eoverthebakery,responsibleforlossesaswellgains.Heandhiswifeleftoendedworldtour.Sonowthisisourveryownsmallbusinessventure.”

    “Verygood.Thisisagreatceforthetwoofyouandarareopportunity!”Sheigotoutapailofraiseddoughfromthesteamingroomandcarrieditboriouslyontotheworktablewhereshepoureditout.Dimitritoreoffalittlepieceofdough,pulledatittotestitsesticityandthens.“Toomuchyeastandit’snotfullyraisedyet.”hecluded.“Thisbatchwillopar.”

    “’tbehelped.It’sonlymealonehereandI’tdoeverything.Hey,Dimitri,youarequiteathis!”

    “WhenIwasveryyoung,Iseemtohaveworkedasanapprentiabakery”repliedDimitri,lookingattheceiling,lostinthereverieofmistybygoneyears.“ButI’tremembermuchaboutitnow.”

    Sheiwalkedquicklytotheoveheovendoorandtookoutthebakingpan.Shequicklyturaroundandputitbaagain.Herelbowactallytouchedthesideofthebakingpanandshecriedoutinpain.Sheclosedtheovendoor,walkedquicklytothedrawerbythetableandtookoutabottleofburnmedication.

    “pened?Didyouburnyourself?”askedDimitri.“Thisworkismuchtooheavyforayounggirlone.”

    5

    “It’sOK.Justaslightburn.”repliedSheitratingonputtingmedicationonherelbow.Shewaswearingapairofgreenshorts,fullyexposinghershapelywhitelegs.Itwashardtoimagithesesamelegswereoncealwayscealedunderdirtyoldjeansbecausetheyweretooabnormandgrotesquetobeseenbyothers.Nowtheywerewellproportioned,exquisitelyshapedatractive.Shewenton,

    “Normallyit’snottoobadbecauseMarkisheretohelp.ButretlyheaskedforaleaveofabsendIjust’thaheworkalone.Wouldyoubewillingtohelpout,Dimitri?Iwouldreallyappreciateit.”

    “Mark?Ishethattallfatboywithahearingaid,whoisalsomentallyretarded?”

    “Yes.Yes.That’shim.Thoughheishardofhearingandhasaproblemwithhisspeech,heisverystrongandagoodhelper.Heotworkonhisownbutheobeysorders.Amalialikeshimandsaysheislikeherownsooldustobegoodtohim.”

    “Thenwhyisheaskingforleave?”

    “Hesaidhewasgettingmarriedtohissister!Idon’treallyknowwhatheistalkingabout.”Dimitriwassecretlyoverjoyed.Mark’ssisterwouldbethatquiet,gentleandstoicgirlLaverhoughbrotherandsisteriheywereactuallynotbloodretions,soofcoursetheycouldgetmarried

    “Let’shopeit’sher”Dimitrimutteredtohimself.Justthen,Amaliacameinsmilingteofonionandcheeseshandacupofcoffee.

    “e.e.Eatfirstandfillyourstomach.Sheiisright,whydon’tyoueandhelpout?There’sonlyShei,Mary,Yokoandmehereandtherearestillsomeemptyroomupstairs.Weweleyoutoeandstay.Ifyoumoveinhere,youwillhaveastablepcetosleepandwon’thavetogowanderingoutthereinthecoldlookingforshelter.Weallwetherandlivetogetherlikeafamily.Businesswillsoflourish.Won’tthatbegood?”Dimitrithoughtforamoment.Shei,MaryandYokowerehereandwiththethreeofthemtakingalia,hecouldresteasy.TherewasalsonewsofLaverobeverified,sowhynotstayheretemporarily?

    “Sure.”heanswered.“Thatwillbegood.Butthereisjustohing.ThoughIamblind,mynaturehasnotged.It’shardformetostayput.Istillliketoroamaroundtheworld.IfonedayIgettheitch,itishardformetotrolmytwofeet.”Amaliaughed.

    “Youmustdoasyouwish.Therearensattached.Youarealotlikemeinthisrespect!”

