Book2:KigdomIteDreams

hotcoffeetowardoffthecold.”Dimitrifollowedhertothestore.Herememberedthattherewasasmallbakeryheke,notfarfromtheapartmenthousewherehelived.Didhespendthenightuheireaves?Thedaywasstillyoung.Themoonaarswerestillintheskyglitteringinicyglory.Suddenlyashuredartedoutfromthedoorandmadefortheemptystreet.Amaliatookherbroomandswattedatthefleeingfiguresaying,

    “Youwretchedman!You’rehereagaintostealthingsthemomentIhavemybackturned!”

    “Ha!Ha!Ha!”ughedtheoldman.“Ieal!IjusttakewhateverIwantmyself!”

    “Don’tyoueverdothatagaitimedIcatchyouIwillbreakys!”

    “Whoishe?”askedDimitri.

    “Whoknowswhoheis”repliedAmalia.“Retlysomehomelesspeoplehavebeenlaroundthisneighborhoodandheisohem–astrangelookingdwarfwithawhitebeard.Healwayssquatstherebytheeracrossthestreetdoingnothing.Whenaskedwhathewasdoingthere,hewouldsayhelikedthesmellofbakihathecouldextrautritionjustfromthearoma.Wheneveryourattentionisdistracted,hewouldsneakin,snatebreadorpastryandrun.Itoldhimagainandagaintherewasfreeday-oldfoodattheer,butheispidtakesonlyfreshly-bakedooldhim,”Ifyoureallywantafreshly-bakedloaf,justaskforitandIwillgiveyouone.Don’tsnatchityourself”Youknowwhathesaidtome?“Ihavealotofmoney.Whowantsyourbread?’Hisannerreallymakesmemad!”Dimitrismiled

    “Hisetricbehaviorremindsmeofafriendofmine.Mr.Finger.”

    Theycametothebakeryandwalkedin.Theroomwasfulloffreshlybakedbreadandpastry,waitingtobepackagedandarrangedforsale.Allthishadtobedonebeforethestoreopened.Abeautifulvoicewasheardhumminghappilywhilew.

    “Hey,Shei