Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第68/246页)

heleavesoftrees,aretoonumeroustot.Leavesturnyellowanddrop,butyearbudswouldburstoutonnewbranchesandgrowagain.Lifeiscalmandstilswater.Fiirringitssurfacemeetwithnohindrandleavenotrail.EversinceDimitrijoihehouseholdofAmalia,Mary,SheiandYoko,heseemedtohavesteppedintoanotherdream.Hewasnotonlyrelivinghislifeasanapprentiabakerywhenhewasyoung,buthewasalsoenjoyingthefortsandwarmthoffamilylife.MaryareatedhimasanolderbrotherandAmaliawasamothertohim,anticipatinghiseveryhoughblind,Dimitri’smovementswereeffitandprecise.Oncehewassureoftheretivepositionofthesteamingroom,theworktable,theovenandthemixingmae,hecouldgoabouthisworkwithouthesitation.WithSheialwaystheretohelp,Dimitriwasabletoworkquitefreelyandindepelylikeanormalpersonsolongashedidn’ttouchthemoreplicated,andtherebymoredangerous,maery.Hepreferredmakingbreadandpastrytheoldfashionedway,justbyusinghistwohands,withouttheaidofmoderronieitherdidheusecupsandscalestomeasuretheingredients.Hishahemostaccuratescale.Themostpivotalpartofbreadmakingwastheexactamountofyeastyouaddtotheflour,whichdependedinpartonthelocalweather.Rain,shineorcloudywereallfactorstobesidered.Dimitri’sexpertiseinthisareaguaranteedhalfthesuccessofhisproject.Theotherhalfdependedonhisknowledgeofovenbaking.Healuthishandsintotheoveheheat.Onlywhenhedeemeditsuitablewouldhepushhisbakingpaninandclosetheovendoor.Thebreadhemadewasexcellentintaste,smelndappearance.Asforcakesandpastry,hecouldonlybakethemahedecorationstoMaryandShei,astheworkwastoodelicateforablindman.

    BusinessflourishedasAmaliahadpredicted.Shewasbusyeveryday,sellingandbagging,ringingupsalesandtakingcareofthemoneyandge.Whenbusinesswasbriskandtheroomcrowdedwithers,Amaliaofteakes.Shewouldgetintumentsandunavoidablyoffendedsomeerswhowouldstalkoutangrily.Sometimesshewouldafooloutofherself.Butolderswhohadbeenaroundforsometime,knewAmaliawassufferingfromtheoofAlzheimer’sdisease,andmadeallowancesforher.Theoldwhite-beardeddwarfstillloiteredabouttheneighborhoodandwouldeinwhenAmaliawasbusyandstealsomebread.Well,itcouldn’treallybecalledstealingbecausehejuststruttedinandtookwhathewantedfmboyantlywithoutstealth.SometimesAmaliawouldshoutathim,scoldinghihatstrangeoldmanwasnotgreedyandwouldjustgrabowopiecesofbread.Amaliawasbusyenoughasitwasandjustdidn’twanttobother.Thatday,everythingwassoldoutbeforenoon.Amaliawaocloseupa,butSheisaiditwasnotprofessionalbehaviortocloseshopbeforeclosingtime.Amaliacededgrudginglyandeveryobacktowork.Dimitriimmediatelypouredargeamountofflourontheworktable,addedyeast,oil,sugar,salt,waterandstartingmixingandkneading.Itwasboriousandtiring,butDimitrilikedit.Hethoughtitwasnotonlyagoodformofexercisethattonedmusclesandtendons,italsoexercisedthebrain.Physiadethebrainwhirndiateofeuphoriaaement.Dimitriworkedonhappilywhileperspirationpouredfromhisheadandbody.HesuddenlythoughtofwhathisgoodfriendJamazooldhim.

    “Iliketousemymuscles,notmybrain.”Dimitrismiledandthought,

    “Iamlikehim.Ialsoliketousemymuscles,butIliketousemybrainsevenmore.IwonderhowmyfriendsRichardandJamazaredoing