wlysmokinghiscigarettebutt,itsdimlightbrighteninganddimming,heaskedhimself,

    “AmIreallyold?Mylegsarenolongerasnimbleandagileastheyusedtobeandmybackbothersmeallthetime.ThenightisstillyoungbutIamalreadyverytired.Thedecadesrolledbysofast.Mylifeseemedscarcelytohavebegun,buthereitisalreadyending…”Hethrewawayhiscigarettebuttandwasabouttoliedow,whewohomelesspersonslikehimingtowardshimontheoppositesideofthestreet.Ohemushingabrandnewshoppingcartwhiletheotherworedarkgssesandhadawhiteeinhishand.DavidreizedhimashisoldfriendDimitriandalsoguessedattheidentityofhispanion.

    ThateveningafterleavingDimitriatthenoisystreeter,Davidwalkedon,eyespeeledfarettebuttsleftoreets.Herummagedineverygarbagefordiscardedleft-overfood,butunfortunatelycameupwithonlyafewemptybeers.HewasgreatlydisappointedandwalkedtowardsDream-Maker’sBakery,knowingthattheyalwaysleftday-oldbreadandpastriesthatwouldnotkeepinawickerbasketinfrontofthestoreforaake.Itwasjustafter5p.heironsecuritygrillgatewasdownandlockedbyargepadlock.AfterDimitrileftthebakery,businessdeterioratedandwasnolohebusyandpopurpcewherepeoplestoodiobuytheirbreadandpastry.Thebeautieswholivedinthewomen’sdormdoorhadalsodispersed,eachlookingforherowiny.Thewickerbasketwastherebutas,itty.Davidkhatthenewhoboswhohadbeenlaroundthearearetlymusthavegottentoitbeforehim.Hesighed,resigoahungrynightwithoutfoodandwasabouttoleavewhenheheardamusicalvoiearbysaying,

    “Excusemesir.MayIbotheryouforaminuteofyourtimeandaskyouaquestion?”Davidturowardsthespeakerandwassurprisedtoseeahomelesspersonwearinganoldolive-coloredsafarihat,araggedybrownjacketanddirtybckbaggypants.Onhisfeetairofover-sizedblock-headedbckshoes.ThedresscodelicaofhisoldfriendDimitri!Theperson’sfacewassmearedwithdustandmudastobealmostunreizable,butitcouldnotdisguiseapaire,beautiful,soulfuleyes.

    “Wereyoutalkingtome?”askedDavid

    “Yes.Yes.IjustwaoaskifyouhadseenahomelesspersoncalledDimitriaroundhereretly?”

    “Oh,youmeantheolddogDimitri.Heisblind,right?”

    “Right.Heisablindman.Hashebeenaroundhereretly?Iwanttofindhim.”Davidlookedatthespeakerandthebrandnew,fullypackedshoppingcartheushing.Pstitainers,probablyfulloffood,lyingatthetop,caughthiseyeandhadhimdrooling.

    “Er….ohyes,yes.Ijusttalkedtohimawhileagoforquitealongtime…Heissomewherearound….”saidDavid,hiseyeslockedonthefoodintheshoppingcart.Thespeakerseemedtouandhisunspokenrequest.Hepickedupapstitainer,abottleofwaterandhahemtoDavidsaying,

    “Hopeyouhaveaniceevening.”Thecockerspanielwhichhadbeenlyinginthebabyseatoftheshoppingcartsuddenlystoodupandbarkedseveraltimes,evidentlyhavingcaughtthestofhisoldfriend.

