Kregždute, kregždele,
Juoda, juodasparne,
Pavasarį žalią
Atneški ant sparno.

Pavasariui einant
Per sodus ir parkus,
Atneški jiems dainą
Ir žiedus paberki.

Atnešk žiedo dvelksmą
Kas rytą ankstyvą,
Pavasario žaismą
Purienoj, alyvoj.

Kregždute, mažyte,
Juoda, juodasparne,
Saulėtekio rytą
Atneški ant sparno.

Tegul tavo skrydis
Neblėsta per lietų,
Nutūpus pagirdyk
Pavasario žiedus.

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Rytmečio saulė pro aprasojusius langus nedrąsiai žvelgė į miegantį Miką, šaltais, gelsvais spinduliais kutendama ir glostydama jo skruostus. Ji savo darbą darė tol, kol pagaliau Mikas pabudo.

Tik pažvelgęs į laikrodį, vaikinas šoko iš lovos lyg po elektros šoko. Rengdamasis nuskubėjo į virtuvę, išgėrė porą stiklų obuolių sulčių. Po keleto minučių jis buvo pasiruošęs. Stvėręs sportinį krepšį, išskubėjo į sutartą vietą, kur laukė autobusas.

Prie autobuso lūkuriavo keletas sportininkų, kiti jau lipo į jį, kai kurie patogiai sėdėjo viduje. Mikas išgirdo bildesį. Išvydęs lange išsišiepusią Vilio fizionomiją, ir pats išsišiepė iki ausų. Staigiai prasibrovė pro autobuso duris ir jau po sekundėlės sėdėjo šalia jo.

Kai visi dalyviai jau sėdėjo vietose, autobusas pajudėjo. Saulė buvo pakopusi aukščiau, pasikėlusi į aukštybes, vis plačiau išsišiepusi žemei, kaskart šilčiau ją glamonėdama. Tačiau Mikas su Viliu to rytmečio grožio nematė, nes jiedu, atlošę galvas į sėdynės atlošą, tylėdami užsimerkę ilsėjosi.

Kelias buvo apkrautas intensyvaus automobilio srauto, kuris driekėsi ilga virtine, todėl ir jie važiavo vos judėdami. Pradžioje jie to dar nepastebėjo, nes skrajojo mintimis apie būsimas varžybas, apie būsimus varžovus, bet vėliau, atsitokėję nuo tų minčių, ėmė jausti nuovargį. Kelionė pradėjo įgrįsti. Norėjosi kuo greičiau atvykti į vietą. Bet kuo labiau to norėjosi, tuo kelias atrodė ilgesnis.Atrodė, kad tam nebus galo. Dar įkyriau ir baugiau pasirodė, kai lenkė virtinę stovinčių mašinų. Kelyje buvo žiauri avarija, kurioje buvo aukų – sudaužytos transporto priemonės, užmuštas arklys, vežimas, kurio ratai po visą plentą į šipulius išsibarstę. Inspektorius parodė lazdelę, kad nesustodami važiuotų toliau. Ir jie palengva judėjo link miesto.

Buvo popietės metas. Kai Mikas pažvelgė pro automobilio langą, saulė buvo aukščiausiame taške. Dangus buvo šviesus ir visiškai giedras. Kuo sparčiau jie artėjo prie miesto, tuo daugiau telkėsi ir lydėjo automobilių gurguolė. Pravažiavę priemiestį, pasuko į vaizdingą kaštonų užgožtą kelią. Po dešimties minučių ta varginanti kelionė buvo baigta – jie laimingai atvažiavo į vietą. Jiems parodė kambarį, kuris buvo skirtas jų komandai.

Mikas buvo išvargęs, labai išalkęs, arklį būtų prarijęs, bet teko kentėti, nes valgykla, kurioje turėjo maitintis, dėl neaiškių priežasčių buvo valandai uždaryta. Nieko kito neliko, kaip, pasiskirsčius lovas, eiti truputį pailsėti. Kritęs į lovą, Mikas net nepajuto, kaip užmigo. Prasimerkė tik po poros valandų, išgirdęs koridoriuje sklindančius balsus. Tik atsikvošėjęs, iškart ėmė jaudintis. Juk buvo toli nuo namų svetimoje vietoje. Nedavė ramybės mintis, ar pagaliau gaus pavalgyti. Tai jam buvo kol kas svarbiausias dalykas, nes buvo taip išalkęs, kad to alkio neįmanoma buvo valdyti.

Apžvelgęs kambarį, Mikas pastebėjo, kad Vilis jau buvo atsikėlęs. Tada pašoko ir jis. Po jo vienas po kito nubudo ir kiti komandos nariai. Kai nusiprausė ir pasidailino, pats laikas buvo pabandyti eiti pavalgyti. Kadangi Vilis Mikui buvo pažadėjęs, kad juo pasirūpins ir alkano nepaliks, jis savo pažadą tęsėjo. Kai Mikas atėjo į valgyklą, Vilis jau sėdėjo prie stalo, kuris buvo nuklotas lyg per geras iškilmes. Penketas porcijų pirmojo patiekalo, penketas – antrojo ir tiek pat kompoto. Kai Mikas pamatė tiek maisto, iškart nuotaika pasitaisė. Jis sekundei net nustebo, kad Vilis laikosi savo žodžio. Ką pažadėjo, tą ir tęsėjo. Štai ir įrodymas to.

- Eikš greičiau, – įnirtingai modamas ranka, išvydęs tarpduryje Miką, kvietė jį Vilis, – eikš, sėskis, kiek galiu laukti… Viskas baigia atvėsti…

- Skubu, skubu, – trindamas delnus, išsišiepęs iš laimės ir rydamas seiles išlemeno Mikas. Prisėdęs prie stalo ir pasiėmęs šaukštą juokaudamas pridūrė: – Na ir šaunuolis! Jeigu ir toliau taip manimi rūpinsies, pažadu skirti tave savo asistentu.

- Visai nebloga mintis, – juokaudamas pritarė Vilis. – Kai vakaruose praturtėsi, kai tapsi milijonieriumi, tada dvidešimt procentų, manau, išmesi ir man…

- O kaip kitaip? Kitaip ir nebus! Juk tu mano geriausias draugas nuo pat lopšelio dienų. Tu man kaip brolis. O broliui nieko negaila.

- Na gerai, jau gerai, apie tai pakalbėsime kitą kartą, – numojęs ranka, numykė Vilis ir sekundėlei nutilo. Jo veide atsirado džiaugsmo kibirkštėlės. Jis pakėlė pirštą ir tęsė: – Bet žinai, tai aš pasistengsiu atminti! O dabar baik krenkšėti kaip sena varna ir kibk greičiau į darbą. Juk pats žinai, kad prieš akis – varžybos.

Ir Mikas, nieko draugui nebeatsakęs, nekreipdamas dėmesio į aplinkinius kibo į darbą. Viską šlavė nuo stalo į save nė neatsipūsdamas. Sriubą suvalgo, antrą patiekalą paima. Jį suvalgo, vėl sriubą pradeda. Ir taip be jokio poilsio valgė, kol ištuštėjo visos lėkštės. Bet visų kompotų išgerti nebepajėgė… Kai baigė, apsidairė ir pamatęs visų salėje sėdinčių dalyvių akis, nukreiptas į jį, nesuprasdamas jų, bakstelėjo Viliui alkūne į šoną ir tyliai sušnibždėjo:

- Ko jie į mane spokso lyg į beždžionę?

Vilis vos valdydamasis nuo juoko, šiaip ne taip atsakė:

- Tegu spokso. Ar gaila? Esu įsitikinęs, kad varžybose ne taip dar į tave spoksos!

Vilis negalėjo įsivaizduoti, kur Mikui sutilpo visas maistas. Jis iš visų jėgų stengėsi save tvardyti ir neprapliupti juoktis. Susivaldęs, jis šiaip ne taip ištarė:

- Metas kilti.

Ir jiedu, pakilę iš savo vietų, grįžo į savo kambarį.

- Na, brolau, tu ir nustebinai mane savo apetitu… Na tu ir šlavei, – pradėjo pasakoti Vilis. – Aš pagalvojau, kad visa salė išsilakstys po tokio tavo pasirodymo.

Nebežinodamas ką ir besakyti, Mikas tik klausėsi, o skruostai kaito.

- Vienas, mačiau, į tave žiūrėdamas, nebesusilaikė ir lyg žąsinas kranksėdamas balsiai prapliupo juoktis. Ir negana to, dar užspringęs makaronais, apipurškė prieš save sėdintį komandos draugą, – jau kvatodamas pasakojo Vilis. – Paskui nebeištvėręs to vaizdo, kurį tu sukūrei, jis išbėgo iš salės net nebaigęs valgyti. Kai vieną po kitos tuščias lėkštes krovei į stirtą, atrodei kaip koks drakonas, kuris neturi nei normos, nei saiko. Taip linksma senai nebuvo!

Netrukus į kambarį sugrįžo kiti komandos dalyviai. Visi buvo taip gerai nusiteikę po gero spektaklio, kad kambaryje užvirė kaip pekloje. Pasakojo dar ir dar, kvatojo… Net ir Mikas nebesusilaikė ir juokėsi kartu su visais iš savo poelgio.Buvo linksma dar ir dar kartą kalbėti apie tą patį.

Taip bejuokaujant ir besišnekučiuojant, net nepastebėjo, kaip prabėgo nemažai laiko ir jau beveik atėjo metas eiti į salę. Neužilgo turėjo prasidėti varžybos. Visi buvo gerokai pasisėmę adrenalino, todėl linksmi ir besišypsantys išskubėjo į salę.

Tik įžengęs žingsnį, Mikas nustėro. Ši sporto salė atrodė įspūdingai. Per visą jos plotį buvo tribūna, kuri sudarė gal 50 eilių. Čia tikrai galėjo tilpti nemažai žiūrovų. Pati salė taip pat pilnai buvo parengta varžyboms. Mikas suskaičiavo penkias paruoštas vietas štangos spaudimui, buvo keturios vietos pritūpimams bei įrengti du skersiniai. Jau buvo susirinkę ir kai kurių miestų komandos, nors ne visos – kitos komandos dar rinkosi. Visi susėdo į jiems skirtą vietą ir laukė varžybų pradžios. Mikas jautėsi kažkiek nejaukiai. Čia buvo daug dalyvių, be to – pilna salė žiūrovų. Jis jaudinosi, nenustigo vietoje belaukdamas, kada pagaliau pradės kviesti išbandyti jėgas. Matydamas, kad Mikas nenusėdi vietoje, Vilis mėgino jį raminti.

- Nesijaudink, lyg nekalta mergaitė. Kiek pažįstu tave ir tu, manau, tiki savo jėgomis! Pamatysi, tau čia nebus lygių konkurentų!

Mikas pažvelgė į draugą ir lyg per prievartą nusišypsojęs, numykė:

- Bet vis vien jaudinuosi. Negaliu nurimti ir gana… Lyg piktasis būtų įlindęs į mane.

-Na tu, brolau, duodi! Ko čia jaudintis?! Įsivaizduok, kad esi treniruotėje. Pakvies paspausti – paspausi, pakvies pritūpti – pritūpsi. Romantika! Pamatysi, po pirmo pasirodymo paskui pats veršiesi į salę, laukdamas savo eilės! Kaip tame anekdote, prisimeni? Kai du draugai pasveikino draugą su gimimo diena, o jis kaip šykštuolis ta proga pastatė litrinį butelį ir pasiūlė tik po taurelę išgerti, o vienas iš dviejų draugų, kiek apkaitęs, nesulaukdamas antros, juokaudamas prabilo: “Užtenka ragauti”. Išgirdęs tuos žodžius, kaltininkas jubiliatas kibo už butelio ir norėjo jau nunešti į barelį, tada tas įkaitęs draugas dar kartą neviltingai prabilo: “Kur neši butelį! Aš sakau, užtenka ragauti, būtų laikas pradėti ir gerti!

Mikas, klausydamas Vilio raminančius žodžius, lyg apsiraminęs šypsojosi, o kai tik paskelbė varžybų pradžią, tiek susijaudino, kad pajuto, kaip dreba visas kūnas. Jis tiek kažko bijojo, kad net nebežinojo, ką daryti, kaip nusiraminti. Nepadėjo net Vilio raminančios frazės. Jau pradėjo kviesti ir pirmuosius varžybų dalyvius… Nors Vilis stengėsi iš visų jėgų kiek įmanydamas padėti Mikui morališkai įveikti pirmąjį jaudulį, ramino jį, bet Mikui sunkiai tai sekėsi valdytis. Ir nors kuriam laikui lyg ir aprimdavo, tai neilgam. Nejučiomis nepastebimai ir vėl tarsi velnio apsėstas imdavo jaudintis. Tas laukimas vedė jį iš pusiausvyros. O kai pagaliau išgirdo savo vardą, pavardę ir miestą, kuriam atstovavo, nukrėtė šiurpas, išpylė šaltas prakaitas ir lyg suakmenėjo.

- Eik, eik, nestovėk kaip stabas, – ragino jį Vilis. – Nustebink žiūrovus savo pasirodymu! Pažvelk į tribūnas. Matai? Jie laukia!

Mikas apsidairė. Iš tiesų tribūnose nesimatė nė vienos laisvos vietelės. Visų žiūrovų akys buvo nukreiptos į stovinčią ant stovų štangą. Iš jų žvilgsnių matėsi, kaip jie nekantrauja, laukia pasirodančio dalyvio. Jis kiek atsitokėjo. Pajuto, kaip tankiai, stipriai stuksi širdis ir tvinksi smilkiniuose. Bet susitvardęs ir nepasidavęs nerimui, jis atsistojo ir priėjęs prie štangos, atsigulė ant suoliuko. Užsikibęs delnais už štangos grifo, nieko aplink nebematė ir nebegirdėjo – tiek buvo susikaupęs. Nusikėlė štangą nuo stovo, veiksmas ir štanga viršuje. Padėjęs ją ant stovų, lengvai atsiduso ir patenkintas, kad taip nesunkiai ji jam pakluso, patrynęs delnais, atsistojo. Išgirdęs, kad kažkodėl žiūrovai pradėjo švilpti ir šūkalioti, Mikas pastebėjo, kad teisėjai rodo raudoną lentelę. Mikas sunerimo. Nesupratęs, ką tai galėtų reikšti, jis priėjo prie savo komandos trenerio.

- Kodėl, po velnių, rodo tą lentelę? Juk svorį įveikiau lengvai ir nepriekaištingai?!

- Čia kažkas ne taip, – numykė treneris.

- Per švelniai pasakyta, įsikarščiavęs įsikišo į pokalbį Vilis. Jis buvo įtūžęs. – Čia kažkoks absurdas! Aš taip to nepaliksiu ir tuoj išsiaiškinsiu!

Iš tiesų, Vilis nuėjo. Mikas matė, kad diskusija buvo nelabai maloni. O ir Vilis sugrįžo įpykęs.

- Ne be reikalo nerimavai, drauguži, tau to spaudimo neužskaitė, nes atseit nuo grindų pakėlei vieną koją.

Vilis buvo taip supykęs, kad tai galėjo pastebėti visi. Jo staigūs judesiai, galvos purtymas, kumščio į ranką baksnojimas ir dūsavimai išdavė jo pyktį ir nerimą.

- Bandžiau ginčytis su jais, – tęsė jis, – bet jie neina į kalbas… Čia kažkas ne taip, turbūt yra nusiteikę prieš tave ir kiša koją, kad tu nelaimėtum ir prie to paties – mūsų klubas. Ruoškimės dar kokioms staigmenoms.

Ir nors Vilis niršo ant teisėjų, Miką stengėsi nuraminti.

- Nesijaudink, kai eisi antrą kartą atlikti spaudimą, aš tau po kojomis padėsiu štangos blynus. Taip kad nesijaudink, viskas bus gerai.

Neilgai Mikui teko laukti savo eilės. Kai vėl išgirdo savo pavardę, šįkart nieko nebijojo ir nebesijaudino. Dar daugiau, jautėsi “nugesintas”. Jis buvo pasiruošęs įrodyti savo jėgą ir pranašumą, techniką. Taigi, išėjo kiek supykęs, nusiteikęs nugalėti. Net jaudulys dingo. Vilis taip pat išėjo su juo. Kai Mikas atsigulė ant suoliuko, Vilis padėjo po kiekviena koja dešimties kilogramų svorio blynus, o Mikas, sugriebęs ir pasitaisęs štangos grifą, susikaupė, pakėlė nuo stovų štangą, veiksmas, spaudimas ir štanga viršuje! Net nepajuto jos, atrodė ji it pūkelis. Pasigirdo ovacijos ir pavienių žiūrovų šūksniai:

- Štai taip!

- Šaunuolis!

- Valio Mikai!

Šį kartą svorį užskaitė. Mikas buvo toks laimingas, kaip niekada… Abu jie grįžo į komandos būrelį. Visi sutiko jį girdami ir tapšnodami per petį lyg būtų geri pažįstami ar seni komandos draugai.

- Šaunuolis, parodei jiems, sveikinu, gerai čempione, dar parodyk, – vienas per kitą kalbėjo jie.

Mikas jautėsi labai pakiliai, kai buvo apsuptas komandos draugų, kurie džiaugėsi kartu su juo, nors pažįstami buvo tik vieną dieną. O žiūrint iš šalies atrodė, kad vienas kitą žino jau labai seniai. Vilis taip pat nesitvėrė savo kailyje nuo sėkmingo ir įspūdingo atlikto Miko spaudimo. Šypsodamasis jis tapšnojo draugui per nugarą ir džiaugsmingai šnibždėjo jam pagiros žodelius.

Mikas atsisėdo ant suoliuko laukti savo eilės trečiam priėjimui. Laukti teko gana ilgai. Buvo užsisakęs labai didelį svorį. Jo eilė atėjo tik tada, kai jau visi sportininkai pabaigė savo pasirodymą. Viliui teko gerokai paplušėti, masažuojant nuo per ilgos pauzės sustėrusius rankų, nugaros raumenis, ruošiant jį trečiam išėjimui.

Kai Miką pakvietė, žiūrovai tribūnose įsiaudrinę plojo, o kai atsigulė ant suoliuko – nutilo ir laukė… Vėlgi susikaupęs Mikas ruošėsi spaudimui – užsikibęs už štangos grifo, ieškojo tinkamiausios padėties, kaupėsi, ir kai pajutęs jėgų antplūdį nukėlė nuo stovų štangą, įkvėpdamas nuleido ir… op, iškvėpdamas orą, išspaudė.

Salėje vėl pradėjo šaukti ir ploti… Mikas jautėsi galingai… Jis neslėpė džiaugsmo, pasitenkinimo. Tokių audringų ovacijų banga jį stiprino, kuteno jo širdį. Jis degė savo pasirodymu džiuginti vėl ir vėl susirinkusius salės žiūrovus. Būdamas pakilioje nuotaikoje, užsisakė dar vieną priėjimą – ketvirtąjį. Kiek pavaikščiojęs, pailsėjęs ir atsikvėpęs, atsigulė ant suoliuko, susikaupė, veiksmas ir štanga viršuje! Salėje ūžė, plojo, sklido pavieniai balsai “Šaunuolis”, “Dar bandyk vieną priėjimą”. Įsijautęs, nebetausodamas jėgų, Mikas nusprendė patenkinti žiūrovų užgaidas, jis bandė eiti užsisakyti dar didesnį svorį, bet Vilis sustabdė :

- Tu ir duodi… Jeigu drebi, tai drebi, bet kai įsivažiuoji, sustoti nebenori! Užteks, brolau, su savimi varžytis. Pažadu, galėsi kitur parodyti savo sugebėjimus, kur moka už pasirodymą, o čia dėl popieriaus lapo neverta aukoti jėgų. O be to, dar prieš akis laukia pritūpimai.

Mikas, gerai pagalvojęs, sutiko su Vilio nuomone. Gal ir gerai, galvojo jis, gal iš tiesų jis tiesą sako. Neverta aukoti be tikslo jėgas, nes ir taip jau aišku, kad spaudimo rungtyje esu užėmęs pirmą vietą. Tiek to, bus dar tų varžybų, nusprendė Mikas ir atsisėdo ant suoliuko.

Varžybos spaudimo pratimu dar nesibaigė. Prieš akis dar laukė kiti jėgos pratimai. Vyrams – pritūpimai su štanga ir trauka, o jaunučiams – prisitraukimai prie skersinio. Laukdamas, kol jį pakvies pritūpimui su štanga, Mikas jau ramiai stebėjo varžybas. Buvo visiškai atsipalaidavęs, energingas ir žvalus. Jis stebėjo, kaip jaunučiai traukiasi prie skersinio. Užmesdavo akį ir į pritūpimo su štanga sektorių, laukdamas savo eilės. Pagaliau atlikti pritūpimą su štanga pakvietė ir jį.

- Žiūrėk, nepersistenk, – patapšnojęs per petį, palydėjo jį Vilis.

Jis buvo geras žmogus ir tikras draugas. Savo trykštančia energija mokėjo užkrėsti ne vieną. Bendrauti galėjo ir norėjo, ir mokėjo su bet kuo, o tas bruožas Mikui ir visiems kitiems patiko. Taip kad nors jis ir buvo karšto būdo, jie kalbėdavosi, suprasdavo vienas kitą, žinojo, ko reikia, ir ko ne, bendraudavo kaip du broliai.

- Gerai, Vili, bus kaip nori, kaip per treniruotę, – šyptelėjęs ir mirktelėjęs akį, pasakė Mikas ir nuskubėjo prie štangos.

Palindęs po ja, Mikas abiem rankomis įsitvėrė į grifą, susikaupė ir pečių, nugaros, kojų pagalba pakėlė ją nuo stovų. Žengęs žingsnį į priekį, kelias sekundes pastovėjo ir tiesiog pritūpė taip techniškai ir tiksliai, kad liko tik atsistoti. Visiškai nesunkiai jis tai ir padarė. Vilis įsijautęs nepastebėjo, kaip pašoko nuo suoliuko, matydamas kaip nesunkiai jis įveikė savo užsakytą svorį. Planą Mikas įvykdė be jokių pastangų. Pirma vieta jau buvo garantuota, o ir Ąžuolo komandai, kuriai atstovavo Mikas, buvo labai didelis pliusas.

Karštis, kuris tvyrojo salėje, ir vėl užkrėtė Miką. Antru priėjimu jis įsismaginęs užsisakė rekordinį svorį – beveik dviems šimtais didesnį nei pasaulio rekordas. Vilis bandė jį nukalbėti, bet Mikas jo net negirdėjo. Jis buvo tiek susikaupęs, tiek pilnas energijos, tiesiog degte degė įveikti šį svorį, norėdamas padėti tašką šiai rungčiai ir varžyboms su nauju pasaulio rekordu. Kai jis jau stojosi su štanga ant pečių, salėje vyravo tyla. Visi laukė užlaikę kvėpavimą, pavyks jam įveikti šį fantastinį svorį, ar ne. Ir jam pavyko. Ir nors jį su štanga šiek tiek užmetė į priekį, sukaupęs visas jėgas ir dalį svorio priėmęs nugara, šiaip ne taip atlaikė tą svorį ir atsistojo. Jis įvykdė užsibrėžtą tikslą! Visi žiūrovai plojo, o kai kurie subėgo ir apsupę jį ratu, gyrė… Kiti bandė tą štangą pajudinti, bet nepajėgė to padaryti. Ne mažiau džiaugėsi ir Vilis, ir visa komanda, ir pats Mikas, sveikino, spaudė dešinę… Šiuo Miko pritūpimu buvo baigtos jėgos pratimų rungtys. Už trijų valandų turėjo prasidėti raumenų rodymo dalis.

…….bus daugiau……

…..

Užėjau į parduotuvę kelioms minutėms. Kai išėjau į lauką pamačiau, kad policininkas rašo baudos kvitą už ne vietoje pastatytą automobilį. Aš priėjau ir gražiai paprašiau, kad už pirmą nusižengimą taip smarkiai nebaustų. Policininkas nesileido į kalbas ir rašė toliau. Tada aš pasakiau, kad jis neturi širdies ir žmogiškumo. Jis išrašė dar didesnę baudą. Na, aš pradėjau jam šaukti, kad jis yra tikras paršas ir fašistas. Jis ėmė išrašinėti dar vieną kvitą už pareigūno įžeidimą ir ėmė kabinėtis, kad įskilęs stiklas, nudilusios padangos ir dar kažkas. O aš išdėjau jį į šuns dienas kaip tiktai mokėjau. Baudos kvitų buvo prirašyta visa šūsnis. Kai jis bandė man juos įbrukti, pasakiau kad neimsiu ir tegul jis juos susisuka į triūbelę ir susikiša sau į užpakalį. Policininkas užkišo visus kvitus už valytuvo ir dar ėmė išrašinėti šaukimą į teismą. Tegul rašo ką nori. Mano mašina stovi už kampo, aikštelėje. Aš tik šiaip, pro šalį ėjau…

……

…

Žmogus neklysta. Bet dažniausiai jis vykdo įsakymus tų, kurie linkę klysti. 

Yra klausimų?

Chapter 8

What shall I do? How shall I live on? Constant existential questions accompanied Larry home and did not stay behind in hospital. They became his permanent escort. How shall I live further, he thought, without a leg, without concerts, races, friends… without Arnold? How shall I live without Eva? Larry was ruined. He could not look at his reflection, because he felt inferior. He walked with his prosthesis only at home. He was afraid to show outside and to make a step in the town. Only at night he used to walk out in the balcony, look at the stars and curse himself, his mother and doctors. He could not remember of another autumn, so cold and rainy.

Time passed. Each new day more and more ruined Larry‘s self-confidence. Eight months had passed – long like eternity and tormenting like uncertainty. There must be a way out. I need do something about it… The very same thoughts did not leave him in peace. At last Larry got tired of feeling sorry for him and got tired of suffering.  May be that feeling was caused by the spring that broke into his life like a tornado? He did not realize that, but he could feel a rush of strength and willingness to start everything from the very beginning. His soul, all his body was glowing in a strange flame. He made that decision insensibly, but also at once. He was ready for essential changes in his life. I have to live with my head raised up. Arnold and Edna were right, Larry decided, saying that even it is the cabbage field, but still with pride… At last, Larry understood, why he was left alone, abandoned by everybody. Because he asked for sympathy while your own pain has to be suffered by yourself. 

I need to start somewhere! I cannot stay here like a wild animal in its cage. First of all, I have to get used to my artificial leg, I can‘t drag it to and from, I have to learn to control myself and handle everything on my own. What is about fear? It‘s dangerous. But I can cope with it. I have to. Doesn‘t matter, what people around and neighbors will think of it… Let them tease me, if they like. I‘ll simply try not t notice and hear it. Larry was examining himself in front of the mirror. Nobody would even tell that I have lost a leg.

Larry went to the living room. Mother was watching TV. Her face brightened up, when she saw Larry.  

“Son, did I get it right? You are going out…”

“Yes, mama, you did. Hopefully, people will not be pointing their fingers at me and won‘t whisper behind my back.” 

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“No… I want to go by myself.”

When he got outside, Larry looked around. At the neighboring house fence, he noticed Edgar, his neighbor, who was trimming bushes. He was slightly junior Larry, so they never communicated much. Of course, they always used to say hello to each other. Edgar was submerged in his work. I hope he wouldn‘t notice me, Larry expected. He made a sudden turn to the opposite direction.

“Larry, wait!”

Larry went cold all over and, when he turned around, he noticed the same neighbor hurrying towards him.

“Well, how are you,” he started right away, without giving a chance to Larry to open his mouth. “I heard about the accident…”

“Yes, it happened,” Larry answered reluctantly and often looked down at his legs.

“Why didn‘t you show up for such a long time? Almost six months have passed, I saw you coming back.”

I came back with prosthesis already, Larry thought, so, perhaps, he doesn‘t even know that I have lost my leg.

Edgar was so energetic, that he did not give Larry a chance to insert a word. “Thomas and I were waiting for you to come out. We wanted to take you somewhere… But Sandra was against that. You know? Sandra is always like that.  She always thinks that she might have looked to the wrong spot, or put her hand in the wrong place and asked he wrong question…”

“Wait, wait, Edgar, who is Sandra?”

“Thomas’s sister,” he replied in surprise. “You know Thomas, don‘t you? They live on the opposite side of the street,” Edgar pointed towards a pink two-story house with a small tower.

Larry could not understand it still. “There used to live a single old woman…”

Then Edgar got the point. “Oh, you don‘t know them yet, they moved in just recently.”

“I thought so, that there must be something wrong.” Larry smiled.

Edgar scratched his head. “You must have seen them. They moved in right before the accident,” he was insisting. 

“I don‘t remember them, for the life of me I can‘t…”

“Never mind, I will introduce you to each other. We are in good relations, Thomas is my age, and Sandra finished school just last year. You know,” he scratched again, “I think you should have noticed Sandra. Or you don‘t like young girls?” Edgar was happy about his quip.     “Sorry for not visiting you then, but now we will be able to keep in touch. Would you mind it?”

“No, not at all,” Larry said, shaking his neighbor‘s hand. 

In a few hours, Larry came back home. He was so happy that he even woke up his mother. He needed somebody to shear his impressions with.

“You know, mama, I there was no point worrying so…”

“Didn‘t I tell you so?”

“You were right, mama,” Larry was smiling, “everything will be different now.” 

“Did you notice any angry or offensive looks?”

“No, mama… Not one a single! Everybody treated me just as a singer… One young girl even approached me. She asked when would it be the next time that our group would give a concert, and asked for an autograph.”  

“Well, are you happy now?”

“Oh, mammy, I have almost forgotten this feeling!”

