Book3:WereMyDreamIs(3/112)
“Good.Seeyouter.”Sayingso,sheleft.
AfterChari,Dimitriopehepaperbagandtookoutthestillwarmhamburger.HetoreoffhalfandofferedittoMaureenwhorefusedtheofferasifsaying“that’sforyou.”SoDimitrihappilybitek,chewedblissfullybeforeswallowingit,thinking“ImustthankheavenforsendingmesuchalovelylittledoggenerousenoughsharehisfoodwithmewhenIwasreallystarving.Yes,Imustthankheavenforthat.AfterseeingtoitthatMaureenwaswellfed,Dimitriputthepsticbowlbatothedogfoodbagandstuffeditintohiscoatpocket.Maureenwasanactivepuppytowhomtheworldwasanovendiingpce.Heranaroundonthegrassbythesideofthekeexplwhatevercaughthisfancy.Hebarkedatthesquirrelslookingforfoodontheground,sendingthemscramblingupthetreesinfright.Heharassedthewilddudgeeseuntiltheysquawkedandscreechedastheywaddledindignantlybatotheke.Tohimallthiswasamarvelousgame.ButthemomentDimitricalledout,“Maureen,ebackhere!”hewouldgobackatonce,jumpontoDimitri’spasiftosay,“Look,hereIam!Ihaven’twanderedfar.”Dimitriruffledthefuronhischubbybodyaffeatelysaying,“Goodboy!Goodboy!”Soon,somethingnewagaincaughthiseyeandhejumpeddownandracedexcitedlytowardsthegrass.
Dimitristoodup,stretchedhimselfandmassagedhisagbackbefonthebenchtoletthewarmsundryhismoistclothing.Heclosedhiseyes,pulledhiscaplowerdownhisfadletthewarmsunbathehiswholebody,fullyenjoyingthefreesunshiwasavaibletoall.ItsuddenlycametoDimitrithathewasthemightyrulerofapowerfundmagnifitKingdomwithmanyloyalsubjects.Therewhateverhewishedforwouldmaterializeatoncebeforehim,beithundred-year-oldwiicdelicacies.Hehadma,gealentedbeautieswholovedhimandgatheredaroundhimcateringtohiseverywant,allofthemlivinghappilytogetheriifulpace.Wherewereallofthemnow?HethenrememberedthatthepacehadbeenburhebeautieshadallreturhemundaneworldandhisKingdomofDreamswasnomore.Hewasagainapoorhomelessperson,ablindmancursedbyfate.Lifeoreetsmeantbeingavictimofhunger,coldandillness.Infacttherewerelittleoflife’smisfortuneshehadhrough.LuckilyhecoulddodgerealityanytimehewantedbyesgtohisKingdomofDreams.“Butdoesdream?”heaskedhimself.“Idon’tthinkdreamsareallunreal,norisreallifepletelyrealeither.Bothofthemmaybeunrealorbothmaybereal.IfIwao,IcouldletmytwoloyalservantsCreativityandImaginationbuildanotherbeautifulworldforme.Butiherewouldalwaysbesuccessesandfailures.Ifwecouldhaveoureverywishfulfilledmerelybydesiringitaheseasonsoftheyearatwillitwouldbelikelivinginamagicalrealm.Butinthelongrunevensuchaperfectlifewouldpal.Reallifeisfullofsuccessesiwihfailureswithallkindsofvariables,whichiswhatmakesitiing.Otherwiselifewouldbetoodull.
