Book3:WereMyDreamIs
mitri?”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,th