The Life Consultant

Barbara whisked a colourful sack of garbage hardly and released it. The sack circled a half circle and fell down heavily at the bottom of an iron bunker, a traditional sound – a rustle and voiceless hammer, as if someone hit his hand on a ripe watermelon – at that moment she couldn “t understand, but somebody jumped out of this bin and Barbara stand at the same place with fear. Generally, she always did that – when she scared of something, she adhered one place and it was impossible to pull out of her. Now she was petrifying. And this something or somebody had penetrated in the bin again. There were rustle of cellophanes and illegible mutter from the bin. In some seconds, someone`s body had arisen again. Now she noticed that it was not a ghost, but an ordinary boy. He was holding a notebook or a folder and was looking at her angrily.

- Here it is… - the boy gave her a thrown folder and she took it mechanically. Then he leant the edge of the bin and jumped out lightly, shook his clothes off and had been trying to clean out his shaggy hair for a long time. Now Barbara hadn`t frightened anymore and was staring at him with a great interest. Who was he? He didn`t look like a beggar. Nevertheless, how did he get in this litterbin?

- Give it to me – He finished cleaning himself at least. She grabbed the folder roughly and went away without saying anything – no thank no apology. She saw that boy on the second day. He was sitting at the end of the street, with opening pieces of papers on the bench and was grinding at them. Barbara immediately recognized both him and his dirty folder. She approached him and took a seat straight on those opened papers next to him. The boy looked at her in a surprise.

- What hell did you want in that bin? – he was trying to take those papers out from her buttock.

- Oh… is that you, who tipped me the whole rubbish on my head? At last he looked at her. – Stand up from my papers.

-What hell did you want in that bin… -She lifted a bit without thinking to stand up. But the boy managed to take out one piece of paper at last.

-I threw the rubbish and all of a sudden the folder dropped into the litter-bin… I held it and… The boy laughed. I was lucky that it was bounded, otherwise I couldn`t pick them up. There were strange schemes and designs on them.

-What`s that? – she stood up to give him opportunity to pick up all pieces of papers on the response of favour of the boy found in the rubbish who appeared immediately. He was sorting out the papers according to the number.

- These… these are the drafts of the ship constructor… my uncle gifted me, it`s a big ship – a sailing bregata. I won`t be able to construct it without those designs. Will you help me to design it? What`s your name?

- Me… Barbara, and you?

-Joshua –he smiled again to her and untill Barbara asked anything, he added himself – I`ve visited my uncle here. It`s a fine of Christmas holidays…

- I see – she nodded with a comprehension and followed him. Joshua took her to his uncle`s antique shop and Barbara realized that he was Lulu`s nephew.

Lulu`s classmates told unbelievable stories about Lulu… Some said that he was not kind and he was magic, he was killing the people. But the others said vice-versa, he is a magician, but kind and helps everybody, who needs it. Barbara was looking through everything with interest. But she disappointed as it was an ordinary old things` shop. There was no any bloody designed icon and also turned cross. Even there was no a black cat.

Lulu seemed to be a joyful and grumbler old man, who had drunk an aromatic tea several times a day to him and invited for dinner. The meal consisted of the ready dishes bought in the same street. Lulu had been eating them for some years. And it was amazing that he had not got a stomach ulcer or gulping tube`s cancer yet, as he said.

To design the ship – it was very interesting and entertaining process. She was surprised herself that she understood these drafts so easily and even corrected Joshua`s mistakes – some details had not been on their places. Joshua was delighted about this fact and Barbara was sympathetic to him. He accompanied to her house late night. Next morning after 9 o`clock a.m he ran to her house while dropped across Barbara on his way.

-You`ve been sleeping long! – said Barbara like a mentor and entered lulu`s magic shop as if it was her own house. They forgot eating. The design that Joshua considered to finish at least in two weeks had been done half of it. But lulu didn`t haunt – saying that he would destroy their designed ship at night, if they didn`t have tea – and they had a break for some time.

- Uncle Lulu, how a good person you are – declared Barbara during one of such ritual drinking tea process - otherwise they were telling such awful stories…

- What are they telling? - This midget man was interested.

-I don`t know, but they say that he is eating children. – replied Barbara with laugh.

-Really? I`d prefer croissants to them. – However, who knows. Sometimes I may eat children. – But you are so slim – Lulu carefully took a glance at Barbara - As for Joshua, he looks like in a good style. It doesn`t matter that he is my nephew, does it?

- I`ll have to lock the door at night – laughed Joshua and imagined how his uncle stands with a knife and fork in his hand.

