arkbrownjacketbetweenitsteeth.Charinagotoutofhersleepingbagandobedientlyputonthejacket,dround-toedshoes.Dimitrihelpedbyrollinguphersleepingbagandthewooleandpiledthemallintheshoppingcart.HedidnettopickuplittleMaureenandputitintothecartaswell.DimitripushedthecartwhileCharinawalkedinfrontleadingthewayandquicklywalkedawayfromtherosegardenintoathickfog.Dimitrisuddenlyrememberedhowheusedtomaterializebefaninatimelyfashionandhelppushherstalledold,heavyluxurysedan.NowhewashelpingCharinapushthislightshoppingcart.Whetheritwasaheavyluxurysedanhtshoppingcart,healwaysfeltitapleasureandanhonortobeabletohelpadamselindistress.Afterafewtwistsandturnsoreetsihickfog,theyarrivedatCharina’shouse.Sheimmediatelywentintothekitandmadeacupofhotcoffee,forsheknewwhatfortitwastosomeoolifeintheraw,coldweather.Forherself,sheboiledacupofhotwaterandputinseveralslionforsheheardthatitwasagreatantidotefortheoncold.Dimitritookthesleepingbagandthewooleofthecartandputthemieroom.Notknowingwhattodowiththeleftoverfoodaensils,hejustleftthemthereforCharinatodealwithteron.

    Thetwoofthemsatinthequietlivingroom.Dimitriwasholdihermoshishandandexpressinghisappreciationwiththankfulnoiseswhileenjoyicoffee.Helovedsuchsimplepleasuresoflife.CharinapilemondrinkwithafeelingofdelightandgratificationatDimitri’senjoyment.Afterfinishinghisdrink,Dimitriputhisthetable,stoodupandsaidtoCharina,

    “Afteryoufinishyourhotlemondrink,youshouldtakeahotbathandthenghttobedforanignap.Ifyougetyourbodytoperspire,yourcoldwillgoawaywithoutmedicatioedlittledogMaureenwhowaslyingonhislegssaying,“Stayhereandkeepyourmistresspany.Don’tbenaughtyandgogallivantingaround.”Maureenbarkedasifsaying“Iknow.”

    14

    “Areyouleavingalready?”

    “Yes,IhavesomethingImustattendto.”Chariwasjustanexcuse,forressingbusinesscouldahomelessvagabondhavethatressing?Butthistime,shewaswrong.Mr.KaffeewaslikeaahottinroofaBigO,RichardandJamaztolookeverywhereforDimitriasifsomethingurgenthadeup,onlyDimitrididnotknowaboutitthen.

    “Whenwillyoubeback?”

    “Idon’tknow,butIwillbeback…”

    “Iwouldliketohaveadefie.”

    “Iotbesure.Whydon’tyoutreatmeasamigratorybird,Charina.Iwillewheimeisright,butwhenit’stimetogonothingkeepme.Justletthetwoofusbefreeagentswithoutties.Won’tthatbebest?”Charihatshewouldnotbeabletogetanythingelseoutofhim,soshefellsilent.Dimitriopehefrontdoorandwalkedintothethickfog.Hedidnotreallyknowwhereheshouldgo,sohejustlethislegstakehimwherevertheywould.

    LookingatDimitri’sdepartingfigure,Chariakeensenseofloss.Shetookhisadviceofsoakingherselfahotbathandperspiredabit.Aftershegotout,shedressedandfedherlittledogMaureenandwasabouttogotoherbedroomtotakeanap,perspiresomemorehopingthathercoldwouldhavegoneawaywhenshewokeup.Justthenhercellph.Sheanswereditsaying,

    “Hello,thisisCharina.Who’scallingplease?”

