“That’sstrange.”

    “Whatsobadaboutbeingsingle?”askedCharinadefensively.

    “Heavens!Arethehandsomeyouhecityallblindlikemethattheyletsuchabeautifulyoungwomanlivealone?”jokedDimitri.

    “It’snotthatIhaven’tthoughtofgettingmarried”admittedCharina.“It’sjustthatatthemomentImustdevoteallmytimeandattentiontomywriting,soIjustotbedistractedbyanythingelse.Oh,peoyoureyes,Dimitri?”Dimitriseemedtomakeoutshadowymovementsofherhandsastheymovedtoandfrobeforehiseyesuhebrightsunlight.

    “It’snothing.Ibecameblind.Ithinkitmustbethewillofheaven.Ihavebeeusedtoit,butitisnotveryvewhenItrytogetarous.It’snothingreally”,repliedDimitriresignedly.

    “ItmustbeGod’swill”saidCharina,makingthesignofthecrossonherself.“Hemusthavegreatthingsinstoreforyoutodo.”

    “Let’shopeso”repliedDimitri.Thenhequicklygedthesubjedasked,“Areyoustillwritingnovels?Iamagreatfanofyours.Whatkindofnovelsareyouwritingatthemoment?”

    “That’swhathasbeenbme”repliedCharina.“Ihavepublishedabouttwodozennovelsandhavealsohadquiteafollowing.ButIfeelthatthenovelsIhavewrittenareshallow,mediodthethemeshavebeenmuchrepeated.Iwanttowriteaboutsomethingthathash,somethingnovendinal.ButIhavenotbeeosettledownonanythingasyetandhaven’twrittenasinglewordforoverayear.YousayIhavebeenhavingawriter’sblock.”

    “Really?Whatdoyouwanttowriteabout?PerhapsIgiveyousomematerialsestions.”

    “Iwanttowriteaboutwhatisbehindtheblueskies”saidCharinapointingtotheskiesaboveher.“IwanttoknowifthereintheKingdombeyondtheblueskiesthereisloveandwarfare.Thatwouldbeanattractivetopic.”

    “Ofcoursethereis”repliedDimitriwithouthesitation.“Wheretherearepeople,therewillwaysbeloveflidwar.Thatisanungeableironcdrule.”

    “TellmewhatyouknowaboutthingsintheheavenssothatIusethemibook”beggedChariedly.

    “Toputitsimply,”beganDimitrilikeabardofold,“beyondtheblueskiesthereisawealthy,mysteriousKingdoheKingdomisfamousforitsbeautifulwomenwhichareasprolificastheflrowingeverywhereinthegardens.Thisarousedtheenvyandjealousyofaprimitivenativetribelivinginthedenseforestsandmountainsandflidwarfarethusbegan.Solongastherearehumanbeings,therewillbeenvyandjealousy...”

    “Stop.Stop”criedCharina.“Thismustbeaveryiingstory.IneedmoretimetolistentoyoutellmeeverythingiailbutnowImustgotochurass.youwaitformehere?Iwillbebackbeforenoon.”

    “Noproblewillsithereandwaitforyoutillyoueback.”

    “ImeanttotakeMaureenbaebeforeIwenttoMass,butnowit’stoote.Wouldyoubewillingtotakeforme?”

    “Sure,noproblem.Iwouldbemorethanhappytotakecareofthislovelylittledogforyou.Wewillbegoodfriends.”

    Dimitriwasdifferentfromotherhomelesspeople.Althoughhewasshabbilydressed,hewasnotdirty.Manyhomelesspeoplearebad-tempered,irrationandaddictedtoalddrugs.Theydonotwashandoftengiveoffastinkthatmakesitimpossibleforpeopletogethem.Dimitri,oherhand,wasgentleandwell-mannered,quietlydoinggoodintheneighborhood,earningthereputationofa‘GoodSamaritan’Seebook1TheDream-Maker.ThereforeCharinahadnoqualmsaboutleaviinhiscare.Pointingtothepaperbag,shesaid,“ThisisthebreakfastIboughtforMaureen,butheisahospitablelittleguyandhasevidentlydecidedthathewantsyoutohaveit.Goobefetscold.”

    “WhatwillMaureehehisbreakfast?’askedDimitrishyly.

    “Oh,hehashisownfood”repliedhisowner.“Waithereamomentplease,”saidCharinawalkingquicklytowardsherdcamebacksoonwithabag.“Thisishisdogfood.Thereisabowlinsideyouusetoscoopitoutandtherearesomebottledwaterthatbothofyoudrink.Mycarisrightthereuhetrees.Ifitgetstoohot,getinthedlistentosomemusic.Iwillbebackbeforenoon.”

    “Noprobleveeverythingtome.Youbettergooryouwillbete.BeingteforMassisdisrespectfultoGod.”