gtohaveeverythingsoldoutbytheendoftheday,becausetheydidnotwa-overswhichwouldbestalebytheday.DimitritreasuredthestandingofDream-maker’sBakeryasthefreshestaintheregionandwouldratherdolessbusinessiopreserveitsreputation.Asthedayworeonandbusinesssloweddownabit,Maryaookthedwentshoppingatwholesalemarketsforvarioussuppliesforthebakerywhichhadalmostbeeedbythergeordertheyhadjustfilled.Dimitriwasverypidfastidiousabouthischoiceofingredients.Hewouldnotusesedgradestuff,whichhesideredascheatinghisers.Soifsomethingwasnotavaible,hepreferrednottomakethatproductatall.Yokolookedarouore.MarkwastalkinganimatedlywithAmalia,wholovedhimlikeasowoofthemeachlivedinaworldofhisownandtheirversationwaswideoffthemarkasfarascoherencywased,buttheyseemedtobeenjoyingthemselvesimmensely.Notwantingtodisturbthem,YokowenttotheworkroomtochatwithLaverne.Marayingherguitar,practigtheplexanddifficultteiquesofcssicalmusithebackyard,Dimitriwaslyingonhisloungechair,outwardlycalmandunruffled,butactuallyhewasanxiouslywaitingforRichardandJamaztoeback.Hewaitedandwaited,buttherewasnowordfromhisfriends.Itwasalmostdark.Yokoclosedupshop.MaryandSheicamebackwiththeircarloadedwithsupplies,butstilltherewasnosignofRichardandJamaz.Markwenttothecartohelptakethenewpurchasestothesteroom.MegginnwasalsobadwasinthebackyardtalkingtoDimitri.Shesaid,

    “Tonightthereisargepartytoraisefundsforacharityfoundation.Thewho’swhointheBayAreawilllbethereandtheanizerswouldfeelsnubbedifrepresentativesofWorldBankwerenotpresent.YouknowhowIhatetotakepartinthesebustlingsocialfuns,soIaskedSamanthatogoasourrepresentative,whileIetojoinyouguysfordinner,whichismuchmoretomytaste.”

    10

    “Good.Good.ThereissomethiosultyouaboutandIneedyourinputandadviceastohowtogoaboutthisratherprecariousbusiness.”HethenproceededtotellheralboutRomi.Megginnwasengrossedinthought.Ablurrypictureseemedtobegintotakeshapeinherheart.

    AfterdinnerAmalia’sillurnedmoreseverethanever.Sheflewintoafitofhysteriaandwasquitebesideherself,lookingalloverthepceforherflyingbroom.ShehurledabusesagainstDorna,whomsheaccusedofstealingitandhidingitawayfromher.ThenshebeganlookingforDimitritogoahebroombackforherandpensateherforherloss.YokolookedmeaningfullyatMegginn,whouoodandquicklyhidDimitriieroom,knowingAmaliawouldcauseaneveerruckuswheholdofhimfacetoface.ThebeautiessurroundedAmalia,coaxiotakinghersedative,wheedliogoingupstairstoherroom.Theretheysoothed,coddledandwaitedoiltheyhadhersettledinherbed.EveheydidnotdaretoleaveheraloneincaseshegotitintoherheadtogofindDimitriandactupagain.TheyknewDimitriwasanxiousandworried,sotheywaosavehimanyunnecessarydisturbaheytoldAmaliastoriesandjokesandtriedtokeephermindoccupied.MeggidownstairsaDimitrioutofthesmallsteroom.Thetwoofthemsatsilentlyinthebackyard.

    “Somethingmayhappentonight”saidMegginn“soIdecidedtostayhereforthenightinsteadofgoingback.”

    “Butit’ssocrowdedhere!”

    “Itdoesn’tmatter.Themorethemerrieranditfeelscozyandintimatetobewithmysisteragain.”Dimitrinoddedanddidnotreply.

