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Solomon liked to walk by the sea every evening. The seaside was his favorite place. It was long and wide, and it had a lovely view of the water. There were benches along the path, and Solomon often sat on one. He could hear the waves and smell the air. Sometimes he bought an ice cream from a small stall near the water. He always felt happy there. One evening, Solomon was walking slowly along the . The sun was going down, and the sky was orange and pink. There were not many people around. Solomon had his hands in his pockets. He was thinking about his day. Suddenly, he heard a small sound behind him. He turned around and looked down at the ground. A small brown dog was standing there. The dog was looking up at Solomon with big, round eyes. Solomon stopped walking. He looked at the dog carefully. The dog had no on its neck.
It looked thin and a little bit dirty. Solomon felt sorry for the dog. "Hello, little one," he said softly. "Where is your home?" The dog wagged its tail. It made a small, quiet sound. Solomon looked around, but he could not see any . There were a few people sitting on benches, but nobody was calling for a dog. Solomon sat down on a nearby bench. The dog came over and sat near his feet. Solomon did not touch the dog at first. He just talked to it . "Are you lost?" he asked. The dog wagged its tail again. Solomon smiled. He waited for a while, but still nobody came. It was getting dark now. The lights along the turned on one by one. Solomon stood up and started to walk home. He looked back, and the dog was him.
He stopped, and the dog stopped too. He walked, and the dog walked too. "You are me!" Solomon said. He did not know what to do. He was not sure about having a dog at home. But the dog looked at him with those big eyes, and Solomon felt his heart go soft. He kept walking. The dog stayed close to him all the way. When Solomon reached his door, he looked at the dog one more time. The dog sat down and waited quietly. Solomon opened the door. He went inside and came back with a small of water. He put it down for the dog. "Just for tonight," he said. But Solomon was already smiling. He looked at the dog and said, "Maybe I will call you Pip." The dog drank the water and wagged its tail. Solomon laughed softly. He had a feeling that Pip was going to stay.
a path or road next to the sea where people walk for pleasure
"Solomon walked along the promenade every evening and listened to the waves."
a band worn around an animal's neck, often with the owner's details on it
"The dog had no collar, so Solomon did not know who it belonged to."
to move something from side to side quickly, especially a tail
"The dog wagged its tail when Solomon spoke to it."
in a soft and kind way, without being rough or loud
"Solomon talked to the dog gently so it would not be afraid."
a person who has or keeps something, such as a pet
"Solomon looked around for the dog's owner, but he could not find anyone."
to go behind someone and move in the same direction
"The little dog began to follow Solomon all the way home."
a round, open container used for food or drink
"Solomon brought a bowl of water outside for the dog."
tasting or smelling of salt, like sea air
"Solomon loved the salty smell of the sea air on the promenade."
feel sorry for
to feel sad because someone else is in a difficult or unhappy situation
"Solomon felt sorry for the thin, dirty dog with no collar."
look around
to turn and look in different directions to find something or someone
"Solomon looked around, but he could not see the dog's owner anywhere."
at first
in the beginning, before something changes
"Solomon did not touch the dog at first because he was not sure it was safe."
a nearby bench
a seat that is close to where you are
"Solomon sat down on a nearby bench and waited to see if anyone came."
keep walking
to continue moving forward without stopping
"Solomon decided to keep walking, and the dog followed close behind."
go soft
to feel more kind or gentle, especially because of emotion
"When the dog looked up at him, Solomon felt his heart go soft."
just for tonight
only for this one evening, with the idea that things may change later
"Solomon put water out for the dog and said, "Just for tonight.""
all the way
for the whole distance from one place to another
"The dog stayed close to Solomon all the way from the promenade to his door."
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