    “HiCharina,thisisRichard.IsDimitritherewithyou?Wehavebeenlookingforhimallofstnight.AtdawntodayanoldhobotoldusthathesawyouandDimitriattherosegarden.Werushedtherebutdidn’tseeyouguys.Iguessyouhadalreadyleft.Soyouarehomen

arkbrownjacketbetweenitsteeth.Charinagotoutofhersleepingbagandobedientlyputonthejacket,dround-toedshoes.Dimitrihelpedbyrollinguphersleepingbagandthewooleandpiledthemallintheshoppingcart.HedidnettopickuplittleMaureenandputitintothecartaswell.DimitripushedthecartwhileCharinawalkedinfrontleadingthewayandquicklywalkedawayfromtherosegardenintoathickfog.Dimitrisuddenlyrememberedhowheusedtomaterializebefaninatimelyfashionandhelppushherstalledold,heavyluxurysedan.NowhewashelpingCharinapushthislightshoppingcart.Whetheritwasaheavyluxurysedanhtshoppingcart,healwaysfeltitapleasureandanhonortobeabletohelpadamselindistress.Afterafewtwistsandturnsoreetsihickfog,theyarrivedatCharina’shouse.Sheimmediatelywentintothekitandmadeacupofhotcoffee,forsheknewwhatfortitwastosomeoolifeintheraw,coldweather.Forherself,sheboiledacupofhotwaterandputinseveralslionforsheheardthatitwasagreatantidotefortheoncold.Dimitritookthesleepingbagandthewooleofthecartandputthemieroom.Notknowingwhattodowiththeleftoverfoodaensils,hejustleftthemthereforCharinatodealwithteron.

    Thetwoofthemsatinthequietlivingroom.Dimitriwasholdihermoshishandandexpressinghisappreciationwiththankfulnoiseswhileenjoyicoffee.Helovedsuchsimplepleasuresoflife.CharinapilemondrinkwithafeelingofdelightandgratificationatDimitri’senjoyment.Afterfinishinghisdrink,Dimitriputhisthetable,stoodupandsaidtoCharina,

    “Afteryoufinishyourhotlemondrink,youshouldtakeahotbathandthenghttobedforanignap.Ifyougetyourbodytoperspire,yourcoldwillgoawaywithoutmedicatioedlittledogMaureenwhowaslyingonhislegssaying,“Stayhereandkeepyourmistresspany.Don’tbenaughtyandgogallivantingaround.”Maureenbarkedasifsaying“Iknow.”

    14

    “Areyouleavingalready?”

    “Yes,IhavesomethingImustattendto.”Chariwasjustanexcuse,forressingbusinesscouldahomelessvagabondhavethatressing?Butthistime,shewaswrong.Mr.KaffeewaslikeaahottinroofaBigO,RichardandJamaztolookeverywhereforDimitriasifsomethingurgenthadeup,onlyDimitrididnotknowaboutitthen.

    “Whenwillyoubeback?”

    “Idon’tknow,butIwillbeback…”

    “Iwouldliketohaveadefie.”

    “Iotbesure.Whydon’tyoutreatmeasamigratorybird,Charina.Iwillewheimeisright,butwhenit’stimetogonothingkeepme.Justletthetwoofusbefreeagentswithoutties.Won’tthatbebest?”Charihatshewouldnotbeabletogetanythingelseoutofhim,soshefellsilent.Dimitriopehefrontdoorandwalkedintothethickfog.Hedidnotreallyknowwhereheshouldgo,sohejustlethislegstakehimwherevertheywould.

    LookingatDimitri’sdepartingfigure,Chariakeensenseofloss.Shetookhisadviceofsoakingherselfahotbathandperspiredabit.Aftershegotout,shedressedandfedherlittledogMaureenandwasabouttogotoherbedroomtotakeanap,perspiresomemorehopingthathercoldwouldhavegoneawaywhenshewokeup.Justthenhercellph.Sheanswereditsaying,

    “Hello,thisisCharina.Who’scallingplease?”

    “HiCharina,thisisRichard.IsDimitritherewithyou?Wehavebeenlookingforhimallofstnight.AtdawntodayanoldhobotoldusthathesawyouandDimitriattherosegarden.Werushedtherebutdidn’tseeyouguys.Iguessyouhadalreadyleft.Soyouarehomen