-It doesn`t survive you – Lulu shook his hand - an ordinary door can`t stop the malicious children-eating.

-But how smart you are – continued Barbara – if someone gifted me such present like this ship`s design, I would be very happy - sighed she and felt a strange sadness in Joshua`s voice.

-Let`s construct this ship and name it Barbie… let it be yours – suggested Joshua.

-Never call me Barbie, I beg you very much, I hate this name…- immediately cried Barbara and ran away from the room.

- What`s the matter with her?...- embarrassed Joshua looked at Lulu.

-I don`t know, maybe she has an argument for it - thoughtful Lulu tossed his head anxiously and put the cups into the sink.

A synthetic party-coloured ribbon written “the smallest Miss” – is hung on the quite top shelf, on the “the Wall of Beauty”. It has been the first fact that confirms of her participating in the beauty competition. She was 10 months then and of course, she didn`t remember it. Instead she still remembers that she constantly took part in the beauty competitions and had been still preparing from such competition to competition in short of periods of time.

Resulting, she has collected more than thirty different shapes and coloured medals, cups and ribbons, all of them they hung on the same wall, stood, tacked. But some of them, for example, a silver race-cup, which was gained in one of the competitions and meant Vice-Miss, they made a special wardrobe for it. The wall was certainly decorated by numerous frame pictures, which have Melisa`s comments by tender hand and the short descriptions on them. All these are putting chronologically and accuracy.

Barbara considered that this wall is her shame named `Veracious Testimony`, but her mother, hopeless eccentric and sentimental Melisa, calls it `An Interrupted Dream`.

Barbara had a temperamental dislike both for this room and her own mother. But sometimes she had `Masochism Offensive `. She used to enter her room, took a seat on a small white sofa face to face of her shame wall and had been looking at the bright medals, iron cups and party-coloured ribbons so long until she rushed into the toilet with her hand at the mouth to keep from the causea. Once she slipped her mind when it was necessary running out and spewed right in the centre of the room on the white carpet. Of course, the carpet had been thrown away from the room. Melisa looked at her own off-spring with disgust and got a bit theatrical hysterics. Barbara was very delighted with relieve - it was the second case, when she satisfied her natural necessity. However, the first one brought her of several years or perhaps irreparable shameful in her life. Nevertheless, the second one looked like a retaliation - it seemed demonstrative and perhaps to justify this first one – Barbie felt a weird lightness. She thought she released from the dirt accumulated for all these years. However, her delight, caused by her own disgusting behavior, soon moderated and the sense of weightiness forced through her soul systematically. She even thought that it would be better for her health to spew in the middle of the room, directly in front of her own shame wall at least three times a month. Whatever she did in her room, it would be still worthy and harmless. Relatively the shame and suffer, which had been kept by all things and pictures fastened on the wall – however, she couldn`t dare to do it secondly, to make herself happy now spewing on a light purple carpet. In addition, the synthetic red carpet was tangling into her legs and it made her be tension… She remembered all about it peculiar distinctiveness when she tipped a bit and weltered her hands into the air… she needed to mobilize herself to keep a balance, because the fear of falling down was so strong that the second zone of the risk had been out of control… And when she straightened on her 10 cm `Tower` and considered she was out of danger, she felt how the hot liquid was flowing on her legs at that moment… Barbara looked through the audience in the hundredth of seconds, and what she saw it had impressed in her mind forever. These were the hands shading on their faces of jury and surprisingly their opened mouths… It had been the first time in the history of the beauty competition when one of the competitions only aged 8, urinated. After that, she looked out the backdoor, where the other girls were standing. Melisa was standing ahead all of them, nearly on the stage and was staring at the pond in front of her daughter`s feet… This pond was flowing away on a wooden varnished stage like a stream and then it stopped at the edge of the red synthetic carpet. After that the corner of the carpet got dark step by step…

-I told you… I wanted in a toilet… sobbed she desperately and ran away towards the backdoor, threw away her shoes with disgusting, rushed to the hall, came down the stairs with at breakneck speed, stepped someone on her way, ran out the yard, at least found the car, Melisa had stopped on a long distance, on the other side of the road, opened the door and lay down on the back chair. Then she took out a shawl from the bag, muffled from head to feet and closed her eyes. How Barbara wished to be dead, not to open her eyes and hear nothing. If I seldom take a breath, I`ll die. She thought nothing except this. She drew a breath until she saw a little red dots with her closed eyes and her ears began to jingle. She couldn`t bear it, opened her mouth, such keeping air set into the lungs painfully. She certainly didn`t remember how long she had been suffering from the death of expectation. But when she opened her eyes , it was already night. The car was being driven in a whole speed or may be not so fast, but at that moment she seemed, that Melisa was driving her mini van as a madwoman...

