Sometimes my son takes his cocker spaniel Al to the park. Disturbed by the bombing, Al disappeared one night. Al used to wander before the bombing too, but we always knew that we would find him near the fast-food stand. Now, however, the stands that used to be open all night long close at nightfall. So my son looked for Al in vain, strolling along Belgrade's blacked-out streets. Towards dawn, it struck him to go to the park. He found out that Al had been seen in the park, went away and then returned again. At last, the woman who had kept Al at her place for the entire night appeared. Al was given a rich meal, and his coat was well-brushed.

At this moment, however, I see one policeman and the people with their dogs engaged in a heated argument. They are showing him some papers. I do not know what problem it is that they are discussing. Quite recently, the Serbian government introduced a tax on dogs, but I recall that the tax was revoked when the war began. Maybe the cops want to see vaccination certificates, or perhaps it is forbidden to let the dogs run loose in the park.

Another policeman walks from park bench to park bench. The schools and faculties are closed, so there are many boys and girls in the park. Many of them are sitting on the backs of the benches with their feet on the seats. The policeman reproaches them. I hear him say: "We certainly do not sit in the park like that, do we? Have you learned this at home?"

The sirens sound the beginning of the daily air-raid danger. The buzzing of planes can be heard. Eyes look up to the sky. The policemen, however, continue on with their job. Dog owners call out to their pets and tie them up. Boys and girls quickly drop to the seats of the benches, like dominoes, before the policeman reaches them. Detonations are heard in the distance. Perfect order reigns again in this special park.

The park has been like this for a couple of years now. In winter, at the first snowfall, numerous workers arrive to clear its paths. In spring, incessant care for its flowers and lawns begins. The flower beds are arranged in the true French style.

At one time, this park was quite untidy. It was famous for the physical workers who gathered in it. Whoever needed to have a house built, or move from place to place, or to have a similar kind of job done knew that they could find workers in this park. There were workers from many parts of Serbia here, but most were Albanians. Now they are no longer here.