●○●

Gradually Larry got used to his disability. He stopped giving himself a hard time and threw himself into the life. During the days he used to go for training a lot: weight lifting, exercising in front of mirrors, walking and watching himself in them. After long, hard and painful training, he toughened up. Slowly, his self-confidence and confidence in his own power came back to him. Then he finally realized that it was possible to continue living! He started creating songs, playing the guitar and writing texts. His new friends – Edgar, Thomas and Sandra – were the key that unlocked Larry‘s soul again. Larry even started driving his red sports car again. There was one more step to do, which was the hardest one: he needed to see Eva. He had to rectify his mother‘s mistake.   

In the evening, Larry, Thomas and Sandra agreed to go to a wonderful cafe, which was attractive by one more fact that was located very close to their home. It was long before the evening, so Larry decided to visit Eva. He got into his red sports car and shot forward. He approached the door even without limping.  Nobody from a side would say that he was with prosthesis. He made a sign of the cross and pressed a button.  The door opened in a minute. Larry saw a young lady.

“Are you looking for someone?” she was surprised. 

“Excuse me,” Larry said excited, “I have come to see Eva. Could you please call her up?”

“Eva?” the woman replied in surprise. “She doesn‘t live here any longer.”

“How come that she doesn‘t? She used to live here before…”

“Might be, but we purchased this flat before the New Year and it is even beyond the Ester now…”

It can‘t be true, Larry thought. He was in a hot sweat. Did they move out? What shall I do now? ”Do you happen to know,” he asked again, “where the previous dwellers have moved out?”

“No, I don‘t know indeed. Ask the neighbors,” the woman suggested. “May be they know something about it.”

Hardly making steps Larry returned to his car. He waited for a long time hoping for a miracle. He was expecting to see Eva suddenly show up from somewhere. He was afraid even of the thought that he might never see her again…He thought he was dreaming…  

Having returned home, Larry closed himself in his room. His friends could hardly talk him into going out to the cafe. This time all of them got drunk very quickly, since each of them were oppressed by theirs own problems. They drank white wine with bites of cutlets, and then switched to cognac. Perhaps, it was too much. Edgar, who had been silent all the time, suddenly expressed his wish to say a toast, since he saw Larry‘s sad face.  

“Go ahead,” Thomas agreed. “Just do it distinctly, don‘t mumble.”

From the beginning, Edgar mumbled something, even slightly, stammering, but leisurely his voice became stronger. “Larry is a little senior us, but it doesn‘t matter, since it does not interfere with our friendship,” he talked. “I want Larry to know that he is wrong, if he thinks that we do not understand his pain. We are friends and we are together! We‘ll support him as much as we can, and in a particular case,” he cast a look around, “I don‘t know how about you, but I would even give my life for him. If this would be necessary… Therefore, I propose to raise our glasses to friendship and that it…” He stuck. “What was it that I wanted to say more?”

“Yes. I guess, you forgot the most important point,” Sandra added joking.

“He‘ll remember it tomorrow…” Thomas noted.

“Well, thank you for your attention, as well-mannered and steady people say,” Edgar bitterly finished his talk.  

Most probably, that toast was supposed to wrap up the party, but Edgar was willing to talk everybody to a bar. 

“Who is going to let us in being in such a condition?” Larry questioned.

“Let‘s go to the cellar then. They will have enough space there,” Sandra‘s friend Brenda, who had also been invited to the party, suggested.

“Sure!” Sandra agreed, “It is so dark there, that you might come naked there.” Sandra laughed so catching, that Brenda burst into laugh as well. Both girls were laughing like crazy.

“No,” Edgar said slowly, “I want to the bar which gives an entertainment program…”

“We‘ll go there, when we are properly dressed,” Sandra cut it with no mercy at all.

Larry did not mind it. It‘s better to get totally drunk, he was thinking. May be, it will help to forget everything. “Sure, Edgar,” Larry said. “We are the majority, so you will have to accept it…”

Small lamps with red bonnets illuminated the cellar. There were a few tables. Big cactuses stood stubby in the corners.  There were very few people.   

“The place is not so bad,” Larry mumbled. 

“Yes, indeed,” Sandra enjoyed it. “I like it…”

“You like it everywhere, unless it‘s dark,” Thomas said. “You know, my sister must have been born at night…”

“Don‘t be so smart,” Sandra shot back.

“Stop quarrelling, on earth,” Edgar calmed down the heat. “You are welcome to fight at home and this is a public place… Here they come, brother and sister.” He turned to Larry. “I always have to stand in between them.”

“I noticed that…”

The company ordered a bottle of whisky with soda and ice. At least, they would know what they would be drinking.  Otherwise, they might be giving customers anything you like in such a dark place.  When they finished the bottle, the little Brenda had been having sweet dreams for a while right at the table and Sandra was dancing without any music. Larry‘s look was wandering around the hall. It was very dark, however, his eyes stopped at one table – Larry recognized Kevin at once. 

“Hello, old buddy,” Kevin shook Larry‘s hand and patted on his shoulder. “Are you walking already?”

“As you can see it…”

“I was planning to visit you… Both, Mark and myself, wanted to come to your place, but we didn‘t want to disturb you … We felt somehow uneasy.”

“I didn’t want myself to see anybody, but it‘s over now,” Larry‘s smile vanished, “I miss Arnold…”

“Our group has fallen apart…”

“Good you reminded me. I have an idea.”

“Do you want to gig again?”

“Of course! I have written quite a number of texts, a couple of melodies. We could arrange a gig in the memory of Arnold.”

“Good idea,” Kevin agreed, “and I have found a guitarist.”

“Is he that guy?”

“Yes, he is. He is quite good, I have already checked.”

“Do you know him for a long time?”

“He is my girlfriend‘s brother. I have talked to him about the company. What do you think, Larry?”

Kevin stood in front of Larry and waited for an answer. Larry looked at Kevin‘s friend, then at Sandra, who was still dancing, and Edgar was squirming together with her. Thomas was gawking at girls, who were entertaining a foreigner with moustache. Brenda, her head on the table, was not making a movement. The view had cheered up Larry.    

“What are you smiling at? I guess, you do agree?”

“Of course, I do, because that was my idea. Why don‘t we meet some time to discuss this matter, I don‘t want to take more of your time now…”

“You are not taking my time, but aren‘t they missing you?”

“I don‘ think so, our party is over.”

“Come to my place tomorrow and we will discuss everything.”

“My pleasure. See you tomorrow.”

Edgar and Sandra were waiting for him at the table already.

“Well, I guess, we should take another one,” Edgar proposed, having made quite merry.

“Let‘s take it,” Thomas agreed. 

“Don‘t you feel enough yet?” Larry teased him, “go ahead and try to get on your feet. I think you can hardly keep your legs.”

“Come on,” Thomas was a little angry. 

“Even your tongue twists in your mouth,” Larry did not leave him alone.

Suddenly Thomas jumped on his feet. Probably, he wanted to prove it to everybody that he was still strong enough. But he did not succeed in that, since he wobbled and was about to fall down on his back, but a waiter supported him and seated back in his place.  

“Not a drop more,” Larry got angry, “you‘d better learn how to drink first!”

“All right, all right,” Thomas said. “I have had too much.”

It was rather warm in the street. Though rain was refreshing their faces, the company was hardly dragging along. Larry was the strongest of all them, but Sandra clawed hold of his elbow. Thomas and Edgar pulled along Brenda by her arms. Thomas could hardly walk. His pace was funny.  

“Aren‘t you going to accompany me home?” Sandra proposed simpering.

Larry noticed that Sandra is looking at him with her flattering eyes. Oh, boy, Larry thought. Does she expect anything from me? “I don‘t have another choice,” Larry said annoyed.

He gave a sigh and dragged her along on dark sideways. With each cross road, the girl‘s legs were twisting more and more and she was almost leaning against Larry‘s shoulder.  The prosthesis on his stump was giving him a gyp, so that Larry himself was hardly making his way. Moreover, Sandra stumbled over something and stretched full-length on the pavement like a rubber boat.  Larry had ‘a pleasure’ to lift her up. Sandra was quite openly licking his ear and cuddling around like a cat in heat. When they had finally reached the house, Larry was heated like a match. Larry leaned Sandra against the wall and unlocked the outside door with her key.  

“Won’t you come up for a short while?” the girl offered without any scruples.

“What’s for? What will your parents say?”

“My parents are out.”

Larry was not pushing forward to go inside, he wanted just a hot bath, but since the girl was inviting… “It‘s late already…”

“Just for a minute… You will play the piano or the guitar. I will play something for you as well.”

“How do you know that I can play?” he asked and immediately realized that he made a fool of himself, because he used to play and sing in a popular group. 

“These days everybody could…”

She is quite funny, Larry thought. That‘s nonsense! Of course, not everybody… Probably, he‘ll have to go with her. I‘d like to show her, how one is supposed not just to play, but to sing also.

“Don‘t worry, I‘m not going to fall down,” the girl smiled, “but if you want to support me, I won‘t mind.”

Larry let her go at once. Actually, she was keeping her legs quite well.

“We have a good piano,” she mumbled, “and I got the guitar recently. But you will have to set them.”

While both of them were tuning the piano, Larry perked up before long. Sandra, as it turned out, was very sweet. She was very simple and it was buying. They both were joking, discussing things and argued. They had worked till five in the morning. Thomas saw Brenda home and went straight to bed, because after a good ‘sitting’ at the bar he felt very weak. Next was the guitar‘s turn. Over that time, they both sobered down and felt disgustingly.  Sandra went to make some coffee and Larry tried to play one of his favorite melodies. Sandra listened to him standing in the doorway like hypnotized and was afraid to spill out the coffee.  

“This is a beautiful song,” Sandra said, when Larry had finished singing. “I haven‘t heard it before.”

Why didn‘t she say that I sing nice, Larry thought. “It‘s my song,” he boasted.

“Do you create songs?” Sandra was surprised.

“Seems like that…”

“So, do you play with some group?”

Larry got tong-tied. How could it be that she doesn‘t know? I thought that everybody knows us… “I used to,” Larry replied.

“How should understand this ‘used to’? Did you stop playing at all?”

“I did, for the time being.”

“Why?”

Suddenly Larry felt that he wanted to tell her about everything, but he stopped in the right spot realizing that he was not willing to disclose the true reason. He did not want to tell her that he lost his leg. He did not want to get sympathy any more. 

“Cross-purposes,” he said and sipped some coffee. 

“For money or for the girls?”

“Neither one, nor the other…

“May be, I look too curious, I‘m sorry,” she started, “but are so full of mysteries and I know nothing about you.”

“So, what is it that you want to know?”

Sandra smiled. “You know, Larry, there is one question that it doesn‘t leave me in peace. I wanted to ask Edgar this question, because he knows you better, but I‘d better ask yourself now…”

Larry got riveted at the spot. It‘s interesting, he thought, what would she ask about? Why she is smiling so mysteriously…

“You know, we spent quite some time together… Well, I mean, not just two of us,” she blushed a little, “but I get the impression that you don‘t have a girlfriend. Am I right?”

Larry went cold all over. He was not sure himself, if Eva still was his girl friend. She was simply gone. “Yes and no,” Larry said slowly and emptied his cup of coffee by half at once.

“How come? I don‘t get it.”

Larry did not want to give any commitments, since Sandra could be a nice girlfriend as well. But his love… Larry felt that Eva was the only precious person for him.

“Then let‘s say yes,” he replied. He was about to leave; the interrogation was becoming unpleasant and questions were breaking his hear. Sandra understood his mood and no more questions were asked. 

“Play something more, please,” Sandra asked after a long pause.  

She did not like my answer, Larry thought. Sure, she would feel much better, if I had said that I had been looking for a girl friend. He went closer to the window. Swallows were diving down at the very ground. “Next time, I promise.” Larry turned to Sandra and smiled. “I have to go now.”

“But we will meet again and continue our discussion, won‘t we?” the girl asked hopefully.

“I‘ll see…”

“I‘ll be waiting…”

Having closed the outside door behind him, Larry thought for a long while. If only I could change my destiny, if only Eva would be next to me… She disappeared… Sandra showed up… Is it a fortune’s smile or just a trial? Larry took a deep breath.

The weather was not cold, just the morning light was still cold. The sun was hanging up the first rays on the walls of houses. One way or the other, Larry thought, shouldn‘t Eva moved out, he wouldn‘t have to think what to do now. I would have stayed together with her. Probably, we would get married soon. Larry was pierced by sharp and unbearable pain. But why, Eva? Why did you through this lightening to my heart, which keeps burning forever?

……. bus daugiau…..

Raumens masažas

1. Kartu sudėjus vidurinįjį ir rodomąjį pirštus padėkite ant viršutinio nosies tilto. Taikydami švelnų spaudimą žemiau antakio ir virš akies voko pirštų galiukais masažuodami, judėkite link smilkinių. Nenaudokite jokio spaudimo tiesiogiai akių vokams, tik šiek tiek virš jų palei kietą, kaulėtą sritį.

Kai pasieksite smilkinius, pamasažuokite šiek tiek apvaliame judėjime.

2.  Tą patį darykite palei kaulėtą dalį žemiau jūsų akių. Masažuodami judėkite smilkinių kryptimi, o kai juos pasieksite, vėl masažuokite apvaliame judėjime. Masažuodami netaikykite jokio spaudimo akies vokams ar akies obuoliams.

Naktis jau juodą sparną tiesia,

Skęsta tyloj gatvės ir miestas.

Baigia ir žvakė užgesti, ir šviesti,

Mėnuo už lango pas save jau kviečias.

Ir žvaigždės mirksėdamos kužda užeiti,

Ir tyla, juodai pasipuošus, išsidraikiusi,

Ir sapnas paslaptingais savo sapnais,

Ir miego princas lopšinės kerais…

Žvakė užgeso sudegus liepsnoj.

Ir tu jau sapne – ir tenai, ir čionai.

Paskendęs garsuos, lopšinės dainoj,

Miego karalystėj, ramybės tyloj.

Dėmesio: palindus po štanga, ji turi būti prie pat krūtinės.

Šis pratimas atliekamas per 14 priėjimų, kiekvienu priėjimu svorį didinant nuo 0,5 iki 10 kg (iš pradžių 10kg, nuo 6-to priėjimo – po 5 kg, nuo 11-to priėjimo – po 0,5 kg). I priėjimas – 4kartai, II-IV priėjimai 3 kartai, V-VIII priėjimai – 2 kartai, likusieji – po vieną kartą.

Apsiskaičiuokite, nuo kokio svorio pradėsite spausti štangą, nes 14-tu priėjimu turėtumėte išspausti didžiausią jūsų pasiektą svorį. 

Po to daromi 4 priėjimai, kai nuėmę štangą nuo stovų viršuje, tik tik lengvai nuleidžiame iki krūtinės ir paliekame ant kaladžių žemai.

Atminkite, iš pradžių štangą palaikykite ir tik po to palengva leiskite žemyn.

            Dėmesio: svorį pasirenkame 20 kg didesnį nei spaudžiate maksimumą ir didinate po 5 kg. Pavyzdžiui, jei paspaudžiate 150kg, 1-u priėjimu nuleidžiate štangą su 170kg svoriu. 2-u priėjimu –175 ir tt..

© E.Vigelis

Taip šviežia, taip gera, taip balta -
Glosto sielą ir žavi giliai.
Eglių žalgirius išpuošė šaltis
Baltaspalviais sniegų kamuoliais.

O ir mūsų langai pasipuošę
Įspūdingai vitražais gražiais.
Per naktis už langų šiauriui ošiant,
Juos nuspalvino šaltis dažais.

Apledėjo ilgam upės guvios,
Ir išdykusiam žiemiui slidu.
O sustingusios šaltyje žuvys
Tarsi miega po šaltu ledu.

Vakare, kai danguj žvaigždės švyti,
Tartum perlai sutviska sniegai. – - 
Karalystėj sniegynų kas rytą
Šerkšno puokštės puikuojas smagiai.

Ar pusnynai, ar stūgauja vėjas,
Baltas grožis pradžiugina mus.
Tarsi pasakos fėja atėjo
Į mūsų širdis ir mūsų namus.

© E.Vigelis

© E.Vigelis

Kartūs žodžiai… ir vėl…
Vėl sunku kaip kadais…
Liejas pykčio srove
Nuodingiausi nuodai…

Ši taurė sklidina
Iki pat jos briaunų.
Žodžiai plaka mane, – -
Bet vis vien gyvenu.

Kiek taurių, nežinia,
Teks dar gerti tokių,
Nes taurė vėl nauja
Paruošta. Kaip klaiku…

Pasiruošimas

Atsispausdinkite paveikslą ir pakabinkite ant sienos tokiame aukštyje, kad sėdėdami kėdėje, jis būtų akių lygyje. Atstumas nuo sienos iki jūsų turi būti 2 – 6metrai. Atstumą pasirinkite tokį, kad neryškiai matytumėte viršutinę raidę E (tobulai aiškiai netinka). Jei net sėdėdami už 6 metrų nuo diagramos raidę E matote pakankamai aiškiai, tada išsirinkite kitą raidę iš žemiau esančios eilutės. Jei E raidės nematote sėdėdami už 2 metrų nuo diagramos, tada kompiuteryje parašykite tokį raidės dydį, kad atsispaudinę ir pakabinę virš diagramos, galėtumėte ją atpažinti, nors ir matytumėte neryškiai. Kai jūsų regėjimas ims gerėti, tada naudosite paveiksle esančias smulkesnes raides. 

Dabar atsisėskite prieš paveikslą, užsidėkite raištį ant bet kurios akies. Būkite tikri, kad ją atmerkus, nepraeina šviesa ir yra visiškai tamsu. Jei neturite raiščio, galima prisidengti rieškute (su raiščiu patogiau). Susitelkite ties “E” ar bet kuria pasirinkta raide ir užsirašykite atstumą nuo kėdės iki sienos ir kokią raidžių eilę jūs perskaitote. Tą patį padarykite kita akimi. Tikėtina, kad rezultatai bus skirtingi priklausomai nuo akių stovio. Tai reikalinga, kad galėtumėte sekti savo progresą. 

Atsispausdinkite ir apkirpkite diagramą.

Pridėkite ją kiek galima arčiau veido (nuotolis gali būti maždaug nuo 7 iki 30 cm), bet kad galėtumėte pasirinktą raidę perskaityti arba atskirti, nors neturite raidės matyti pakankamai aiškiai. Kuo arčiau veido laikote, tuo geriau.

Laikykite diagramą tokioje padėtyje, kad tik pažvelgus pro jos viršų, nejudindami galvos, galėtumėte perskaityti eilę raidžių, kurią pasirinkote anksčiau (ant sienos plakate). 
Pratimo eiga

Pradėkite pratimą, susitelkdamas ties raide, kurią pasirinkote diagramoje. Dabar sklandžiai ir skubiai permeskite žvilgsnį į raidę, kurią pasirinkote plakte. Kai tik užfiksuosite raidę plakate ant sienos, vėl sklandžiai permeskite žvilgsnį atgal į raidę ant diagramos. Kartokite šią seką gana ilgai.

 Pradžioje pastebėsite, kad sutelkti žvigsnį užtrunka apie porą sekundžių kai permetate žvilgsnį nuo diagramos prie plakato. Kai priprasite sklandžiai ir greitai pakeisti žvilgsnį tarp abiejų priemonių, po kurio laiko pamatysite, kad pasirinkta raidė ant diagramos bei plakate tampa aiškesnės. Kai tai įvyks, galėsite atsisėsti toliau nuo plakato ant sienos arba pasirinkti mažesnių raidžių eilutę.

Užsirašinėkite progresą kiekvinai akiai ir po kurio laiko patys nustebsite, kad skaitote raides mažesnes, negu galėjote kada įsivaizduoti tai darysiantys.

Sėkmės

Chapter 7

Larry opened his eyes and did not understand where he was: white bed, curtains, night lamp and a girl wearing a white robe and a hat. Larry was about to get up, but stinging pain nailed him to the bed. Then he recalled of the race and the crash.

“My leg,” Larry said in a strangled voice, “my leg hurts…”

The nurse turned around and cast a look at him. “Oh, our handsome man has woken up already. Well,” she stood up and came closer to Larry, “what is it?” 

“How is my leg? Is it very bad? How soon can I get up?”

The nurse was a little upset. “I’ll call up the doctor. He wanted to examine you, so will be able to ask him this question.”

“Thanks, nurse. I can wait.” Larry smiled. “I feel quite well. I just want to know, when I will be able to get out here.”

He did not have to wait long. A minute later, a tall and stout man entered the room. He wore serious expression of his face, one hand in the pocket of his robe while he was twiddling with a pencil in the other. He was obviously bothered with something.     

“Well, how is my patient doing?” he asked in a heavy and rasp voice. 

“I feel a terrible pain in my left leg, I must have got it wounded very heavily today.”

“You have got injured, but not today. A week ago,” the doctor corrected. 

“How could it be a week ago? I remember it very well that I have been brought here straight from the track today.”

“Don’t worry, it’s very natural after getting such a heavy trauma and narcosis.”  

“What trauma? What are you talking about? I just broke my leg and that’s it,” Larry did not give up. 

The doctor took off his glasses, wiped them out, put on again and fitted behind the ears. “You see,” he obviously did not know what to start from, “as far as understand, you have not been informed yet…”

“Informed of what?” Larry got even more surprised.

“The thing that…”

The doctor fell silent. Larry understood that he had temporized over something. 

“What is this ‘The thing that’…” Larry got angry, “come on, say it quickly…”

“We had to amputate your left leg.”

“What?“ Larry threw away the blanket and screamed, “What have you done to me? I just broke my leg and now… Get out of here, all of you,” the guy‘s eyes filled with tears. “What am I going to do now?”

The doctor stayed. So did the nurse.

“Please, take it easy,” the doctor said kindly, “We had no chances to save your leg. You are lucky that you survived. You will have a prosthetic appliance and no one even notice this. You can be proud of your faithful and beautiful girlfriend, who keeps coming every day. You have your mother too, so don‘t give up. Sometimes there are much worse outcomes. For instance, you friend was a total misfortune.”

Larry was so upset that he was almost skipping the doctor‘s words, but he did fix the last ones. “What‘s wrong with him? Where is he?” Larry got worried.

“He is buried already. He died straight away.”

“Is Arnold dead!” The news about his friend’s death had struck him dumb. In a moment a glimpse of Arnold face and the sound of his said words passed through in front of Larry… Larry turned, his eyes narrowed. All of a sudden, he started smiling, but there was chaos seen in his eyes. “No, it can‘t be true… You must have made a mistake…”

The doctor nodded to the nurse giving a sign to prepare some stuff for him. Then Larry fixed his frightened look on the doctor‘s eyes. “I was told that everything was fine… You are kidding me! This is impossible…”

“The doctor doesn‘t lie, young man,” the nurse interfered and cleaned a spot on his arm with disinfect, “You‘ll get better after I make this injection.”

“No, please, don‘t… I will make it … Simply, I can‘t believe so far that Arnold is dead.”

The doctor tried to comfort Larry. “Such is life,” he said. “We have to put up with everything and go through life with our heads erect, take it or leave it…”

Larry recalled Arnold’s words, when he said that a man must go with his head erect even through a cabbage field… He sighed. Arnold was my best friend, Larry thought, and even could not be at his funeral… And Edna was left alone with her daughter. Oh Lord, why did it have to happen? Arnold is gone… I have lost my leg. What would Eva say to this? Does she now about it already?

The doctor was satisfied that his patient calmed down without any medicine. He was about to leave, when the door opened and Eva came in.

“Come on in,” the doctor encouraged her. “Your friend is very sensitive, I think, he needs you very much. Here is your girlfriend,” the doctor said to Larry. “I‘m handing you over to good hands and leaving for now.”

Larry set his look on Eva. She was so beautiful and unrepeatable like on that day in the concert; just she had a small bundle in her hands instead of roses. She came up and sat down on the chair. She took out some fruits and placed them on the hutch. She had so much to tell him that she did not know where to start.  

“This is for you,” she slightly opened her mouth trying to give a smile. 

“Thanks, you shouldn‘t have bothered… The food here is good,” Larry tried to joke.  

“Vitamins will make no harm to you.”

“You see, what has happened. We have agreed to meet at the cafe right after the race, and actually, we met in the hospital. A week later…”  

“Stop it, don‘t say so,” the girl said, hardly keeping her tears away.

Larry looked down and paused. “I doubt if you are going to stay with me…”

“Of course, I will,” Eva did not let Larry to finish the sentence. “I know that you have lost your leg and it doesn‘t matter to me. I love you very much.”  

“I love you too, Eva, but I am a handicap now and who knows how I can live on.”

“First, we‘ll get married as we have agreed and then we‘ll see, okay?”

“Really? Do you really want this?”

“Yes, Larry, I do. Do you agree?”

Oh, Lord, Larry thought. She is so brave. Not every girl could do this. She is an angel… “I do, but if you do this just because of a pity… I don’t need any sacrifices.”

“Do you doubt me?”

“No, but I am sorry. I will have a prosthesis, which is not a leg.”

“Don‘t get upset, Larry, we will make it. I want to be with you and I love you very much. In three days, I will bring a notary public with me. You can inform your mother, if you like.” Eva leaned over and gave Larry a kiss.

“What would I do without you, Eva”

“I don‘t know what I would do without you too. I guess, I wouldn‘t make it…”

The door opened. Eva turned back and saw the same women with who they had stayed in the waiting room.

“This is your mother,” she said “if I am right. I better go and leave you both alone.” She stood up and gave him a smile. “Take care.”

The mother cast a look at Eva on her way. “Who is she?” mother asked in discontent. 

“Mama, don‘t be afraid, she is my girlfriend and we will get married in three days.”

“Are you nuts?” his mother got angry. “Don‘t even think of it! Just over my dead body! Some upstart has set her heart on our wealth!” Mother was furious. She got on her feet.

“Come on, mama, I don‘t feel well and you want to finish me off…”

“I mean only well for you. I‘ll have a word with this bird,” she threatened, leaving the ward.

“Mama, wait,” Larry called, but he could not stop her. She did not turn around and closed the door behind her quickly.

Larry could hear his mother‘s fierce words in the corridor. The voices fell silent. He felt such a pain, that he could hardly press the signaling button with his shaking hands. The doctor and the nurse ran down in a second. Larry was pale and shaking. 

“The ampoule,” the doctor ordered, counting the pulse. 

Larry could not calm down. Mother will ruin my life, he kept repeating in his mind. Mama, why are you doing this?

“You cannot worry so much,” the doctor was trying to calm him down. “You are doing harm to you. You gave to take it easy, everything will e fine. Try to get some sleep now. You need some rest. No more visitors, Karen, at all!” 

When the doctor left, the nurse sat at the table and started taking some notes. Though the medicine had reduced some pain, his soul still hurt. Larry knew that he was powerless to change anything.  He tried to get asleep, as the doctor recommended, but he could not. Even sedatives did not help. Of course, he had stopped shaking and started feeling better, but his mother’s attach against Eva gave him a hard time. He sods with anger and wanted to bawl her out for her mean behavior. Larry was looking through the window, watching the nurse’s face lit up by the night lamp and was deep in his thoughts. Why is the mother so cruel? Doesn’t she understand that it’s so hard for me now and I need a close friend? Eva is exactly the right person. My mother doesn’t know her at all, then how can she make so unreasonable and non-weighed decisions.  She is torturing not Eva, but me… Doesn’t she understand that? What has happened to her and why is she like that? Or she has always been like this, just I haven’t noticed? Larry was still in his considerations. He had a lot of questions and he wanted to have them all answered at once. But he had to wait till the next day.

●○●

Eva returned home hardly taking her breath back, as if she had been running trying to escape something. She did not cry, just was biting on her lips till it hurt. 

“What happened?” her mother got scared, when she opened the door and saw her daughter‘s appearance. “Why are you so pale?”

“She turned me away…”

“Who is? Where from?”

“Larry‘s mother has turned me away from the hospital. She said she wouldn‘t like to see me again. She strongly demanded to leave her son alone.”

Eva‘s mother got almost tumbled down due to the amount of information she had received. “What son? What mother?”

“You don‘t know anything about it… She wants to get me apart from Larry!”

“Would you, please, explain what you are talking about?” she strongly required after she got back to her feelings. “I don‘t understand here anything at all…” 

Eva gave the whole story in full details. She spoke silently and evenly. Her eyes were feverish. When telling the story, she did not look up at her mother, just took back her breath from time to time, as if climbing a steep scarp. That time Eva did not hide anything away from her mother and told everything in a row. She did describe Larry‘s mother like a witch, but from her words, it was clear that the woman was cool tigress, which cared just about her home and wealth. 

Eva‘s mother listened to the story saying not a word. He face did not reveal her feelings. She knew that it was important to stay calm and not to show any worry to Eva. Finally, she stood up. “Nothing serious has happened! Wait a second, I‘ll wash my hands and we‘ll have a talk.”

How come nothing happened, Eva thought. Why does she say so? Doesn‘t she know what it means to love somebody and that I‘m in an invidious situation? The mother of the man I‘m in love with hates me. Why does my mother say that nothing serious has happened? Only then did Eva come back to her feelings. That was the first time she mentioned about Larry… She told everything she had been hiding away all the year. Eva got scared.  

Mother came back and sat down on the sofa.

“Come, Eva,” she kindly invited, “Sit next to me.”

Eva obeyed and got next to her mother. She looked straight in the eyes. “What should I do, mama? I love him so much…”

“I understand, sweetheart,” mother comforted her. “But I still say that nothing terrible happened! Don’t look at me like this. The main point now is to give think correctly in order to avoid doing something irrecoverable. Do you understand?”

“I don‘t know how I should behave now…”

“May be entering a college would be the best solution now.”

“Do you think it‘s the way out?”

“You don‘t like my ides, do you? Let‘s think you would forget all this over this time. For now, you could spend some of your holidays at you aunts. That‘s a lovely place.  You‘ll be alone there and have a chance to think all over. You need time daughter. This is your life. My biggest desire of all is to see you happy.”

“I know, mom.”

