Book3:WereMyDreamIs (第10/327页)

anderingaimlesslyaroureetswhenhehappeostepintoastorepiledhighwithallkindsofproducts.Theywerenotcategorizedandexhibitedinanorderlyfashioherstoressothaterscouldseewhatwasoagnfact,everythingiledckadaisicallyontablesandstrewedaboutanyoldway.Thesalespersonwasaveryoldwoman,stoopedandwrinkled,oionherhead.Whenshesawaerstepin,hereyesshohintelligendlookedEmmanuelupanddownsaying,

    “Sir,Iseeyouareschizophrenic.Wouldyouliketotalktome?Ichargeonly15forthat.ButifyouwanttoknowmoreiailIusethetarocardstotellyoufortune.ForthatIcharge50.Howaboutit,sir?”Asithappehatthiswasnotonlyanantiquestore,buyingandsellingoldthingsbutitwasalsoapceforfortuelling.

    “Tohellwiththatmumbojumbo”repliedEmmanuelrudely,wavingtheoldwomanaside.“Idon’tbelieveinthatstuff.”Theoldwoman’ssharpeyesfollowedEmmanueshewanderedarouore.Theinteriorofthestorewasdimandthewaresexhibitedthereweremostlyoldradios,mps,armclocks,telephoneanddust-coatedswallow-tailedcoats,nothingmuchofi,iingonlytojunkcollectorsandpeoplewhocherishedoldthings.Emmanuelwasjustabouttoleavewhenhisfootkickedagainstsomethinghardontheground.Hepickeditupandsawitwasanoldrustybrooise.

    “Putthatbackwhereyoufoundit.It’snotforsale”saidtheoldwoman.

    “Whatrot”saidEmmanuelcrudely.“Whatisitdoinginyourstoreifit’snotforsale?”

    “Itbelongstoawhite-beardeddwarfwholeftitwithmefiftyyearsago.Hesaidhewouldbebackforit,buthenevercameback.However,Iwillkeepmypromiseaforhim.Putitbackwhereitbelongs.”

    Emmanuelrefusedtolistentotheoldwoman’sexpnations.Peelingouttendolrsfromhiswallet,hethrewitoableandwalkedquicklyoutofthestore.“Hey!Hey!Hey!eback!Robber!Thief...”criedtheoldwoman.Butperhapsbecauseshewasold,feebleandnotabletowalkveryfast,shedidnotrushoutafterhim.ThusEmmathisbrooisebycheatingtheoldwomanoutofherantiqueandpayingonlyapittance.

    Emmanuelexamihetortoiseinhishand,tougandpullingit.Hefoundthatitstailwasmovableandshouldhavesomekindofmeismattachedinside.Hepulleditoutasfarasitwouldgoago.Itbouncedback.Ah!evidentlythereringinside.Justatthatmoment,athinlineofpowdersquirtedoutofthetortoise’mouthstraighttowardsEmmanuel’snoseandmouth.Heseemedtosmellthesweetfragranceofunknownflowersandfellfastasleeponthebench.

    Awhileago,CharinaandDimitriweresittingatthetwoendsofheroblongdiningtablewithMaureeweenthem.Ablueballooangledinabranchofatreeinherbackyard,dahebreeze.Sheinallywareathimtoaniahighcssrestaurant,butDimitrishrugged,poiohisdipidatedclothingandpolitelydeedsayinghewasnotdressedforit.CharinatookhimtoanoptometristandboughthimapairofsuorepcethepairDavidtookandtheothegrocerystoreandboughtsomegroceryanditemsfordailyuse.Befoinghome,shestoppedatapizzashopandorderedsomepizza.Dimitrisatatthetableenjoyinghisextremelysatisfyingmeal,drinkingfromhistallgssofbeerfromtimetotime.Hefeltthatthefoodhewaseatingwasdeliciousandlifewasreallywonderful.FearingthatMaureen’slongearsmightbrushintothecheeseandothersauhisdishwhichwouldtarnishhislongsilkyfur,Charinatiedhisearstogetherwithabowatthetopofhishead,makinghimlookcuterthanever.Shehadcutupsomepizzaintobite