    12

    “Dimitrishouldbesomewhereseveralblocksfromhere.Iwasjusttalkingtohimawhileback.Goandfindhim.”Davidthankedhisgenerousbeorprofuselyandstoodlookingattheretreatingbackasthatpersonhurriedquicklyaway..Thoughhewaswearingloose,ill-fittingclothing,itcouldnotcealhistall,sveltefigure.Whenhehandedoverthetainerandbottleofbottle,Davidnoticedthatthehandswereslimandwhite.Theywereawoman’shandsthathadneverbeen

wlysmokinghiscigarettebutt,itsdimlightbrighteninganddimming,heaskedhimself,

    “AmIreallyold?Mylegsarenolongerasnimbleandagileastheyusedtobeandmybackbothersmeallthetime.ThenightisstillyoungbutIamalreadyverytired.Thedecadesrolledbysofast.Mylifeseemedscarcelytohavebegun,buthereitisalreadyending…”Hethrewawayhiscigarettebuttandwasabouttoliedow,whewohomelesspersonslikehimingtowardshimontheoppositesideofthestreet.Ohemushingabrandnewshoppingcartwhiletheotherworedarkgssesandhadawhiteeinhishand.DavidreizedhimashisoldfriendDimitriandalsoguessedattheidentityofhispanion.

    ThateveningafterleavingDimitriatthenoisystreeter,Davidwalkedon,eyespeeledfarettebuttsleftoreets.Herummagedineverygarbagefordiscardedleft-overfood,butunfortunatelycameupwithonlyafewemptybeers.HewasgreatlydisappointedandwalkedtowardsDream-Maker’sBakery,knowingthattheyalwaysleftday-oldbreadandpastriesthatwouldnotkeepinawickerbasketinfrontofthestoreforaake.Itwasjustafter5p.heironsecuritygrillgatewasdownandlockedbyargepadlock.AfterDimitrileftthebakery,businessdeterioratedandwasnolohebusyandpopurpcewherepeoplestoodiobuytheirbreadandpastry.Thebeautieswholivedinthewomen’sdormdoorhadalsodispersed,eachlookingforherowiny.Thewickerbasketwastherebutas,itty.Davidkhatthenewhoboswhohadbeenlaroundthearearetlymusthavegottentoitbeforehim.Hesighed,resigoahungrynightwithoutfoodandwasabouttoleavewhenheheardamusicalvoiearbysaying,

    “Excusemesir.MayIbotheryouforaminuteofyourtimeandaskyouaquestion?”Davidturowardsthespeakerandwassurprisedtoseeahomelesspersonwearinganoldolive-coloredsafarihat,araggedybrownjacketanddirtybckbaggypants.Onhisfeetairofover-sizedblock-headedbckshoes.ThedresscodelicaofhisoldfriendDimitri!Theperson’sfacewassmearedwithdustandmudastobealmostunreizable,butitcouldnotdisguiseapaire,beautiful,soulfuleyes.

    “Wereyoutalkingtome?”askedDavid

    “Yes.Yes.IjustwaoaskifyouhadseenahomelesspersoncalledDimitriaroundhereretly?”

    “Oh,youmeantheolddogDimitri.Heisblind,right?”

    “Right.Heisablindman.Hashebeenaroundhereretly?Iwanttofindhim.”Davidlookedatthespeakerandthebrandnew,fullypackedshoppingcartheushing.Pstitainers,probablyfulloffood,lyingatthetop,caughthiseyeandhadhimdrooling.

    “Er….ohyes,yes.Ijusttalkedtohimawhileagoforquitealongtime…Heissomewherearound….”saidDavid,hiseyeslockedonthefoodintheshoppingcart.Thespeakerseemedtouandhisunspokenrequest.Hepickedupapstitainer,abottleofwaterandhahemtoDavidsaying,

    “Hopeyouhaveaniceevening.”Thecockerspanielwhichhadbeenlyinginthebabyseatoftheshoppingcartsuddenlystoodupandbarkedseveraltimes,evidentlyhavingcaughtthestofhisoldfriend.

    12

    “Dimitrishouldbesomewhereseveralblocksfromhere.Iwasjusttalkingtohimawhileback.Goandfindhim.”Davidthankedhisgenerousbeorprofuselyandstoodlookingattheretreatingbackasthatpersonhurriedquicklyaway..Thoughhewaswearingloose,ill-fittingclothing,itcouldnotcealhistall,sveltefigure.Whenhehandedoverthetainerandbottleofbottle,Davidnoticedthatthehandswereslimandwhite.Theywereawoman’shandsthathadneverbeen