When she reached their house, Melisa stopped her car and got off without looking at Barbara or saying any word. Then during the seven days Melisa spoke to her only two times. More precisely once, because the second was a stinging phrase towards her while she was getting in the car with her friend and Barbara, she raised her face with disgusting, shook her hand theatrically and said: - Pooh, there is a smell of urinate there. And secondly, she said to her personally – pack your things. We`re going to move…

Why or where they would move to, Barbara didn`t ask. It had been the first phrase all her whole life Melisa had slipped in speaking and it brought Barbara happiness. The main thing was to go away from that place and go as far as they could, where no one recognized them or knew the story of the shame. Though Barbara was sure that there wouldn`t be place on the earth where she could be safe and managed to hide the shameful fact of pissing on the stage.

Melisa took her daughter to the beauty competition to participate in it. It was the first competition and Barbara was just 10 months. And Melisa was at the peak of the happiness. Her daughter with golden curly hair and big blue eyes – she was a real doll Barbie. She had been dreaming to have such a daughter since her childhood. And because of that she agreed to get married and become a pregnant. Melisa didn`t want a child. She had aborted twice until they told her it would be a girl at the ultrasound. Her husband, who was a professor and 19 years older than her, didn`t certainly know about it until they told him it woul be a girl at the ultrasound. Melisa only needed a doll Barbie. She paid for that too expensive – two abortions and disgusting and a formless shape body. And then the nauseous process of the childbirth. Melisa was astonished how the women agreed with it voluntary- especially, two or three times. As soon as Barbara became ten months old, she took her to the beauty competition. Afterwards, these all had been turned to stack of snow… there nearly was always held the children`s beauty competition somewhere every month. It didn`t matter whether it was in their town or neighbour state. Obsessed such strange excitement Melisa dragged her little doll like a gypsy from town to town, from country to country. Though it would say they didn`t go out of the continent. At the age of eight Barbara had already drew in the whole Europe in such chase of competition. They often appeared in such an outlandish city, where there was no even a beauty salon…

That`s why Melisa was always ready to `develop` her Barbie in case of necessity of auto-sunburning and fasten handmade curls on the hair skillfully…

For the reason of this wander the girl couldn`t afford to learn. They had changed the school several times. She tried to take rent the teachers at home, but in vain. The husband constantly quarreled with her and threatened – I would take away the authority of the maternity if she still continued destroying his child`s life. They couldn`t even divorce. He threatened, but he gave her the money for the next competition, dresses and hotel. Melisa didn`t think ask him for divorce at all. Playing with Barbie, it needed amount of money and the cost was arising with the growth of Barbie. The husband adapted that the rectification of Melisa was impossible. One wonderful day he packed his luggage and went away himself. It was certainly unpleasant moment. And she did her best to ask him a monthly substantial sponsor `growing up dignity`. Her husband didn`t want to see any of them, neither his wife, nor the child. He was sure that he didn`t get luck and like the mother, the girl was crazy for the beautiful, brainless and shiny things.

Though, he was wrong very much. She wouldn`t be suitable from these three ones to his daughter. And unfortunately for Melisa, as Barbie was growing up, there would be obvious, that his doll Barbie wouldn`t be able to become the queen of beauty.

Barbara was so slim, that at the age of 7, that she was refused by the jury to take part in the swimming costume competition. Even more, she couldn`t grow up so tall as Melisa hoped. Her golden curls got dark and straightened. She would be an ordinary child, an ordinary weak and flimsy girl, not to be all those competitions and overdressed girls. But in the beauty competitions, she was a real duckling, a grey duck to get in with the team of swans by chance. But Melisa obstinately declared refusing to recognize the truth and tirelessly, was fiercely fighting for her dream. She had been taking her to the different recuperative procedures all day long and inflaming her with numerous of vitamins and medicines. But nothing could change her Barbie and Melisa had such feeling that her alive doll, her life`s most important entertaining was dying with her.

She couldn`t mostly understand why her doll couldn`t bear the dollish life. –if I had such chances and had such mother, I would be the happiest princess in the world, but this ungrateful, impolite…- thought Melisa and exhausted that she hadn`t got such luck and she had this idle creature. The girl who denied to be the princess and did not want to be pretty, even could manage to put on weight for three kilos.

Melisa didn`t know what else purpose had her Barbie in the world...