“Very well, Eva,” mother said, having got easy a little. “And in the meantime, it would be good for you to get some sleep.”

“But I’m not tired…”  

“It‘s all right, you need to get some rest,” mother stroke Eva‘s hair. “Take a pill of my sedatives.”

Eva went to her room. Her mood was so terrible, but, anyway, she felt some relief, since she told everything to her mother. Life did not seem so tragic. Mother can be kind and high-minded.

●○●

In the morning, Larry‘s mother turned out in the ward and stood trembling at the doorway. Her son in bed looked so tine and helpless. Just his eyes were shining distinctly in his lean and pale face. His eyes contained it all: hope and love, waiting and despair. And fear was overwhelming everything. Mother came closer to Larry‘s bed and sat down on a stool. Then she took her son‘s bloodless hand – cold, with exposed veins – caressed it, and felt the whole body trembling. It seemed that she had never experienced that many of contradicting feelings that filled her heart. They even were strangling her. The woman tried to give a smile, but it was just an unsuccessful grimace. She wanted to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. She kissed his warm and manly palm and cried, shedding her salty repentant tears on Larry‘s hands.

The guy was silent. He could still feel spite somewhere down in his heart, but his anger was scattering away. Larry understood that there was nothing what he could change and he needed to live on. 

“Did you come here to shed your tears?” Larry said in disappointment. “I have enough of my own. First of all, you have to think twice in order not to be sorry for your deeds later on.” 

“I‘m sorry, son, I didn‘t mean it.”

“If you did not mean it, why did you do it then?”

“I don‘t know her at all, and I thought,” she hurried to explain herself, “that she needs your money more than you… And what would you think if a girl you don‘t know at all wants to get married to your son who is fighting for his life? Wouldn‘t it raise any suspicion?”

“Mother, but it‘s already a year that we are friends and I know her very well…”

“How could I know about it?”

“How, how… You could have asked me. But you rushed out like out of the fire and ruined my life, which is far away from being sweet.”

“Don‘t feel sore about it, she will come again.”

“No, mama, I know her better. She‘ll never set a foot in here again.”

“Then you will see each other when you are back from hospital…”

“Who knows, mama, who knows,” Larry questioned that

“I will help you. You‘ll see, you will get her back.” 

“All right, enough of it. Did you talk to the doctor? When are they going to let me out?”

“Yes, I did,” mother confirmed being happy that Larry had changed the subject, “if everything goes all right, you will leave this place in a month…with prosthesis.”

“Excuse me for disturbing you,” the doctor joined their conversation having just entered the ward. “We have to take this young man to the procedural cabinet. I‘ll check the healing. If everything goes fine,” he addressed to Larry, “you‘ll go home in a month.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Larry said disillusioned, “if only it would mattered to me…”

Mother felt uncomfortably. She understood that her son had been crushed. Since he is telling this to the doctor, she thought, this means that he is in great suffer indeed. “I‘ll go now,” she said sadly, “I‘ll come to see you tomorrow.”

Larry did not respond. He was indifferent to everything. 

●○●

Eva‘s mother sat closer to the phone. There was no doubt that Rita would take a good care of Eva like of a little kitten. She loved her niece. Eva would change the environment and would be able to prepare for the entrance examinations and, hopefully, she would forget about that unlucky love story.

“I‘ll come to your place around eight o‘clock,” her sister promised. “You just look after her that she would not disappear.”

“There is no need to worry. She doesn‘t want to go anywhere.”

Rita was there not at eight, but at six o‘clock, as if she wanted to catch over the aircraft’s. Eva‘s mother had not yet been back from shopping. Eva opened the door. The aunt entered the flat as if she had been invited to the wedding celebration.

“Come, I need your help,” the aunt said, having set free Eva from her embrace.

“What help?” Eva automatically asked, though she knew that her aunt would never come without fairing.

This time she had brought half of a ham and two liters of wine, this was so firmly corked that they had hard time opening it.

“The lamb was straight from the oven, when I packed, and the wine comes from Nora. Would you like to try it?”

Eva did not want to, but she couldn‘t refuse to her aunt. The aunt was already running the kitchen.

“Then let‘s have a snack!” her aunt suggested. “This is not a lamb. This is a true honey! I almost fainted on my way to here – it smelled so good and I was so hungry…”

“I‘m not hungry, Eva said calmly.”

“Then watch me eating.” And Rita got to the lamb with such an appetite that she seemed to leave nothing over in half an hour. “When lamb is cooled then it‘s the best,” the aunt said. “Juicy skin is the best part.”

In a few minutes, Eva was gnawing the crispy skin. The aunt was right, Eva thought. It‘s very good indeed. This is much better than the chuck lamb that mom used to prepare sometimes.

“I didn‘t notice how the time flew on the way to here,” the aunt said. “The way is beautiful! Have you been to the rose valley?”

“Yes, sure, together with you…”

“And have you seen the roses blooming?”

“No, I haven‘t ever!”

“It‘s worth going there before the dawn, at sunrise.”

“Let‘s go then,” Eva suggested. 

“Just on one condition – I need more of a smile and I don‘t like sour faces!”

“I don‘t promise, but I‘ll try…”

The next morning both of them got ready and Eva‘s mother saw them to the car.

“Rita, drive safely,” Ada silently asked her sister.

“Don‘t worry, you can trust me.”

The sisters took an opportunity to exchange a few words, when Eva was loading things to the trunk. 

“My poor girl… She is so young and her pain is so big. I hope she will be able to forget about all this when she stays with you. It would be very good, if she could pass the exams.”

“I think she will be a success, Ada. She is a smart girl.”

“She is, but love has taken over her mind. It‘s good that Robert doesn‘t know about it. He is so proud of his daughter…”  

Eva set comfortably in the car. She was ready for the trip. “Quickly, aunt,” she urged, “otherwise I can change my mind.”

“Okay, Ada, I‘m in a rush. See? Eva is champing. I promise to scatter away all miserable thoughts from Eva‘s head.”

“I hope so, Rita. Take care of her.”

Rita did not need to be hurried up again. Both waved farewell to Ada and the car finally moved. 

Despite the early morning, the road leading out of the town was packed with cars, mostly trucks smoking pother. But it became empty right behind the crossroad, where the road branched to the suburbs. The morning shined with all its shimmer straight though the windows.

“Hey, girl, head up!” the aunt encouraged.

“Why?” Eva asked, getting awake from her oppressive thoughts. “I‘m all right,”

“There is no chance for you to cheat me… Get that Larry out of your head… There is no sense to think about him!”

“I‘m trying,” Eva answered, but tears had flooded her eyes already.

“Listen to my advice. Its all your fault.”

“Me?” Eva was surprised.

“May be not you, but…” Rita‘s face got convulsed.

“His mother is a true egoist,” Eva said darkly.

“There are all sorts and conditions of men in the world! There is no way you could reorganize it,” Rita lectured.

The car whizzed along the serpentine road. The summer greenery was still very fresh. Eva kept silent, but her long face betrayed her thoughts. The aunt was nervously pressing the levers. The car climbed a steep hillside and then was getting downhill. It seemed they had got into a different world. There were endless green hills stretching on the right side.

“Eva, darling, cheer up! Don‘t you be so sad…”

“All right, all right,” Eva promised and started looking around, however, thoughts about Larry did not leave her in peace. If not Larry‘s mother, we would be together now…

“It is beautiful, isn‘t it?”

“Yes, aunt, the views are just perfect…”

May be I shouldn‘t have run away, Eva was considering. Larry cannot be blamed that his mother is such a person. My Lord, what I have done? He is probably waiting for me, and I‘m going away and leaving him alone. Eva put her head in her hands. Her cheeks were so hot, as if she had sit at the fireplace.

“What is it, Eva? Enjoying the view?”

“Uh-huh,” Eva turned away to the window and she could hardly hold back her tears.

Soon Rita made a turn to a narrow country side road. The car submerged into the sea of roses. Eva watched the view without daring to make a slightest movement. She did not like roses, but this glamorous beauty of them had charmed her…

“Isn’t it wonderful?”

“There are such a lot of them,” Eva whispered, “awful lot…”

“Are you okay? You are so pale,” the aunt got worried.

Eva spontaneously touched her cheek. “I feel a little giddy.”

“May be you are allergic?”

“I wouldn’t think so…”

“Anyway, we’d better get out of here.”

Rita sprightly turned around the car and pulled out of the rose cloud.

“What is wrong, Eva? It was your own decision to go with me,” the aunt was still asking, since Eva’s mood worried her very much. 

“I imagined I would be able to leave all the problems behind, but you cannot escape yourself.”

“And you don’t try to escape, you life is just starting, and you are mourning for yourself already. Everything will be all right. Now you have to get ready for entrance examinations.” 

The car made a turn back to the highway again and was flying at such a speed, as if devils had been chasing it. In an hour, they got off in the aunt’s yard and Eva could catch her breath.

Thoughts about Larry were chasing her for more than one day. She was not able to forget about him and even more, she realized that she did not want to get apart with him. Eva understood that after she had learned the tasks and prepared for the exams, only then would she be able to return home. She made her decision. She got herself free out of all the thoughts that had troubled her and got down to the studies. Each day she used to start from reading, then at lunch she used to enjoy dainties prepared by her aunt, and then hurried back to her quiet room. 

●○●

Larry was sad. Eva never showed up at the hospital not just the next day, but also the next week and the week after that one… Why does she torment me like this? Was our love just a game? Had my mother insult her so much? Larry had a lot of questions that he could not find answers to. Why did my friends never visit me? Are there none of his friends left? May be they don’t feel comfortable to come here? Perhaps it’s even better that they don’t come, because this sympathy hurts so much. But Eva… She was the only one that he was waiting for. There were so many memories that bind them together… Recently they spent the most of their time together … Was everything lost?

Dark thoughts had left him in peace neither during days, nor at nights. It was so short before that life had smiled at him: friends, concerts, admirers… Emptiness and uncertainty were the only things left for him. Larry could not understand why the destiny had punished him so ferociously.  Those were his days wistfully passing by and he wanted to escape the four walls of his ward as soon as possible… He was willing to find Eva and to apologize for his mother. 

●○●

On that Saturday morning, Eva had started studying, when her aunt showed up on the doorway.

“Look at you! You are all buried in the books!” Rita was surprised. “I haven’t realized that you are working so hard.”

            Eva rose her head. She was satisfied.

“I thought you were just dreaming all days long hiding here by yourself,” Rita continued.

“What are you talking about, aunt,” – Eva discomfited, but soon she understood Rita‘s trick and boasted, “Few more day and I‘ll have repeated everything twice!”

“So, does this mean that you have definitely made up your mind?”

            Eva did not expect that question. She was studying and did not think of anything else but that.

“You may not answer… I can see all this myself. Just you can‘t study so hard! You need to take some rest also. You spend all your day inside breathing dust… You need some fresh air.”

“I don‘t…”

“What does it mean „don‘t“? Don‘t argue with me, go outside right now!” Rita said that in such a tone that it was senseless to keep on arguing.  

Eva reluctantly left the house. Right away, she submerged in thicket of flowers and greenery. Summer scents pleasantly exited her nose and whisper of many-colored blossoms was sad, homesick, but still pleasing.  Eva was diving among the flowers and remembered of Larry… She was thinking the only man that she missed. Blossoming fields and dark forests separated her from him. Lying on the grassland she watched the blue sky, floating gray clouds, she pressed scenting leaves to her lips, thirsty of and longing for love, and whispered love words to them. She recalled those hours when Larry hold her in his arms, touched her lips, face; she could hear his heart beating and him breathing. She thought of herself then flowering and radiant with joy… The aunt‘s voice brought her back to senses; she was called for lunch. That day Eva could not find strength to continue studying.

Next day, her aunt almost forced Eva to accompany her and to visit a Russian Orthodox Church.  Lingering duskiness and piercing silence prevailed there, so that Eva could hear her own breathing. There was not a single person in the church. A couple of thin candles were burning in a dark brass candlestick. Somebody has lit them on, but we‘ll never find out, what was the intention. Eva kept looking at the pale flames for a long while and their reflection was shivering on her face and in pupils, as if whispering something in their magic language. She listened to the silence. Her face was getting more and more sorrowful. When the aunt had finally cast a look at her, Eva‘s face seemed to her tormented all to pieces and stressful.

Eva shivered and raised her red eyes. “Where do they sell candles?” she asked unexpectedly.

“At the entrance,” the aunt asked surprisingly. “Why?”

“But there is nobody there…”

“Doesn‘t matter,” her aunt said and tried to explain, “people leave some money there and take the candles.”

Eva went there and returned nervously pressing a nice white candle in her hand. Rita was so surprised that it even took her breath away. There were no believers in their family. Neither their mother not grand parents believed in God. She herself used to light up a candle just at funerals or celebrations. The girl lit up a candle and carefully attached it to the candlestick. Then there were three flames already fluttering in the church dusk. In the candlelight, Eva‘s face became softer, pleasant and peaceful. Soon they left the church. 

“Why did you light the candle?” the aunt could not wait longer, “This means an application to the God.”

“I do believe in God.”

“Are you sure?”

“No doubt!”

Eva was striding away along the shady path. The aunt was not in a hurry to catch up with her. Let the girl calm down, she thought. When the two reached the street, Eva burst into tears. What is it that makes her heart ache? Rita thought.

“Come on, don‘t cry,” the aunt gave a hug to her and pressed against herself, “or I would not hold back my tears… Come, we‘d rather have something for a snack and have a talk.”

They went to the closest cook shop. Eva calmed down a little. She even ate with an appetite. 

“I am going back tomorrow,” she informed unexpectedly, “My poor mother must be missing me.”

“I‘ll take you home.”

“I could go by train as well…”

“Don‘t even think of it,” her aunt objected, “I have to deliver you to your mother, otherwise she would never talk to me again.”  

●○●

The next day Eva returned home. Eva’s parents could see that their daughter was fresher than before. Though, it was not true in fact. Thoughts about Larry did not let her in peace day and night. Each day she looked through her window hoping to see Larry‘s car. She was waiting for Larry to show up. Eva was expecting for a miracle, but the phone was not giving a sound and there was no knocking on the door. She had lost the slightest hope and she had almost resigned the thought that Larry would never call and never show up.

I shouldn‘t have left, Eva decided. Larry must have got angry to death at me, since he is not looking for me. Did he forget about everything that has been between us? We got along very well… We could understand each other…

Suddenly Eva turned pale. Saving idea had come to her mind and brought her back to life. Yes, yes, she was comforting herself, Larry must be still in hospital, and I am waiting for him to show up here! What am I thinking about? It‘s not everything that is lost! I will see him right away! Eva immediately got dressed. 

There were a lot of people at the reception. Eva was searching with her eyes for the same pleasant doctor, who took care of Larry. 

“Good day,” Eva heard a pleasant and familiar voice and turned around. The very same doctor stood in front of her. “Who are you visiting this time?”

“Good day, doctor, I was looking for you.”

“Did you? I haven‘t seen you for some time… You never came up since the day I let you to talk with your friend…”

“I came now. Is he in the same ward? Have you applied prosthesis for him?”

Eva surprised the doctor, and he answered them not on the spot. “We have made a prosthetic appliance for him; just he was walking with difficulty, when he was still here. But everything needs time, as well as some effort and support. I hope, you can understand, can‘t you?”

Eva understood. The thought pierced her mind. Larry is at home already… And he did not try to find me… “When did you let him go home, doctor?”

„Two weeks ago, if I remember correctly.” The doctor thought it over and confirmed, “Yes, tomorrow will be two weeks.”

Eva could hardly hold her emotions. Why has he behaved like this? Why has he pushed me away?

“Lady,” the doctor cut off her thoughts, “he has missed you very much. I guess, he would very happy, if you pay him a visit…”

“Thank you, doctor,” Eva stretched her hand to say goodbye, “I will do this. Thanks for your care. Goodbye.” 

“Good luck for you both.”

After she left the hospital, Eva was gasping for air. It‘s been two weeks that he is back… I myself came back home a week ago, but Larry did not give any news about himself… How come? Eva walked her head down watching shoes of by-passers splashing pools away. Rain was soaking her hair, face… She kept thinking about Larry all the time. When Eva came back home, she was still waiting for his call, looking through the window still hoping to see Larry‘s car. He will not call me, Eva made a sad conclusion towards the evening.  Probably, Larry got under his mother‘s influence letting her step over our love. Still and all, I will have to forget about him and all that we have had in common.

Eva had lost all and any hope and had almost resigned herself to this loss, however, there was a tiny hope still smoldering on the bottom of her heart.  For one more week, she had been expecting for a miracle, but since Larry had not given any message, she left for the entrance exams. She entered the college and did not return to the town. 

…… bus daugiau…… 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Beje, nekomentuosiu įrašo, nes turiu pamiršti tai, ką kažkada dariau. Ne taip kaip čia, bet… Tik tie, kas mane pažįsta, gali mane suprasti.

Kai naktis tarsi paukštis išskleis sparnus,
Užges diena vakare ir toliuos nuskęs,
Tyla lyg vaiduoklis pareis į namus,
Užmigdys, užliūliuos ir pasaką seks.

Vėjas pritars ir niūniuos lig aušros,
O juodas šešėlis kvatos naktyje…
Karalystėj tamsos aukštos eglės svyruos,
Ramybė dosni sups visus tyloje.

Buvo birželio mėnuo. Už lango karaliavo vasara. Visa gamta žaliavo… Kaitriais spinduliais žieduose mirgėjo saulė, zuikučiais žaisdama ir džiugindama visus, kas gyva. Tik jam buvo liūdna. Spaudė sielvarto kamuolys… Nejuto jokio džiaugsmo, nors ir žinojo, kad jau yra paleidžiamas iš ligoninės namo. Atrodė, už šios ligoninės sienų turėjo palikti visas savo kančios išvagotas dienas, nemigo naktis ir visa, ką teko iškęsti per tuos keturis mėnesius… Tai buvo siaubinga. Visos išgyventos dienos ir valandos paliko žaizdas tolimesniame jo gyvenime. Atsisveikino su gydytojais. Brolio ir mamos padedamas, ramentais remdamasis, žingsnis po žingsnio irklavo į lauką. Susėdo į mašiną ir pajudėjo…

Pagaliau jis namie. Kaip toliau gyventi? Kasdien apie tai galvojo. Juk dar ne taip senai buvo sveikas, stiprus sportininkas, savo sporto šakos entuziastams ir gerbėjams žinomas mieste ir visoje Lietuvoje… Sportas buvo jo duona, oras, be kurių gyventi neįmanoma. O dabar liko be kojos… Ir ramentai visam gyvenimui. Jį slėgė depresija. Jausdamas menkavertiškumo jausmą, jis bijojo pasirodyti lauke. Tik naktimis išeidavo į balkoną, sėdėdamas žiūrėdavo į žvaigždes… Gailėjosi savęs, o tėvus, gydytojus keikė, kodėl jam nepaliko kojos. Taip gyveno diena po dienos.

Neliko draugų… O tiek daug jų buvo… Gal jie  nedrįso pas jį ateiti? Nors, atvirai pasakius, ir jis jų nelaukė. Buvo gėda tokiam pasirodyti… Dingo ir draugė. Ji buvo vienintelė, kurios laukė ateinančios. Juk buvo tiek gerų prisiminimų. Paskutiniu metu visur drauge. Atrodė, nebegalėjo be vienas kito gyventi. Kas atsitiko? Kodėl ji pas jį neateina? Viena mintis lindo į galvą: kad ji nebenori bendrauti su juo tokiu, koks liko – be kojos. Mama dirbo, tėvas taip pat. Vienas tarp keturių sienų praleisdavo liūdesio ir nevilties dienas bei naktis. Tas vaizdas, kurį kas dieną matydavo, jį gniuždė. Nežinojo, kaip iš viso to išsivaduoti ir gyventi toliau. Nors ramindavo tėvai, brolis, sesuo, tačiau tai buvo ne tie žodžiai, kuriuos norėjo išgirsti. Nė vienas sveikas žmogus negalėjo pajusti to, ką jis kentėjo. Neskraidantis paukštis neišgyventų, tačiau jis turėjo… Dar taip nesenai skraidęs su dviem sparnais, dabar nebegalėjo. Draskė abejonės, ar kada nors galės bent vaikščioti… Tai jį stūmė į neviltį, nors nenorėjo pasiduoti likimui. Neviltis ir kančios tęsėsi ilgai, kol vieną naktį skaudančia širdimi išsiveržė į lauką. Bijojo eiti, bet išėjo, nes kažkas traukė tai padaryti. Jis atsidavė gamtai… Pilnom ašarų akim ir pusbalsiu verkdamas pradėjo savais žodžiais kalbėti, prašyti pagalbos, kol išvydo nuostabų reginį… Šviesa – galinga, skaisti – nejučia išryškėjo aukštai danguje, tiesiai prieš jo akis. Nekilo jokių klausimų, koks tai reiškinys, tik pasidarė taip gera. Tarsi kas sakė žodžius, kad jo gyvenime viskas išsispręs. “Tikėk, tikėk, tikėk…”girdėjo žodžius. Visa tai, ką juto, matė ir girdėjo, jį nuramino. Net pats pajuto, kad išnyko sielvartas.

Tą kartą jis sugrįžo namo įkvėptas laimės kibirkšties. Jis pajuto, kad tas reiškinys pakeis jo gyvenimą. Tuo patikėjo iš karto! Jo nuostabai, kitą dieną pas jį atėjo jo draugė. Jis buvo toks laimingas, atrodė, vyksta stebuklai! Draugė pakartojo, kad negali be jo ir ypač dabar, kai liko toks. O neatėjo, nelankė, nes jo tėvų ir artimųjų žodžiai ją žeidė. Visada norėjusi ateiti, paguosti, bet nesiryžo, nes bijojo būti vėl įžeista… Bet pajutusi, kad jam reikia pagalbos, nusprendusi, kad jis dėl tėvų požiūrio nekaltas, ryžosi šiam žingsniui. Nepaisydama pasekmių, nugalėjo baimės jausmą ir atėjo!

Jis vėl žingsnis po žingsnio iš naujo žengė į gyvenimo kelią. Dabar vėl bendrauja su žmonėmis, vėl vairuoja automobilį, gėrisi gamta, kvėpuoja tyru oru, sportuoja ir siekia ryžto skristi, tai yra eiti abejomis kojomis. Jis tuo tiki. Tuo įsitikinusi ir jo draugė.  

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tu patikėk manim, tik tiek tereikia.
Širdies balsu, kurs kužda tau tikėt
Ir gėlės net šalnoj pražys ir skleisis –
Baltais žiedais nušvis ir švies.

Su šventėmis!

Kaip daryti

Nuo suoliuko štangą pakeliame nugaros pusėje, o tada pasilenkiame 90 laipsnių kampu ir užsiridename ją ant nugaros iki tos vietos, kaip parodyta 1pav. O tada spaudžiame štangą į viršų (2pav.) ir vėl nuleidžiame.

1 pav.

2 pav.

Pateikiau pratimo principą, o priėjimus,svorius ir pakartojimus prisitaikykite pagal savo poreikius.

Sėkmės, įjungiant ir šį pratimą.

             •••

Eina pavargęs žmogus.
Lietūs grindinį prausia. – -
Išlijo šiandien dangus
Nieko neatsiklausęs.

Liūdna šiandien širdy -
Vien pilka ir juoda.
Ūkas temdo akis -
Sielos nelanko godos.

Temdo protą, akis
Miglą nešantis vėjas.
Jau kiekviens pasakys:
Žemę vanduo apsėmė.

                •••

……. tęsinys……

Chapter 6

Larry looked at the clock. It was ten in the morning. He was sitting in the kitchen at the breakfast table and was sipping apple juice. Externally he looked totally calm, though he was boiling inside. That weird feeling of trouble and some evil was floating around, but Larry could not identify the cause of such feelings.  He seemed about to start howling like a wolf in the forest outskirts because of pain and desperation, which had overtaken him from no quarter. Oh, he said in his mind, if only there would be someone who could understand what I feel… Where could I find comfort? If only I could get a hint, fins the reason of my despair…

Larry put his head in his arms. He was sitting like this for rather a long time. At last he got up on his feet and started walking around in the kitchen. While in the kitchen, he cast a glance at the food products. Why don’t I stiff my face? he thought. No, I can’t… I wouldn’t swallow at least bite. May be, singing would help? Larry paused. Of course, he spoke in his mind. Singing would finally make this terrible despair to disappear!

He poured another glass of juice and took it in one gulp. He went to his room, sat down on the sofa and played a few accords. The guitar did not require any adjustment, but the words stuck in his throat and he obviously could not sing. Still, that was all due to ill-fated despair.

It won’t work, he said to himself. Larry lay down on the sofa. He kept his ears open. Silence was reigning all over the room. If I get rid of this terrible feeling, I would be the happiest man in the world! Yes… Some time ago I said the same, when I wanted to meet Eva, and now… He gave a deep sigh. There is never too much of happiness for a man. Larry’s eyes were jumping on things in the room. Suddenly, his glimpse hit against the curtains. The guy stirred up and even sat up. Yesterday I saw and heard something in this place! What if it’s not a hallucination? What if it’s an inscription on the wall? What if it’s a portent? It seems I was told not to try to reduce the pain of my soul. And I cannot do it! Whatever I do, I cannot make this feeling disappear. Nothing is helpful… Even singing causes me despair…  A doorbell cut off his thoughts.

There was Arnold, standing in the doorway with a wide smile on his face. “Hi, are you ready?”

Only then did Larry remember. Today, he thought, is the race… I’ve totally forgotten about it!

“Larry,” his friend started again on tiptoe. “I’m talking to you… Hey…”

What, if this despair is due to the race, Larry was hit by an idea. What, if this is the reason? What if decide not take part in it, and I don’t think the world would get apart because of this…

“Hey, are you all right?” Arnold could not get back. 

Larry wanted to tell the truth, that he felt uneasy. He was about to tell this to his friend, but Arnold got ahead of him.

“I see, does that mean that you are starting the same story again?” Arnold teased him. 

Larry was upset. His friend looked so cheerful and overwhelmed by self-confidence. Do I have a right, Larry was thinking, to spoil his day? He is so willing to go there and become a winner, but without me… So is it, we have to win and we will, Larry finished his tirade of internal considerations.

“Yes, Arnold, I’m ready!” Larry strongly stated. When he said those words, a horrible pain pierced his chest, but Larry just set his teeth and confirmed again, “we will win this time!” 

“So, what are waiting for?” Arnold was enjoying it. “Let’s go!”

“Yes, Arnold, I have to move on,” Larry was looking for his shoes. “Aren’t we late yet?”

“We have heaps of time, old buddy, we are racers, aren’t we?”

But Larry did not feel relaxed, he preferred to be in a hurry. He was getting dressed hastily, put on his shoes. So, he was ready to go. He told his mother that he was going out, and then they hurried out discussing about the race. The mother did not ask and Lay did not detailed on where they were going. He did not want to cause any troubles for her. He preferred to tell her afterwards, when he would come back with laurels.

●○●

The coach was already waiting for them. The car was ready. 

Larry insensibly searched the viewing stands. He was looking for Eva. He expected her to comfort him a little before he start.

“Watch it, guys,” the coach said, getting into a stew. “No surprises. Everything has to go as we have agreed on. Don’t smile at me, Arnold. I’m serious. You have half an hour left.” 

“Okay, okay,” Larry champed. He had noticed Eva on the stands and he wanted to rush there. “I’ll be right back, just a couple of words with Eva…”  

“Why do you shuffle so much?” Arnold teased him, “Okay, okay, go ahead…”

“I’ll be right back,” Larry waved to Eva and ran down to her. He could fee tension all over his body likes before an exam. Despair had overwhelmed the whole of his body and sole. When he reached the girl, he embraced her and kissed. Still holding her tight, he looked up in her eyes. He wanted to burst into tears, but he held himself under control as much as he could. “I missed you so much, sweetheart. It’s so good to see you again!”  

“What’s wrong with you, Larry?” Eva could not understand his behavior. “Cut it out, people are watching us.”

Larry leaned back. He looked scared. He did not expect to receive such a reaction from Eva. “Darling, are you afraid of something?” he asked sadly. 

“No, Larry, I feel uneasy somehow…”

“Eva, please, wait for me. We’ll go somewhere after the race. May be, we’ll go to the sea or to the cafe. In other words, wherever you say… Please, wit for me, Eva.”

“All right, I will,” she answered looking around. 

“I don’t want to talk much now. I’ll see you later, because I have to go now. Everything will be okay, I promise,” Larry said after he noticed a shade of fear in Eva’s eyes and gave her one more kiss. “I’m sorry, Eva, it’s stronger than me.” Then he turned away and jogs jogging towards Arnold.

●○●

The guys were ready. Start. The coach waved a flag. The car shot forward.

“Take care,” Larry suggested to Arnold at the steering wheel, “Don’t overdo.”

“Yes, sir,” Arnold mumbled.

A glimpse of the viewers’ stands passed by, and then there was a road, a blinding blue sky and a path in the horizon.  

Arnold and Larry had the eighth position. The car marked with number two was flying ahead of them. They were strong competitors. After a few kilometers, they climbed up to the sixth position, and then near the tunnel Arnold took over the sixth car, which started releasing smoke. Later the guys had overtaken a few more competitors.

When there was seven hundred kilometers left, only fourteen racers continued the competition, because six cars had to leave the route due to breakdowns. The coach gave signals not to hurry up forward. The strongest competitor had left the race already because of his smoking engine, therefore, Arnold and Larry had a great potential to win the race, as their coach thought.

Eva saw the cue of cars racing by the stands. She also spotted the car with Arnold and Larry inside.  The roar of engines was not pleasant. The girl was waiting for the race to finish and wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. She did not care who would become a winner – she loved him anyway, be him a winner or a looser.   

