Peopleiontheirownbusiness,walkedquicklypastDavidashesatintheshadewithhisbacktothepilr,forhomelesspeoplesittingonthesidewalksnoddingoffinsleepwassuonsightthatnoonepaidhimanyheed.Davidnoddedoffforhekhowlong,butstrandsoflivelytenorsaxophonemusithedistancewokehimup.Curiousastowhatwasgoingon,hewalkedtowardsthesourceofthesoundsandcameuponacrowdofpeopleattheedgeofthesquare.HeelbowedhiswaythroughthecrowdandtohissurprisesawthatthemusipyihusiasticallyonthegoldcoloredsaxophonewashissaviorDimitri!HealshemanpyingAfridrumswasJamaz,andthebaseguitaristwasRichard,bothofwhomhewasfamiliarwith.AfterawhilehegottoknowtheviolinistMr.KaffeeandthesecurityguyBig-Oandwasgiventhejoboftakinginthemohrowndownbytheaudience.Davidwassoonsquattingonthegroundbusilycollegthebillsandthrustiohisbosomforsafe-keeping,whilethrowingthesintoatinboxbeforehimuntilhehadquiteahighpileofthem.Thehesunwassettingandtheimpromptuperformanded,theycalcutedtheirfirstday’stakingsandhappilyfoundthatitwasnotabadhaul.Thefirstthingtheyboughtwiththemoneywascheapwhiskeyandtheheremaiobuymeatandotherfood.Uponleaviore,Jamazsnatchedupabottleofwhiskey,opeandstartedguzzlingdowntheliquor.
“Hey,oldpal,don’tstartjustyet”saidRichard.“Waittillthemeatiscookedaanddriogether.Won’tthatbemorefun?”Jamazwipedhismouthwiththebackofhishand,hiccuppedandthensighed,saying
“’twait.Theliquorwormsinmystomacharecm.Ihaveworkedhardonthedrumsforhoursandthinkthistiredbodyofminehasearherighttobepensated!”
“Yht.Yht”agreedMr.Kaffee.“Goonanddrinkasmuchasyouwant.Youdrinktillyoudrop!”Dimitrididnothaveagreatcapacityforliquor;nordidheneedalotoffood,buthewasveryhappytoseehisfriendsinsuoodandthegroupofthemwalkedoninhighspiritstowardstheonlygatheriheyhad–thedesertedandrarden.Onthesurface,agroupofhomelesspeoplegatheringtogethertoeatanddrinkisnotunusual.Butquiteoftenunusualthingshappenunderquitenormalcircumstances.
Thetall,majestidintricatelycarvedfrontgatewastightlyclosed,butthesidedooren.DornapushedherbicyclethroughitandwavedatYonda,whowasondutythatdayatthelodge.Yondawasanelderlywomannearingsixty,withveryintelligenteyesandwasatrustedaidtohermistress.Shesmiledandwavedherthrough.Becausehemistressofthemansion,reparingforhereboratewedding,adozenorsoofherintimatepanionshadmovedinwithhertokeepherpanyandhelpinwhateverwaytheycould.Theincreaseofinhabitantsnaturallymeantalotmorefoottraffidoutofthehouse,soYondamemorizedthefacesofthebeautieswhohadmovedinahempassthroughfreelywithoutcallingforverification.Dornawasohebeautiessoshehadfreeaccess.Thelongdrivewaybeforeherwasshadedbytalltreesandhadbeeofallfallenleavesanddrytwigs,sotonherbicydrodeon.Thiswasahugemansion.Totheleftofthedrivewayweretheminigolfcourse,tenniscourtandswimmingpool.BesidethemwasthegymandJacuzzi.Anythingthatwasokeepahealthylifestylewasallthere.Undergroundarkinglotwiththecapacityatleastthirtytofortycars.Thtofthedrivewaywastherge,professionallymanicuredgardenwheremyriadsofmulti-coloredfleandsmallbloomed.Thetreesandfloraldispyslookedallthemorepicturesqueandluxuriantinspringuhewarmandbrilliantsunshine.Dornaerplexedbecauseitwassoquiet.Normallytherewerealwaysafewofthebeautiesstrollingorsittingaroundthegardentalkingandughingwitheachother.Buttodaytherewasanunusualstillness,ahushedsilence.Justthenshesawanold,bentfigureemergefromthetreesandflowerbed.Itwasanoldmanwithwhitehair,whiteeye-browsandalongwhitebeard,rustedoldretainerwhosefamilyhadservedhersfeions.Dornaknewhimbutcouldnotrememberhisheoldmanwasoldandhadloired,nolongerresponsiblefortheoddsandendsofestatema.ActuallyhewasYonda’sfatherandhadwatovelgrowupandshealwaystreatedhimasafaithfundtrustedfamilyservant.Nowthathewasoldandhadretired,himstayonatthesmallcottageattheedgeofthegardenwherehecouldliveouttheremainderofhislifeinpeadfortandpassthetimewamoreesandflowersatwill.Dornawavedathimandtheoldmanbowedhisbentbodypolitelyinsalute.Dornaincreasedthespeedofherbicydsoonpassedthefountainwithitsmulti-swishing,crisscrossisofwater.Shestoppedatthefrontdoor,jumpingoffherbicyagradagilemovement.
Dilelyandgracefullygotoffherbike,parkeditandtooklittleMaureenoutofthebasket.Shesetitonthegroundsothatitovearoundfreely.Maureenwasverycuriousaboutthenewenvirofounditselfin,soitranhappilyaroundsniffinginquisitivelyatpcesthatarouseditsi.Justthenatall,slimfiguresteppedoutthedoor.DornaytoseethatitwasthefamousballerinaNatalie,whosteppedintothesunshineandwavedatDornasaying,
“Hi,Dorna!Howareyou?Haven’tseenyoufortwodays.How’veyoubeendoing?”
“Hi,Natalie”saidDorna,wipingperspirationfromherforehead.“Howareyou?Whyhaven’tIseenanyoftheothersaround?Wherehavetheygoo?”NataliewalkedovertoDorna,weariardsheusuallyputherdangpractidpinwhitetennisshoesonherfeetinsteadofherballetshoes.Whenshesawacute,pudgycockspahacoatofshiny,longbckfurandtwolongearsrunningoutfrombehierfountaioopeddoenedherarmsasiftoembraceit,g,
“YoumustbethatcleverlittledogMaureen…”Maureenambledoverbarking,asiftosay,“Yht.That’sme…HowdidyouknowmyhenitjumpedintoNatalie’sarms.CarryingMaureeninherarms,Nataliestoodupandputherfioherlips,saying,“Sh-sh-sh.Don’tbark.Youwillwaketheothers…”
“HowdidyouknowitsnameisMaureen?”askedDreatlysurprised.
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