Dimitri‘sfeetmovedsubsciouslyonthegrouedtoseeifhewouldbeluoughtofindahalfsmokedcigarettebuttaround.Inthisdayandage,whenmostpeoplehadgivenupsmoking,theprobabilityoffindingonewasslimihathewasblindmadetheprobabilityevenslimmer.Butstillhestoopedandranhishandsroundtoseeifamiraclewouldhappen.Atall,muscurmanwalkedover,saying,“HeyDimitri,myoldfriend,whatareyoudoing?Tryingtofindacigarettebutt?Ihaveapackhere.Takeone.”Dimitri’sheartjumpedatthewords.“Iamhaviremelygoodlucktoday”hethought.“WhenIamhungryasmalldogesivesmeahamburger.Iwanttosmokeandanunknownoldfriendoffersmeacigarette.It’smyluckydaytoday.”Thetwoofthemsatdowheronthebench.ThetallguyofferedDimitriacigaretteandlititforhim.Maureen,yingnearbynoticedthattherewasastratingonthebenchtalkingtoDimitriandcameragback.HejumpedontoDimitri’spandbarkedatthestrangermakinglow,angrygutturalsoundsinhisthroat.Dimitritookthelittledogintohisarmsandsoothedhimbystrokinghisfurlovingly.“Goodboy.Goodboy.Don’tbenervous.Heisanoldfriendofmine.Don’tbeangry.”Dimitriwasbynaturekindandgenerous,sotohimeveryoneelsewasgoodaoo.Themanearedsosuddenlywasstrongandmuscurwiththefiercefaceofaruthlessmurderer.Whenhesmiled,heseemedguilelessandiwithatouchofslyness.Soitwashardtodetermiherhewasgoodorevil,hoordeceitful.Dimitrifeltthatthisman’svoicewassomewhatfamiliar,thathehadheardhimtalkbefore,buthecouldnotreallypcehim.
“HowdidyouknowmynamewasDimitri?”heaskedwhilehepuffedonhiscigarette.
“EventhoughIamhisareaIheardofyousoonafterIarrived.Inthisneighborhoodwhodoesn’tknowyourname?”repliedthemanughing.“Yourniameis‘brokenball’.Anyonekickyouaroundandyouwillnotbeangryorretaliate.Youarereallyagoodsport,butperhapsyouaretoogoodasport,myfriend.”
Dimitriwassilentforamomentmulliheman’swords.Hefelttherewassomethingwrongwithhisanswer.“Idisappearedintothinairstwinter,aroundChristmastime.Lookingattheclimatenow,itshouldbearoundJuneorJuly,soIhavebeefromthisregionforatleasthalfayear.Themanprofessestobehisareabuthasheardaboutmeandknowseverythingaboutmelikeanoldfriend.It’sstrangeaaddup.”ButDimitrididnotwanttothinkfurtheronthisdiscrepancy.
“Isthisy?Itlooksverywhyishesounfriendlytome?”
“No”repliedDimitri“He’snotmine.HowcouldIaffordsuexpe?Iamonlytakingtemporarilyforhisowner,”
“Istheowhetall,beautifulyoungdywhowastalkingtoyouamomentago?Theohepaleblueskirt?”
“Yes,hernameisCharina.She’stheonewhoaskedmetotakeaureenforawhile.”
“Doyouknowwhereshelives?”themanaskedsuddenly.
Dimitriwasatonhisguard.Whywasastrangeraskingabouttheresidenceofasinglewomanhedoesn’tevenknow?
“Idon’treallyknow”herepliedevasively.“Shouldbesomewherearoundhere.”
“Good”repliedtheman“I‘msureIwillbeabletofindher.”Dimitriwastroubledbyhiswordsandwasafraidthattherewouldbetrouble.Maureeyincreased,growlingangrilyatthestranger.
“Myoldfriend,wewillmeetagain,”saidthemanstandingup.Hethrewsomethingonthebendsaid,“Here’ssomecigarettes,thereshouldbehalfapackleft.Thelighter’salsointhere.Enjoy.HestretchedouthishandtostrokeMaureeheangrylittledogtursheadtobitehishandviciously,butthemanwasagileandwithdrewitquicklybeforehecouldbebitten.
AfterthemaheteuationwasdiffusedandMaureenjumpeddowntothegrassagaintoresumehispursuits.Dimitrisatonthebenchsmokinghiscigaretteandthought,“I’msureIhaveheardhisvoiewherebeforebutIotpceit.IshouldnothavetoldhimthatCharinalivedinthisneighborhood.Ifheisuptomischief,Ihavejustshorteheareaheosearordertofindher.Ihopenothingwillhappen.”Justthen,agroupofpeoplecameontotheseandDimitricouldhearughter,shoutingaedchatterbehindhisbench.Fromthesevoices,Dimitriakeoutthatitwastwofamiliesandtheirchildrenabouttopyagameofsoccer.Thefatherswerethecoachesaherswerethecheerleadersshoutinges.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.