After one hour, the guys were in the third position already. Now they were catching up with the car marked by the number seven, which was in the second position.  They did not want to take over that car. They waited for a more convenient moment. They did not want to take a risk and expected the competitors to start getting nervous and make a mistake. The cars were driving at a high speed next to each other side by side. The competitors blocked the way. It was a very dangerous maneuver and the coach tried to give warning signs to the guys, but nothing helped. They have decided to become winners of that race at any cost. On such moments, a man becomes higher than his own body and sole, his senses become tensed and the mind maintained calm and sober. 

The race was going on. Arnold and Larry stopped to refill of fuel. When they returned to the race circuit, they noticed car number seven with two more cars behind it. In a while, that car started turning around like a whirligig and blocked the road. A sound of breaking metal could be heard and there was an oil pool spilled on the paving. The other two cars coming from behind smashed into that car, which due to the impact got up and made several turns in the air. Arnold was in fever trying to find a slightest gap and to be able to avoid the impact.  Suddenly, the road became incredibly narrow. The guys did not feel any fear, just they tried to avoid hitting another car in a vertical angle, and get at it at a tangent. They had to twist around the wheel, but it was too much for Arnold… Then there was a bang… The car got in the air. They had enough time to notice the supervisor’s horror-struck face, then the front part of the car got curled up and there was a shower of glass pieces from all sides.  At the same moment, the guys felt a powerful impact followed by absolute silence after that.

Larry’s and Arnold’s car was thrown away on the protection strip made of sand sacks. Their car made a hole in the car mix, so the other racers, which were lagging behind, passed by received the last impact whish. Their cars grated the scattered metal and it seemed that the smashed cars were groaning aloud.

The race was going on. The race participants got out from their smashed cars with almost no injuries. Larry’s and Arnold car was still standing on the sand sacks. Arnold‘s body, all covered in blood, was dropped on the steering wheel and did not move.  Larry was not seen through the car window, his body was somewhere on the car bottom. 

The crowed had surrounded the crash place like flies around a piece of bloody meat. They watched the medical personnel and mechanics, which were about to get the men from the car. One of the cars was on fire. Luckily, its fuel tank was in holes, so there was no threat of explosion. The works were impeded by the passing cars, since the race had not been stopped.  At last, the medical people hurried up to Larry.  

“I can do it myself,” the guy groaned.

“Don‘t act and don‘t try to get up! Your leg looks very bad!”

Larry‘s left leg was covered in blood; his pants were soaking wet with blood.

“Where is Arnold! What happened to him?” Larry cried out after he finally realized the situation. 

“He is fine, don‘t move. Soon the ambulance will pick you up.”

The car moved. Larry was lying down and watching the environment: metals box, side windows of the ambulance, though which some light could get inside. He did not feel any pain. His thoughts were scattered. Suddenly, he started feeling very weak and lack of air. 

“I‘m sick,” he complained to the doctor in the ambulance, “I‘m choking…”

Larry waited to be comforted, but the doctor kept silent. Am I really going to die? he got very scared. That thought seemed so unexpected. His eyes were running around madly, and there was the only thought hammering in his mind, Oh, Lord, is it so that I‘ll never see Eva again, that this is the last time I can see this world… Please, just not this… I don‘t want to die… I‘m too young… Eva and I, we want to be happy… We want to get married… Dear Lord, don‘t leave me alone… Don‘t let me to die… Please…

“Don‘t worry, you‘ll not die,” Larry‘s thoughts were cut by some voice. It sounded just like yesterday evening. After he heard the words, the guy came back to his feelings. Instinctively, he trusted the voice at one and relaxed. His breath became more even. He did not feel lack of air any more. Larry was definitely sure he would not die.  He had a promise.

In half an hour, he was undergoing an operation. 

●○●

It was not at once, that Eva realized what had happened. An excited commentator was holding the mike too close to his lips; therefore, his voice could not be heard distinctly. She clearly heard just a few phrases about car crash. Her heart was pierced by fear that it might have been Larry, but she tried to dismiss those troubled thoughts.  

She was waiting for the car cue to pass by. Her heart was beating so wild that she herself got scared. No need to worry, she was thinking. The race would have been stopped, if should something happen. I have to stay calm… She relaxed a little, when she saw the first car racers. This means, that nothing serious has happened! Her eyes searched for Larry’s and Arnold‘s car. Eva could not see the car. No, it can‘t be true! I must have missed it? She could feel weakness in her legs. Her heart seemed to jump out of her chest… They could pass by earlier, she continued her thinking, still observing the circle. I should have not left for that coffee…

Not the announcement was a little more distinct and it said that several cars got crashed and several people were injured. Details would be announced further on.  

All in tension, Eva watched the racing cars passing by at high speed, she expected to spot Larry and Arnold‘s car bearing number one. Suddenly, her mind was hit by the commentator‘s words. “Car number one got in an accident. The crew has been taken to hospital.” 

It can‘t be true! This must be a mistake, the girl tried to comfort herself, but her hopes scattered away. Larry got injured? She could not even remember how she got up and went towards the start line. I have to find out, what has happened to Larry. I have to… That was her only thought.

“Larry is in hospital,” that was all the coach told her turning his eyes away from the girl.  

“But what has happened,” she cried out in terrified voice.

She did not receive any answer. Both, the coach, and mechanics, which were handling spare parts, tried to avoid the conversation with her. They did not even try to comfort or calm her down. Eva felt so lonely. She stood like a dry tree among strong and green trees…

At last, the coach came up to her again. “Larry was immediately taken to the hospital. I think…”

“Why hasn’t somebody from your staff gone together with him! You should have helped him…”

The coach looked at her with surprise. “How could we help him? Now it‘s the doctor‘s call…”

Eva was upset. “What happened to him?” she asked silently. 

“I don’t know, I haven’t seen him,” the coach could explain anything, “I was on the track…”

“And why is the race going on?”

“There is nothing can be done,” the coach explained. “These are the rules. Go and see him, I’ll try to finish things here soon.” 

The coach fetched a chart and went to the trace, where the race was still on. Eva slowly turned towards the exit. It seemed to her that the whole eternity had passed till she reached the hospital. During that time, she made a promise to herself. She was sure that she would keep that promise and marry Larry, whatever would have happened. She gave that promise without any considerations, just on the spot.

●○●

The reception was empty. Eva rushed to a nurse in the duty post.

“Could you tell me,” she started talking, “if you have received a sportsman recently injured at the race?”

“Yes,” the nurse answered calmly, hardly rising her head from papers. “He is undergoing a surgery operation.”

“What is wrong with him?”

“Are you a relative?”

“No, but does it make any difference?”

“Only relatives are allowed to patients after the surgery,” she sounded indifferently.

The nurse returned to taking some notes down. Eva stared her in the face. May be, I should tell her that we are engaged? No, I don’t it will change her mind. Eva decided to inquire again, “Does he need an operation?”

“Obviously… Otherwise he would not have been taken to the surgery.”

The way she is, perhaps, cannot stand me, Eva thought in upset. “Can I wait here?” she asked in a hollow voice.

“Yes, there is a bench in the corridor,” the nurse answered without any jumps. She was still taking some notes in a case-record.

“Don’t you have a waiting room here?” 

The nurse extended her hand and showed towards the door and added, “But it is for relatives only, to be frank.”

Eva could hardly hold her in the hands. She wanted to cry out that at certain moments all people should feel relatives to each other.  And medical people should know that so well as no one else. Eva went to the waiting room. She tried to list through old magazines, but she could not concentrate. It seemed to her that an hour spent waiting there for any news about Larry had been extending for eternity and will never end.

After some time, the door of the waiting room opened. Eva automatically got on her feet, since she expected to hear some news about Larry, but there was a woman standing in the doorway. Perhaps, she is Larry’s mother, she thought. If that’s so, it will be two of us waiting here. We can comfort each other.

The woman looked around. Although there were just two of them in the waiting room, although there were a lot of free chairs, she picked up a seat close to Eva. Should I give it a try? Should I approach her? Eva was thinking. I guess she also needs some support. But what, if this is not her? What if I’m wrong? What will I say to her than? No.  I’d rather wait for a while. May be, she herself will start the talking.

For some time, they both sat silently. The nurse showed up in a few minutes. Eva’s heart started trembling. She jumped on her feet; however, the nurse did not take her into notice. She nodded to the woman inviting her out. Eva returned to her seat.

Is somebody going to tell me something about Larry? she thought in despair. How long more should I wait for it? What kind of operation is it? How long do I have to be in uncertainty?

Eva thought that she heard somebody mentioning Larry’s name behind the door. She kept her ears open. Suddenly, she rushed towards the door. She wanted to open it, but she changed her mind. She leaned against the door and stood still trying to listen to the conversation.

“We had to amputate his leg,” she heard somebody saying.

Eva could feel that it made her blood curdle. It can’t be true, she kept repeating. Eva leaned against the door with her back. She felt that could faint at any moment. What will Larry feel like?

“Doctor,” Eva heard the woman’s voice, “wasn’t they’re another way out?”

“We chose to save his life…”

Eva closed her eyes. Tears welled up in her eyes and ran down her face. I have to stay calm, she said to herself after she managed to get together. I have to find out more. She forced herself to concentrate.  

“Now he is under good supervision,” the doctor continued. “If everything goes fine, you’ll be able to see him in a week time.”

“And now what? Couldn’t I do this now?”

“No, it’s impossible now, because he is in the intensive care ward.”

“Larry might die? Dear Lord,” Eva whispered, “I won’t take it… I cannot stay here any longer, I have to find it out myself.” She listened again, but the voices had fallen silent. The girl could not hold it any longer. She opened the door right away and hurried out into the corridor: the doctor had taken that woman to his office. Eva did not know what to do. She suddenly stood stock-still. Eva saw Larry being taken out of the surgery. His face was pale and eyes were closed. He looked like dead, but his chest was slightly moving up and down. Larry, my darling, she spoke in her mind, keep on fighting! Don’t give up! You have to take over… I won’t make it without you… Hold on, my love… Hold your own… Eva saw Larry’s mother say goodbye to the doctor. The doctor gave her his telephone number and she left. 

Eva could not take it any longer and she approached him. “I need to see Larry! Please, doctor… It’s very important for me…”

“Who are you? Are you a relative?”

“No, I’m just a close acquaintance.”

“Acquaintance,” the doctor said slowly. “I am sorry, I have to disappoint you. It’s impossible now. If everything goes well, you are welcome in a week time. Of course, if his relatives do not mind it. I have to go now, I’m sorry.”

Eva stood there alone. She remembered Larry’s kiss right before the race, about their premarital trip and their dream to get married secretly. She felt such a pain in her heart, such emptiness in her sole, that she did not want anything in the world. It hurt. The girl was sobbing. It seemed that all her dreams had been smashed into smithereens. 

“Why are you crying? Do you know how is Larry? What happened to him? Speak to me…” the coach, who had suddenly emerged from somewhere, kept asking.   

Eva wiped her nose and tears.

“Tell me quicker, how bad he is…” the coach begged, shaking her by the shoulders. 

“He’s alive, but he is very weak, and his left leg… his left leg was amputated,” her answer was hardly heard.

The coach let Eva free. The shade of fear had faded away. There was some hope.

“He will be fine, he will make it,” the coach was comforting may be himself, or Eva. “He is sportive, you’ll see, he’ll make it. In terms of leg, he’ll put on a prosthetic appliance and will be dancing at his wedding party… When I saw you crying I thought of the worst that might have happened… This is not a big deal. Edna is in much worse situation…”

“What’s happened to Edna?” Eva did not get it.

“Arnold died, when Larry was on the way to hospital.” 

“Dead?” Eva could not believe it. 

“Yes, he didn’t make it…” there were tears in the coach’s eyes, “poor Arnold…”

“Oh my God,” Eva said in a frightful voice, “what a misfortune… Does Larry know about it? He would not be able to take it…”

“I don’t think he does. And there is no need for him to know this for some time. Let him get out of it first,” the coach fatherly put his hand on Eva’s shoulder. “So, it’s not so bad in this case. Larry has to make it… And now, let’s go and see how he is doing.”

“We’ll be not let in there,” Eva sighed. “The doctor said, that we would be able to visit him in a week, if everything goes well.”

“Let’s hope it will exactly like this,” the coach paused and corrected himself. “Everything must be all right. Waiting is the only thing that remains for us.”

Yes… Eva thought. She could not properly orient in the situation. Arnold is gone, Larry is badly wounded… so many tragedies at the very instant… What a terrible day! And what about Edna? What shall she do? She loved Arnold do much… Eva stood motionless and stared into space. She had no more tears. There were just thoughts and a great pain in her heart.

“Listen here,” Eva heard the coach’s voice. “If you like, I can give you a ride home. Since we are not allowed to see Larry, there is no need for us to stay here.”

“Yes… Thanks for your kind thought of me.”

In an hour, Eva was lying in her bed already. Different sounds were coming inside through the window: tree rustle reminded of her neighbors’ gloating whisper, a cheerful laugh echoed somewhere in the distance and a familiar melody could be heard. Eva got startled. That was the most popular Larry’s song! Again, she was flooded by wave of memories. She remembered his tender smile, his unrepeatable look on the first day they met. It was the fate that brought us together, she thought, we couldn’t loose each other like this… I have to go and see Larry right away and tell that I love him, that my love has become even stronger. It doesn’t matter that he has lost his leg. The most important thing is that he survives. Eva’s decision even added strength to her. Definitely, I am going to see him tomorrow. It doesn’t matter, if it’s permitted or not. I’ll find a way to get there. I must do this.

……bus daugiau…. 

Reikia laikytis tik rankomis ir kojomis, kai kūnas yra ore. Išsilaikyti kuo ilgiau.

Turite pasistengti, kad kūnas būtų horizontalioje pozicijoje, bet iš pradžių gali neišeiti. Todėl bandykit šiek tiek išsikelti kaip parodyta A paveikslėlyje. Kampą mažinkite kaip parodyta B paveikslėlyje, kol galiausiai pavyks padaryti taip, kaip parodyta C paveiksle.

Bandykite daryti ir pajausite efektą.

Sėkmės

Ištreniruokime nugaros raumenis pagal mano sistemą ir bėdų su stuburu neturėsite, nes jis bus apsaugotas. Tai viena.

Kadangi, atliekant mano pratimus nugarai, treniruojami ne tik nugaros, bet ir rankų, krūtinės ląstos, pečių raumenys, galima sutvirtėti iki tokio lygio, kad, apglėbus žmogų į savo glėbio gniaužtus ir spaudžiant, suspaudimas prilygsta smauglio jėgai. Juk smauglys, kūno kilpomis suverždamas savo auką, sugeba ją pasmaugti. Jeigu treniruotumėtės pagal mano sistemą, šiuo veiksmo principu apglėbę kad ir apkūnų žmogų, galėtumėte jį suspausti iki sąmonės netekimo.

Žinoma, aš nesiūlau kiekvieną pasitaikiusį žmogų griebti į savo glėbį, bet kartais atsitinka taip, kad esi priverstas…

Beje, klystate, jei manote, kad treniruodamiesi sporto klubuose įgausite jėgos. Jų propaguojama pratimų atlikimo technika gadina jūsų kūną. Taigi, jei norite apsaugoti savo stuburą nuo žalos, jei norite įgauti jėgos ir esate pasiryžę sporuoti nekenkiant sau, reikia įsitaisyti štangikę, blynus ir pirmyn.

2 pratimai, kuriuos reikės treniruotis su štanga:

1 pratimas
Kaip matote paveikslėliuose, atsigulate ant suoliuko. Įsikimbate į štangos grifą plačiai ir įkvėpdami pritraukiate prie suoliuko. Užlaikome porą sekundžių ir štangą iškvėpdami nuleidžiame.

2 pratimas
Gulėdami tokioje pat pozicijoje, į štangos grifą įsitveriame siaurai ir keldami vedame link pilvo apačios (gaunasi įstrižas mostas). Užlaikome kelias sekundes ir štangą nuleidžiame ta pačia trajektorija.

3 pratimas:

Jeigu yra galimybė prisitraukinėti ant lygiagrečiai įmontuotų strypų, būtinai išbandykite prisitraukinėti. Universalus pratimas tiek nugaros, pečių bei rankų raumenims stiprinti.  

 Jei turite galimybę treniruotis su štanga, darykite tokį pratimą

 Namie galima treniruotis prie staktos. Galima pradžiai pasistengti pakibti visu savo svoriu, laikantis tik pirštų galiukais (juk stakta nėra plati). Vėliau, kai pirštai sustiprėja, galima prisitraukinėti.

Galima treniruotis ir ant skersinio. Laikantis ant pirštų, stenkitės delnus pritraukti prie skersinio.

2. Dabar kojas nuleiskite ir vėl gi sėdmenimis žingsniuokite atgal.

Pratimą PIRMYN-ATGAL kartokite kasdien. Būtų idealu, jeigu pirmyn ir atgal nueitumėte 10 metrų. Tokiu atveju, užtektų pratimą pakartoti bent 5 kartus.

P.S. Blogas iš manęs piešėjas, tai prašom man atleisti. O pratimas tikrai efektyvus. Pabandykite jį įtraukti į rytmetinės mankštos laiką. Tik kelios minutės – ir nei prostata, nei prostatitas jūsų nebekamuos.  

Kas tai – ruduo? Tai – piktas vėjas,
Nenuorama, labai išdykęs,
Nuo ąžuolo prie liepos šliejas,
Nuo topolio prie beržo pliko.

Kas tai – ruduo? Tai – rūsti jūra,
Tamsi, banguota, šėlstant audrai,
Tarytum dūžta bangos gurios,
Kai jas šokdina vėjai šiaurūs.

Ruduo – tai vien tik tamsios dienos,
Lyg saulė gultųs ilgo miego.– –
Rytas vėlinas kas dieną,
Ir netoli jau žingsniai sniego…

© Evaldas Vigelis 2009

© Evaldas Vigelis 2009

© Evaldas Vigelis 2009

© Evaldas Vigelis 2009

© Evaldas Vigelis 2009

Jeigu išmėgintumėte mano sugalvotą receptą, galėtumėte tiek bulvinius blynus, tiek kugelį valgyti kasdien ir nepatirtumėte jokių sveikatos sutrikimų. Tiek kugelis, tiek bulviniai blynai bus ne tik lengvai suvirškinti, bet ir problemų dėl tukimo ar antsvorio tikrai nepajusite.

Bulviniai blynai:

1. Nuskutame bulves, sutarkuojame.

2. Visą sutarkuotą tyrę išsunkiame marlės pagalba.

3. Išspaustus tarkius atidedame į šalį, nes svarbiausia tinkamai paruošti išspaustą skystį.

Reikia palaukti, kol nusistos krakmolas. Tada nupilame skystį į kitą dubenėlį, o krakmolą išmetame.

4. Nuo nupilto skysčio nugriebiame putas ir galime supilti atgal į išsunktas bulves, tik, žinoma, pilkite tiek, kad masė kepimui būtų tinkama . Plaktą kiaušinį galite dėti, galite ir nedėti, dėl prieskonių taip pat neaiškinsiu, dėkit ką ir dėdavote…

5. Galite kepti ir mėgautis blynais iki soties – sunkumo nepajusite, tikrai.

Į sveikatą!

© 2009 Evaldas Vigelis

Vaizdelis padarė įspūdį, todėl ir užfiksavau bevairuojant…

© Copyright Evaldas Vigelis

Gavau emailą:

Dear Applicant: After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 178.25 GBP Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 3-6 days in order to process it. A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline. Please submit the form attached to your email in order to complete your tax refund Best Regards, HM Revenue & Customs ————————————————————– © Copyright 2009, HM Revenue & Customs UK All rights reserved.

Buvo prisegtas .html failas:

© Copyright 2009 E.Vigelis

Šalta šalis, šalti namai,
Aplink visur šalti veidai…
Šalta diena, šalta naktis,
Šalčiu padvelkė ir širdis…

Čia negirdėt vaikų balsų
Ir nesutikt draugų visų,
Nėr saulės blyksnio iš dangaus.
Nėr meilės mylimo žmogaus…

Kaip pavargau, žmogau brangus…
Kada čia praskaidrės dangus?
Kada atšils, ištirps ledai?
Kada šypsosis vėl veidai?

Mes klaidžiojame lyg akli,
Kai saulė skaisčiai šviečia…
Tamsa užtemdė mums akis
Ir nebematom nieko.

Mes tarp savų lyg svetimi
Ir jaučiamės benamiais…
Supratom, kad neturime
Vienodų teisių žemėj.

Ar laisvė buvo laikina?
Be meilės ji užgeso…
Neliko jos šviesių namų,
Per klastą jų netekom.

Likau sužavėtas šio berniūkščio sugebėjimais. Tikras talentas

…..Tęsinys….

After he left Eva, Larry went home. Just now, when himself left him, he realized how worn he was. I could hardly have a sleep last night, he thought. He yawned and rubbed his eyes. How did I make it till now? This is thank to Eva, I don‘t care of anything when we are together. Love is a wonderful thing… He yawned again. His eyes were dewy of yawning. I‘ll drop down to bed, he decided. The weather is just right for this… It‘s going to rain shortly. What else one could do in such weather? Just to sleep. I have to take a rest, because Eva reminded me to be charming.

When laying in a warm bath, he had a nice cup of coffee and dreamed about Eva. He had soaked until the water-cooled up. Only then did he realize that it was time get off. He immediately went to bed and fell asleep soon.  

When Larry opened his eyes, he had to think hard in order to understand, why he was in the bed. He looked at the clock.  Slowly he recalled everything. He felt fresh and full of strength, no dizziness at all. The sky was cleared up, clouds had gone and the air seemed fresh. “I should go out for a walk,” he said himself. “May be to see Eva…” Larry was making his plans and was preparing an afternoon tea for himself.  

He was in a perfect mood. He walked with a smile on his face. It was good to feel the life rhythm. Larry was slowly walking along the old streets, watching houses that had turned yellow in the course of time and that remembered a lot of good and bad. He saw sagged down street lamps and mossy stone stairs. Larry was getting up those stairs, and the further he went, the narrower streets he found. He had never been in that remote part of the town. Why don‘t I go to Eva‘s house, Larry thought, but he changed his mind. He went to some exhibition hall without having any particular aim. The fusty air that lingered there did not match the pictures, which were watched by nobody. Larry did not have any interest in the art either. He decided to go back home.

As soon as he opened the door, he could hear a telephone ringing. He rushed to the phone at full tear.

“Hello? Who is this?”

“It’s Arnold.”

“Ah, it‘s you, Arnold? What happened?”

“I‘ve got some news.”

“What news? You’ve hooked me.”

“When we separated, I received a call from our coach.”

“The coach? What happened? What did he want?”

“What did he want?” Arnold was surprised. “Have you dropped from the clouds? Don‘t you remember we wanted to take part in the race? Get ready. The race will be on this week. We are included in the team!”

“Really? I didn‘t expected…”

“And I did, Larry. We will show them what we are capable of! And one more thing – give my regards to Eva.”

“Thanks.”

 ●○●

The next day Larry was in a hurry to see Eva. And she could not make up her mind that dress to put on. She spread over all her new dresses on the bed. She was stoking them, touching the fabric. All the three dresses were equally beautiful, and Eva wanted to select the one that would charm Larry the most. At last she picked up the violet one, walked in that dress around looking at the mirror and keeping on eye on the window.  Larry’s car was supposed to show up on the agreed spot. Then she was supposed to come out. I wonder if he likes my dress, she thought. But why should I worry so much, as if it is my first date? I need to relax, she decided. Nothing special has happened. I’m just wearing a new dress. Eva cast an eye through the window again. Her heart was beating with unappeasable excitement. Come on, Eva, calm down, she told to herself. Well yes, he has come, of course… There is no need to be worried. May be, he will not even notice my new dress? May be, he doesn’t care what I put on? He’d better not to notice this.

Before leaving, she looked at her in the mirror one more time. She looked great. Oh no, she said in her mind, head up, Eva, you look just stunning! Larry will loose his mind. She gave a last comb stroke, spray of perfume and hurried out.    

Larry could not drive his eyes from the girl for a long while. She is so beautiful…

“Well?” Eva asked embarrassed.

“Fantastic!” Larry confessed in astonishment. “You are a true spring flower today, a princess from a fairy tale… Come here, Eva.”

“Come on, you make me blush… Where are we going?” she asked timidly.

“Anywhere you’d like!” he replied joyfully, gave her a eyewink and added, “This will be our premarital trip. What do you think?”

 Eva took a free breath. Her eyes sparkled with happiness. Only then, she managed to forget about her new dress. “Oh, Larry, what would I do without you? Your mind is full of ideas and all of them are so sweet! Well, I agree! Let this day be the most momentous one.”

 “And it will be… You’ll see…”

They visited the most beautiful places in the town and its suburbs. They went to the Youth Garden located at the end of the town. They walked holding by hands, not letting away each other even for a second… They were running around on lawns and fields. Then they climbed the highest hill of the town to watch the panorama… They went to the lake, went by boat, fed swans and watched the sun set on the see shore, holding each other by hands. They were happy… 

It was already dark, when Larry pulled over at Eva’s house. It was a beautiful night… The glittering stars on the sky were like new-year garlands and the moonlight was very bright …

 “It’s a pity, but we have arrived already,” Larry said. He looked sadly at her and gave a deep sigh. “It’s so sad, that we have to part now. I feel so good together with you. I don’t want to be left alone in darkness… Eva,” he was still whispering and stroking her hair. “What shall I do? What’s wrong with me? I think, I’m driving mad, baby… I’m sitting here and I can’t let you go.  Simply, I want you to be next to me all the time… I don’t want to be apart! I want to stay with you day and night…”

 Eva was looking at Larry and smiling without a word. She also was reluctant to separate but she could nothing to change now. They were not married yet. Day and night together… What else could be better? She looked at him and smiled although her heart was crying. Eva did not know what to say and how to calm down not only him, but her as well.

“Why are you silent and don’t say a word? Say something,” Larry talked.

“What is it that you want to hear?”

“Well, at least, tell me, if you have liked the trip?” 

 “Of course, I have, silly boy, you don’t have to ask…” Eva was smiling.

“Shall we go somewhere tomorrow as well?”

“I don’t thing I’ll be able to meet with you tomorrow.” Eva got serious.

“Why is it so?”

“Don’t you get it? Every day I come back late in the evening, I need to spend some time at home too.”

“Are your parents so strict to you?”

“No, they are not so strict, just they are in a worry for me.” 

“I understand, but to keep you at home… I, think it’s too harsh a punishment.” 

“This is not a punishment, Larry. This is my attitude towards this in order to avoid any self-explanations.”

“It’s a pity,” Larry saddened. “We are not meeting today, and the race will take place the day after tomorrow…”

“The day after tomorrow? What a coincidence! My birthday is on the same day. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” 

“I myself got to know that only yesterday. And today we didn’t have time for this discussion.” Larry was disappointed. He looked at Eva hoping that she would make up her mind and agree to meet him tomorrow, but Eva did not give an inch.

“Larry,” she tried to comfort him, “the race is going to end up some time. We can meet right after it… What would you say?” 

“I cannot choose,” Larry grumbled in after a short while. “It’s inhumanly sad that we cannot meet tomorrow, but there’s nothing can be done. I’ll try to survive tomorrow. Let’s go now, I’ll see you to the door.”

 After he took Eva home, Larry got into his car. He waited till the light in her window was turned on. He felt very miserable. There was only one comfort – they were going to get married soon and then… Larry smiled. He wanted that week to pass quicker… It seems not a long time to wait, but how to make it? And the whole day tomorrow without Eva… He took a deep breath. You have to hold you in your arms, Larry, he told loudly. Relax and go home.

He comes back home very quietly, trying not to wake up his mother. He undressed and got into bed. He could not fall asleep because of some inconceivable worry. In order to get relaxed he started thinking of Eva. The first love…What a wonderful feeling this is… Larry smiled. This is what love looks like, the one they talk about in old books. Larry tried to recall if he had ever experienced something like that. Of course, he had a lot of adventures before he met Eva. Long ago, when at school, a young teacher attracted him, later – a girl from his class, but it was not the true love. Laura… Larry gave a deep sigh. He could not give any explanations about his feeling to that girl. He even did not want to think about her. He tried to fall asleep.

●○●

Larry heard a strange sound. There was a dogfight somewhere outside. He did not want to get up yet, and he tried to return to the world of dreams. The morning sun was up in the sky, but reality did not exist to the guy, the night romantics attracted him.  

“Eva, darling,” Larry was repeating holding tight the blanket. “Eva, where are you? I want to talk to you… I am in a rush to you…”

Sweet dreams leisurely relaxed his body… Larry and Eva were on the meadow. A waterfall roared somewhere, the flowers smelt beautiful… The sun caressed their bodies denuded of clothes. They were holding each other’s hand and watched white round clouds on the sky. 

“Larry, darling…”

“Sweetheart, isn’t it a wonderful place?”

“Yes, it is, my love…”

“Eva, there are just two of us in this Eden… Just you and me… Do you hear me?”

She did not respond.    

“Eva, darling, can I, will you let me… I cannot wait any longer… I want to love you… I want us to be one body…”

Eva kept silent. Perhaps she agrees, Larry thought. When the two bodies joined, Larry looked at her sweet eyes again. “Eva, do you really want this?”

Suddenly, there was a raven’s caw. There was no sign of a bird, but his persistent caw sounded right behind his back: cow, cow, cow… Damn it, where did these ravens get here, Larry thought. He wanted to swing around and look for it, but he suddenly heard an angry voice, “Get up! Get up, at last! I say, get up!”

Larry was still lying with his eyes closed. He was lying on his stomach, hugging his pillow and he was in disgruntled mood… “Ah, mother…” he mumbled under his nose, “It was such a sweet dream, I was about…”

“Larry, move on quickly, how long can it take you!”

At last he opened his eyes and looked at his mother. Her expression did not make any good promises. 

“You hang around during the whole night and then rot about in the bed till the lunchtime. Get up, your breakfast is ready,” the mother lectured. 

