edtherewithhergrandmother,wentonvacationonedayaherpets,twobeautifulgoldfish,withDimitri.Hefedthemeverydaybutdidnotkogethewater,sotheydiedduetockofoxygen.Whenshecameback,shesawhertwobeautifulgoldfishfloatingier.Theyhaddied,butnotbeingabletosee,Dimitrikeptonfeedingthemeveryday.Turningtheer,hecametotheapartmentofMrs.Washington,whohadastrokeandalsosufferedinsomnia.Sheliesawakeatnightandsleepsduringtheday.Iernoonshecouldoftenbeheardlogherdettingreadyforbed.Atduskshealwaysdrewhercurtainsasifshewasafraidthefierysuhitsvividrayswoulddisturbherdreams.Carsspedby,noisypedestrianspassedunderherwindow,butamidthesechaotidsofabusydowntownarea,shesleptlikeababy.

    1

    Dimitricametothelobby,whichthe1989earthquakehadbadlydamaged.Afteryearsofrestoration,ithadbeenpletelyrenovatedahturystylefurnitureanddecor,withitsgradrefi,addedanairofgraothepce.DimitritookhisseatbeforetheFrendows.Thoughhecouldnotsee,hepicturedtohimselfthemagnifit,multi-coloredcloudsthatmustbectheskies.Hethought,“Normallyatthistime,Iwouldbewalkingleisurelyaroundtheke.Nowmyphysicalbodyinincarceratedinthistinystudio,butmysealheartotbeimprisohepastyearsofwanderingwillwaystugatmymemory.”Thesoundofeidpurposefulfootstepswalkingtowardshiminterruptedhisdaydreams.Awarmhandpattedhimontheshoulderandsaid,“Hi!Mr.DimitriJa?”Thoughhecouldnotsee,Dimitri’sworldseemedtolightupasifabrilliantsunshoneonhim.Inthebrightness,heseemedtoseeabeautifulyoungwomanwithamassofblondehairtalkingtohim.

    “IamMary,thesocialworkerhere.Youareourresident.Ineedyoutofilloutacardaboutwhomtotaergency.Couldyouetomyoffiorr?”

    “Ofcourse,”Dimitrireplied.Marysaidgoodbyeandhecouldhearherfootstepsgoingtowardstheentrance.Dimitri’simaginationwasreallyuny,forhejureduptheexactportraitofMary,thegolden-hairedyoungwoman,whowaseventhengoingthroughthedoorsoftheseniorcitizenfacility.

    Mary’sspiritsalwaysrosewhefortheday,feelingasupliftedasabirdfreedfromitscage.Buttoday,sheseemedmoody,ruminatingosthathappehatdayasshewalked.Herdarkgreywalkingshoesweredeeplycreasedandcoveredwithalightcoatofdust.Astheywereherfavoritepairwhichsheworetoworkeveryday,theleatherseemedloosewithstantwear,butwasextremelyfortable.Leavingtheseniorcitizenfacility,Maryturheleft,crossedAliceStreetandmadeforDimitri’sBakerybytheke.Thepairofgreywalkingshoessustaiheweightoftheirmistressasshewalkedonthesidewalkuhefierysu.Havingworkedalongsidetheirmistressallday,theywereastiredasshewas,butliketwosmallboatslinedonebehiher,theycarriedheronherhome-boundvoyage,lookingforwardtorestingagainintheirpier.Theyhadbeenwhardforalongtimeandwereverytired,buttheykhatthemomehome,theirownerwouldhastilydiscardthenattheirrestihestepoutsidethedoor,theirhaven.Whennightfelndthemooheywouldlietherequietlyinthedisorderlyfashiontheyweredocked,uhegentlemoonlight.Afteranight’srest,theirownerwouldputthemonagainandtakethemoowork.

