“Istheownerthetall,beautifulyoungladywhowastalkingtoyouamomentago?Theoneinthepaleblueskirt?”

        “Yes,hernameisCharina.She’stheonewhoaskedmetotakecareofMaureenforawhile.”

        “Doyouknowwhereshelives?”themanaskedsuddenly.

        Dimitriwasatonceonhisguard.Whywasastrangeraskingabouttheresidenceofasinglewomanhedoesn’tevenknow?

        “Idon’treallyknow”herepliedevasively.“Shouldbesomewherearoundhere.”

        “Good”repliedtheman“I‘msureIwillbeabletofindher.”Dimitriwastroubledbyhiswordsandwasafraidthattherewouldbetrouble.Maureen’senmityincreased,growlingangrilyatthestranger.

        “Myoldfriend,wewillmeetagain,”saidthemanstandingup.Hethrewsomethingonthebenchandsaid,“Here’ssomecigarettes,thereshouldbehalfapackleft.Thelighter’salsointhere.Enjoy.HestretchedouthishandtostrokeMaureen’shead.Theangrylittledogturneditsheadtobitehishandviciously,butthemanwasagileandwithdrewitquicklybeforehecouldbebitten.

        AfterthemanleftthetensesituationwasdiffusedandMaureenjumpeddowntothegrassagaintoresumehispursuits.Dimitrisatonthebenchsmokinghiscigaretteandthought,“I’msureIhaveheardhisvoicesomewherebeforebutIcannotplaceit.IshouldnothavetoldhimthatCharinalivedinthisneighborhood.Ifheisuptomischief,Ihavejustshortenedtheareaheneededtosearchinordertofindher.Ihopenothingwillhappen.”Justthen,agroupofpeoplecameontothesceneandDimitricouldhearlaughter,shoutingandexcitedchatterbehindhisbench.Fromthesevoices,Dimitricouldmakeoutthatitwastwofamiliesandtheirchildrenabouttoplayagameofsoccer.Thefatherswerethecoachesandthemotherswerethecheerleadersshoutingencouragements.Dimitriwassurethattheywouldhavebroughtanabundanceoffoodwiththemtohaveasumptuouspicnicaftertheballgame.Maureenwaseagertojoininthefun,buthewasnotabletokicktheball,sohewaitedbythesidelines.Wheneveraballrolledout,hewouldruntoretrieveitanddribbleitbacktothegame.TheplayersweredelightedwithMaureenandcriedout.“Goodboy!Goodboy!Youaresosmart”Theywouldshakehispaws,pathisheadandplaywithhim.SoonMaureenwaspartofthegameandplayedwitheveryone.Dimitrithought.

        “Lifeshouldbelikethis,fullofhappinessandlaughter.Unfortunately,conflict,dissentanddiscordfarexceedpeaceandharmony.”

        Dimitriinhaleddeeplyatwhatwasleftofhiscigarettebeforeregretfullytossingthebutttothegroundandsnuffeditoutwithhisfoot.Thenhepickedupthebuttandputitinhispocket.

        “Hey,olddog,”avoicebesidehimremarked,“Areyoutoostingytothrowawayyourcigarettebutt?”

        “No,I’monlypickingituptothrowintothegarbagecanlater”repliedDimitri.Heknewfromthatvoicethatitwasoneofhishomelesspals,adirty,dilapidatedbum.

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