It took Larry some time to fully wake up. He was still trying to recall those wonderful visions of his dream – to remember what he was talking about with Eva; he wanted to feel her close again. Unfortunately, all his efforts ended up in vain and the dream scattered away. He got up from the bend and went to the kitchen, clean, though, shabby. Mother had washed the floor recently, so linoleum was shining a little in the morning light. The products were served already and waited for him on the table. On his toes, in order to leave no footprints, Larry reached the table and sat down on the chair. He loved having breakfast. That was one of the sweets of his life. He sliced two pieces of bread, put some butter on them and topped with ham. As soon as he finished his first sandwich, his mother showed up. She had dressed up. 

“I’ll do no cooking today,” she informed and went to the cupboard and fetched a small box out of it. “Take care of you, I’ll be back late in the evening. I’m invited to the party.”

“All right,” Larry said, still working on his sandwich, “I’ll have to have fun on my own, since you are not taking me with you.” 

Larry’s mother seldom cooked and he was used to it already.

“When did you go out with me for the last time?” his mother replied resentfully. “I have not even proposed…” 

“I’m just kidding, mama…”

She cast a look at Larry. “You are always kidding, you live just for yourself and care just about you, and the main thing is that no one would disturb you!”

“All right, all right, go ahead and enough of lecturing,” Larry snarled out.     

The mother did not say a word more. Larry heard the outside door slammed, which meant that she had already left. Neither Larry did stay at home for long.  He was wandering around the town expecting to meet some of his friends and have fun. He did not feel comfortable alone  – there was an inconceivable worry hiding deep in his heart. May be, it was due to those plans of their secret marriage, or due to being away from Eva. Larry tried to calm down. After hanging around in the streets, visiting a few coffeehouses, Larry finally took the direction towards home.

Now he was looking around and was surprised by the glory of nature pictures. He even seemed as if going that way for the first time – all looked new and unseen. When he spotted his house, only then he realized that as if something had brought him back to the reality. To the troubled reality, which something greater tried as if to protect him from, to hold him backs and show another direction. What is wrong with me?” Larry could not understand that. “Perhaps, I’m overtired.

Leaning back on the sofa, he was listening to the music. He tried to relax and forget about everything, like he used to before, but it did not work. It seemed as if some worm was gnawing himself from inside. Larry was sitting with his face awry with pain. He did not know what to do, in order that pain would disappear. Suddenly, he spotted a white silhouette of a man standing close to the window. Larry stiffened.  He could not even wink the view as if had hypnotized him.

“Don‘t try to reduce the pain of your soul,” he heard the voice as if it sounded in his ears.

Though Larry could not make a move, he was so delighted to see that whitish light. He did not feel any pain in his soul any longer. In a few seconds the silhouette moved back, vanished and scattered until all of it was gone, while there was not a slightest spot left.

Larry strained his eyes, but he could see just the curtains swinging. What is going on with me? I must have started seeing things, or this was vision caused by my overwork, Larry could not find an explanation for what he had seen. His sight stopped on the lamp. Lamps were peacefully spreading the light. It was so calm in the flat. Everything would be okay, if not that bad feeling. Is it due to the stuffy air? Larry tried to find out the reason. Yes, of course! How could I sit inside with windows shut down? Perhaps, this is the reason why I do feel this tension. He blew open the window. Fresh air of the night mixed with familiar town smells whooshed inside. Larry tried to get relaxed. He stared at the evening emptiness catching up sounds of the night. There was music coming out of the dark square. He took a closer look and could spot a few dark figures sitting on the bench. He could see cigarette lights on, sometimes a laugh could be heard. A sad melody was on the player. He had caught a glimpse of an oblong thing of glass in the dim light. The noise went down for a while. They must be drinking straight from the bottle, Larry thought in discontent. There it is a free restaurant for you. Having opened the window, he returned on the sofa. The worry was still with him. Larry tried to take a turn of work, but he was not a success. He opened a book that he had started a few days ago, but the lines were running on each other. He had never experienced such tension before. He tried to get a nap, but his heart was beating wild. At last Larry got up and aimlessly started walking around the room. He kept on this until a saving idea hit his mind – to give Arnold a call.

“Hi, Arnold, this is Larry.”

“Hi, it‘s you buddy,” Arnold was obviously not surprised. “I expected you to call.”

“How come?”

“I know you very well. You are crystal-clear – you always get into panic, when you are in for any important event, and we are having races tomorrow!”

Arnold was in a perfect mood. And of course, he was right. The problem is, Larry thought, that he doesn‘t have an idea, how dreadfully I feel. Larry wanted to tell him about his trouble, but he questioned that idea. He did not want to spoil his friend‘s mood.

“No,” Larry slowly said, “I’ve just decided to give you a call. I’m just a little worried.” 

“Why are you just like that, I cannot understand it,” Arnold could not get calm. Larry could hear Arnold whispering something aside. Probably he told his wife who was on the phone, Larry thought. “Don’t take it to your heart,” the friend continued, “We are going to win this time! Just think of it, is it worth while getting so excited without any reason? You always worry without any reason…” 

“But Arnold, I don’t feel well, I can not find peace, as if something bad might happen. That’s why I’m calling you. Why don’t we skip the race tomorrow?”

“Stop talking nonsense,” he cut it off. “For instance, I feel very well! Everything will be all right. Go to bed and stop racking your brains.”

Larry understood that he would not succeed in talking his friend out of that idea, so did not trouble any longer. He switched the topic, “What were you doing when I called? Didn’t I wake up?”

“No, no, we were just getting ready. You too go to bed.”

“I cannot get asleep…”

“Come on, Larry…”

“Okay, okay,” Larry said. “I’m not going to annoy you any more.”

“See you tomorrow, Larry. Have a good rest, and I will drop by tomorrow.”

Having stayed on the same spot for a while and having thought over the conversation with Arnold, Larry shrugged off and went to the bar. He poured in some cognac for himself. He looked at the drink against the light. Crystal-clear, he thought. He looked at his hands. It was not shaking. Whatever, I’ll drink it up, just for sake of holy peace! Hopefully, it will be helpful, Larry thought, taking his first sip. He turned on the music and lay down on the sofa. Soft music was supposed to get him asleep, but his dream had not knocked on the door for a long while yet.

…… bus daugiau…..

 Kadangi neturite originalios priemonės šiam pratimui atlikti, ją galima lengvai pasidaryti.

 1. Susiraskite nereikalingą apie 60 cm ilgio virvutę (galima batų užvarstį ar špagato) ir 2 vietose suriškite po mazgą. Surišti du mazgai turi virvutę dalinti į 3 vienodas atkarpas. Kad mazgas būtų didesnis, ant tos pačios vietos suriškite keletą mazgų. Turi gautis maždaug taip:

2. Atsisėskite patogiai, alkūnėmis remdamiesi į stalą. Vieną virvutės galą pridėkite prie nosies galiuko, o kita ranka antrąjį virvutės galą paimkite nykščiu ir smiliumi ir ištieskite virvutę tiesiai prieš save visu ilgiu. Ištiesta ranka su antru virvutės galu turi būti truputį žemesniame lygyje nei jūsų nosis, t.y virvutė turėtų būti nuožulnioje pozicijoje ir visiškai įtempta. Beje, neužstokite virvutės rankomis. Tik pirštų galiukai turėtų būti vienoje linijoje su virvute.

3. Sukonsentruokite žvilgsnį į tolimesnį virvutės galą (prie pat nykščio). Akiratyje vietoj vienos virvutės turėtmėte pamatyti 2 virvutes, kurios suformuoja V raidę. Atvirasis V raidės galas yra arčiau veido.

4. Antras ėjimas toks: Lėtai ir tolygiai žvilgsnį neškite arčiau savęs ir sustokite, susikoncentruodami į mazgą, esantį toliau nuo jūsų. Akiratyje turėtumėte matyti tas pačias 2 virvutes, kurios suformuoja X raidę, kai susikirtimo taškas yra mazgas, į kurį žiūrite.

Stenkitės žvilgsnį išlaikyti skaičiuodami iki 3.

 5. Toliau: Lėtai ir tolygiai žvilgsnį neškite dar arčiau savęs ir sustokite, susikoncentruodami į mazgą, esantį arčiau jūsų ir vėl gi, išlaikykite žvilgsnį, skaičiuodami iki 3. 

 6. Po to: Lėtai ir tolygiai žvilgsnį neškite arčiau nosies ir sustokite, susikoncentruodami į artimiausią (kiek galite matyti) vietą virvutėje. Dabar virvutė turėtų pasirodyti kaip raidė V, kai atviras galas bus toliausiai nuo jūsų.

Vėl skaičiuokite iki 3.

7. Tada grįžkite atgal, sustodami prie kiekvieno mazgo ir skaičiuodami iki 3, stenkitės išlaikyti mazgą kaip susikirtimo tašką.

Šio pratimo raktas:

Išlaikyti žvilgsnį susikirtimo taškuose. Iš pradžių jums gali nesisekti, nes akys norės šokinėti nuo vieno mazgo prie kito arba imsite stebėti, kuri virvutė yra reali, o kuri tariama. Kontroliuokite tai. Lėtas, tolygus ir tikslus perėjimas yra esmė ir efektyvus būdas treniruoti akis.

 Sėkmės

DANGUS KELYJE

RAUDONA

TARP ŽALIUOJANČIŲ…

VAIZDELIS TIESIOG PRO LANGĄ…

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           Buvo trečia valanda. Skaisti popietės saulė ridinėjosi pakelės šlaitais. Dangus buvo ryškiai melsvas, šviesus. Medžiai stovėjo pasidabinę žaliais lapais ir beribėje erdvėje atrodė kaip lengvučiai, mieli žaisliukai, kuriuos, rodos, imk ir dėkis į savo krepšį. Nuo nekaltos šilumos ir akinančios saulės šviesos Mikui suskaudo akys, o dar labiau širdis, priblokšta karališkos gamtos didybės ir savo menkumo. Slegiamas minčių, Mikas perkirto autostradą, aplenkė miestą ir pasuko miško keliuku. Dar kiek pavažiavęs, sustojo ties ta vieta, kur vakar naktį buvo nuklydę su Viliu. Aplink vyravo rami tyla, tik karts nuo karto, pūstelėjus vėjeliui, pasigirsdavo žaismingas medžių lapų šlamesys.

          Mikas išlipo iš automobilio ir ėmė akylai apžiūrinėti šį stebuklų kampelį. Viską apžvelgęs ir nieko įdomaus nepastebėjęs, jis jau buvo besėdąs į automobilį, kai žingsniai pasiekė jo klausą. Mikas sukluso. Tie žingsniai buvo lengvi. Jie artėjo.

          Mikas atsisuko ir pamatė ateinančią merginą. Ji buvo idealiai panaši į tą, kurią matė su Viliu tą vakarą ir ryte. Mergina buvo verta dėmesio, nors vilkėjo tik kukliais drabužiais. Ir veidas, ir figūra savaime traukė akį – tokia niekur neliks nepastebima. Bet ne dėl apsirengimo arba kokio nors išsičiustijimo. Pati gamta parodė jai nepaprastą dosnumą. Ši jauna, išvaizdi, staigių judesių mergina su mikliomis ir stipriomis rankomis atrodė išdidi, karšto ir gana aistringo būdo. Apvilktum ją šilkais, atlasais ir aksomu – ji atrodytų kaip tikra karalienė. Ji buvo nuostabi net ir su namų drabužiais, o jos veidas su puikia, balta, kaip linas plaukų karūna, papuošta laukinėmis gėlėmis, galėjo kelti pavydą net princesei.

          Mikas žiūrėjo į ją su nuostaba, su didžiuliu pasigėrėjimu, nenuleisdamas nuo jos akių. Ji buvo tokia pat, kokia iš ryto, tada, kai sviedė jam grandinėlę. Merginos žvilgsnis taip pat rodė, kad ji neabejinga Mikui. Bet kas, žiūrėdamas iš šalies, būtų galėjęs pasakyti, kad jis jai krito į akį. Bet jis neatkreipė dėmesio į jos susižavėjusį žvilgsnį, o gal ir visiškai nepastebėjo, nes buvo nukreipęs dėmesį į grandinėlę su talismanu, kuris kabojo jai ant kaklo.

          Mikas sutriko. Jis nesuprato jos vakarykščio pokšto. Ir tuo labiau nesuvokė, ką tai galėjo reikšti. Norėdamas išsiaiškinti, jis pažvelgė jai į akis ir jų žvilgsniai susitiko. Mergina visa išraudo ir vikriai apsigręžusi bandė bėgti, bet Mikas spėjo ją sugriebti už rankos. Ji nesipriešino. Bet vaikinas jautė, kaip iš susijaudinimo dreba jos ranka. Mikas taip pat buvo ne mažiau sutrikęs. Jis nebesuvokė, paleist jos ranką, ar ne. Bet kiek susitvardęs, prabilo:

          – Nebijok, aš tau nieko blogo nepadarysiu, tik noriu paklausti, ką tu čia veiki miške ir dar viena? Ar tau vienai nebaisu?

          Ji papurtė galvą duodama suprasti, kad ne. Bet nieko neatsakė.

          – Gal ko lauki, – bandydamas prakalbinti, Mikas uždavė dar vieną klausimą.

          Ji linktelėjo galva. Mikas dar labiau sutriko, nes ko beklaustų, ji vis atsako žestais. Gal kartais ji nebylė, pamanė jis, o gal drovisi manęs? Jis paleido jos ranką, įsidrąsinęs apkabino ją per liemenį ir nusišypsojo.

          – O gal kartais manęs lauki?

          Mergina pakreipė galvą į jį  ir kiek patylėjusi, nedrąsiai, drebančiu, vos girdimu balsu atsakė:

          – Galbūt.       

          Mikas atkuto, išgirdęs tokį atsakymą ir ilgai nelaukdamas paklausė:

          – Bet kaip tu žinojai, kad atvažiuosiu?

          Mergina švelniai išsisuko iš Miko rankos, kuria buvo ją apkabinęs per liemenį ir, žengusi kelis žingsnius link kalvos, pažvelgė į jį savo juodomis iš laimės spindinčiomis akimis, po to pažvelgė į dangų ir vėl į Miką.

          – Štai kas, – pasakė ji tvirtai.

          Toks keistas jos atsakymas nustebino Miką dar labiau iššaukdamas dar didesnį susidomėjimą ja. Jam knietėjo sužinoti, ką ji šiuo atsakymu norėjo pasakyti. Mikas atsiduso iš visos krūtinės kaip pripūstos dumplės ir nustebusiu tonu paklausė:

          – Ką tu tuo nori pasakyti?

          – Kad mes susitikome čia Dievo valia, – įtikinamai, tarsi maldą ėmė dėstyti ji, – ir kad šitas susitikimas man ir tau buvo neišvengiamas.

          Merginos veidas surimtėjo, ji gūžtelėjo pečiais ir nedrąsiai, vos girdint, pareiškė:

          – Štai taip…

          Mikas, neslėpdamas smalsumo, paklausė:

          – O iš kur tu žinai?

          Mergina nuleido akis. Matėsi, kad ji susigėdo, išgirdusi Miko repliką. Mikas tai pastebėjo ir norėdamas ją išvaduoti iš tokios padėties, pabandė.

          – Tiek to, jei nenori, gali neatsakyti, – ir nusišypsojęs pridūrė, – jei Dievas mus suvedė, tai geriau susipažinkime. Aš Mikas, o kaip tave vadinti?

          Mergina kiek patylėjusi nedrąsiai, vos girdimai ištarė:

          – Erika.

- Kaip, kaip, – neišgirdęs Mikas paklausė dar kartą.

          – Erika, – nedrąsiai, bet kiek garsiau pakartojo ji.

          – Na va ir susipažinome! Belieka tik aplaistyti, bet gaila, kad nėra kur, – išsišiepęs iki ausų, pašmaikštavo Mikas.

          Nors jis ir labai stengėsi būti malonus, jo žodžiai aiškiai dabar nepatiko merginai. Matyt, ne tokius žodžius ji norėjo išgirsti.

          – Dėkoju tau už šią repliką, – atsakė ji. Jos balse buvo girdėti nuoskauda, o gal ir kitas, staiga ją užplūdęs jausmas. – Na gerai, man jau laikas, tik dar noriu pasakyti. Grandinėlę, kurią tau dovanojau, nešiok kaip ir aš ir niekada su ja nesiskirk.

          Ištarusi tuos žodžius, ji nubėgo. Mikas bandė ją vytis, norėdamas išsiaiškinti grandinėlės paslaptį, bet, deja, mergina dingo kaip į ugnį  miško tamsoje.

          Mikas buvo nustebęs ir sužavėtas. Ji dar labiau įstrigo į jo sąmonę ir į širdį savo paslaptingumu, išmintimi ir grožiu. Ir jis apsisprendė ją susirasti jei ne rytoj, tai poryt. Susirasti ir sudėti visus taškus ant i.

          Jis dar ilgai vaikščiojo po šį paslapčių pilną medžių supamą kampelį tikėdamasis, kad Erika dar pasirodys. Juk jos veide Mikas matė neabejingumą. Jam nedavė ramybės jos pasakyti žodžiai ir ji pati savo kerinčiu grožiu ir savo paslaptingumu. Bet ji nepasirodė ir Mikui kito nieko neliko, kaip palikti šią vietą.          

            Mikas važiavo miško keliu namo ir nė neįtarė, kad mergina iki paskutinės akimirkos lydėjo jį aistros ir nusivylimo pilnu žvilgsniu ir dar keletą minučių klausėsi skardaus tolstančio automobilio motoro gaudesio. Jis net neįtarė ir net nepagalvojo, kad mergina nepaliko jo, kaip jis pamanė, neišnyko miško tankmėje, o tik pasislėpė visai čia pat, netoli jo, tikėdamasi, kad jis ieškos ir suras ir, apkabinęs į savo tvirtą glėbį, ištars myliu, kaip ir ji kad myli jį. Ji to laukė kaip ir jos mylinti širdis, bet Mikas to nesuprato. Jo automobilis tolo, tolo, kol išnyko tolumoje.

          Po gero pusvalandžio Mikas jau dairėsi į Perkūno kavinės langus. Jam ūmai pasirodė, kad niekas kitas, tik keptas ėriukas pomidorų padaže su bulvėmis ir daržovėmis ir geras, šaltas bokalas alaus gali šiek tiek išblaškyti jį nuo nenusisekusios dienos ir pataisyti bent kiek nuotaiką. Ilgai nesvarstydamas, jis įnėrė vidun. Susiradęs laisvą vietą prie lango, jis patogiai įsitaisė. Jei kas stebėjo jį iš šalies, galėjo matyti, kad jis iš tiesų atrodė nekaip – išvargęs, neišsimiegojęs, be ūpo. Pamačiusios jį tokį rūškaną, sunerimo net padavėjos, bet pralinksminti jo nesugebėjo. Netrukus jis gerai pasistiprinęs, sėdo į automobilį ir nuvažiavo namo.

          Jis buvo tiek išvargęs ir nemiegojęs per tas dvi jam siaubingas dienas, kad grįžęs ir tik pravėręs kambario duris, tiesiu taikiniu krito ant sofos ir saldžiai užmigo. Bet atsibudo laiku. Ir kai ryte nelauktai jį aplankė Vilis, jis jau buvo pasiruošęs “žygiams”.

 xxxxxxx

          – Prisėsk, – linktelėjo jam Mikas.

          Vilis atsisėdo ant odinio krėslo prie stalo, į kurį visada sėsdavosi, atėjęs pas draugą. Mikas tylėjo. Atrodė, kad jis klaidžioja po kitą pasaulį. Ir iš tiesų, jo galvoje sukosi mintis apie nebaigtą vakarykštį pokalbį su nepažįstamąja mergina Erika.

          – Ar tu neišmiegojai, kad po dausas skraidai, perskaityk štai šitą, – galop nekantraudamas prabilo Vilis ir padavė laikraštį, kuriame Mikas iškart pamatė pieštuku apibrėžtą straipsnį. Mikas ėmė skaityti, bet jam buvo sunku susikaupti. Mintys blaškėsi, skraidė po vakarykštės dausas, žodžiai tiesiog slydo, nepasiekdami sąmonės. Jis ėmė skaityti iš naujo. Jausdamasis nelabai nustebintas, Mikas padėjo laikraštį ant stalo.

          – Kaip tau atrodo? – pasiteiravo Vilis. – Ar ne verta būtų tau sudalyvauti?

          – Kaip tau čia pasakius, ko gero gal visai ir nieko…

          Šįkart Vilis pažvelgė Mikui tiesiai į veidą. Jo žvilgsnis buvo ryžtingas, įtikinamas. Atrodė pasitikintis.

          – Ne ko gero, o reiktų. Juk pats sakei, kad būtų neblogai išbandyti jėgas, o čia tokia proga tau… Esi atostogose, ir kelias netolimas…

          – Aš nieko prieš, bet individualiai gali neleisti dalyvauti, – numykė jis, tikėdamasis išsisukti.

          – Dėl to gali nepergyventi, brolau, šitą problemą jau sutvarkiau.

          – Juokauji, – nustebęs paklausė Mikas, – kada tu spėjai ir kaip? Paaiškink man. Aš turiu žinoti, po galais…

          – Ogi visai paprastai, – su pasididžiavimu dėstė Vilis, – paprašiau mūsų miesto Ąžuolo klubo trenerio, kad tave įtrauktų į komandą ir jis sutiko.

          – Bet aš nepažįstu nei to klubo trenerio, nei jo dalyvių… Galiu prie jų ir nepritapti, – abejodamas išlemeno Mikas.

          – Na ir kas? Ir aš jų nepažįstu asmeniškai. Argi tai kliūtis? Svarbiausia, tau paspausti, pritūpti, o aš, kaip tavo treneris, padėsiu, – su jumoru dėstė Vilis.  

          – O kada ruoštis krepšius? – pašmaikštavo Mikas.

          – Na tu ir duodi, brolau! Su tavimi nenuobodžiausi, – išsišiepęs lyg mėnulis, numykė Vilis. – Juk aiškiai laikraštyje, kurį daviau perskaityti parašyta, kad rytoj…

          – Na, nepūsk, Vili, kaip kalakutas… Na, pražiūrėjau tą vietą… Ką, dabar pasikart? Tik neniršk. Jeigu sakai rytoj, pasistengsiu būti formoje. Na o tu pasistenk sudaryti man geras sąlygas, kad galėčiau kuo geriau sudalyvauti.

          – Tą aš pažadu, gali būti ramus, – atsakingai pareiškė Vilis.

         Jau nuo vaikystės Vilis buvo kaip užtarėjas, kaip dešinioji Miko ranka. Ir to malonumo  draugui Mikas negalėjo atsakyti, neprieštaravo. O prireikus jo paramos, Vilis būdavo nepakeičiamas. Įgytas Vilio sugebėjimas laviruoti įvairiose situacijose – net pačiose nemaloniausiose ir beviltiškose – gelbėjo Miką ne vieną kartą. Ir visa tai, būdavo, jis atlikdavo nepriekaištingai ir tolerantiškai, neįžeidžiant nei vienos, nei kitos pusės. Paprastai kalbėdamasis su Viliu, Mikas nieko panašaus nepastebėdavo. Vilis jam atrodė pernelyg santūrus – veikiau blaivus skeptikas, negu patiklus entuziastas. Niekada nebuvo galima suprasti ar tai jo asmeniniai sugebėjimai, ar mitrus prisitaikymas prie užsakovų pažiūrų. Nes šiaip ar taip, Mikas buvo lyg ir užsakovas, investuodavęs ir lėšas, ir idėjas. Šiaip ar taip, tas bendravimas buvo abiem naudingas. Vilis kurdavo planus, o Mikas įgyvendindavo juos.

          – Na, brolau, nebetrukdysiu tavęs. Tu ilsėkis, kaupk jėgas rytojaus dienos varžyboms, o aš eisiu. Jei kas, skambink.

          – Eik, eik ir paskubėk, iš tiesų nedaug laiko liko ilsėtis, – nusirąžęs atsakė Mikas ir nusišypsojęs pridūrė: – o rytoj pamatysime, kas iš to išeis…

          – Tu ką? Dar abejoji, būdamas tokioje geroje formoje? – nustebęs paklausė Vilis.

          – O ką kartais gali žinoti, kad vietoj dikto neišeitų šnipštas.

          – Na tu ir duodi… Dar kartą pasikartosiu: su tavimi iš tiesų nenuobodžiausi. Žiūrėk man, kad rytoj būtum žvalus kaip agurkas, – šypsodamasis pasakė Vilis ir numojęs ranka, išėjo.

          Likęs vienas, Mikas pravėrė truputį kambario langą, paskui prigulė ant sofos, tikėdamasis nors kiek nusnūsti. Nuo pat ryto jis jautėsi pavargęs, neišsimiegojęs, kone bukas. Nedavė ramybės dar ir vakarykštis  nenusisekęs pasimatymas, dėl kurio jis buvo šiek tiek suirzęs, kurį jam niekaip nesisekė ištrinti iš sąmonės. Kodėl jam taip ūmai parūpo tas nelemtas, mįslingas kampelis ir ta paslaptinga mergina? Jis į tai neturėjo atsakymo. Jam niekada lyg šiol neteko apie tai susimąstyti, nes jo hobis buvo tik štanga ir darbas. Jis buvo tiesiog užsiėmęs žmogus, niekados nesusimąstęs dėl savo ateities likimo. Niekada neatsigręžė atgal apžvelgti savo veiklos, kiek yra pasiekęs ir ko dar galima pasiekti, ko dar tikėtis iš savęs, iš likimo. Būtinai reikėjo apie tai susimąstyti ir suvokti prasmę. Ir vis dėlto jis neaiškiai jautė, kad tas mįslingas kampelis, tas nesuvokiamas apreiškimas ir ta paslaptinga mergina įstrigo į širdį ir į sąmonę. Mikas buvo pasiryžęs ieškoti atsakymų.

          Mažiausiai šiame pasaulyje žmogus pažįsta patį save, pagalvojo Mikas. Nežinai, kas paslėpta sieloje, nežinai ir kelių, kuriais dieną ir naktį klaidžioji lyg neregys.

          Ech, – tepasakė jis ir nė nepajuto, kaip užsnūdo, tarsi nutrūko kažkokia nytis.

          Šį kartą jis nieko nesapnavo. Miegas buvo tuščias ir gilus kaip mirtis.

                                                   ……. bus daugiau……….

Atsirado ir garsas. Klausykite čia:

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1. Jums reikės 2 juostelių su skaičiais, kurios sunumeruotos vertikaliai nuo 1 iki 50. Vienoje juostelėje yra neporiniai, kitoje – poriniai skaičiai. Taip pat reikės raiščio pridengti akį. Kadangi raiščio pagalvėlė turi būti išlenkta (kad neliestų akies), galima pasinaudoti paprastesniu būdu. Paprasčiausiai pridenkite ją rieškute. Tik pridenkite taip, kad nepraeitų šviesa.

2. Ant stalo atskirai viena nuo kitos pečių plotyje padėkite dvi juosteles. Jos turi būti padėtos taip, kad pasilenkus būtų tiesiai prieš jūsų akis maždaug 45-50cm atstumu. Jeigu matote skaičius neryškiai, būtina prisilenkti arčiau. Šiuo atveju reikėtų sumažinti ir tarpą tarp juostelių.

3. Užsidėkite akies raištį ant bet kurios akies, tik užsidėkite taip, kad nepraeitų šviesa. 

4. Sukoncentruokite neuždengtą akį tarp abiejų juostelių ir jūs turėtumėte matyti abi skaičių eiles.

 5. Pradėkite sutelkdami žvilgsnį ties skaičiumi 1. Tada nejudinant galvos, pažvelkite į skaičių 2 kitoje juostoje, tada atgal į skaičių 3 ir taip toliau iki galo ir iškart atgal, kol sugrįšit ki 1. Tą patį pakartokite kita akimi.

Būtina aiškiai pamatyti kiekvieną skaičių prieš pereinant prie kito. Tai svarbu.

Vėliau galima bus nuotolį keisti, t.y.d didinti sudėtingumo laipsnį.

Šio pratimo esmė – kuo greičiau sutelkti žvilgsnį ir aiškiai pamatyti kiekvieną skaičių nejudinant galvos.

….TĘSINYS….

            She was a little scared. It‘s all right, I‘ll persuade her to relax, Larry thought. We are planning to get married, after all… I don‘t think we are going to sleep even without embracing each other…

            „Sure, Eva,” he said, “take your time, I‘ll come back in ten minutes.”

 ●○●

            Eva was lying on the edge, with her blanket drawn up high. Larry turned off the light and slipped under the blanket. He moved closer to the girl, but Eva did not wiggle. 

           „Are you asleep?”

           She did not answer. It‘s a pity, Larry thought, she fell asleep before I came… He gave a deep sigh. It‘s a shame that will not be able to hug you so tight.

           He backed up and lied down on his back comfortably, put his arms under his head. Let her take a rest, he thought. Perhaps she will wake up later? And then… She will definitely not get away from my arms… I‘ll give it a hard try. What is she afraid of? Just think of it… He smiled. The further it goes, the more her special trays are evident. She is just a piece of gold.

          He rested and listened to crepitating grasshoppers. That night was full of sounds. His friends were in deep dreams and Larry stayed silently in bed and could not fall asleep yet. How can you sleep peacefully when the girl you love so much is next to you? That black-haired beauty…She so simple and exiting at the same time… Larry did not even give it a try to fall asleep. Eva lay on her back; her nice face turned to Larry. He gloated over Eva in her sweet sleep; he wanted to touch her, kiss her red lips, but he did not want to wake her up.

          May be I could cuddle to her somehow, he was thinking. I am not going to torture myself like this for the whole night, am I? He gave it a try. He put aside his blanket and carefully, so not to disturb her, got closer. She did not move. Good, he thought, I‘m half way through. And what is now? Yes… Now I should try to place my arm above her head and wait for her to turn. 

