Thesad,weather-beatenfacedeeplyetchedwithwrinklesofDimitri’soldfriendDavid,whowasalreadygettingoninage,hadseldombeenhappy.Hepulledapsticbagoutofabrokenpaperboxandtookoutatatteredanddirtybwhichhespreadonthegrouhehebrokenpaperboxatooshelterhisheadsomewhatfromtheightwind.Therehadbeenafierbattleherenotsolongago,wheregangmembersonbothsidesgaveuptheirlives,somostpeoplechoseotherroutesandgavethepceawideberth.ButDavidcravedsolitudeandchosetospendthenighthere.Hestoopedbytheroadsideslowlysmokinghiscigarettebutt,itsdimlightbrighteninganddimming,heaskedhimself,
“AmIreallyold?Mylegsarenolongerasnimbleandagileastheyusedtobeandmybackbothersmeallthetime.ThenightisstillyoungbutIamalreadyverytired.Thedecadesrolledbysofast.Mylifeseemedscarcelytohavebegun,buthereitisalreadyending…”Hethrewawayhiscigarettebuttandwasabouttoliedow,whewohomelesspersonslikehimingtowardshimontheoppositesideofthestreet.Ohemushingabrandnewshoppingcartwhiletheotherworedarkgssesandhadawhiteeinhishand.DavidreizedhimashisoldfriendDimitriandalsoguessedattheidentityofhispanion.
ThateveningafterleavingDimitriatthenoisystreeter,Davidwalkedon,eyespeeledfarettebuttsleftoreets.Herummagedineverygarbagefordiscardedleft-overfood,butunfortunatelycameupwithonlyafewemptybeers.HewasgreatlydisappointedandwalkedtowardsDream-Maker’sBakery,knowingthattheyalwaysleftday-oldbreadandpastriesthatwouldnotkeepinawickerbasketinfrontofthestoreforaake.Itwasjustafter5p.heironsecuritygrillgatewasdownandlockedbyargepadlock.AfterDimitrileftthebakery,businessdeterioratedandwasnolohebusyandpopurpcewherepeoplestoodiobuytheirbreadandpastry.Thebeautieswholivedinthewomen’sdormdoorhadalsodispersed,eachlookingforherowiny.Thewickerbasketwastherebutas,itty.Davidkhatthenewhoboswhohadbeenlaroundthearearetlymusthavegottentoitbeforehim.Hesighed,resigoahungrynightwithoutfoodandwasabouttoleavewhenheheardamusicalvoiearbysaying,
“Excusemesir.MayIbotheryouforaminuteofyourtimeandaskyouaquestion?”Davidturowardsthespeakerandwassurprisedtoseeahomelesspersonwearinganoldolive-coloredsafarihat,araggedybrownjacketanddirtybckbaggypants.Onhisfeetairofover-sizedblock-headedbckshoes.ThedresscodelicaofhisoldfriendDimitri!Theperson’sfacewassmearedwithdustandmudastobealmostunreizable,butitcouldnotdisguiseapaire,beautiful,soulfuleyes.
“Wereyoutalkingtome?”askedDavid
“Yes.Yes.IjustwaoaskifyouhadseenahomelesspersoncalledDimitriaroundhereretly?”
“Oh,youmeantheolddogDimitri.Heisblind,right?”
“Right.Heisablindman.Hashebeenaroundhereretly?Iwanttofindhim.”Davidlookedatthespeakerandthebrandnew,fullypackedshoppingcartheushing.Pstitainers,probablyfulloffood,lyingatthetop,caughthiseyeandhadhimdrooling.
“Er….ohyes,yes.Ijusttalkedtohimawhileagoforquitealongtime…Heissomewherearound….”saidDavid,hiseyeslockedonthefoodintheshoppingcart.Thespeakerseemedtouandhisunspokenrequest.Hepickedupapstitainer,abottleofwaterandhahemtoDavidsaying,
“Hopeyouhaveaniceevening.”Thecockerspanielwhichhadbeenlyinginthebabyseatoftheshoppingcartsuddenlystoodupandbarkedseveraltimes,evidentlyhavingcaughtthestofhisoldfriend.
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