Aldus has a little bit of a cult following among the kids in our neighborhood, most of whom are girls. I don't know if it's because he's the youngest of the kids who's old enough to play, or because it's a novelty that we speak English, or if it's just because he's so darn cute. (It started with them all wanting to play with Maui because he obeyed commands in English and with hand signals.)
Regardless, not only do they ring the doorbell nearly every day to ask of Aldus can come out and play, they've also taken to playing in the circular driveway in front of our house just to let us know they're out there ready and waiting. I finally understand the exasperated parents of teenage boys who complain about all the phone calls from admiring girls.

I really shouldn't complain about it, as they keep him occupied, help him (us?) to burn off his energy, and a couple of the girls are old enough to watch him for an hour or two without our supervision.

But it also means that leaving the playground always takes longer than it ought to as they all line up to give Aldus goodbye kisses, hugs, waves, elbow bonks and fist bumps.