          Larry waited for a good while, but finally he attained his aim – when she turned on another side she got in his embrace. She mumbled something and dropped her arm on Larry‘s body. She was in deep sleep.  Larry carefully straightened up and relaxed.   

           It was worth waiting, he thought. Now I can have a nap. It’s high time for a sleep now. Larry closed his eyes. He could feel Eva‘s even and light breathing at his chest. It gave a soothing effect. Thoughts were scattering away… Then Larry felt that was falling asleep.

           Something stirred in his arms. Still sleeping the guy understood that it was Eva.

          “Are you awake?” he asked still drowsing. Larry did not expect to hear a reply, he intended to have some more sleep.

           “Yes,” she answered. “You are not asleep, are you?”

            Then he was fully awakened. He opened his eyes and looked up to Eva. She was looking straight in his eyes. The look was shameful. Larry smiled. “How can I be asleep when I‘ve got you in my arms?”

           “But how did I get…”

           “I know how to get what I want, and now you owe me a kiss.”

           “I was waiting for you last night, but my weariness took over me. Sorry.”

            “Never mind, perhaps, it had to be like this. I love you…”

            She kept silent. She looked thoughtful, and her face was clouded with sadness.

            “What is it?” Larry inquired. “What does upset you?”

             “I remembered of my mother… She thinks that I am with Paula and if only she knew…”

              “Cheer up, Eva… You gave her a call and she bought Edna’s story.”

             “That‘s what bothers me. Not all of fairy tales have happy ends…”

              “Please, don‘t worry,” Larry stroke through her hair, “I hope you will get away with it this time as well. Let‘s not spoil this first morning of ours. Your kiss is my greatest desire now, Eva. Give me a smile, darling… You are not mad at me that you woke up in my embrace this morning, are you?”

              “No, I‘m not! Not at all… Perhaps, I didn‘t have to let you get close to me last night. But I‘m not angry now. You know what,” her eyes sparkled with happiness, “it‘s so wonderful to get up in the arms of your sweetheart.”

              “See? Didn‘t I tell you that? Let‘s enjoy this, Eva. I hope everything will be all right with your mother.”

             Her face became cloudy again. She loosened herself from Larry‘s arms. “I feel worried, Larry.”

            Larry realized that she felt sore about it. “What is bothering you,” Larry became disappointed. “I have got a feeling that you are not going to give me a kiss.”

            Eva looked at Larry and frowned. “You are, in a way,” she replied. 

            “Eva, darling,” Larry sat up and fixed his look at her without a clue what she was talking about. “Me? What have I done wrong?”

            “Nothing, but I cannot forget Arnold‘s jokes about somebody called Laura. Who is she?”

            Larry almost got in shock. Here it is again, he thought. We cleared everything up yesterday and she… “Come on, Eva, stop kidding,” Larry got a little angry and dropped back to his side of bed. He stared at the lamp. “I don‘t know any Laura…”

            “But Larry, since Arnold has mentioned her, it means there must be something,” she nodded her head. “He never speaks without any reason, even if he jokes.”

            Larry did not know what to do. Should he tell her all the truth, or keep silent. It’s all Arnold‘s big mouth. I have to do something about making her to forget this. Laura cannot shade our future. 

             “Sweetheart,” he said softly. His face was so close that Eva even got rattled. Larry was stroking her hair. “There is nothing else I can think of, just you. I want you to marry me. Don‘t you believe me? I want to grow old together with you, dear. I want to have a flock of kids. If not a flock of them, then a little Eva and a little Larry at least. Eva, the only thing I can think of is just we and just we. My little tiger, I burn with love to you, trust me…” 

             Right away, he decided to prove his love to her. He wanted to kiss her. His lips were looking for hers, though Eva tried to escape it. When their lips met, she still tried to get away, but the passion took over her. The girl twined around his neck and sucked into his lips, stroking his hair.  

             There was a door opened on the second floor. Steps and voices of Arnold with Edna could be heard.

             “I do love you, Eva. Do you understand? If Arnold‘s words about Laura bothers you, this means that you love me too.” In a short moment, he found his blanked and slipped under it. “Pretend that you are asleep,” Larry gave her a wink, “before they spotted us.”

               It took them a moment to get to the different sides of their sofa and closed their eyes. 

               “Good morning, sleepyheads,” Edna greeted them. “Are you still in bed?”

              “We have not agreed on the time when to get up,” Larry answered, still dizzy of the passionate kiss.

              “Then hurry up, I could eat a horse,” Arnold urged on yawning. “Just have a look at this beautiful morning…”

               “Eva, you look indefinite somehow,” Edna said, “Didn‘t you play Romeo and Juliet last night?”

                “Are you kidding,” Eva got embarrassed, “we slept the sleep of the just.”

               “Well, well, I doubt it, since they are still in bed,” Arnold cut in, “you can never be sure…”

              “We are good kids,” Larry objected to it and looked at Eva. She looked tempting. She was hot, and her eyes shined… If Edna and Arnold were not here, he automatically found himself thinking, who knows if it would have ended just with kisses…?

              “Enough of suspicions!” Eva cut it down.

               Everybody stared at her with surprise, but Eva could not keep it up any longer. She burst out into a loud laugh.

              “What are you staring at? Do you think I‘ve got angry? I‘m just kidding.” She looked at Larry. “See, what kind of humorless friend you‘ve got… He does not understand jokes…”

              Larry understood that it was a stone cast at Arnold.

             “What an actress,” Arnold wondered. “I truly believed that you had got angry… You should star in movies…”

              “We both could do this,” Eva shot back.

              “Come on,” Edna cut in, “we are going outside and you can get dressed.”

               “And hurry up,” Arnold tried to say it in an ordering tone, still recovering after Eva‘s trick. He gave a hug to Edna. “She is a good actress, I really believed in her anger…See, Edna, even I can get cheated… I cannot believe it…”

              Larry and Eva were left alone.  

             “Well, Larry, what do you say?”

              “It was very assuredly, did you pretended indeed?”

            “I was kind of angry at first, but then I applied his own method… Didn‘t you get it too?”

            “I‘m proud of you. One has to fight for his love, and not to listen to somebody‘s abuses.”

            “That‘s exactly what I did, Larry.”

●○●

              The yard was swimming in the morning light. The sky was shining like illuminated. It seemed that only that spot of the sky had that wonderful shine of porcelain. The four got in the red sports car and in an hour, they were driving along the central street of the town.  

             “So, when is the christening taking place?” Eva recalled yesterday’s topic. 

            “Indeed, we totally forgot about it for all that merry-making,” Larry added. “Moreover, we haven’t seen the little…”

           “Barbara,” Arnold refreshed his memory.

           “I miss my baby,” Edna got exited. “This is the first time I left her behind.”           

           “Really?” Eva could not believe it. “Do you spend all the days together?”

             “Yes, I do, and Arnold has other things to do: rehearsals, training.”

            “Barbara is my pride,” Arnold gave a proud statement, “she’s daddy’s picture. When you see her, Larry, you will make sure. She is with my parents now.”

           “Where do your parents live, Edna?”

           There was a silence. Edna did not answer it.

           “They are gone,” Arnold said. “They died in a car accident when Edna was eleven.”  

            “Oh, I’m sorry, Edna,” Eva apologized, “I didn’t know…” 

            “Neither did I. Arnold did never mention about it,” Larry tried to explain. “We apologize for our flub.”  

             “Listen here,” Arnold started, “if you are not in a hurry, and we could stop somewhere for a bite. Then we could discuss things.” 

              “I’m not in a hurry,” Larry replied. “How about you, Eva?”

              “I don’t thing something would happen, if my stay at my cousin’s place takes a little longer. I can go with my cousin shopping, can’t I?”

            “Aren’t you afraid that your parents may call Paula and get things straightened up?” Edna warned.

            “Sometimes mother tries to give me a fright, but she never takes over any actions.”

            “Then she trusts you, doesn’t she?”

            “I guess so…”

            “Very well, Larry,” Arnold cut in. “Turn to the right. They have good pizzas here.”

            Larry knew the pizzeria very well. He used to go there with Laura very often. Just nobody knew about it. He had never met any friends there, not even Arnold.    

            “Do you often come here?” Larry asked.

            “I’ve never been here before, but I‘ve heard they have good pizzas here and they offer quite a selection of them. Moreover, it’s not so expensive.”

            Larry did not want to go there. He was afraid of meeting Laura there; therefore, he tried to talk his friends out of their intention. “But there may be quite a lot of people,” he said, “at this time of the day.”

             “Then we would go to some other place.” Edna was optimistic. “It’s worth while going there, we wouldn’t refuse to give a try to a good pizza, would we?” 

            There were only three cars were parked at the pizzeria. Larry parked next to them. Damn it, he thought. Since the parking is empty, the same will be inside pizzeria. We have come here needlessly. There are many other nice places. Damn it!

             “Larry, hurry up,” Arnold urged.

            “Go ahead, I’ll catch up with you.”

            Larry wanted to enter the pizzeria alone. If Laura would be there, he would avoid unnecessary talking. She herself had brought Larry to this place. A few girls that he knew had been working there. Larry’s heart was beating wild. Damn it, damn it… I can feel she is here. If that’s really so, I’m not going inside. I’ll simply kind of vanish.

           “Larry, I’m waiting,” he heard a soft voice. “What are you looking for?” 

            He was riveted to the spot as if having set an eye on a ghost.

          “Larry, come on, hurry up. How long should they wait for us?”

           Only then did he realize that it was Eva’s voice. Is it her waiting for me? Thank God! I thought it was Laura. No, its no go, Larry thought, I have to relax! He stepped off the car and looked straight into Eva’s eyes.

            “Eva, what would I do without you,” he started flattering.

            “What? What’s wrong with you, Larry?” Eva could not understand Larry’s excitement. 

            “I don’t know. I guess I was looking for something, but I’m not sure what. Perhaps, it’s because I’m in love with you that I don’t know what I’m doing. I hope it will pass off and now we should catch up with them. What do you think?”

            Eva looked at him with her eyes wide open, still unable to understand his behavior. Larry took her by hand and pulled slightly. 

            “Eva, do you hear me? Let’s overtake them!”

            “Overtake?” She finally came back to reality. “Ah… Yes, of course, Larry, let’s run!”

            They ran like two lovers. Larry stopped at the door. “Wait, Eva, I want to kiss you.”

            “Go ahead,” the girl closed her eyes and exposed her lips playfully.

            Larry smacked her on her snub nose and then gave her a kiss holding her tight in his arms. “Now we can go in, darling.”

            When he got inside, Larry searched over the tables. He could not spot Laura anywhere. Some tables were occupied, one by Arnold and his wife among them.

             “Well, you don’t seem wasting your time,“ Arnold was teasing. “I bet you were smooching round the corner”.

            Eva blushed. She did not say a word.

            “Arnold, stop terrorizing them,” Edna interfered in discontent. “Leave them alone!” 

             “All right, all right, I was just kidding,” he was excusing himself. “Eva can understand jokes… Get seated comfortably, the pizza is on the way – with ham and cheese. Will it be okay for you?”

            “Very good choice,” Larry agreed, rubbing his hands. “We’ll get to the job right now!”  

            The pizza was very delicious. Everybody liked it. While they were eating food, the girls chatted like two foxes, just rarely joining the friends’ conversation. Arnold was telling Larry about his daughter. Now, when the secret was disclosed, he wanted to tell more about it. Obviously, he was very proud of his little daughter.  

            “You know, Larry, when Barbara will be eighteen, I’m going to be forty-one and her mammy is going to be thirty-five.”

            Edna heard Arnold’s words. “It’s very good. We will go to dancing together,” she added smiling. “Nobody will tell the difference, which one is the daughter and which one is the mother.”

            “Don’t worry, she won’t bother about dancing,” Arnold replied, “she will be an artist. She cannot live a day without a pencil and a piece of paper.”

           “That’s true,” Edna confirmed, “but may be we should be going, or are we going to order anything else?”

             “Let’s move,” Larry stirred up. He looked around when he remembered of his fear. 

             Almost all of the tables were occupied. Suddenly shivers went down his back. He stopped his attentive look at the girl sitting in the distant corner. No, it‘s not her, he thought. Larry felt a relief and got up from his place. Larry wanted to leave that place as soon as possible, because the environment raised unpleasant recollections about Laura. Perhaps Eva would never forgive him, if she would make sure that Laura existed in reality.   

●○●

            Overcast midday was floating above the houses. Smiling, all four left the pizzeria. Larry grabbed Eva and put his arms around her after he had kissed her. Chatting cheerfully, they went towards the car. Arnold and Edna were going in front.

             Suddenly Arnold stopped and turned around. “Listen, Larry,” a question flashed on his face.

            “What is it? You‘ve turned pale.”

            “Listen,” he came up closer and took Larry further from the girls, who had started discussing something. “Who is sitting in your car there?”

            Larry suddenly turned back to check. “I thought so, that this had to happen some time,” he said facing his friend. He seemed to be very scared. “Damn it, what on earth brought us here? What am I supposed to tell Eva now?” Larry got into panic. He was squeezing his fingers. He seemed to be about to burst into tears.   

            “But who is sitting there?”

            “Laura,“ Larry mumbled angrily, “I must have left the door unlocked and she made use of it. I guess she wanted to make a surprise for me. Damn her…”

            “Trust me,” Arnold said in his patter, “I‘ll take the girls somewhere and you get rid of that Laura at last.” Having explained the plan quickly, Arnold called out. “Girls!“  

             “What happened, Arnold?” Edna asked.

             “Have you got any new ideas?” Eva cheered up.

            “Yes, dear,” Larry squeezed a humble smile.

              “You know, I‘ve got something for you,” Arnold burst out into talking with inspiration. “Let‘s go quicker.” Arnold took both girls by their waists and hurried back to the pizzeria. 

            “Larry, come,” Eva called and waved to Larry without turning her face to him. Probably Arnold was holding her so tight that she even couldn‘t turn around. 

             “Coming, coming,” Larry called out, but he stayed on the same spot until they disappeared behind the door. Everything goes well, he thought. Soon I‘ll get rid of this pretender for ever. Larry was furious. 

            “Laura, get lost from here right now,” Larry snapped out with anger as soon as he opened the driver‘s door.

             “You want to get rid of me,” she said in a depressed voice. “I saw you… You have another girlfriend. Why, Larry?”

              He was shocked by Laura‘s words. I won‘t let you sneer at me, he thought. I never want of excuses. He got in to the car. “Listen to me,” he started in a vicious voice.

            But Laura did not let him do the talking. “Why did you leave me?”

            She was looking at him with her tearful eyes without a movement. Now, here it starts again, Larry thought. She is going to burst into tears and lie again.

            “Who is this girl, Larry?”

            “What is your concern about this?” he asked roughly in his turn.

             “Why do you say so? I saw you… One could think you are in love with her.”

              “Mind your own business, damn it. Why are you spying me?”

               “Larry, you promised to come and see me, remember? But you never showed up. I‘ve been waiting for you for days, weeks, months…”

              Larry started laughing. She is so weird, he thought. She was waiting for me… Obviously, all her suitors must have abandoned her already, so she decided to come back to me. I guess I was the one she nose-led for the longest time, since she remembered me again. He shook his head, because it was still impossible for him to realize that he once had been so played off. Larry’s face clouded over. It’ll never work, he said to himself. You’ll never succeed in splitting us apart. “It was just a promise. Didn’t you understand that?”

             “But why, Larry? I thought you love me?”

            Larry was silent. What does she understand about love? She looked into my eyes and talked about love, but the next moment she gave herself to another man. It‘s a game, a chess game. Why did she try to make a scene? Larry thought. “I did love you, I‘m not going to hide it away…”

             “So, you did love me?” she cheered up. Her face brightened up. “What has changed? Larry, I don‘t want to loose you.”

             No, Larry thought. You don‘t. I wonder, why?

             “Why are you keeping silent, Larry?”

             “You don‘t want to loose me?” Larry smiled. But the smile was too far away from a joyful one. “You have, already,” he snapped out scornfully. “You have lost me long ago… I grasped you. You are not created for a stable life…”

            She gave a look of despair again. “Who is she? Who is that girl?”

            Curious, he thought. At last… You‘ve become worried only after you have suspected of some alert… “She is mine,” he stressed it with his greatest boast and glee, “and soon we‘ll get married.”

            “So soon…” She turned away to the window. She took her time.

             Larry got the impression that she waited for him to comfort her. No, Larry decided, no way. I‘d better wait for a while.

              Finally Laura turned back her face and put her hand on his knee. She looked at him with a scared sight. “I‘ve been thinking a lot about us,” she went on. “You had never wanted to have me all. I failed to understand you, though I tried very hard…” 

             You are saying truth, Larry thought. You wanted to have me under your thumb. And you almost succeeded. Thank Arnold, he prevented me from this and opened my eyes. “There‘s no need to lie, Laura. Do you thing I‘m a fool?”

             “What are you talking about?”

              “Never mind,” he answered in short. “We‘d better leave it as it is. Please understand once and forever – it‘s all over… Be reasonable, Laura. Nothing is going to work out between us. You go your own way. You will be okay. You will manage.”

             “But I cannot forget about our love…”

            Larry lost his temper. He could no longer stand all of her twaddle. “And could you forget about other lovers?”

            “What are you talking about here?”

             Larry noticed her surprise. She is a good actress, he thought. Now I‘m going to tell her something She asked for this herself… “Laura,” he started, “I know a lot about you, but I don‘t want to stir up trouble. Get this into your pretty head that nobody can change my mind. Do you understand? I have made a decision. You are free since long ago, Laura. Find another one for yourself, if that one has abandoned you, and don‘t try to get me tangled back in your traps.” Larry told her all he wanted to. He got off the car and opened the door on Laura‘s side. “Please, Laura,” he said in a strict tone. “Get off and get away from here. My feelings to you died long ago. Leave us in peace, Eva and me.”

            Laura got off. She was upset. She couldn‘t look at Larry. She was still there and waited for something… He was also patient waiting for her to go away. Suddenly the girl turned to him and looked up in Larry‘s eyes.  She did not seem to be angry. May be more oppressed. Lie and truth oppressed her.

             “Good bye, Larry,” she said silently. Then she turned away her sight. She was still waiting. Larry didn‘t say a word.  And then she left, without a look cast at him. She never turned around.

 ●○●

              Larry locked the door and returned to the pizzeria.  When he saw his friends, he insensibly felt a thrill of cold. He stopped. Eva was sitting face to him, but she was holding her head down. Something is wrong, he thought. His heart was pierced with a bad pain.

             “What happened, Eva?”

            She looked at him with her eyes full of scare and got up sprightly. “Larry,” she cried out and put her arms around his neck.

            Larry was holding her tight. He looked at Arnold misunderstanding the situation. He just shrugged his shoulders and swayed his head. He looked very serious. So did Edna.

             “Larry, where is she? Why didn’t you tell me about that?”

            Then Larry realized that Arnold did not have another choice but to disclose everything. He did not notice it, but he turned pale of scare. Obviously, it took me too long to talk to Laura, he thought. Eva will never forgive me for the lie.

            “So, you know everything,” Larry could hardly say a word. 

            “Yes, darling, Arnold told me everything.”

            “Everything is all right now, she will never disturb me,” Larry was stroking her head. “I didn’t want to cause you any pain, so I preferred not to tell you about it. I’m sorry.”

            She leaned back from Larry’s shoulder and kissed him on the lips. She looked at him with her eyes full of hope. “You thought, I would not understand it, didn’t you?”

             “Yes, Eva, I had that thought. I thought you would become and at me and leave me alone. I didn’t want to loose you. What would I have done without you?” Larry noticed her upset.

            “There was no need to, Larry,” she said in discontent and gave a deep breath. “I never thought you might doubt my love to you. I see, that I was wrong…” 

             “No, Eva, you are getting it wrong…I never doubted your love,” Larry hurried up to explain, “but I was afraid you might get doubts about my feelings… Do you understand?”

              “But…“ Eva suddenly stopped. She was in tension for a second and then relaxed again. “Indeed…When Arnold said that you have left to see her, I was just praying for you to come back.”

              “You see, Eva,” he said in a better mood, “you have also doubted my love. It is obvious that it is love and not doubts…“ He slightly touched her chin. “What would you say to it, Eva?”

              “Well, let’s get out of here,” Arnold decisively cut off their gibbering. “It takes you too long to stand hugging each other in public. You don’t need us, I guess. You’ll be able to talk on your own.” 

●○●

            Having delivered his friend with his wife to their home, Larry drove off with Eva. He stopped a little further away, so that her parents would not see them. “Now you know everything, Eva.”

             “Yes… That Laura has a double face. But how could you miss those weak points of her?”

              “I don’t know, baby…” Larry paused upon it. Laura was very pretty, but strange. Her feelings were strange… You would never know what was on her mind… “And why do we talking about her? She is not worth it. We’d better talk about us.”

               “I agree, Larry,” the girl smiled, “go ahead, and strew you compliments.”

              “What?”

            “Do you want to tell me that you don’t know how it is done?”

            “No, Eva, you know that I’m not this kind of person. You have really charmed me. I’m so glad that we’ve met. It wouldn’t be worth wile living without you. Now I’m the happiest man of all! Can you believe this?”

            “Really, Larry?”

            “I’d like to do something to please you, but I don’t know what.”

              “Well, I hope you are not going to jump down from a scarp, are you?” Eva was in a cheerful mood.

            “And to loose you? Come on, sweetheart, I want you to be happy all the time.” 

            “I am happy, indeed. Am very happy to have you with me, though, I did not have much trust in your words when we met for the first time.”

            “Trust in my words or in me?”

            “In you…” Eva whispered and crouched expecting for a trick from Larry. 

            “Come here, you, naughty girl…Where is my sweet neck,” Larry reached out for Eva’s neck softly searching for the sensible spot. “Yes, here it is… It’s so tiny…”

            “Ah, stop it, Larry, I’ve got chills all over my body already,” Eva was screaming.

            “I don’t want to stop,” Larry was purring, “I’m a gentle cat… I’m looking for my little neck…”

            “Okay, okay, I give up… I never doubted in you… Just, please, stop, tormenting me…”

            “Am I tormenting you?” he asked and finally withdrew from Eva’s neck. “I know you like it.”

             “Yes, but not for too long,” she answered breathless and stretched out her arm, “See this? I didn’t lie. You gave me a goose skin all over.”

               “I’ve got an idea,” he said taking out his wallet, “here, take it. Buy to yourself anything you like. It’s going to be my present for your birthday.”

              “But it’s too early, Larry. My birthday will be just in three days,” Eva tried to joke, but she was upset at the same time. This was for the first time that she received a present from her boyfriend. 

            “It doesn’t matter. I want to congratulate you now. Make me happy, Eva.”

            “Well, okay,” she said silently and gave Larry a kiss. “Thanks, Larry. You are so sweet.” She looked at the money and considered what she could spend it on. At last, her eyes sparkled with joy. “I’ll get a few dresses for myself.”

            “Why don’t I take you to a shop?”

            “Right now? May be, I should get home first?”

             “What if you are not able to get out? Let’s go now… We’ll stay together a little longer, I don’t want to part with you.”

            It did not take long for Eva to make a decision, and there was nothing to consider. There were just a few fashionable dresses in her wardrobe. Therefore, the girl could not refuse such a tentative proposal. She smiled. “Okay, Larry, let’s go,” she said cheerfully and shook her finger, “but I’m going to try them on by myself…”

            She is so shy, Larry thought, but he did not ask her why.  He understood that she felt uncomfortable. Larry pouted his lips playfully. “Nobody likes me…”

               “Cut it out, Larry,” Eva laughed, “you behave like a small kid.”

               “I learned it from you…”

              “I know…” Now she became serious. “So, do you promise to stay in your car?”

               “All right, you win. I will have to meet your fancies. I promise to wait in the car.”

               Eva asked Larry to take her to a small store, where she always used to shop. She never liked super markets. She could feel at home in her favorite store. 

             The store was almost empty, so Eva was able to choose whatever she liked. What a variety of colors they had! A few dresses attracted her eye at once, which she selected to try for size. She put on the one she liked most and was walking to and from in the fit room, turning to one side or the other, enjoying it very much. Eva watched herself in the mirror. The new dress pointed out her figure and distinctiveness of her face.  She noted herself that she was very beautiful in that dress and even more attractive. She could not resist the temptation and she stepped out of the cabin and walked around in the store hall. There were no customers, so she felt brave.  

              “That‘s a good choice,” the shop assistant complimented. “It‘s exactly your size. Many people buy clothes, which they like, and you pick up what fits you.”   

              “Do you think so?” Eva asked, still circling around, throwing a glimpse to the mirrors and enjoying the view. Eva was very happy. Her face was shining with joy. The fashions show just started. She whirled around the hall with other dresses she had picked up. The shop lady praised her good taste and Eva enjoyed posing. “I‘ll take all of them,” she stated finally and went to change.

              She paid for the purchase, left that wonderful world of clothes and returned to Larry. Her tiny face was decorated with a wide smile. Eva was as if radiating with happiness and she could not wait till she could make boost of her purchase.  

              “Well, as far as I can tell you are a success, aren‘t you?” Larry inquired.

            “How do you know?”

              “It‘s written on your face…”

              “Thank you, Larry… Thank you very much for your present.”

               Larry was very pleased that Eva enjoyed her purchase so much. He could feel the way that he would be able to buy a hundred of such dresses. 

              “When we’ll meet tomorrow, I‘ll be wearing one of these dresses.”

              “Oh, Eva…”

              “What is it, darling?”

              “As soon as you said ‘tomorrow’, I drooped at once. I don‘t want to be apart from you!” Larry gave her a hug and caressed her shoulders trying to get relaxed.

              “I have to go back home now,” Eva tried to persuade him still reluctant to leave Larry‘s shoulder. “Otherwise my parents would become suspicious indeed… Really, they may call Paula and ask me to return… And she would not even have an idea what they would be talking about. Larry, I become nervous when I start thinking of it. Let’s not delay.”

            “I‘ll have to let you go…”

            “It‘s not for long, Larry… We‘ll meet tomorrow again.”

            Larry kissed her strongly on her puffy lips. The kiss was rather long.

           When they getting free, Eva joked, “It seems that we have met for the last time. You still don‘t want to let me go.”

            “No, I don‘t,” he said. “I love you so much…”

            “Just don‘t get reduced by love,” Eva was kidding. “Tomorrow I want you to be the same charming and loving Larry like you are today! Promise?”

            At last, he started the engine. “I‘ll try my best, Eva,” he said sincerely.

          Soon Larry‘s car disappeared in the horizon.

… bus daugiau …

2. Užsimerkę standžiai suspauskite akis ir giliai įkvėpkite. Užlaikykę kvėpavimą, sustanginkite visus raumenis savo veide ir suspauskite kumščius. Pabandykite išstumti orą iš savo plaučių į galvą, lyg bandytumėte pakelti sunkų objektą. Tik nepersistenkite, viską darykite atsargiai. Suskaičiuokite iki 3.

3. Dabar iškvėpkite, išguidami visą orą per jūsų nosį ir burną, atpalaiduodami visus raumenis jūsų kūne ir tuo pačiu metu atsimerkę taip plačiai, kaip tik galite, susitelkite ties ta eile raidžių, kurią pasirinkote. Raidės atrodys labai aiškios. Plačiai žiūrėdami į jas, pasistenkite tą aiškumą išlaikyti kiek galima ilgiau. Kai tas aiškumas išnyks, užsimerkite ir atsipalaiduokite. 

4. Šį  pratimą reikėtų kartoti kaip nurodyta treniruočių plane, o kol kas pasitreniruokite…

O štai pavyzdys, siekiantis pademonstruoti, kaip iš tiesų veikia viso kūno toksinams pašalinti detoksinės pėdų vonelės.  Taigi, nepasiduokite suktybėms. Nereikia net pėdų įmerkti…

Click here to view the embedded video.

 1.     Sušildykite rankas, trindami viena į kitą.

2.     Sėdėdami kėdėje, alkūnes padėkite ant kelių ar stalo.

3.      Laikydami pirštus tiesiai, uždenkite akis rieškutėmis. Jos turi švelniai remtis į kaulus virš ir žemiau akies, bet neturi paliesti akies obuolio. Jeigu blakstienos liečia delnus – nėra blogai. Abiejų rankų pirštai turi  uždengti kaktos centrą. Būdami atmerktomis akimis, negalite matyti jokios šviesos, įeinančios į jūsų akis.

Palaikydami šią padėtį, atpalaiduokite akis ir užsimerkite tuo metu, kai manote, kad jūs tyrinėjate nutolusią naktį. Atsiminkite, jūsų akys yra atsipalaidavusios, kadangi jos išeina į nuotolį – o tai ir yra šio pratimo tikslas.

Jūs galite pamatyti blyksnius ar plaukiojančias spalvas, bet kad to išvengti ir pamatyti tik juodą naktį, reikia pakankamai atsipalaiduoti. Kai būsite įsitikinę, kad jūsų akys jaučiasi atsipalaidavusios ir pailsėjusios, galite tęsti treniruotę.

Norit tikėkit, norit ne, bet pasitelkęs savo atmintį, prisiminiau vieno paslaptingojo dieduko pasakojimą apie jo įspūdžius tuo metu, kai jis tapdavo nematomu. Taip, taip, jums nepasigirdo. Jeigu pats nebūčiau klausęsis jo pasakojimų, jeigu pats nebūčiau matęs jo išdarinėjamų šposų, tai šiandieną ir nepasakočiau šios senos istorijos.