    5

    Days,liket

eoverthebakery,responsibleforlossesaswellgains.Heandhiswifeleftoendedworldtour.Sonowthisisourveryownsmallbusinessventure.”

    “Verygood.Thisisagreatceforthetwoofyouandarareopportunity!”Sheigotoutapailofraiseddoughfromthesteamingroomandcarrieditboriouslyontotheworktablewhereshepoureditout.Dimitritoreoffalittlepieceofdough,pulledatittotestitsesticityandthens.“Toomuchyeastandit’snotfullyraisedyet.”hecluded.“Thisbatchwillopar.”

    “’tbehelped.It’sonlymealonehereandI’tdoeverything.Hey,Dimitri,youarequiteathis!”

    “WhenIwasveryyoung,Iseemtohaveworkedasanapprentiabakery”repliedDimitri,lookingattheceiling,lostinthereverieofmistybygoneyears.“ButI’tremembermuchaboutitnow.”

    Sheiwalkedquicklytotheoveheovendoorandtookoutthebakingpan.Shequicklyturaroundandputitbaagain.Herelbowactallytouchedthesideofthebakingpanandshecriedoutinpain.Sheclosedtheovendoor,walkedquicklytothedrawerbythetableandtookoutabottleofburnmedication.

    “pened?Didyouburnyourself?”askedDimitri.“Thisworkismuchtooheavyforayounggirlone.”

    5

    “It’sOK.Justaslightburn.”repliedSheitratingonputtingmedicationonherelbow.Shewaswearingapairofgreenshorts,fullyexposinghershapelywhitelegs.Itwashardtoimagithesesamelegswereoncealwayscealedunderdirtyoldjeansbecausetheyweretooabnormandgrotesquetobeseenbyothers.Nowtheywerewellproportioned,exquisitelyshapedatractive.Shewenton,

    “Normallyit’snottoobadbecauseMarkisheretohelp.ButretlyheaskedforaleaveofabsendIjust’thaheworkalone.Wouldyoubewillingtohelpout,Dimitri?Iwouldreallyappreciateit.”

    “Mark?Ishethattallfatboywithahearingaid,whoisalsomentallyretarded?”

    “Yes.Yes.That’shim.Thoughheishardofhearingandhasaproblemwithhisspeech,heisverystrongandagoodhelper.Heotworkonhisownbutheobeysorders.Amalialikeshimandsaysheislikeherownsooldustobegoodtohim.”

    “Thenwhyisheaskingforleave?”

    “Hesaidhewasgettingmarriedtohissister!Idon’treallyknowwhatheistalkingabout.”Dimitriwassecretlyoverjoyed.Mark’ssisterwouldbethatquiet,gentleandstoicgirlLaverhoughbrotherandsisteriheywereactuallynotbloodretions,soofcoursetheycouldgetmarried

    “Let’shopeit’sher”Dimitrimutteredtohimself.Justthen,Amaliacameinsmilingteofonionandcheeseshandacupofcoffee.

    “e.e.Eatfirstandfillyourstomach.Sheiisright,whydon’tyoueandhelpout?There’sonlyShei,Mary,Yokoandmehereandtherearestillsomeemptyroomupstairs.Weweleyoutoeandstay.Ifyoumoveinhere,youwillhaveastablepcetosleepandwon’thavetogowanderingoutthereinthecoldlookingforshelter.Weallwetherandlivetogetherlikeafamily.Businesswillsoflourish.Won’tthatbegood?”Dimitrithoughtforamoment.Shei,MaryandYokowerehereandwiththethreeofthemtakingalia,hecouldresteasy.TherewasalsonewsofLaverobeverified,sowhynotstayheretemporarily?

    “Sure.”heanswered.“Thatwillbegood.Butthereisjustohing.ThoughIamblind,mynaturehasnotged.It’shardformetostayput.Istillliketoroamaroundtheworld.IfonedayIgettheitch,itishardformetotrolmytwofeet.”Amaliaughed.

    “Youmustdoasyouwish.Therearensattached.Youarealotlikemeinthisrespect!”

    5

    Days,liket