AfterChari,Dimitriopehepaperbagandtookoutthestillwarmhamburger.HetoreoffhalfandofferedittoMaureenwhorefusedtheofferasifsaying“that’sforyou.”SoDimitrihappilybitek,chewedblissfullybeforeswallowingit,thinking“ImustthankheavenforsendingmesuchalovelylittledoggenerousenoughsharehisfoodwithmewhenIwasreallystarving.Yes,Imustthankheavenforthat.AfterseeingtoitthatMaureenwaswellfed,Dimitriputthepsticbowlbatothedogfoodbagandstuffeditintohiscoatpocket.Maureenwasanactivepuppytowhomtheworldwasanovendiingpce.Heranaroundonthegrassbythesideofthekeexplwhatevercaughthisfancy.Hebarkedatthesquirrelslookingforfoodontheground,sendingthemscramblingupthetreesinfright.Heharassedthewilddudgeeseuntiltheysquawkedandscreechedastheywaddledindignantlybatotheke.Tohimallthiswasamarvelousgame.ButthemomentDimitricalledout,“Maureen,ebackhere!”hewouldgobackatonce,jumpontoDimitri’spasiftosay,“Look,hereIam!Ihaven’twanderedfar.”Dimitriruffledthefuronhischubbybodyaffeatelysaying,“Goodboy!Goodboy!”Soon,somethingnewagaincaughthiseyeandhejumpeddownandracedexcitedlytowardsthegrass.
Dimitristoodup,stretchedhimselfandmassagedhisagbackbefonthebenchtoletthewarmsundryhismoistclothing.Heclosedhiseyes,pulledhiscaplowerdownhisfadletthewarmsunbathehiswholebody,fullyenjoyingthefreesunshiwasavaibletoall.ItsuddenlycametoDimitrithathewasthemightyrulerofapowerfundmagnifitKingdomwithmanyloyalsubjects.Therewhateverhewishedforwouldmaterializeatoncebeforehim,beithundred-year-oldwiicdelicacies.Hehadma,gealentedbeautieswholovedhimandgatheredaroundhimcateringtohiseverywant,allofthemlivinghappilytogetheriifulpace.Wherewereallofthemnow?HethenrememberedthatthepacehadbeenburhebeautieshadallreturhemundaneworldandhisKingdomofDreamswasnomore.Hewasagainapoorhomelessperson,ablindmancursedbyfate.Lifeoreetsmeantbeingavictimofhunger,coldandillness.Infacttherewerelittleoflife’smisfortuneshehadhrough.LuckilyhecoulddodgerealityanytimehewantedbyesgtohisKingdomofDreams.“Butdoesdream?”heaskedhimself.“Idon’tthinkdreamsareallunreal,norisreallifepletelyrealeither.Bothofthemmaybeunrealorbothmaybereal.IfIwao,IcouldletmytwoloyalservantsCreativityandImaginationbuildanotherbeautifulworldforme.Butiherewouldalwaysbesuccessesandfailures.Ifwecouldhaveoureverywishfulfilledmerelybydesiringitaheseasonsoftheyearatwillitwouldbelikelivinginamagicalrealm.Butinthelongrunevensuchaperfectlifewouldpal.Reallifeisfullofsuccessesiwihfailureswithallkindsofvariables,whichiswhatmakesitiing.Otherwiselifewouldbetoodull.