That`s why she had always been in the theatrical depression and locked herself in the `theatrical room`. She had been looking through the photos from morning till evening, where she looked like a princess very much, than her child and was trying to think anything which escaping her from such biggest failure.

Then, she had an idea step by step to bear a new Barbie and her father would take the old one or I would adapt her to another family. Nevertheless, she soon recognized that bearing a new baby, it was a risk at her age. If she would grow up so grey duck as Barbie was. And she had an idea again - it would be better sell her ugly Barbie and adopt a real golden curly girl -how many beautiful girls there exist, with no family and is dreaming about the life of Melisa, who was denied by her own Barbie with such disgusting, will suggest them.

Melisa had always renewed her beauty room twice a year. She unfastened everything from the wall, painted it to another colours. As she didn`t always have enough money to change the furniture, she changed just cover to suit for the wall`s paint. This was the most pleasant work in her life. Especially, even then her ungrateful frog refused to take part in the beauty competition and that`s why she had even pissed. Melisa was sure that she did it on purpose and was trying to pass the weeks so that not to come across her `ungrateful`frog. and because Barbara hated her mother like a plague day and this `shame room, who considered her an official crazy person, she was not against not to see her mother. Melisa and Barbara managed somehow to live at the same house and not to have contact to each other. – This was suitable for both of them. All of these had a big plus, from like other adults, no one made Barbara study, make her room in order, get good marks. No one was interested when or where she would go, or when she would come back or come back at all or not. And it`s true that Barbara sometimes had a feeling of light sorrow. But this everything was insomuch comfortable that she couldn`t imagine how would be differently. At first, when she was delighted by something or very sore she wanted to disclose her emoticons to her mum, tell her what happened and even ask for her advice, but it was at first time, when she was 7-8. Then these strange wishes had disappeared, especially, after the failure when she pissed on the stage during the competition.

Afterwards, they were trying to tell minimum of words to each other as could as possible. Shortly, mother and daughter didn`t recognize to each other and they had quite independent life. They only partitioned the residential teritorryand negotiated without any word to contact only in the case of necessary.

It had taken two weeks to complete the ship. It was necessary to fasten the most difficult, the tiniest size of hundreds of details, which gave the model, it`s final, primary face and resemble to the original one. Then this having tea or dinner – Lulu didn`t let, until he didn`t lead from the room.

It had been left three days until Christmas, when Joshua fastened the latest detail-a strange symbolic anchor and he applaused.

-That`s all… We could do it. That`s all…

Joshua surveyed Barbara, who was looking at his own product, standing proudly sailing regatta with a happy face, a copy of middle century fast-going ship

-I couldn`t imagine constructed would be so madness – concluded Barbara and she swerved to Joshua.

-I think it`s time to sail to the sea, what will you say?

-it`s time… let`s name it

-and break the champagne onto it. Isn`t it the rule?

-Yes …but I don`t advice you, I won`t take a risk, we have constructed it anyhow…. –

Joshua`s mind illuminated - it would be better to drink the champagne. I know where Lulu has hidden it, it`s true that it`s opened but never mind… I`ll be back right now… The champagne wasn`t hidden at all. It stood on the last shelf of the fridge. In addition, because Lulu was sitting near them. As always, he was sipping a cup of tea, Joshua considered saying:

-We have finished constructing the ship and now… Let`s drink the champagne… it`s the moment to celebrate it… Lulu shrugged, to the answer he tried to remember if it was or not so much early to drink the champagne at the age of 13… or when he drank alcoholic drink at first time but couldn`t remember.

Joshua also took two fougères, which he considered inasmuch suitable and went headlong to the room. He put the glasses and stupored onto the place.

Barbara was standing some steps away quite naked, flabby her hands and was looking quietly. He had never seen the naked girl before so closely except on TV, internet and even through the window of neighbour, but so close? Nearly could touch her with a hand – she was standing on the distance and he felt the warm vawes of her breath.

The girl, very slim and paled of coldness, had been expecting something from him. But he was so disconcerted, not discomfited, but confused, that he couldn`t understand what to do, to warrant those hopes or expectation his half of creature was pleading to escape urgently, As if there was not the naked girl in front of him, but standing a crocodile with its wide open mouth. And the other part of his body made his hand light like a feather and was moving forward along still unknown universe. He obeyed the second one….

He let her hand, a strange shivering had still passed until his right hand touched Barbara`s naked shoulder, then the second one lifted itself hardly bulged chest touched. Barbara was shaving so, Joshua hazed to clear up.

