on her face. Zelda licks her face. Juliette quickly hides her face in the blanket, then peeks from around it to see if Zelda is still there. Zelda licks her again. This time on the mouth. This earns us the tiniest of giggles. But it’s our way in.
“Amelia, you like dogs too, don’t you?”
“I love them so much. They’re amazing aren’t they, Molly? I love how no matter how sad you are, they’re always there to make you feel happy.”
“Do you know what Zelda does when she knows you’re sad?” I say to Amelia, but for Juliette’s benefit.
“What does she do?”
“Zelda tends to give kisses either on the lips, or in your ear. I’ve had her tongue in my ear many times when I’m sad.”
“You get sad too?” Juliette asks, her voice so tiny I nearly have to strain to hear her. This is a normal part of the process.
“I get sad sometimes. And when I’m sad, Zelda comes and nuzzles with me. Like she’s doing with you now. How about you, Juliette? Are you sad? Is that why Zelda is giving you kisses?” Juliette rolls her shoulders, and clutches her blanket tighter. She squeezes her eyes shut and tightens her lips. “You know, it’s okay if you’re sad, because we all get sad sometimes.”
She opens her eyes, and gives me the smallest of nods. “I get really sad when he touches me.”
“When who touches you, Juliette?” Amelia asks. This is her gateway, her opportunity to win Juliette’s trust and work with her. This is also my time to be here, let Zelda give her love to Juliette and help Amelia work.
I did my part. I brought in my service dog to help when a child feels like they have no one to trust.
You got this. Neve says.
Yeah, I do.
I smile to myself. It’s taken me a long time to be comfortable with myself and my alters.
But it took me no time at all to realize, we all have a role to play.
The End