Mane žavėjo jo sugebėjimai. Dieną, naktį galvodavau, kaip jis sugeba pasidaryti nematomu. O kiek kartų to klausiau jo paties, nė nebepamenu. Bet jis neatskleidė savo paslapties.
                Beveik visi, kurie jį pažinojo, privengdavo jo dėl paslaptingų jo galių, o aš buvau lyg jo šešėlis – persekiojau kiek būdavo įmanoma. Man vis knietėjo sužinoti kaip jis pasiverčia nematomu. Jį persekiojau gan ilgai ir tikrai ne vienerius metus. O paskui palengva atvėsau nuo savo pastangų sužinoti jo receptą.

Bet vieną dieną jis susirado mane ir pasiguodė, kad dingo jo šuo Mirta. Buvo nusiminęs ir nerimastingai kalbėjo apie kažkokį kaulą, kurį tikriausiai sugraužė jo šuo. Nesuprasdamas kur link jis lenkia ir kodėl man pasakoja apie savo šunį, klausiausi, stengdamasis perprasti jo mintis, kol galų gale pagavau kur esmė. Pasirodo, jis turėjo kaulą, kurį įsidėdavo į burną ir tapdavo nematomu!

Vėl prisiminiau anuos laikus, kai persekiodavau šį žmogelį, tikėdamasis sužinoti jo paslaptį. Mane apėmė keista nuojauta. Negi šuo, sugraužęs tą kaulą, visiems laikams tapo nematomu, mąsčiau savyje. Vadinasi, reikia gauti kitą, sumąsčiau greitai.

- Aš jau senas, – išgirdau kalbant jį. – O tu visada norėjai sužinoti mano paslaptį. Taigi, manau, bus teisinga, jeigu tau viską atskleisiu.

Maniau, kad apsiverksiu iš laimės.  Aš įtempiau ausis.

-Tinka tik kranklio kaulai. Sugauk jį ir išvirk, o tada surask karūnkaulį, – įtaigiai pasakė senukas. – Kai jį įsidėsi į burną, tavęs niekas nematys, o kai ištrauksi, vėl būsi matomas. Man tą kaulą perdavė senelis, o jis buvo gavęs iš savo senelio, kuris ir papasakojo, iš kur gavo tą kaulą. Dabar, kai Mirta jį sugraužė, nieko kito nebelieka, kaip patikrinti, ar proprosenelis sakė tiesą ir ar teisingai viską supratome. Tik neapsirik, reikia ne varnos, o kranklio kaulo.

Tokie buvo jo žodžiai. Na, aš padėkojau ir buvau pasiryžęs sugauti kranklį. Bėgo laikas, o aš taip ir nesiėmiau medžioklės. Ir iki šiol negaliu patvirtinti ar senukas sakė tiesą.

Bet visada galima pabandyti ypač kad krankliai neišnyko.

Čia jam apie 62 metai, o pritūpia su 450kg štanga ir be jokių įsisiūbavimų atsistoja, išstumia 260kg štangą, atlieka trauką su 460 kg. 

Išvada viena.
Jei turi tikslą, tu gali jį pasiekti, jei turi noro, tu jį iš tikrųjų pasieksi, na o jei nestokoji užsispyrimo, tai gali įrodyti sau ir visiems, kad nėra nieko, ko negalėtų įveikti žmogus.  

Šis pratimas padeda akių raumenims pagerinti koordinaciją ir lankstumą. Pirmą kartą darykite šį pratimą atsimerkę, kad kas nors galėtų stebėti jūsų akis ir įsitikintų, jog jos juda lėtai ir sklandžiai. Paskui jį galite atlikti užsimerkę. Darant šį pratimą atsimerkus, gali šiek tiek svaigti galva, o užsimerkus šis padarinys žymiai sumažėja.

1. Atsisėskite, padėkite delnus ant kelių ir, žvelgdamas tiesiai pirmyn, susikaupkite pratimui.

2. Nejudindamas galvos, pažvelkite kiek galima aukščiau.

3. Nejudindami galvos, sklandžiai ir lėtai pradėkite vesti akis apvaliame judėjime į kairę, stengdamiesi pamatyti kiek galima daugiau kambario.

4. Tuo pačiu būdu tęskite akių vedimą žemyn, į dešinę ir į viršų, užbaigdami vieną ratą.

Kiekvienas akių apvalaus judėjimo ketvirtis turi užtrukti bent jau 1 pilną sekundę, o visas apsisukimas turi būti užbaigtas po ne mažiau kaip 4 sekundžių.

Labai svarbu turėti nuoseklų ritmą. Jūsų akims gali būti būdinga šokinėti nuo vienos padėties prie kitos.

Kad būtų lengviau, įsivaizduokite, kad esate labai arti Apžvalgos rato ir sekate  vieną ir tą patį vežimą.

Veskite savo akis taip, kad pagal savo galimybes sukurtumėte didžiausią rato amplitudę. Kuo didesnis ratas, tuo labiau dirba akys, bet nepersistenkite – visada jauskite asmenines ribas ir komfortą.

Pagal mokomąją programą pratimą reikia atlikti prieš ir pagal laikrodžio rodyklę. Trukmę reikia rinktis pagal mokomosios programos planą.

 Atsiminkite, kad sklandus šio pratimo atlikimas yra raktas į progresą.   

Sėkmės treniruojantis.

Chapter 5

           It was a little after lunchtime, when Larry met with Eva. 

           “Guess it, where we are going today?”

            “Wherever you want to, Larry. You know…” She smiled like an angel. “I don’t care where to, what matters to me is just to be with you.”

             “You know, Eva, I have arranged for a date today.”

            “Come on,” she teased him, but soon became serious, “Are you taking me home, Larry?”

            Larry suspected that Eva was scared. The idea to tease her came up very suddenly. “Well,” he smiled, “what is it? Are you afraid, or something?”

           “No, I am just excited…”

            “All right, let’s go,” he was still teasing, “It’s not nice to be late.”

            Larry started the engine and switched on the gear. He was driving slowly. He used to cast a glance at her and considered if the trial of her patience was not taking too long. Though they were being refreshed airs, coming through the open windows and the sun was pleasantly heating, Eva was disappointed and deep in her thoughts. 

           “All right, all right,” Larry caressed her head, gently took her closer to himself and kissed on the cheek, “you will meet my mother some other time.”  

            “Oh, you good-for-nothing, you wanted to pull my leg…”

            Larry adored her when she used to get mad on him: she used to look like a small child –lower lip protruded, head bent down. “Well, baby, how long are you going to be cross at me?”

            Her face started shining again. “Come on, Larry, we are kidding like children from a kindergarten. Seriously, what are you up to? Where are we going?”

           “I gave a call to Arnold and now we are going to see him. We decided to spend this evening together.”

            “Why do you want to meet him?”

            “We are planning to get married, so let’s see how married couples get along.”

            “I think of it every day. I can imagine our family life…”

            “Okay, we’ll have time for this. We will get there in a moment, and you don’t even know, why we are going to the restaurant.”

            “Why? Tell me!”

            “We will need to have witnesses, won’t we…”

            “Indeed, Larry, I haven’t thought of it…”

            “I’m sure that we will not find a better candidate than Arnold.” Larry was serious in his explanations. “He is just the man we need. He has been married for three years already, and moreover, he is my best friend. One day he has to show us his wife! How long more can he hide her from us?”

            “Is she also going to be there?”

            “How can it is otherwise? Of course!”

            “But, Larry, haven’t you seen her before? Not at least once over all this time when they have been married?”

            “It’s strange for me too, that Arnold has not introduced her to us, but now we both are going to see and meet her. We are almost there. Their house is right around the corner.”

            “Well, this is going to be an interesting meeting.”

            “Let’s wait and see.”

            Larry turned into Mills Street. From the distance, he spotted his friend and his wife is waiting for them at the entrance door. “They are here, Eva. Are you nervous?”

            “A little.”

                                                                ●○●

            “Good day, I am Larry,” he introduced himself to Arnold’s wife.

She extended her delicate hand and smiled. “I’m Edna, Arnold’s wife. Nice to meet you.”

            She was very charming. And she looked very young. Her large blue eyes were very expressive; she had little nose and small dimples on the cheeks.  She had long blond hair. She was straight like a reed and tall like a lime-tree.   

            “Well, Eva, we have met before, I guess,” Arnold said and he whispered something into her ear, “you’ve taken my advice, as I can see.” 

            “Yes, Arnold, thank you for the lesson. I have taken it and here you have the result – we are getting married soon!”

            “Okay, enough of whispering, you’ll have enough time for this,” Larry interrupted their conversation. “Let’s get going.” 

            “Here you girls, get seated comfortably. What restaurant are you inviting us to?”

            “I would suggest the „Summer”. They have a perfect service and, also, in the menu they offer the whole range of meals…”

            “Or, may be, you have selected this restaurant because,” Arnold jumped in smiling, “it is located almost at the town edge?” He blinked an eye.  

            Good shot, Larry thought but he did not give himself away. “Well, yes, this is the reason also. There would be fewer eyes around.” He looked at the girls and blinked his eye, “Isn’t this right, girls?”

            Soon they reached the place. Having parked at the Student Hostel, all of them went towards the restaurant. The Freedom Square was unusually empty; just few wanderers were searching shop-windows of the museum. Suddenly, a friendly dog popped out from nowhere, sniffed around and accompanied them straight to the restaurant door.

            There were many free tables in the restaurant. They did not notice any acquaintances at the occupied tables. The piano player was not too hard working on its interpretations. The company got at the table and tried to get started celebrating, but it did not work much. The girls were strain like dolls, and the guys even did not try to cheer them up. Arnold was looking around slightly drumming on the table with his hands. They needed something to start with, and most often at the restaurant that something used to be food.   

            “So, what will we order? May be dry wine and juice?”

             “Whatever,” Arnold said, still looking around.

              “Okay, then white wine, some ham…”

             “What ham? We have had dinner already. I thought we came here to celebrate your future wedding?”

              “Come on, stop kidding, if you have had your dinner, you would have stayed at home. Since we are here, I think we should order some food. Isn’t it right?” Larry looked at Eva. “Besides, there is one favor that Eva and I would like to ask you to do.”

             “Oh, really?” Arnold tried to become serious. “As I can see, the evening is going to be long. Then we can have something to eat.”

            The company ordered some white wine, juice and veal stakes with mushrooms. The waiter placed their meals on the table examining them with great interest, lit up the candle, then bowed very politely and left them alone.

            “To you, Larry and Eva,” Arnold raised his glass. They were clinked their glasses together and had a sip. “So, what’s the problem?” Arnold could not wait. “You were about to ask for something? Will you tell us the reason why we have gathered here?”

             “And by the way, how big the wedding is going to be?” Edna asked straight, not waiting for her husband to finish his talking.

            “There will be no wedding,” Larry replied calmly and put his arm around Eva’s shoulders. “We don’t need them. Isn’t it so, darling?” 

            “Yes Larry, you are all I need.”

            Arnold and Edna opened their eyes widely in surprise.

            “Surprised?” Larry asked. “We are going to get married without parent’s being aware of it.  We both know, that our folks won’t approve our decision.”

            “I see,” Arnold finished pouring wine from the bottle. “So, you would like us to be your witnesses? See, sweet heart, how it happens sometimes. Shall we help them?”

            “Of course, Arnold.”

            “I knew it, that you would help us.” Larry smiled. “That‘s the friends are for. I think, we have to drink to this.”

            Soon another bottle was ordered. A real feast had started at the table. It seemed that everybody had lost his or her senses of proportion. Only Larry was drinking juice. When the fourth bottle was brought, Arnold had been substantially drunk. Even the stake was of no help. 

            “Well, I have been considering it for some time, and I decided that I would not find anybody better that you. Truly.”

            “Who will you not find?” Larry did not get it.

           “Godparents!”

            “Is Edna pregnant?” Eva was very surprised. “Why does she drink then?”

            Arnold thought for a second. He seemed to be gone back to his memories, but soon he turned back.  He licked his lips around. “And you, Eva, keep it in mind! When you will be expecting a baby – no strong drinks, no poison! And you, Larry, will have to keep her safe from any stresses and love her. Understood?”

            “Yes, Arnold. But what is the relation here with christening? What was it you mentioned here?”

            “It‘s time for christening of our daughter! She is three years old.”

            “What! What are you talking about? You better have some food…”

           “Stop it, Larry. Do you think I am drunk?”

           “I would not say so, but the subject you are talking…”

            Arnold realized that they need more explanations. “Edna and I, we met four years ago,” he started.

            “I was only sixteen then,” Edna continued, “but I‘m very happy now, when once Arnold took me to his parents‘ summer house.”

            “I loved her very much,” Arnold added. “I was not experienced and she got pregnant. Clear?”

            Larry and Eva were listening to him motionless.

           “I corrected my mistake,” Arnold continued, “I married her, but without any celebrations.”

           “It doesn‘t matter. This is not priority. The main point was that you loved me,” Edna did not give way to despair, “and still do. Just we are three of us now.”

             “And Barbara has to be christened. It is time,” Arnold wrapped up. 

            Larry tried to perceive everything he had heard. He had never expected to discover this much secrecy from his friend. He understood, why Arnold had not introduced his wife to him, but could have talked to him about it at least…

           “Why have you been hiding away all this?” Larry finally asked. “You could have at least given a hint to your best friend. How did you make it?”

           “And you! Did you tell much about it, when you and Laura were dating? You were also a friend…”

            “What are you talking about?” Larry was lost in surprise. “What Laura?”

            Arnold felt himself like a real hero. He rose his hand, just like one of the famous politicians, and delivered an original speech. “With the one, who wanted to screw you up,” he said straight and unblinking. “What? Don‘t you remember any more?”

            Larry felt how his body was getting hot. It seemed that he would go under the table in shame. His friend was talking about this in Eva‘s presence… Arnold expressively supported his chin on his arms. His is going to ruin me now, Larry thought afraid.   

           “It‘s good that I rescued you,” the friend finished proudly. “You should at least thank me.”

             “What Laura?” Eva got her word in looking angrily at Larry and requested, “Go ahead and explain it!”

            Only then did Arnold come back to his feelings. It seemed that he got sober at once. He gave a snappy laugh. “See, how jealous you girlfriend is,” he gave Larry a poke with his elbow, “you cannot even make a joke.”

           “Bad jokes!” Eva was upset.

          “Okay, let‘s finish up these talks,” Arnold suggested. “Let‘s better have a drink to friendship!”

          “Sure,” Larry agreed. He raised his glass of wine.

           “But, Larry, what was he talking about here? Who is Laura?” Eva insisted. “You have to tell me about it…”

           “Nothing, sweet heart,” Larry whispered and embraced the girl, “he is drunk and decided to make a joke of us… Strange jokes, aren‘t they? Perhaps, he just wanted to check your reaction. Don‘t be jealous, or we will make him laugh even more. And don‘t be sad, your smile is so great. Let‘s better have fun! This is our evening, isn‘t it? Is it worth while spoiling our mood?” Larry got closer to Eva and sucked into her lips.  

            “That‘s another deal,” Arnold joyfully exclaimed.

            Realizing that Eva was embarrassed to kiss in the friends‘ presence, so Larry stopped it. “Will you be cheerful, promise?” he whispered.

            “Now I do understand, what love must be like,” Arnold was still doing the talking, “and I was almost sure that I had almost got you unsettled!” He looked at Larry and smiled from ear to ear. “That was a good joke, wasn‘t it?”

            “Yes,” Larry replied slowly, “you like kidding as far as can see. I could get mad at you, but let‘s forget about it… Friends have to be forgiven.” He smiled and looked at Eva. “What would we do without him? 

            “It would be boring, I guess,” Eva replied and raised her glass. “You are forgiven, Arnold.”

             “Thank you,” Arnold gave a sigh of relief, “and I have an idea. Let‘s drink to this wonderful couple! They make a good match to each other.”

            When the heat cooled off, all had their drinks and continued their discussions. After the midnight, the restaurant was flooded with people and a calm place became a true ruckus.

            A bunch of messy dressed men with shaggy hair and wearing rubbed jeans and harsh leather jackets burst inside. A blond beautiful girl with perfect legs was distinct in their company. They passed their table lively talking in unfamiliar language and disappeared in the next nook of the restaurant. 

            Arnold gave a deep sigh and licked his lips. “What are these doing here?”

           “What else they might be doing – dropped by for adventures, I guess,” Larry replied and added, “but our waiter has totally forgot about us!”

            Indeed, they both were calling him in vain by swinging their arms; he did not see them. Only when Arnold started scolding at him angrily, the waiter apparently heard something and came up to them.

            “One more bottle of dry wine,” Arnold said to him. He licked his lips. “Chilled in ice, of course.”

           “We don‘t have ice!” the waiter replied indifferently and left.

            The wine was warm and not tasty. Eva and Edna were not drinking any more; Larry could hardly empty half of his glass.

            “If so, let‘s go out here,” Larry said. “There is too much noise here.”

             “And to leave the bottle for this jerk?” Arnold grumbled well drunk already. “No way! I’m not going to move from this place until I reach the bottom!”

             “That’s right, why should we leave it,” Edna supported Arnold. “We’d better finish it up!”

             “We’ll manage somehow,” Eva inserted her word.

             “Guess what,” Edna suggested, “let’s go for a dance. Then the wine will be finished sooner.”

             “I don’t dance at all… My legs will get tangled…” Larry mumbled.

              “Don’t start making things up,” Edna cut Larry and hopefully looked at Arnold. “Shall we? I can feel itch under my feet!”

              “Why don’t we better go to the summerhouse and dance there…” Arnold suggested. “And more, we have got some good cognac there…”

              “Good idea, Arnold,” Edna said joyfully. “Let’s go! We will have a real fun there! It starts getting boring here already.”

              “There is enough of fun here as well,” Larry tried to refuse.

              “Come on, we have just started,” Arnold insisted. “We have come to have fun! Look at Eva smiling, she would like this party to be going on.”

            Larry looked at the girl. She smiled watching a man taking spoons of caviar from another’s plate. 

            “Eva, Arnold says that you would like to get to the summer house.”

            “It would be fun, but…”

            “No ‘but’, Eva,” Arnold stopped her, “you would come together with Larry.”

            Arnold is very good at persuading, Larry thought. He was also taken over by the idea to go to the summerhouse. “Well, Eva, shall we go there?” he flattered.

           “What shall I tell my parents, Larry? You know them.”

            “Indeed…”

            “Think something up,” Arnold suggested, “it’s not difficult.”

            “Yes, Eva, call them and lie something up,” Edna took it up. “Do you have any relatives in this town?”

           “My distant cousin with her parents lives close to this place.”

            “Very good, you could tell your parents that you would stay with your cousin over the night, since her parents are away. What’s her name, by the way?”

            “Whose? My cousin’s?”

            “Yes.”

            “Paula.”

            “And what are your parents’ names?”

            “Ada and Robert.”

            “Aha,” having rising her eyeballs, Edna was mumbling something under her nose until her eyes started sparkling with joy. “Wonderful! We can make a call. I’ll do the talking for your cousin.”

            “How?”

            “Well, just imagine, that I’m your cousin and I’ll ask my uncle or aunt to let you stay with me over the night, because my parents are away tonight. Clear?”

            “I guess, yes.”

            “Okay, boys, we’ll be right back and you go ahead and settle the account.”

             Edna dialed the number.

             “Aunt Ada? Yes, it’s me, Paula. Please let Eva stay with me over this night. Mom and dad are in the summer house, so I don’t feel cozy at home alone.”

            There was a silence on the other end.

           “Give the phone to Eva,” the voice requested.

           Eva swallowed her saliva and took the phone. “This is me, mom.”

          “Is it true, what Paula said?”

          “Yes, mom,” Eva answered.

           “Where are you calling from?”

           “From telephone booth… We are on our way to Paula’s place.”

           “Is it truth?”

            “Of course, it is,” Eva assured a little embarrassed, but still in strong voice.

           “Okay, Eva, good night.”

           “Goodnight, mother,” Eva hung up and gave a deep sigh. “Now I’ll be feeling like a wild animal in a cage all the night long.”

            “How come? Don’t you want to go to the summer house?”

            “Of course, I do,” Eva replied sadly, “but not at such a cost…”

            Edna tried to sooth her as she could best until they reached the table. From the distance, Larry and Arnold looked like two winged storks, because they were waving their hands very ignorantly. Those silly gestures were intended to attract the waiter’s attention.    

           “I’ll take care of it,” Arnold said and having cast an eye on the receipt paid it.

            Larry stared at him. “This guy has cheated you for sure! Why haven’t you checked the receipt?”    

           “I did it deliberately!” Arnold replied witty. “The one, who checks receipts, always miscalculates! That’s what my grandpa, now he is on eternal rest, used to say.”

                                                                    ●○●

             Trying to escape the meeting with police, the company got into Larry’s red car. There came a smell of an adventure. Edna was singing silently. The car roared furiously. It took them fifteen minutes to escape the invisible persecutor and finally they were out of the town, where Larry reduced the speed.

              Eva’s good mood had come back to her. Where are they going, she thought. It’s pitch-dark, not a single light around. “Is it far away yet?” she asked.

             Arnold was sitting holding his wife in his arms and he looked like a satiated cat. “We’ll be there in twenty minutes. Why?”

            “Is there a phone?” Eva could not calm down.

            “Take it easy,” Arnold encouraged her, “you’d better shoe your feet!”

            “Eva, there is no need to be sorry. This is your life,” Edna tried to smooth things realizing Eva’s discomfort because of her lie to her mother. “You have to go through life with your head raised up and just forward…”

            Arnold gave a sincere laugh and added, “Forward, like through a cabbage field…”

            “Well, even through a cabbage field, if there is a need!” Edna snapped out. “As if there would be something to laugh at…”

           Arnold held his tongue. They went on in a silence for a while. The car’s headlights were tearing the dark apart.

             Eva started worrying again. “Listen, Arnold, you have not answered my question, if there is a phone in the summer house?”

             “You are just like a cuckoo calling,” Arnold joked, licking his lips. “Are you going to wake somebody up in the midnight, so that he would enjoy your voice?”

            “Please, take it easy,” Larry interfered. “There is a telephone and perfect rooms, even a fireplace… You’ll see it yourself that the house is beautiful. I don’t understand your worry?” The guy gave her a hug. “We will spend there our first night…”

            Eva cast a researching eye on Larry.

           “What? What is it?” Larry asked.

            “I’m thinking,” she replied silently and smiled at last. “Indeed, there is no need to worry, I guess.  Simply, I forgot that you are next to me here.”

             “That’s right,” Larry became joyful, “that’s another talk.” 

              Soon tree branches started thrashing on the car windows at both sides. Arnold opened the gate and the car drove into the yard buried in the tree shadows. Having closed the gate, Arnold rushed to Larry.

             “Switch on the long head lights,” he said silently.

            “What for?”

            “You’ll see, go ahead.”

            “Good Lord, a true summer house,” Eva was very surprised to see a large white house.

            “See,” Arnold was very proud, “didn’t I tell you that you shouldn’t have worried? Here you are… I’d like you to learn one more rule! I know, you are a smart student…”

            Eva picked up her ears.

            “Remember, Eva: wherever is Arnold, always and everything goes okay! Can you believe this?” 

            “Sure, Arnold.”

            When they took their seats at a small table, everybody’s mood got improved. The cognac had a remarkable aroma. The environment was very pleasant. After they finished several glasses, the music was turned on. It was Thomas Jones. Arnold and Edna started dancing.

            “Shall we try too?” Eva suggested.

            “No…”

            “Please, nobody will see you dancing.”

             Larry hesitated for a while and said a little embarrassed. “I’d better tell you about our jokes that we used to make when we were kids. Then we were in the third form, I guess.”

            Eva was smiling. Perhaps she imagined what he looked like at that time. 

            “There was a New Year party at school, and we were to play surfs. We both had perfect make-ups, adequately dressed, but we forgot our shovels.” Larry started smiling bit by bit, “I don’t remember now, who’s idea that was, but we went to the warehouse and brought large shovels from there. And what do you think? Everybody laughed to death.”

            “And didn’t you get punished for that?”

            “We just wanted to look like real surfs, we even did not suppose that it would be so funny. We were just small kids ten.” Larry paused for a minute and then went on, “Once, before the mathematics control work, Arnold and I closed into the wardrobe…”

            “What were you up to…”

            “We were so afraid of that control work, so we hid away, as if were absent at the lesson. Arnold got settled on the lower shelf, and I stretched on the upper one. When the teacher was putting down tasks on the blackboard, it was still bearable…I enjoyed the thought that we would not have to solve the tasks…When everything calmed down and the class got to work, apparently, I fell asleep… Just imagine it yourself, Eva. It was pitching dark in the wardrobe. I don’t know myself, but I guess, I just wanted to roll on another side…”

            Eva burst into laugh.

           “What are you laughing at?”

            “Nothing,” she could hardly get her breath back, “I suppose you fell on the ground…”

            “Well, I did and that was something…”

             Larry himself started howling with laughter, so that Arnold got interested, what they had been discussing so cheerfully. He cast a glance at the couple, but did not leave Edna alone. They kept on dancing.  Eva was howling with laughter, holding up her stomach. Larry tuned into his role of a storyteller even more.

               “Just imagine, Eva… It is silent, calm… All of them are concentrated on their tasks… Who knows what the teacher is busy with, and here I am falling down like a sack of potatoes…The whole class roared with laughter like crazy.”

               “Cut it off, Larry,” Eva asked him, hardly uttering a word, “I cannot take it any more…My stomach hurts already.”

               “And when I fell down, there was a painful bang. I did not realize where I was and cried out: Mother…”

             “What!” Eva was screaming in convulsions of laugh. 

             Holding her stomach and wiping out tears, she rose from the sofa and ran out through the door. Larry found her in the bathroom.

             “I would never have suspected you being so comic,” Eva said after a while, when she calmed down, and sat on the bath edge. “And what was the end of that story?”

              “Apparently, it was a success, since each of us had earned ‘a two’”.

             “How come?”

              “Well, the teacher simply called me up to the board to solve the first tasks…”

              “So you failed?”

              “Yes, I did,” Larry smiled, “and the same destiny stroke Arnold.”

              “Yes, Larry, I have had laughed to my hart‘s content. You have been true comedians. And now, let‘s go and join them. I don‘t want them to miss us.”

               “We did not intend to be jokers, but we were a success… I could tell you stories and stories, it would take me months. Well, let‘s go now, but give me one kiss before that. Okay?”

              “Just a small one, Larry… It‘s not nice.”

            Larry kissed her. His heart was beating because of the sweet kiss. He could kiss her on and on, but he controlled himself. He wanted to keep his word.

            Thomas Jones was trying so hard screaming his guts out in the turning disc, that even cactuses there got the jitters. Arnold was sitting back in the armchair and watched his wife dance.  

           “Look, Eva, what Edna is doing?” Larry was surprised by her ‘number’”.

            Edna, barefooted, was dancing by herself like a crazy. Her face was burning and nice naked legs were rise so high, as if she had tried to reach the lighting fixture. She had beautiful legs, and the girl appeared to be flexible, plastic.

             Larry and Eva got down on the sofa. “Let‘s have a small drink.” Larry suggested. Now everybody watched Edna.

             When the music stopped, Edna declared breathlessly, “You are true stuffed dummy, you don’t have any understanding, how to get relaxed!”

             “I got so relaxed, that I can hardly stand on my feet,” Arnold replied and licked his lips.

             “Me too,” Larry added.

             “So, what do we do now?” Arnold waved as if challenging to the fight. “There is nothing left to drink, it‘s messy all around, just like after a war.”

             “Nothing to get exited about,” Larry added hiccupping.

             “Why don‘t we get split then,” Edna suggested.

             “And where am I going to sleep?”

              Arnold winced. “I don‘t want to sleep,” he said annoyingly. “Let‘s talk a little more.” He seemed to gain new strengths. His eyes went on sparkles again. “And what were you laughing at so much?” he asked.

              “Larry was telling about your tricks,” Eva told.

              “Really?” Arnold asked in surprise. “Did he tell you about our simple tests we carried out during the chemistry lesson?”

               “You have to tell us, Arnold,” Eva asked, getting interested and turned to Edna, “Okay?”

            They were telling different stories from their school times to each other until four o‘clock in the morning. That topic was very attractive to them all. When they started drawing straws, they decided to go to bed.  Edna gave nightclothes to Eva. 

              “You will sleep on the sofa,” Arnold said, “and we will go upstairs, there is a double bed…”

               “All right, Arnold, let‘s leave them in peace,” Edna said, “and stop boasting.” She grabbed him by the shirtsleeve and dragged up the stairs. “Well, you two, behave yourself,” Edna warned.

               Larry did not answer her. He could not help smiling. Arnold could hardly make his way up the stairs, and still was thinking of the bed.

               Edna noticed his smile. She shook her finger against him. “Mind it, blonde,” she said smiling, “don‘t let me down.”

               When they closed the door behind them, Larry sighed with relief. He looked at Eva. She was sitting on the bed with a pillow in her arms and was thinking of something.

               “At last we are all by ourselves.” Larry had an impression that Eva did not listen to him. He came up and sat down next to her on the sofa. “Well, baby,” he said gently, cuddled her by shoulders and kissed on her cheek. “Tired, aren’t you?”

              “Yes, a little.” She sighed, threw away the pillow and put her head on his shoulder. “I‘ll drop down into bed and flow away into the dreamland. I am so sleepy…”

              “And will you leave me alone?”

              “Why? We are going to sleep in one bed.”

               “Are we? Then it is different.  When you are asleep, you don‘t belong to each other. When sleep gets between us, each of us will get to his own Eden or nightmare…”

              “Don‘t fantasize, Larry… A man needs to sleep, otherwise we would get very weak.” She gave a deep sigh. “We need to make the bed.”

            Larry got up obediently and started making the bed.  Eva helped him.

            “Yes, I know,” he continued hopelessly, “I expected that we would lie cuddled to each other tonight and enjoy the happiness to be together… I am not sleepy. I want to kiss you, caress you, I want to talk to you at last, and I desire to dream together with you…”

            Eva came close to him and cuddled to him. “I‘ll try to stay awake, but I don‘t promise.”

