Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第7/327页)

“Here’ssomecigarettes,thereshouldbehalfapackleft.Thelighter’salsointhere.Enjoy.HestretchedouthishandtostrokeMaureeheangrylittledogtursheadtobitehishandviciously,butthemanwasagileandwithdrewitquicklybeforehecouldbebitten.

    AfterthemaheteuationwasdiffusedandMaureenjumpeddowntothegrassagaintoresumehispursuits.Dimitrisatonthebenchsmokinghiscigaretteandthought,“I’msureIhaveheardhisvoiewherebeforebutIotpceit.IshouldnothavetoldhimthatCharinalivedinthisneighborhood.Ifheisuptomischief,Ihavejustshorteheareaheosearordertofindher.Ihopenothingwillhappen.”Justthen,agroupofpeoplecameontotheseandDimitricouldhearughter,shoutingaedchatterbehindhisbench.Fromthesevoices,Dimitriakeoutthatitwastwofamiliesandtheirchildrenabouttopyagameofsoccer.Thefatherswerethecoachesaherswerethecheerleadersshoutingencements.Dimitriwassurethattheywouldhavebroughtanabundanceoffoodwiththemtohaveasumptuouspiicaftertheballgame.Maureenwaseagertojoininthefun,buthewasnotabletokicktheball,sohewaitedbythesidelines.Wheneveraballrolledout,hewouldrurieveitanddribbleitbacktothegame.ThepyersweredelightedwithMaureenandcriedout.“Goodboy!Goodboy!Youaresosmart”Theywouldshakehispaws,pathisheadandpywithhim.SoonMaureenartofthegameaheveryone.Dimitrithought.

    “Lifeshouldbelikethis,fullofhappinessandughter.Unfortunately,flict,dissentanddiscordfarexceedpeadharmony.”

    Dimitriinhaleddeeplyatwhatwasleftofhiscigarettebefretfullytossitothegroundandsoutwithhisfoot.Thenhepickedupthebuttandputitinhispocket.

    “Hey,olddog,”avoicebesidehimremarked,“Areyoutoostingytothrowawayyarettebutt?”

    “No,I’monlypigituptothrowintothegarbageter”repliedDimitri.Heknewfromthatvoicethatitwasoneofhishomelesspals,adirty,dipidatedbum.

    “Ifyouoffermeacigarette,Iwilltellyousomegoodnews.”

    “Whatgoodnews?”Takingoutacigarette,Dimitrigenerouslytossedittohisfriendandlighteditforhim.Themanpuffedgreedilyathiscigaretteandthensighedinsatisfa.

    “It’sbeenalongtimesinceI’vehadarealcigarette.”

    “Whatgoodnewsdoyouhave?Goontell,soIshareinit.”

    “Areyouhungry?”askedthemanabruptly.

    “No,Ijustateandamquitefull.”

    “Furtherondowreet,someacademyisholdingagathering,somekindofoutdoorparty.Thereisalotoffoodthere.Yougoasome.It’sfree.Youmaybefullnow,butyousayyouwon’tbehungryteron?Ourstomachsarebothersomethingsaobefedeveryfewhours.Whydon’tyougogetsomeofthefoodaforwhenyou?”

    “That’sagreatidea,butI’tgobecauseIamtakingcareofadogforafriend.I’tleave.”

    “Oh,that’sMaureen”saidthemanlookingatthecutelittledogrunningaroundonthegrass.“Itsowhattallbeautifuldy,right?”

    “Yes,that’sshe.”saidDimitrinodding.

    “Iwouldlovetodosomethingforher,too”saidtheman“evenifIdiedoingitbuteoplefromtwoentirelydifferentworldsthat’tevendreamofintermingling.”

    “Whyarewepeoplefromtwodifferentworlds?Weliveonthesameearth.It’sonlythattheylikethesedentarylifeofbeiledinonepcewhilewepreferanomadone,roamingalroundthepce.That’stheonlydifference.”

    “What’sthematterwithyoureyes?”askedtheman,wavingahandinfrontofDimitri’seyeswhilepuffinggreed