Dimitri‘sfeetmovedsubsciouslyonthegrouedtoseeifhewouldbeluoughtofindahalfsmokedcigarettebuttaround.Inthisdayandage,whenmostpeoplehadgivenupsmoking,theprobabilityoffindingonewasslimihathewasblindmadetheprobabilityevenslimmer.Butstillhestoopedandranhishandsroundtoseeifamiraclewouldhappen.Atall,muscurmanwalkedover,saying,“HeyDimitri,myoldfriend,whatareyoudoing?Tryingtofindacigarettebutt?Ihaveapackhere.Takeone.”Dimitri’sheartjumpedatthewords.“Iamhaviremelygoodlucktoday”hethought.“WhenIamhungryasmalldogesivesmeahamburger.Iwanttosmokeandanunknownoldfriendoffersmeacigarette.It’smyluckydaytoday.”Thetwoofthemsatdowheronthebench.ThetallguyofferedDimitriacigaretteandlititforhim.Maureen,yingnearbynoticedthattherewasastratingonthebenchtalkingtoDimitriandcameragback.HejumpedontoDimitri’spandbarkedatthestrangermakinglow,angrygutturalsoundsinhisthroat.Dimitritookthelittledogintohisarmsandsoothedhimbystrokinghisfurlovingly.“Goodboy.Goodboy.Don’tbenervous.Heisanoldfriendofmine.Don’tbeangry.”Dimitriwasbynaturekindandgenerous,sotohimeveryoneelsewasgoodaoo.Themanearedsosuddenlywasstrongandmuscurwiththefiercefaceofaruthlessmurderer.Whenhesmiled,heseemedguilelessandiwithatouchofslyness.Soitwashardtodetermiherhewasgoodorevil,hoordeceitful.Dimitrifeltthatthisman’svoicewassomewhatfamiliar,thathehadheardhimtalkbefore,buthecouldnotreallypcehim.
“HowdidyouknowmynamewasDimitri?”heaskedwhilehepuffedonhiscigarette.
“EventhoughIamhisareaIheardofyousoonafterIarrived.Inthisneighborhoodwhodoesn’tknowyourname?”repliedthemanughing.“Yourniameis‘brokenball’.Anyonekickyouaroundandyouwillnotbeangryorretaliate.Youarereallyagoodsport,butperhapsyouaretoogoodasport,myfriend.”
Dimitriwassilentforamomentmulliheman’swords.Hefelttherewassomethingwrongwithhisanswer.“Idisappearedintothinairstwinter,aroundChristmastime.Lookingattheclimatenow,itshouldbearoundJuneorJuly,soIhavebeefromthisregionforatleasthalfayear.Themanprofessestobehisareabuthasheardaboutmeandknowseverythingaboutmelikeanoldfriend.It’sstrangeaaddup.”ButDimitrididnotwanttothinkfurtheronthisdiscrepancy.
“Isthisy?Itlooksverywhyishesounfriendlytome?”
“No”repliedDimitri“He’snotmine.HowcouldIaffordsuexpe?Iamonlytakingtemporarilyforhisowner,”
“Istheowhetall,beautifulyoungdywhowastalkingtoyouamomentago?Theohepaleblueskirt?”
“Yes,hernameisCharina.She’stheonewhoaskedmetotakeaureenforawhile.”
“Doyouknowwhereshelives?”themanaskedsuddenly.
Dimitriwasatonhisguard.Whywasastrangeraskingabouttheresidenceofasinglewomanhedoesn’tevenknow?
“Idon’treallyknow”herepliedevasively.“Shouldbesomewherearoundhere.”
“Good”repliedtheman“I‘msureIwillbeabletofindher.”Dimitriwastroubledbyhiswordsandwasafraidthattherewouldbetrouble.Maureeyincreased,growlingangrilyatthestranger.
“Myoldfriend,wewillmeetagain,”saidthemanstandingup.Hethrewsomethingonthebendsaid,“Here’ssomecigarettes,thereshouldbehalfapackleft.Thelighter’salsointhere.Enjoy.HestretchedouthishandtostrokeMaureeheangrylittledogtursheadtobitehishandviciously,butthemanwasagileandwithdrewitquicklybeforehecouldbebitten.
AfterthemaheteuationwasdiffusedandMaureenjumpeddowntothegrassagaintoresumehispursuits.Dimitrisatonthebenchsmokinghiscigaretteandthought,“I’msureIhaveheardhisvoiewherebeforebutIotpceit.IshouldnothavetoldhimthatCharinalivedinthisneighborhood.Ifheisuptomischief,Ihavejustshorteheareaheosearordertofindher.Ihopenothingwillhappen.”Justthen,agroupofpeoplecameontotheseandDimitricouldhearughter,shoutingaedchatterbehindhisbench.Fromthesevoices,Dimitriakeoutthatitwastwofamiliesandtheirchildrenabouttopyagameofsoccer.Thefatherswerethecoachesaherswerethecheerleadersshoutinges.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.