AfterChari,Dimitriopehepaperbagandtookoutthestillwarmhamburger.HetoreoffhalfandofferedittoMaureenwhorefusedtheofferasifsaying“that’sforyou.”SoDimitrihappilybitek,chewedblissfullybeforeswallowingit,thinking“ImustthankheavenforsendingmesuchalovelylittledoggenerousenoughsharehisfoodwithmewhenIwasreallystarving.Yes,Imustthankheavenforthat.AfterseeingtoitthatMaureenwaswellfed,Dimitriputthepsticbowlbatothedogfoodbagandstuffeditintohiscoatpocket.Maureenwasanactivepuppytowhomtheworldwasanovendiingpce.Heranaroundonthegrassbythesideofthekeexplwhatevercaughthisfancy.Hebarkedatthesquirrelslookingforfoodontheground,sendingthemscramblingupthetreesinfright.Heharassedthewilddudgeeseuntiltheysquawkedandscreechedastheywaddledindignantlybatotheke.Tohimallthiswasamarvelousgame.ButthemomentDimitricalledout,“Maureen,ebackhere!”hewouldgobackatonce,jumpontoDimitri’spasiftosay,“Look,hereIam!Ihaven’twanderedfar.”Dimitriruffledthefuronhischubbybodyaffeatelysaying,“Goodboy!Goodboy!”Soon,somethingnewagaincaughthiseyeandhejumpeddownandracedexcitedlytowardsthegrass.
Dimitristoodup,stretchedhimselfandmassagedhisagbackbeforereingonthebenchtoletthewarmsundryhismoistclothing.Heclosedhiseyes,pulledhiscaplowerdownhisfadletthewarmsunbathehiswholebody,fullyenjoyingthefreesunshiwasavaibletoall.ItsuddenlycametoDimitrithathewasthemightyrulerofapowerfundmagnifitKingdomwithmanyloyalsubjects.Therewhateverhewishedforwouldmaterializeatoncebeforehim,beithundred-year-oldwiicdelicacies.Hehadma,gealentedbeautieswholovedhimandgatheredaroundhimcateringtohiseverywant,allofthemlivinghappilytogetheriifulpace.Wherewereallofthemnow?HethenrememberedthatthepacehadbeenburhebeautieshadallreturhemundaneworldandhisKingdomofDreamswasnomore.Hewasagainapoorhomelessperson,ablindmancursedbyfate.Lifeoreetsmeantbeingavictimofhunger,coldandillness.Infacttherewerelittleoflife’smisfortuneshehadhrough.LuckilyhecoulddodgerealityanytimehewantedbyesgtohisKingdomofDreams.“Butdoesdream?”heaskedhimself.“Idon’tthinkdreamsareallunreal,norisreallifepletelyrealeither.Bothofthemmaybeunrealorbothmaybereal.IfIwao,IcouldletmytwoloyalservantsCreativityandImaginationbuildanotherbeautifulworldforme.Butiherewouldalwaysbesuccessesandfailures.Ifwecouldhaveoureverywishfulfilledmerelybydesiringitandevengetheseasonsoftheyearatwillitwouldbelikelivinginamagicalrealm.Butinthelongrunevensuchaperfectlifewouldpalndbeeft.Reallifeisfullofsuccessesiwihfailureswithallkindsofvariables,whichiswhatmakesitiing.Otherwiselifewouldbetoodull.
Dimitri‘sfeetmovedsubsciouslyonthegrouedtoseeifhewouldbeluoughtofindahalfsmokedcigarettebuttaround.Inthisdayandage,whenmostpeoplehadgivenupsmoking,theprobabilityoffindingonewasslimindeedathathewasblindmadetheprobabilityevenslimmer.Butstillhestoopedandranhishandsroundtoseeifamiraclewouldhappen.Atall,muscurmanwalkedover,saying,“HeyDimitri,myoldfriend,whatareyoudoing?Tryingtofindacigarettebutt?Ihaveapackhere.Takeone.”Dimitri’sheartjumpedatthewords.“Iamhaviremelygoodlucktoday”hethought.“WhenIamhungryasmalldogesivesmeahamburger.Iwanttosmokeandanunknownoldfriendoffersmeacigarette.It’smyluckydaytoday.”Thetwoofthemsatdowheronthebench.ThetallguyofferedDimitriacigaretteandlititforhim.Maureen,yingnearbynoticedthattherewasastratingonthebenchtalkingtoDimitriandcameragback.HejumpedontoDimitri’spandbarkedatthestrangermakinglow,angrygutturalsoundsinhisthroat.Dimitritookthelittledogintohisarmsandsoothedhimbystrokinghisfurlovingly.“Goodboy.Goodboy.Don’tbenervous.Heisanoldfriendofmine.Don’tbeangry.”Dimitriwasbynaturekindandgenerous,sotohimeveryoneelsewasgoodandkiedtoo.Themanearedsosuddenlywasstrongandmuscurwiththefiercefaceofaruthlessmurderer.Whenhesmiled,heseemedguilelessandiwithatouchofslyness.Soitwashardtodetermiherhewasgoodorevil,hoordeceitful.Dimitrifeltthatthisman’svoicewassomewhatfamiliar,thathehadheardhimtalkbefore,buthecouldnotreallypcehim.
“HowdidyouknowmynamewasDimitri?”heaskedwhilehepuffedonhiscigarette.
“EventhoughIamhisareaIheardofyousoonafterIarrived.Inthisneighborhoodwhodoesn’tknowyourname?”repliedthemanughing.“Yourniameis‘brokenball’.Anyonekickyouaroundandyouwillnotbeangryorretaliate.Youarereallyagoodsport,butperhapsyouaretoogoodasport,myfriend.”
Dimitriwassilentforamomentmulliheman’swords.Hefelttherewassomethingwrongwithhisanswer.“Idisappearedintothinairstwinter,aroundChristmastime.Lookingattheclimatenow,itshouldbearoundJuneorJuly,soIhavebeefromthisregionforatleasthalfayear.Themanprofessestobehisareabuthasheardaboutmeandknowseverythingaboutmelikeanoldfriend.It’sstrangeaaddup.”ButDimitrididnotwanttothinkfurtheronthisdiscrepancy.
“Isthisy?Itlooksverywhyishesounfriendlytome?”
“No”repliedDimitri“He’snotmine.HowcouldIaffordsuexpe?Iamonlytakingtemporarilyforhisowner,”
“Istheowhetall,beautifulyoungdywhowastalkingtoyouamomentago?Theohepaleblueskirt?”
“Yes,hernameisCharina.She’stheonewhoaskedmetotakeaureenforawhile.”
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