She relied on students—those who were moved by her floppy ears or big eyes—to slip her a biscuit or a crust. Once in a while, someone would give her part of a sandwich. Slowly, she became part of the scenery: a quiet little creature curled up near the buzzing shop, too polite to beg.
Then, one late autumn afternoon, something changed. Pedro looked up from the sizzling griddle to see Lola—no longer just lounging nearby—standing in the queue with the rest of the students. She held a green leaf gently in her mouth, waiting behind a tall boy with a backpack.