AfterCharinaleft,Dimitriopenedthepaperbagandtookoutthestillwarmhamburger.HetoreoffhalfandofferedittoMaureenwhorefusedtheofferasifsaying“that’sforyou.”SoDimitrihappilybitoffalargechunk,chewedblissfullybeforeswallowingit,thinking“ImustthankheavenforsendingmesuchalovelylittledoggenerousenoughsharehisfoodwithmewhenIwasreallystarving.Yes,Imustthankheavenforthat.AfterseeingtoitthatMaureenwaswellfed,Dimitriputtheplasticbowlbackintothedogfoodbagandstuffeditintohiscoatpocket.Maureenwasanactivepuppytowhomtheworldwasanovelandinterestingplace.Heranaroundonthegrassbythesideofthelakeexploringwhatevercaughthisfancy.Hebarkedatthesquirrelslookingforfoodontheground,sendingthemscramblingupthetreesinfright.Heharassedthewildducksandgeeseuntiltheysquawkedandscreechedastheywaddledindignantlybackintothelake.Tohimallthiswasamarvelousgame.ButthemomentDimitricalledout,“Maureen,comebackhere!”hewouldgobackatonce,jumpontoDimitri’slapasiftosay,“Look,hereIam!Ihaven’twanderedfar.”Dimitriruffledthefuronhischubbybodyaffectionatelysaying,“Goodboy!Goodboy!”Soon,somethingnewagaincaughthiseyeandhejumpeddownandracedexcitedlytowardsthegrass.

        Dimitristoodup,stretchedhimselfandmassagedhisachingbackbeforerecliningonthebenchtoletthewarmsundryhismoistclothing.Heclosedhiseyes,pulledhiscaplowerdownhisfaceandletthewarmsunbathehiswholebody,fullyenjoyingthefreesunshinethatwasavailabletoall.ItsuddenlycametoDimitrithathewasthemightyrulerofapowerfulandmagnificentKingdomwithmanyloyalsubjects.Therewhateverhewishedforwouldmaterializeatoncebeforehim,beithundred-year-oldwineorexoticdelicacies.Hehadmanysweet,gentleandtalentedbeautieswholovedhimandgatheredaroundhimcateringtohiseverywant,allofthemlivinghappilytogetherinabeautifulpalace.Wherewereallofthemnow?Hethenrememberedthatthepalacehadbeenburned,thebeautieshadallreturnedtothemundaneworldandhisKingdomofDreamswasnomore.Hewasagainapoorhomelessperson,ablindmancursedbyfate.Lifeonthestreetsmeantbeingavictimofhunger,coldandillness.Infacttherewerelittleoflife’smisfortuneshehadnotbeenthrough.LuckilyhecoulddodgerealityanytimehewantedbyescapingtohisKingdomofDreams.“Butdoesdreamlandexist?”heaskedhimself.“Idon’tthinkdreamsareallunreal,norisreallifecompletelyrealeither.Bothofthemmaybeunrealorbothmaybereal.IfIwantedto,IcouldletmytwoloyalservantsCreativityandImaginationbuildanotherbeautifulworldforme.Butinlifetherewouldalwaysbesuccessesandfailures.Ifwecouldhaveoureverywishfulfilledmerelybydesiringitandevenchangetheseasonsoftheyearatwillitwouldbelikelivinginamagicalrealm.Butinthelongrunevensuchaperfectlifewouldpallandbecomeflat.Reallifeisfullofsuccessesintertwinedwithfailureswithallkindsofvariables,whichiswhatmakesitinteresting.Otherwiselifewouldbetoodull.

        Dimitri‘sfeetmovedsubconsciouslyontheground.Hewantedtoseeifhewouldbeluckyenoughtofindahalfsmokedcigarettebuttaround.Inthisdayandage,whenmostpeoplehadgivenupsmoking,theprobabilityoffindingonewasslimindeedandthefactthathewasblindmadetheprobabilityevenslimmer.Butstillhestoopedandranhishandsoverthegroundtoseeifamiraclewouldhappen.Atall,muscularmanwalkedover,saying,“HeyDimitri,myoldfriend,whatareyoudoing?Tryingtofindacigarettebutt?Ihaveapackhere.Takeone.”Dimitri’sheartjumpedatthewords.“Iamhavingextremelygoodlucktoday”hethought.“WhenIamhungryasmalldogcomesoverandgivesmeahamburger.Iwanttosmokeandanunknownoldfriendoffersmeacigarette.It’smyluckydaytoday.”Thetwoofthemsatdowntogetheronthebench.ThetallguyofferedDimitriacigaretteandlititforhim.Maureen,whowasplayingnearbynoticedthattherewasastrangersittingonthebenchtalkingtoDimitriandcameracingback.HejumpedontoDimitri’slapandbarkedatthestrangermakinglow,angrygutturalsoundsinhisthroat.Dimitritookthelittledogintohisarmsandsoothedhimbystrokinghisfurlovingly.“Goodboy.Goodboy.Don’tbenervous.Heisanoldfriendofmine.Don’tbeangry.”Dimitriwasbynaturekindandgenerous,sotohimeveryoneelsewasgoodandkind-heartedtoo.Themanwhoappearedsosuddenlywasstrongandmuscularwiththefiercefaceofaruthlessmurderer.Whenhesmiled,heseemedguilelessandinnocentwithatouchofslyness.Soitwashardtodeterminewhetherhewasgoodorevil,honestordeceitful.Dimitrifeltthatthisman’svoicewassomewhatfamiliar,thathehadheardhimtalkbefore,buthecouldnotreallyplacehim.

        “HowdidyouknowmynamewasDimitri?”heaskedwhilehepuffedonhiscigarette.

        “EventhoughIamnewinthisareaIheardofyousoonafterIarrived.Inthisneighborhoodwhodoesn’tknowyourname?”repliedthemanlaughing.“Yournicknameis‘brokenball’.Anyonecankickyouaroundandyouwillnotbeangryorretaliate.Youarereallyagoodsport,butperhapsyouaretoogoodasport,myfriend.”

        Dimitriwassilentforamomentmullingovertheman’swords.Hefelttherewassomethingwrongwithhisanswer.“Idisappearedintothinairlastwinter,aroundChristmastime.Lookingattheclimatenow,itshouldbearoundJuneorJuly,soIhavebeenabsentfromthisregionforatleasthalfayear.Themanprofessestobenewinthisareabuthasheardaboutmeandknowseverythingaboutmelikeanoldfriend.It’sstrangeanddoesn’taddup.”ButDimitrididnotwanttothinkfurtheronthisdiscrepancy.

        “Isthisyourdog?Itlooksverynicebutwhyishesounfriendlytome?”

        “No”repliedDimitri“He’snotmine.HowcouldIaffordsuchanexpensivepet?Iamonlytakingcareofhimtemporarilyforhisowner,”

        “Istheownerthetall,beautifulyoungladywhowastalkingtoyouamomentago?Theoneinthepaleblueskirt?”

        “Yes,hernameisCharina.She’stheonewhoaskedmetotakecareofMaureenforawhile.”

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