Daybroke.Thefirstlightofdaygraduallybrightenedtheskiesdispersingtheblurryandindistinctpre-dawnbleakness.Afewcarsdrovepastswiftly.Dimitriwaspuzzledastowhythestreetslookedsodesertedandemptyasnormallytheywouldbecrowdedwithtrafficbythistime.ThenherealizeditwasSundayandmostpeoplewereinchurch,sothereweren’tasmanypeopleonthestreetsandalsofewercarsontheroad.Herememberedthatinhisreverie,heelevatedthepositionofmantothesamelevelasGodandthoughtthatwaspresumptuousself-glorificationonhispartandreallysacrilegious.“IhadbetterleavethequestionofrelationshipbetweenGodandmantophilosophersandwisermenthanItosolve.WhymakesuchadoaboutnothingandrackmybrainsoverthisinsolvableGordianknot?

        Justthen,theenticingaromaoffreshFrenchfriesandpastrywaftedoverfromtheshopsacrossthestreetandDimitri’sstomachgrowled.“Ihavereallyover-estimatedthepowerofman”hethought.“Takemeforinstance.IamsohungrybutthereisnothingIcandoaboutit.Ican’tevensolvetheproblemofmyemptystomach.Yes,I’dratherbeaninsignificantman.Well,IsupposeIhadbetterpluckmyselfupandrummagethroughthegarbagecansaroundheretoseeifIcanfindleft-overspeoplethrewawaysoIcanfillmystomach”saidDimitriwithahelpless,wryexpressiononhisface.Theimageofalargehamburgercameintohismind.“HowIwouldreallyenjoyitifIhadalargehamburgerlikethat”hethought.“Iwouldchewandsavoreverybitebeforeswallowingit.Thefeelingofafullstomachwouldbereallymarvelous!”

        Thesunrosehighinthesky.Itwasanotherlovelybrightsunnymorning.Carsandpedestriansincreased.Fromthefastfoodrestaurantacrossthestreetcamethebarkingofadog.Dimitricoulddeterminethatitwassmedium-sizedogofasmallerspecies,about15-20pounds.Itshouldbeacute-looking,likablepuppy.Dimitrimadefriendseasilywithallkindsofanimalsashisheartwasfulloflove.Normallyashabbily-dressedblindman,tappinghiswayaroundwithawhitecanewouldeasilyarousetheenmityofdogs,butnotDimitri.Somehow,eventhemostviciousdogscouldsensehisinnateloveandfriendliness.Animals’reactionismoresensitivethanwethink.Wheneverhesatonabench,wildpigeonsflyingoverheadwoulddropdowntothegroundaroundhiminashowoftrustandfriendliness,whetherhehadanythingtofeedthemornot.

        SoonacarstoppedintheshadeofatreenearDimitri.Assoonasthecardooropened,ablack,long-eareddogjumpedoutandmadestraightforDimitri.Itsfurwasbrightandshinyanditsbodyfatandwell-fed,evidentlysomeone’swell-lovedpet.ThedogjumpedupthebenchandclimbedontoDimitri’slap,itsshortstumpytailwaggingfuriouslyingreeting.Itlookedhappyandexcited.Dimitricaressedthedogandhelditinhisarms.Hefoundthedoghadapaperbaginhismouthwithasmallpaperboxinsideit.Somehowheknewitwasanextra-largesizehamburger.Thelovelylittledogbarkedandthepaperbagdroppedfromitsmouthtotheground.IthurriedlyjumpeddowntoretrieveitandonceagainjumpedupontothebenchandofferedhispaperbagtoDimitri.Hurryingfootstepswalkedover.“Maureen,youareabadboy!”scoldedafemalevoice.Evidentlythedog’smistresswashere.“Themomentthecarstoppedyouranoff.HaveyouforgotteneverythingItaughtyou?”Thefootstepssuddenlystopped.Whenthedog’sownersawherpetplayingwithahomelessmanshecalledoutinsurprise.“Dimitri!Isthatyou?Haven’tseenyouforalongtime.Wherehaveyoubeentorecently?Thepeopleintheneighborhoodareallthinkingofyou.”Dimitri’seyesbrightened.Inhismind’seye,heseemedtoseeatallandslenderwomaninaskybluesuit,withabroad-rimmedwhitesunhatandwhiteleatherwalkingshoes.Inrealitythewomanwasdressedexactlyashethoughtshewas.Herecognizedthemelancholyandsexyvoiceandanswered,“IsthatyouCharina?Haven’tseenyouforalongtime.Isthisdogyours?”

        “Yes,it’smine.It’saboydog,butbecauseheissonaughtyIgavehimafemalenameMaureen,hopinghewouldbedocileandfairasagirl.”

        “It’salovelydog.IrememberwhenIwasyoungIusedtohaveaplayfellowlikethat.Isheasmallblackcockspaniel?AmIright?”

        “Yes,you’reright.”

        “IthinkIcanbeagoodfriendofhis.Iamfriendswithalldogs.Bythe

        way,areyoustillsingle?”

        “Yes,I’mstillsingle.”

        “That’sstrange.”

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