"Hey," John calls, though he keeps his voice low. For a moment he doesn't move, strangely distracted, but then he's off after the dog, worried about the course its taking, certain a car is going to come out of nowhere.

He can see exactly where the dog is headed and that makes it worse somehow. If one of them doesn't get there in time, there could be real tragedy here today. He'll never outrun a dog, but that doesn't stop John from putting in an extra burst of speed.

"Hey!" he calls again, this time hoping to catch someone's attention, someone closer to the boy. "Grab that kid."

Before the dog runs into the street, he wants to add. Before the damn dog gets hit by a car.