            When the bed was ready, Larry quickly took off his shirt. Eva was still standing there and was not even intending to undress.

            “Eva, I can see that you are already sleeping. Take your clothes off,” he urged, “you are sleepy.”

             “Would you go out for a while, Larry,” she asked gingerly when he was about to take off his pants, “I‘d like to be first to get into the bed.”

              “Why?” He was surprised. “Are you afraid of me?”

              “Please, Larry,” she said gently,” try to understand me. I have come here not for the purpose that you would see me half naked.”

            Larry was dazed. She is true chastity, he thought. She is so different, if compared to Laura, who took her clothes off herself, when she wanted to seduce him. Larry was not so much dazed, that charmed by strength of her spirit and willpower. He kissed Eva on the forehead. “Don’t ease,” he said softly, “and get into bed. I‘ll be back in five minutes.”

            “In ten…” 

                                                             ….bus daugiau….

          Kaip paprastai, Vilis ir Mikas iššoko iš automobilio. Buvo jau po vidurnakčio. Nesunku buvo nustatyti, kur vyksta nusikaltimas – prie autobusų stoties prie vieno įėjimo būriavosi žmonės.

          – Ten toks vyras ir du kompanionai įkaitais laiko moterį, atrodo, kasininkę, – tarė jiems pagyvenusi moteris.

          Nedelsdamas Mikas, o paskui jį ir Vilis įėjo į salę. Jos gale pro praviras duris sklido šviesa. Buvo girdėti dejonės. Vilis, laikydamas rankoje ginklą, atsargiai praėjo pro salę ir pasuko pro praviras duris. Mikas, jį pridengęs, įspruko iš paskos. Jiedu vos nesuklupo, užkliuvę už moters kūno. Jai buvo gal trisdešimt metų. Ji buvo pasruvusi kraujuose – jos krūtinė buvo perpjauta peiliu. Antroji, ne daugiau kaip dvidešimt trijų metų, stovėjo nejudėdama, perbalusi, išsigandusi, nes vienas iš užpuolikų kairiąja ranka apsivijęs jos liemenį į pilvą buvo įrėmęs pistoletą, o dešine ranka prie kaklo laikė peilį. Vyras atrodė taip, lyg vartotų narkotikus. Ranka, laikanti peilį, drebėjo.

          Mikas su Viliu nejautė gailesčio tokiems šunsnukiams. Juos įsiutino, kad šitaip įžūliai nusikalsta įstatymams, o ypač išvydę tokį vaizdą, jiems pasidarė šlykštu. Kuo šalčiausiai viską apgalvoję, jie nusprendė veikti.

          – Paleisk moterį ir mesk peilį, – paliepė vyriškiui Vilis ir pridūrė: – Jūs, du, gulkit ant žemės ir rankas už galvos.

          Vyriškis, įkaite laikęs moterį, nusijuokė:

          – Vyruti, be pistoleto tu manęs nepaimsi… O gal nori paragauti šito? – ir atstatė pistoletą į Vilį.

          – Aš nejuokauju, daryk ką liepiu, – įsiutęs sušnypštė Vilis. Pasisuko į kitus du bendrininkus ir paragino: – ir jus tai liečia!

          Mikas žaibiškai puolė prie vyriškio, pasinaudojęs akimirka, kai Vilis nukreipė tų šunsnukių dėmesį į save. Vyriškis, paleidęs moterį, dūrė jam peiliu, bet būdamas puikios reakcijos, Mikas sugebėjo sučiupti jo kumštį su peiliu kairiąja ranka, o dešiniąja stipriai modamas iš alkūnės tvojo tiesiai ties žandikauliu į galvą. Nuo smūgio nusikaltėliui pakirto kojas. Jis juokingai, lyg girtas susvirduliavo ir peilis iškrito jam iš rankų. Vyriškis išsitiesė ant grindų ir nebesikėlė – gulėjo lyg būtų be gyvybės ženklų. Vilis, ilgai nelaukdamas, puolė prie tų dviejų. Tie du gyvuliai net nespėjo suvokti, kas vyksta. Jau po minutės Vilis sudorojo juos ir jie gulėjo ant grindų surakinti antrankiais.

          – Kaip tau? Viskas tvarkoje? – įkvėpęs giliai ir iškvėpęs orą, paklausė Vilis.

          Mikas pasimuistė ir nusikeikė:

          – Po velnių, būsiu persistengęs. Matyt per stipriai užvožiau. Žiūrėk, tas gyvulys guli, nė nejuda. Vili, paskambink iš mobiliojo budinčiajam ir paklausk, ką jie ten veikia, kad nevažiuoja. Nebeskambink, – suriko Mikas. – Matau, atbėga.

          – Kur jie? – įbėgę trejetas bendražygių, paklausė jų.

          – Ar nematot, – pyktelėjęs atrėžė Vilis, – guli ant grindų…

          Po sekundės įbėgo dar keletas bendražygių. Su jais buvo ir komisaras.

          – Suspėjote? – paklausė komisaras susirūpinusiu balsu, kreipdamasis į Miką su Viliu.

          – Kaip matote, – vieningai išdrožė jie, o Vilis pridūrė: – tik yra nukentėjusių. Viena iš kasininkių yra sužeista į krūtinę, o štai anas gyvulys, gulintis ant grindų, rodos be gyvybės ženklų.

          – Va čia truputį persistengėt. Galime turėti nemalonumų, – kiek pesimistine gaida papriekaištavo jiems komisaras. – Na bet, tiek to, tikėkim, viskas bus gerai. Eikite ilsėtis, mes jais pasirūpinsime.

          Komisaras Miką su Viliu laikė vienus iš geriausių savo pavaldinių. Nors jiedu buvo smarkūs, bet užduotis atlikdavo teisėtais metodais. Jie garsėjo kaip vyrukai, su kuriais negalima krėsti pokštų. Vien jų galinga išvaizda galėdavo įvaryti baimės, o dėka neišmatuojamos jėgos jie neprarasdavo pasitikėjimo nė sekundei. Jie dirbo be uniformų ir teisėtai nešiojo pistoletus, kad visada būtų laiku ir vietoje. Komisaras vertino ir gerbė šiuos vyrukus.

xxxxxxx

          Jiedu išėjo iš pastato.

          – Žiūrėk, – iš nuostabos ir iki ausų išsišiepęs Vilis mostelėjo galvą link žioplių kompanijos, – mus atakuoja žioplių gauja. Ką darom? Juk tuoj užgrius kaip visados tvanas savo įkyriais klausimais…

          – Po velnių, to dar betrūko, – nusispjovęs atrėžė Mikas, – bėgam greičiau prie mašinos tiesiai per gėlių skverą.

          Jiedu nudūmė prie automobilio ir akies mirksniu sušokę į jį, po sekundės nurūko. Po keleto dešimties minučių jau sėkmingai važiavo senąja Alėjos gatve. Beje, dabar šita alėja, pro kurią dar ne taip seniai vaikštinėdavo tik įsimylėjusieji, pavirto košmariška autostrada, kuria vienas su kitu lenktyniaudami, lėkė automobiliai. Jiedu buvo taip nusikalę nuo dienos nenumatytų įvykių, kad, pravažiavę tiltą, nė nesuvokė, kaip išvažiavo į plentą ir net nepastebėjo, kaip atsirado užmiestyje. Mikas susigriebė lyg pabudintas iš miego ir truputį pavažiavęs, sustojo kelkraštyje. Jis pažvelgė pro automobilio langą. Buvo tamsu, nors durk į akį. Mikas apmaudžiai nusispjovė.

          To dar betrūko, pagalvojo jis, tarsi kas būtų apdūmęs akis. Aiškiai suvokiu, jog važiavau namo, o čia – laukai ir kelias, vedantis į mišką. Aplink nė gyvos dvasios. Kur mes, murmėdamas po nosimi svarstė Mikas. Stebėdamasis ir nesuvokdamas, kas jam darosi, jis pažvelgė į Vilį. Jis saldžiai snaudė. Mikas kumštelėjo jam į šoną.

          – Tu ką, miegi, – nervingu tonu Mikas kreipėsi į jį.

          Vilis pašoko ir trindamas akis, pažvelgė į draugą išsigandusiomis akimis.

          – Ar jau atvažiavom? – nustebęs paklausė jis ir pridūrė: – pervargau ir net nepajutau, kaip užsnūdau.

          – Taip, jau seniai, ar nematai? – pykdamas ant savęs, dėstė jam Mikas.

          Vilis pažvelgė pro langą ir lyg kažką būtų baisaus išvydęs, sudvejojo:

          – Kur mes?

          – Tai ir aš norėčiau žinoti, – nagu krapštydamas pakaušį, Mikas pažvelgė pro mašinos langą. – Betgi Vili, žiūrėk, ar matai tą šviesą, – nustebęs kreipėsi į jį.

          Draugas pažvelgė įdėmiai.

          – Taip, matau, bet kas mums iš to? Geriau pasakyk, ką darysi. Ar ilgai čia taip ir stovėsim?

          Mikas nieko neatsakė, tik spustelėjo akseleratoriaus kojelę ir pajudėjo šviesos link.

          – Ką tu sumanei? – nerimaudamas sumykė Vilis.

          – Nieko ypatingo, – nukreipęs visą dėmesį į šviesą ramiai paaiškino jam ir pridūrė: – važiuoju pasiklausti, kur randamės. Juk nori grįžti namo, ar ne?

          – Dar klausi… Lyg pats nenorėtum…

          Vilis nusižiovavo ir tęsė:

          – Kai parvažiuosim, krisiu tiesiai į lovą ir saldžių sapnų.     

           Automobilis riedėjo miško keliu. Šviesa didėjo ir ryškėjo. Nuvažiavus apie kilometrą, atsidūrė ties didžiule kalva, apaugusia medžiais, o vidury stovėjo senas pakumpęs kryžius, apsuptas taisyklingo krevių gluosnio keturkampio.

          Staiga Mikas sustabdė automobilį ir sustingo. Ne mažiau įsitempęs buvo ir Vilis. Kalva ir kryžius tarp medžių buvo apšviesti liepsnos, kuri tarytum degančios žvakė liepsna vėjo blaškoma plaikstėsi tai į vieną šlaito pusę, tai į kitą.

          Jiedu žiūrėjo įtempę akis su keista nuostaba ir tylėjo, kai staiga šalia lyg perkūnas iš po žemių išdygo didžiulis šviesos stulpas, siekiantis dangų. Jis buvo panašus į didžiulio žmogaus kontūrus. Aplink nušvito tarsi būtų diena. Vilis su Miku net susigūžė iš baimės, net pasikeitė trumpais žvilgsniais.

          – O Dieve, Mikai, o Dieve, nejau pasaulio pabaiga prasidėjo, o gal artėja, – trūkčiodamas lūpomis, drebančiu balsu išlemeno Vilis.

          – Kaip jau bus, taip jau bus, trindamas virpančiais pirštais dešinę ausį ramino Mikas Vilį, – belieka tik laukti. Nieko jau nepakeisi…

          Tik ištarus jam tuos žodžius, už dešimties metrų šalia didžiulio ąžuolo jis išvydo  nuostabaus grožio merginą.

          – Vili, Vili, – springdamas iš nuostabos, nesuvokdamas, kas čia darosi, išdrėbė Mikas, – pažvelk į tą kūrinį!

          Viliui buvo nė motais. Įtempęs ausis, ji patyliukais prabilo neramiai ir žvilgčiodamas į šonus:

          – Tai angelas, nejau nematai… Laukia, kada galės mus pasiimti.

          Abu kone sustingę tylėjo, kol Mikas, pagaliau suvokęs minties esmę, tyliai ir tarsi dirbtinai nusijuokė.

          – Džiaukimės, brolau, kad ne velnias, nužvelgdamas Vilį, atrėžė į jo repliką.

          – Nekvailiok, Mikai… Pažvelk, ji mus kviečia. Ką darom? – nerimaudamas paklausė Vilis.

          Mikas rimtu, susimąsčiusiu žvilgsniu pažvelgė į draugą ir kiek patylėjęs, žaibiškai ištarė:

          – Lipk staigiai ir eime! Juk mes ginkluoti! Ko čia bijoti?

          Jie žaibiškai iššoko iš automobilio ir žengė link merginos. Spėjus nueiti vos dešimt žingsnių, šviesa ėmė blėsti, o liepsna geso, nušviesdama raudonai aplink medžius ir žolę… Mikas susižvalgė iš nuostabos, o kai atsigręžė, nebematė nė merginos, šviesos stulpo, primenančio žmogaus kontūrus.

          Po sekundės jau juos gaubė tamsa. Jiedu nieko nelaukdami lyg išgąsdinti triušiai žingsnis po žingsnio apgraibomis pasiekė savo automobilį, žaibiškai sušoko vidun ir užsispaudė duris. Atsidusę iš krūtinės gilumos ilgai sėdėjo, nepratardami vienas kitam nė žodžio, o tik susigūžę kalbėdamiesi žvilgsniais. Po ilgos pauzės pagaliau Vilis ryžosi prabilti. Perbraukęs delnu prakaituotą veidą, jis tyliai sušnibždėjo:

          – Na ir nesėkminga ši dienelė mums… Vieni košmarai… O čia tiesiog siaubas… Neturiu žodžių… Kažkas nesuprantama, nesuvokiama man. Ko tyli, Mikai, ką pasakysi?

          Mikas pažvelgė į Vilį ir nusišypsojo.

          – Tikėk manim, netikėk, bet nors ir mudu suskridome lyg kulkos į automobilį, bet patikėk manimi, dvasiniu požiūriu šiuo metu jaučiu pasitenkinimą, gerumą, kažką nepaprasto, žodžiais nenusakomą jausmą, bet kas įdomiausia – nebeturiu baimės jausmo…

          – Aš taip pat automobilyje puikiai jaučiuos. Esu apsvaigęs iš laimės ir jaučiu, kaip maloni  mano kūnu srovena šiluma, – kreivai išsišiepęs, pritarė jam Vilis.

          Judviejų akys spinduliavo neišsenkančia meile ir pasitikėjimu. Jie buvo laimingi net neįtardami, kad viską, ką jie dabar jaučia, juos veikė ta paslaptinga, nesuvokiama jėga. Taip jie sėdėjo kurį laiką, kiekvienas atrėmę galvą į sėdynės atlošą ir tylėjo. Galbūt jie klausėsi ošiančių medžių lopšinės? Iš to transo juos pabudino tolumoje laukuose burzgiančio traktoriaus gaudesys.

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          Dangus buvo rudeniškas. Rytmečio saulė ką tik buvo patekėjusi. Auksiniai jos šviesos spinduliai skverbėsi pro medžių lapus, atsispindėdami ryškioje mėlynėje į dangaus žydrumą. Vilis saldžiai pasirąžė ir pažvelgė pro automobilio stiklą.

          – Pažvelk, Mikai, – pratarė neramiai, – ar ten tik ne ta pati mergina, kurią matėme stovint šalia ąžuolo?

          Mikas pažvelgė ir kone apstulbo.

          – Taip, tikrai, – vis negalėdamas patikėti, kad tai gali būti ta pati mergina, išdrožė, – tiesiog ideali kopija!

          Saulės spinduliai žaidė su jos gelsvais plaukais ir tviskėdami tirpo auksiniuose plaukuose, karštai bučiavo baltus kaip sniegas jos skruostus, nuspalvindama skaisčiu rausvumu, pastebimu net miško prieblandoje.

          – Ką ji čia veikia viena miške be draugų, be palydos? Galbūt ji iškrypo iš kelio? Galbūt ji paklydo, – išlemeno Mikas.

          – Neatrodo, – paprieštaravo Vilis. – Štai takelis, o štai ten, vedantis į mišką.

          – Gal ko ji laukia, – nesuvokdamas pridūrė Mikas.

          – Graži, velniūkštis, stangri, nuaugusi kaip liepa. Man net seilė ištįso, – išpurškė Vilis.

          – Matau, negali kaip visuomet nuo savo emocijų susilaikyti, turi ką nors ne taip pasakyti, ar ne? – papriekaištavo Mikas.

          – O ką? Negi nori pasakyti, kad tavęs ji negundo? Netikiu!

          Mikas, žiūrėdamas į merginą, valandėlei susimąstė. Jo veide aiškiai atsišvietė jausmų kova, džiaugsmas ir susižavėjimas, kankinanti abejonė, kažkoks gailestis jai.

          Ar galėtų taip būti, kad ji man skirta, mąstė jis. Bet juk ji manęs nė nepažįsta, nieko apie mane nežino? Kas aš, kokia mano padėtis, kur dirbu, kas aš per žmogus? Bet vis tiek, kokia būtų laimė, jeigu tai būtų tiesa… Miko akys džiugiai tviskėjo, bet staigiai jis susigriebė. Jo veidas vėl surimtėjo. Ir kam aš taip susižavėjau ja? Taip elgdamasis galiu giliai įklimpti ir nė nepastebėsiu, kad klimpstu vis giliau. Ką į tai galima atsakyti? Tiktai viena. O kas jai atsispirtų ir kas pagaliau gali atsispirti? Tokia jau žmogaus prigimtis… Argi matydamas tokią puikią būtybę gali netrokšti, kad ji būtų tavo?! Dievas mato, mąstė Mikas, aš stengiuosi įveikti šitą nelemtą aistrą, užgniaužti ją, išplėšti iš savo širdies. Bet kaip ir Vilis išsireiškė, negaliu… Per daug ji graži, velniūkštis… Nežinau, kas man, bet ji mane nesulaikomai traukia. Kaip drugelį traukia šviesa. Jis skrenda į ją, nors jo laukia neišvengiama pražūtis.

          Ūmai Miko veide šmėstelėjo skaudus liūdesys. Kodėl? Matyt, tam yra kažkokia paslaptis, apie kurią nė pats nedrįso galvoti.

          – Mikai, – jo mintis nutraukė Vilio balsas, – brolau, baik svajoti, geriau eime ir paklausim tos gražuolės, ką ji čia viena veikia. O gal laukia ko?

          – Gera mintis, braukdamas delnu sau per pakaušį, Vilio pasiūlymui pritarė Mikas.   

          Kai jiedu buvo prie jos beprieiną, ji sviedė kažkokį daikčiuką Mikui ir lengvai lyg antilopė nubėgo, pradingdama miško tankmėje.

          – Na ir keistuolė, – pažvelgęs į Miką, numykė Vilis. – Nei labas, nei sudie ir nubėgo sau. Tik kažką lyg numetė mums? Ar tu nepastebėjai?

- Ne, – kiek sutrikęs atsakė Mikas. – Neatkreipiau dėmesio…

          Nuleidęs galvą, Mikas pažvelgė į žemę. Ir iš tiesų, prie jo kojos gulėjo grandinėlė su talismanu. Mikas nepastebimai greit pakėlė ją ir paslėpė kelnių kišenėje.

          – Na tiek to, – abejingai ištarė Vilis ir pažvelgė į savo rankinį laikrodį. Ir čia lyg pjaunamas suspiegė: – Mikai, mes vėluojame į darbą! Jau greit devinta valanda, o mes vis dar čia trinamės!

          – Po velnių, – nusikeikęs ir neviltingai skėstelėjęs rankomis, Mikas nuskubėjo prie automobilio. Vilis nuskubėjo paskui.

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          Dienai švintant, Mikas ir Vilis sėdėjo automobilyje ir lėkė miško takeliu link autostrados į miestą, neramiai dairydamiesi į langus, snaudžiančius ūkanoje rytmečio aušroje.

          – Jaučiu, tėvas dabar užkurs mums gerą pirtį, – nerimavo Mikas, spausdamas iki galo akseleratoriaus pėdalą, priversdamas suktis greičiau automobilio ratus.

          – Neliūdėk, brolau, ne tokias audras ištvėrėm, ištversime ir šią.

          – Na, jei jau taip sakai, belieka tavim pasikliauti, – šypsodamasis į ūsą, pajuokavo Mikas, aplenkdamas tai vieną, tai kitą lyg vėžlį judantį automobilį.

          Po geros valandos jiedu pravėrė kabineto duris ir užėjo vidun. Komisaras sėdėjo prie gražaus apvalaus stalo odiniame fotelyje. Jis kalbėjo telefonu. Žiūrint į jį, jis atrodė ramus. Mikas su Viliu stovėjo ir nerimaudami žiūrėjo į jį. Komisaras padėjo ragelį ir, pažvelgęs į juos, suraukė kaktą.

          – Ilgai jūsų nelaikysiu, – prabilo jis, – tik keletas klausimėlių. Pirma, jūs man bent pasakykit, – belsdamas pirštu į stalą, – kur jūs bastotės, kad taip nusivėlinot? Ką, gal norit pasakyti, kad darbas ne vilkas ir į mišką nepabėgs?

          Jis nutaisė kreivą šypseną ir nusijuokė. Vilis su Miku taip pat papliupo juoktis.

          – Nebloga mintis, – nusiraminęs pritarė jam Vilis. – Bet jei rimtai, automobilis pavedė mus.

          – Taip, tai tiesa, – impulsyviai ir ilgai negalvodamas, Vilio minčiai pritarė Mikas. – Negalėjome jos užvesti. Karbiuratorius buvo sustreikavęs. Kol suradom gedimo priežastį, kaip matot, teko pasivėlinti.

          – Labai ačiū jums už įdomų atsakymą, – nelabai susižavėjęs, atsakė komisaras. – Ir vis dėlto, jūs pasakėt ne viską, ką turėjot pasakyti… Bet tiek to… Tai ne svarbiausias klausimas. Norėčiau užduoti ir išgirsti atsakymą į tokį klausimą.

          Mikas su Viliu susižvalgė.

          – Ar nenorėtumėt truputį pailsėti?

          Nesupratę, ką komisaras norėjo pasakyti, jie, gūžtelėdami pečiais, vėl susižvalgė.

          – Mums tas pats, – atsakė jie nė nesuabejoję savo atsakymu.

          – Na, jeigu judviem tas pats, tai nuo šios dienos galit būti laisvi.

          – Kaip suprasti laisvi, – sunerimęs paklausė Vilis.

          – Ką, išsigandot? Ogi visai paprastai. Nuo šios dienos jūs atostogose už praėjusius metus.

          Jiedu su palengvėjimu atsiduso.

          – O jūs ką pamanėte? Beje, galiu numanyti ir tai visai pagrįsti nuogąstavimai, – rimtai nusiteikęs kalbėjo komisaras. – Kiekvienais metais skiriama vis mažiau ir mažiau lėšų mūsų struktūroms. Taip kad nežinosi, kas rytoj mūsų laukia. Tai ką? Viskas aišku?

          – Taip, – atsakė Mikas.

          – Aiškiau ir būti negali, – pritarė ir Vilis.

          – Na tai belieka jums palinkėti gerų atostogų, – priėjęs ir paspaudęs kiekvienam delną, linksmai pratarė komisaras. – Tik tiesa, beveik nepamiršau, jeigu kartais prireiktų jūsų nenumatytos pagalbos, aš jus išsikviesiu. O dabar bėkite, kol nepersigalvojau.

          Po minutės jiedu jau sėdėjo Miko automobilyje. Pro langą į saloną skverbėsi linksmi saulės spinduliai. Langai tviskėjo lyg paauksuotas vitražas.

          – Na ir gerai, kad išvarė mus į atostogas, – pirmasis prakalbo Vilis.

          – Taip, – pridūrė Mikas, – ne pro šalį bus truputį pailsėti.

          – Taip, brolau. Kad tu žinotum, kaip jau buvo įkyrėjęs man šis darbas, kad tik pagalvojus apie jį, man jau kaulus sukdavo. Dienos rieda viena po kitos, kaip to paties paukščio dėti kiaušiniai…

          Jis negalėjo tiksliai pasakyti, kada visa tai prasidėjo, bet žinojo, kad tas pats monotoniškas darbas, gyvenimo ritmas lydės jį ir rytoj, ir poryt, ir po mėnesio, ir dar nežinia kiek. Mikas susimąstęs ir kramtydamas pirštų nagus, klausėsi Vilio ir vis labiau niuro. Po to pakėlė galvą, norėdamas kažką pasakyti, bet žodis įstrigo išdžiūvusioje gerklėje. Vilio mintys užliejo jį kaip akinantis saulės srautas. Jis dairėsi nieko nematydamas, tik kažkur sielos gelmėse jausdamas graužatį, liūdesį.

          – Ko tyli? Ar mano žodžiuose nėra tiesos, – karčiai paklausė Vilis.

          – Ne, tavo teisybė gera, – dusliai atsakė Mikas. – Aš pritariu tavo žodžiams ir dar daugiau pridursiu. Mes šiame darbe esame tik nuolankūs tarnai… Pasakysiu dar paprasčiau – pigūs tarnybiniai šunys. Kur liepia, ten ir bėgame, rizikuodami savo sveikata, gyvybe, neįskaitant jau savo brangaus laiko, kuris yra kasdien atimamas iš mūsų brangaus gyvenimo… Velniai griebtų, kai pagalvoju tik apie tai, man užverda kraujas! Vietoj to, kad jie mums mokėtų tai, kas mums priklauso, dalina tik trupinius nuo duonos riekės. Tai kiek ilgai gyvensime už tuos grašius, kuriuos gavome šiandieną? Bet kur tau! Tiems prakeiktiems politikieriams ant visko nusispjaut! Jiems terūpi tik savas kailis ir kėdė!

          – Na matai, ir pats gerai suvoki kas yra kas.

           Vilis nusijuokė ir drožė Mikui plaštaka per petį, sudėdamas į šį mostą visa, ko nebuvo galima žodžiais išsakyti.

          – Tai ir pirmokui aišku, – atsakė Mikas ir atsilygino tuo pačiu – smagiai trinktelėjo draugui į petį.         

          – Gerai, bičiuli, jeigu tau nesunku, pamesk mane iki namų. Esu taip pervargęs… Tu turbūt taip pat? Gerai pailsėkim, o rytoj susiskambinsim, jei ką sumanytume.

          – Pritariu, Vili. Ir man ne pro šalį būtų pailsėti.

          Mikas užkūrė automobilį ir truktelėjo iš vietos. Kaip buvo sutarę, išlaipinęs Vilį, jis grįžo namo. Jau buvo pietų metas – pirma valanda dienos. Prieškambaryje nusimetęs batus, megztinį, Mikas persirengė sportiniu kostiumu ir, įsispyręs į šliures, nukulniavo į virtuvę. Pasišildęs vakarykščią pietums virtą sriubą, sočiai papietavo. Pietūs buvo lengvi ir kas svarbiausia, neilgai truko paruošti. Jis prie jų jau buvo pripratęs ir nebesinorėjo jų keisti. Toks gyvenimas jo nebegąsdino. Suplovęs nešvarius indus, Mikas nuėjo į kambarį ir paėmęs nuo stalo knygą, patogiai įsitaisė ant sofos. Bandė skaityti, bet negalėjo. Nusviedė knygą ant stalo.

          Pro langą tvieskė saulė, pripildydama kambarį akinančios šviesos  ir erdvės. Mikui atrodė, kad kambarys niekada nebuvo toks ankštas ir niūrus kaip dabar. Jis pasijuto tarsi uždarytas medinėje dėžėje. Mikas atsisėdo ir atsirėmė į sofos atlošą, bandydamas tokioje padėtyje atsipalaiduoti arba bent trumpam nusnūsti, bet deja, nesisekė. Kažkas trukdė. O kas, negalėjo suprasti. Sekundei jis susimąstė. Prisiminė vakarykštės nakties nesuvokiamus jam siaubingus vaizdus, nepažįstamą, gana keistoką merginą. Staiga prisiminė grandinėlę su talismanu, kurią buvo paslėpęs kelnių kišenėje. Atsinešęs kruopščiai vartydamas delne ją apžiūrinėjo ir svarstė, ką galėtų reikšti tas atsitikimas.

          Kodėl mergina metė man šią grandinėlę? Juk ji visiškai manęs nepažįsta ir nėra niekados mačiusi… O kas įdomiausia, ji pasirodė taip netikėtai lyg angelas, Vilio žodžiais tariant, ir dar vienut vienutėlė, miške… Be jokios palydos, draugų…

          Mikui tas nutikimas kėlė susidomėjimą bei nedavė ramybės. Jis svarstė toliau.

          O gal mergina mane yra mačiusi ir pažįsta? Bet kur?

          Į šį klausimą Mikas neturėjo atsakymo, bet aišku buvo viena. Mergina kažkuo paslaptingai sudomino. Traukė, lyg būtų kažkuo artima, pažįstama jam.

          Mikas pakėlė grandinėlę ir prispaudė prie lūpų. O, jeigu ši graži grandinėlė dabar būtų ant jos kaklo, karštai ištarė jis, paskęsdamas saldžiose svajonėse. Jeigu galėčiau prispausti prie lūpų jos švelnias, lyg vyšnios raudonas, karštas lūpas… O, tada galėčiau patikėti, kad dar yra laimė žemėje… Bet, deja, čia tik svajonė…

          Bet po velnių, tarė jis sau, kodėl apie ją galvoju? Kodėl negaliu pamiršti jos, kodėl negaliu jos išmesti iš atminties?

          Ta mintis Mikui nedavė ramybės. O dar ta vieta, kvepianti paslaptimi…

          Gal dabar imti ir nuvažiuoti vėl į tą vietą? O jeigu ir šį kartą pamatysiu ką nors nežemiško? O jeigu nepavyks, tuo pačiu galbūt reikėtų bandyti paieškoti tos paslaptingos merginos? Galbūt, kai būsiu vienas, pavyks daugiau išsiaiškinti? Gal ji ten netoliese kažkur gyvena? Mikas ilgai svarstė. Ale pabandysiu, nusprendė jis. Kiek čia truksiu, ir būsiu vietoje. Jis staigiai persirengė, sėdo į automobilį ir išrūko.

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…bus daugiau…