    “IfI’mnotmistakes”tinuedMeggin

gtohaveeverythingsoldoutbytheendoftheday,becausetheydidnotwa-overswhichwouldbestalebytheday.DimitritreasuredthestandingofDream-maker’sBakeryasthefreshestaintheregionandwouldratherdolessbusinessiopreserveitsreputation.Asthedayworeonandbusinesssloweddownabit,Maryaookthedwentshoppingatwholesalemarketsforvarioussuppliesforthebakerywhichhadalmostbeeedbythergeordertheyhadjustfilled.Dimitriwasverypidfastidiousabouthischoiceofingredients.Hewouldnotusesedgradestuff,whichhesideredascheatinghisers.Soifsomethingwasnotavaible,hepreferrednottomakethatproductatall.Yokolookedarouore.MarkwastalkinganimatedlywithAmalia,wholovedhimlikeasowoofthemeachlivedinaworldofhisownandtheirversationwaswideoffthemarkasfarascoherencywased,buttheyseemedtobeenjoyingthemselvesimmensely.Notwantingtodisturbthem,YokowenttotheworkroomtochatwithLaverne.Marayingherguitar,practigtheplexanddifficultteiquesofcssicalmusithebackyard,Dimitriwaslyingonhisloungechair,outwardlycalmandunruffled,butactuallyhewasanxiouslywaitingforRichardandJamaztoeback.Hewaitedandwaited,buttherewasnowordfromhisfriends.Itwasalmostdark.Yokoclosedupshop.MaryandSheicamebackwiththeircarloadedwithsupplies,butstilltherewasnosignofRichardandJamaz.Markwenttothecartohelptakethenewpurchasestothesteroom.MegginnwasalsobadwasinthebackyardtalkingtoDimitri.Shesaid,

    “Tonightthereisargepartytoraisefundsforacharityfoundation.Thewho’swhointheBayAreawilllbethereandtheanizerswouldfeelsnubbedifrepresentativesofWorldBankwerenotpresent.YouknowhowIhatetotakepartinthesebustlingsocialfuns,soIaskedSamanthatogoasourrepresentative,whileIetojoinyouguysfordinner,whichismuchmoretomytaste.”

    10

    “Good.Good.ThereissomethiosultyouaboutandIneedyourinputandadviceastohowtogoaboutthisratherprecariousbusiness.”HethenproceededtotellheralboutRomi.Megginnwasengrossedinthought.Ablurrypictureseemedtobegintotakeshapeinherheart.

    AfterdinnerAmalia’sillurnedmoreseverethanever.Sheflewintoafitofhysteriaandwasquitebesideherself,lookingalloverthepceforherflyingbroom.ShehurledabusesagainstDorna,whomsheaccusedofstealingitandhidingitawayfromher.ThenshebeganlookingforDimitritogoahebroombackforherandpensateherforherloss.YokolookedmeaningfullyatMegginn,whouoodandquicklyhidDimitriieroom,knowingAmaliawouldcauseaneveerruckuswheholdofhimfacetoface.ThebeautiessurroundedAmalia,coaxiotakinghersedative,wheedliogoingupstairstoherroom.Theretheysoothed,coddledandwaitedoiltheyhadhersettledinherbed.EveheydidnotdaretoleaveheraloneincaseshegotitintoherheadtogofindDimitriandactupagain.TheyknewDimitriwasanxiousandworried,sotheywaosavehimanyunnecessarydisturbaheytoldAmaliastoriesandjokesandtriedtokeephermindoccupied.MeggidownstairsaDimitrioutofthesmallsteroom.Thetwoofthemsatsilentlyinthebackyard.

    “Somethingmayhappentonight”saidMegginn“soIdecidedtostayhereforthenightinsteadofgoingback.”

    “Butit’ssocrowdedhere!”

    “Itdoesn’tmatter.Themorethemerrieranditfeelscozyandintimatetobewithmysisteragain.”Dimitrinoddedanddidnotreply.

    “IfI’mnotmistakes”tinuedMeggin