    Marythoughtofhowshewascalledintothemanager,Mrs.Ge’sprivateofficethatmassoonasshearrivedforwork.Twowell-dressedaableyoungmeherewaitingforher.Mrs.Geintroducedthemasagentsfromd

edtherewithhergrandmother,wentonvacationonedayaherpets,twobeautifulgoldfish,withDimitri.Hefedthemeverydaybutdidnotkogethewater,sotheydiedduetockofoxygen.Whenshecameback,shesawhertwobeautifulgoldfishfloatingier.Theyhaddied,butnotbeingabletosee,Dimitrikeptonfeedingthemeveryday.Turningtheer,hecametotheapartmentofMrs.Washington,whohadastrokeandalsosufferedinsomnia.Sheliesawakeatnightandsleepsduringtheday.Iernoonshecouldoftenbeheardlogherdettingreadyforbed.Atduskshealwaysdrewhercurtainsasifshewasafraidthefierysuhitsvividrayswoulddisturbherdreams.Carsspedby,noisypedestrianspassedunderherwindow,butamidthesechaotidsofabusydowntownarea,shesleptlikeababy.

    1

    Dimitricametothelobby,whichthe1989earthquakehadbadlydamaged.Afteryearsofrestoration,ithadbeenpletelyrenovatedahturystylefurnitureanddecor,withitsgradrefi,addedanairofgraothepce.DimitritookhisseatbeforetheFrendows.Thoughhecouldnotsee,hepicturedtohimselfthemagnifit,multi-coloredcloudsthatmustbectheskies.Hethought,“Normallyatthistime,Iwouldbewalkingleisurelyaroundtheke.Nowmyphysicalbodyinincarceratedinthistinystudio,butmysealheartotbeimprisohepastyearsofwanderingwillwaystugatmymemory.”Thesoundofeidpurposefulfootstepswalkingtowardshiminterruptedhisdaydreams.Awarmhandpattedhimontheshoulderandsaid,“Hi!Mr.DimitriJa?”Thoughhecouldnotsee,Dimitri’sworldseemedtolightupasifabrilliantsunshoneonhim.Inthebrightness,heseemedtoseeabeautifulyoungwomanwithamassofblondehairtalkingtohim.

    “IamMary,thesocialworkerhere.Youareourresident.Ineedyoutofilloutacardaboutwhomtotaergency.Couldyouetomyoffiorr?”

    “Ofcourse,”Dimitrireplied.Marysaidgoodbyeandhecouldhearherfootstepsgoingtowardstheentrance.Dimitri’simaginationwasreallyuny,forhejureduptheexactportraitofMary,thegolden-hairedyoungwoman,whowaseventhengoingthroughthedoorsoftheseniorcitizenfacility.

    Mary’sspiritsalwaysrosewhefortheday,feelingasupliftedasabirdfreedfromitscage.Buttoday,sheseemedmoody,ruminatingosthathappehatdayasshewalked.Herdarkgreywalkingshoesweredeeplycreasedandcoveredwithalightcoatofdust.Astheywereherfavoritepairwhichsheworetoworkeveryday,theleatherseemedloosewithstantwear,butwasextremelyfortable.Leavingtheseniorcitizenfacility,Maryturheleft,crossedAliceStreetandmadeforDimitri’sBakerybytheke.Thepairofgreywalkingshoessustaiheweightoftheirmistressasshewalkedonthesidewalkuhefierysu.Havingworkedalongsidetheirmistressallday,theywereastiredasshewas,butliketwosmallboatslinedonebehiher,theycarriedheronherhome-boundvoyage,lookingforwardtorestingagainintheirpier.Theyhadbeenwhardforalongtimeandwereverytired,buttheykhatthemomehome,theirownerwouldhastilydiscardthenattheirrestihestepoutsidethedoor,theirhaven.Whennightfelndthemooheywouldlietherequietlyinthedisorderlyfashiontheyweredocked,uhegentlemoonlight.Afteranight’srest,theirownerwouldputthemonagainandtakethemoowork.

    Marythoughtofhowshewascalledintothemanager,Mrs.Ge’sprivateofficethatmassoonasshearrivedforwork.Twowell-dressedaableyoungmeherewaitingforher.Mrs.Geintroducedthemasagentsfromd