Hegottothepierandsatonhisusualbench，thinkingoftheeventsofthepastfewdays．AftermovinginwithMarianna，shemadehimwash,shave，cuthishairandboughthimnewclothes．Hewasnotatallusedtoallthisfussandfeltlikeanewman．Thesoftcleanbedwassuchanovelexperiencethathefoundithardtogotosleep．Itwasastormynight.Thewindandrainwereragingoutside，butallwasquietandsereneinsidethebedroom，onlyMarianna’ssoft，regularbreathingcouldbeheardinthesweetdarkness．Hefeltthattheroomwasasolitaryboatdriftingonastormyseaandapicturehehadseeninhisyouthcamevividlytomind．Itwasapictureofanestofyoungbirdssleepingsoundlyamidwindandrainanditssimilaritieswithhispresentstatestruckhim．Hecouldn’tforgetthefactthatifheweren’there，hewouldbeseekinghaveninthestorm．Thatdriftinglifestylewasbleak，drearyandsometimesfraughtwithdanger，butithadadesolatebeautyandasenseofadventurethatbeckonedtohiscarefreespirit．

        Suddenly，Dimitriwasstartledfromhisreveriebytwosofthandscoveringhiseyes．HelookedbackandfoundthesmilingfaceofMariannalookingdownonhim．

        "SorryIwasfiredonmyfirstdayofwork.”

        "Iknow．Iwenttothegasstationtobringyouyourlunch.Don’tworryaboutit．It’sOK．You’llfindsomethingelse.”

        Shesatdownonthebenchandtheychattedtogether．Therewasaninnateserenityintheirrelationshipthatenvelopedthemintheirownquietworld，obliviousoftheirsurroundings．Thebusytraffic，thefrolickingchildrenthestrollingcrowdjustdidnotexistforthem．Thenshestoodup，handedhimhislunch-bagandsaid，

        "Gottogonow．Goonhomewhenyouaretiredandtakearest．You’vebeenthroughalotwiththepolicetoday.”

        "Thankyou,Marianna”Dimitrismiled,tookthepaperbagandwalkedaway．

        Mariannawentslowlytowardsherrestaurant，thinking，"Dimitriisastrangemanwithauniquepersonality．Helivescompletelyinafancifulworldofhisown，innocentasachild．totallyincompatiblewiththerealworld，unabletosurviveitscompetitionsanditswiles．Hisfrank，trustingandnaiveeyesareasharpcontrasttohisweather-beatenface．Ifthatisso,whyforcehimtoadapttoaworldwhereheistotallyoutofplace?Whynotlethimgohisownsweetway?Lethimstayatmyplaceandtakecareofthehouseandgarden．Idon’tknowwhatdrawsmetohim，butIlikehim.Icareforhiswelfareandhaveanurgetotakecareofhim．Theremustbesomethingpre-destinedinourrelationship．Butsowhat？Whyshouldn’tIlikehimandcareforhim?Whymusttherebeareason?"Butthen，herthoughtsturnedtothelettershereceivedthatmorning．Itwasfromherhusbandandtheir8-year-oldson，tellingherthattheyhadfinallygottentheirimmigrationpapersandwouldsoonbejoiningher．Herhusbandsentheraphotographofhimselfandtheirson，andtheboyproudlywrotetoherinEnglish．Whentheyarrive，shewouldinevitablyhavetoleaveDimitriandprovideahomeforherhusbandandson．Butthatwouldnotbeforsometimeyet．"I’llcrossthatbridgewhenIcometoit,”shedecided．

        Justthen，herthoughtswereinterruptedbyawhiteRollsRoycescreechingtoahaltbesideher．Avoicecameairily，

        "Hi，Marianna！Doyoustillrememberme?"

        "Ohyes,Mrs．Kaffee!Howareyou?"Mariannasaidpolitely．WhenMariannafirstcametoAmerica，shehadbeenacookatMrs．Kaffee’shousehold，butunabletostandherfussyandpickyways，shequitandwenttoworkattherestaurant．

        "Whathaveyoubeendoingallthistime，Marianna?"

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