Extra: Starting from Zero

While Alex is walking Zero along with Peter, they take a short break on a park bench. Since Zero is happily chewing on a toy next to them, Peter also sits down, catching his breath after throwing the ball for Zero, running around on the big lawn. He suddenly thinks of something.

"Teacher Alex, why did you name him Zero?", he struggles, trying to get his complex thoughts across. "I mean, Emma owns a hamster and she named him 'Cake', because she likes cakes. And Leon says that behind their restaurant is an orange-striped stray cat always looking for food. He named it 'Tiger', since it looks like one. So why Zero? Do you like that number?"

Alex smiles, seeing Peter so genuinely curious. "Mmmh, I don't really care about the number zero. For me, that name has a different meaning. Do you want to know?", he teases, knowing exactly Peter is interested in everything related to the dog.

"Yes! Yes! Please tell me!" Peter's eyes sparkle excitedly. Then, as if he heard his mother's reprimanding voice in his head, he adds "teacher Alex."

Alex suppresses a chuckle and then suddenly turns serious.

"But you have to promise to keep it a secret, since what I am about to tell you is a very personal story."

Peter mirrors his teacher's serious expression, looking more adorable then earnest. "Yes, I solemnly swear."

Alex suppresses a smile. That 'I solemnly swear' was something, Emma picked up out of her favourite book and she passed it on to her friends.

"Good.", then he starts to tell the story, looking in the distant as he recalls the memory.

"It is related to how and when I found him. You know, I didn't buy Zero from a breeder neither did I get him from the shelter. He was tied to a tree in this very same park. That day, I was really sad and I cried on a bench near to his tree. At first, I didn't notice him. I guess he was still waiting for the owner who abandoned him. However, since I was very sad that day I cried for a long time. When the sun had already set, I guess he started to get nervous at not being picked up. He started whining. That was when I noticed him. His fur looked so dirty, like he was tied to that tree for the whole day. I gently approached him, squatting down just inside the range he could reach with the leash attached to him. He looked at me, but since I didn't resemble his owner, he didn't approach me. However, I had been crying alone on a park bench for an hour and I craved some understanding of a friend. And in need of something better, I started talking to the dirty dog. I recounted him my whole day, explained my worries and what happened. In the middle of the story I started crying again. That was when he finally approached me. He nudged me with his nuzzle, picking up my tears. I buried my head in his dirty fur and cried. And the mysterious part was, I really felt better and comforted afterwards. It was so different to the exhausting feeling I had after crying alone. That's when I decided to take him in. But afterwards I got in trouble with my parents and moved out. It was the first time I had to stand on my own two feet, but I had the dog beside me. That was when I decided on his name. Zero. Because I would start from Zero, from nothing and would try hard from there. For us both the day we met was a very sad day, but also a day of new beginnings. And that is what the name 'Zero' means to me. A new beginning."

Alex looks back at Peter, a rush of embarrassment washing trough him when he realizes he just told a four-year-old about himself crying on a park bench. But Peter surprised him. He stretches his little hand and pats on Alex' head, comforting him.

"That is a good thing. Like you taught me, all we need is that one friend."

Alex is embarrassed to admit that this four-year-old nearly brought him back to tears on a park bench yet again.