-Are you cold? – he said hardly, he couldn`t recognize his voice, he even had another timbre. Barbara nodded? Joshua took out the jumper which was fallen on the floor and wreathed wind on her shoulder, then he pulled to attract towards him with the sleeves of the jumper or Barbara leaned to Joshua-or it didn`t matter this. The slim, naked body was put up with the whole body on him; the lips were touching on the face and the noise of her own breathing hurting the ears.

Joshua very carefully moved her face aside and kissed her on the blue bulged vein bottom of the ear. Then below the chin, after that on the throat and removed to other ear`s bottom. Joshua`s lips were touching Barbara`s body a bit. No one had any idea how long would have been lasted or ended not to enter Lulu immediately. He opened the door and as he knew, he first pushed through his head first, was looking at his own nephew silently and the neighbour girl. He hadn`t expected such scenery. He couldn`t imagine if the children were entertaining such at their ages. Then he entered the room and girdled.

- I call you for having meal, it will be cold…- he picked picked out Barbara`s clothes stuck her. – You both should be in the dining room in five minutes. The last words sounded like an order. Joshua wished his uncle leave that territory as fast as he could and scolded himself not to lock the door.

Barbara dressed, and they didn`t think to go out to the dining room – I went away- she gabbled murmured and until Joshua was thinking about what to say or what he should, she had already disappeared behind the door.

He had slept badly. He was closing his eyes and remembering of his first touching, which had changed her life in a second, but changed substantially. At any case, he was deeply sure himself about it now and felt himself quite another person.

He fell asleep in the morning and when he woke up he felt pride himself. Now he is a man-it`s true that Lulu entered in an unsuitable moment, but so what… Not many boys couldn`t boast to stand in front of an naked girl, not to say anything that kissing and petting. He exactly knew that friends didn`t have such experience, but… it might happen much more than. Imagining that the blood was accelerating and gasping him.

The next morning he was anxiously waiting for Barbara, he even thought he would come to her himself and jitter and told her, who undersood so much sleep but he felt shy. He had never thought about it another time, but now he was perambulating in the room and rehearsing to meet Barbara…it was nearly two o`clock when she appeared. But he respected. As always she untied jingled door carefully and went down the stairs with her usual steps, as if nothing had happened. She looked like and was behaving as unceremonious as always, no awkwardness, no blushing or accelerate of breath, not even such sight or gesture, typical secretly connected people – shortly, nothing, nothing at all. Joshua even thought that maybe I had occurred all those or created, saw in the dream or… shortly they did thousands of work, spoke about everything, exactly, Barbara was talking and said just `yes` and `no`, sometimes here and there said `I do not know…` They were alone in the room and his hand touched Barbara`s one. This touching was acting on him like the heat of electricity, but not on Barbara. She even didn`t move his hand or hadn`t stop it for a long time, shortly he didn`t notice any differences, though he was looking for any sign or any difference behaviour.

Joshua suffered as if they attached the most over unsuitable and daily ending as if to the magic tale. He didn`t believe that previous magic meant nothing for Barbara in his heart. He even believed, that like him, it was the first `intime` experience for her. He was looking at the slimmest girlstanding in front of him he had ever seen and was feeling that it was getting more secret and unsolved that happened or didn`t happen and he thought it happened. Shortly, Joshua finally bedeviled and confused. But Barbara was sipping the the aromatic tea poured by Lulu and swinging her feet under the chair. – Uncle Lulu, may I meet Christmas with you? –declared Barbara immediately. Lulu put a tea glass on the table and shrugged shoulders.

- For that I`ll help constructing - added Barbara urgently, after she noticed badly this shrugging of the shoulders and she couldn`t think anything best except it to bribe a midget man.

- Of what constructing?- blinking her eyes joyfully.

- I don`t know, of everything. You are doing there something at all, aren`t you? and… we `ll help you…

- oh, will you both help me?... – Lulu laughed – O. K. we agreed, but remember not to wait for big Christmas gifts and fried turkey …

- How cute you are uncle Lulu –Barbara leaned immediately and hugged him. Joshua was looking at her astonished because she had not had an idea to hug his uncle for such a long time, not even during the arriving or going away. Even more, Lulu couldn`t bear such sentimental hugging and didn`t reveal the warm feelings towards someone. However, from Barbara he could. Even more, he put his hand on her shoulder tolerantly and his heart affected.

The decision of spending Christmas together, Barbara excited, Lulu changed her mood too. Joshua confessed more that she had another important reason for that and this offence. After the end of ritual having tea Lulu pulled in an old trunk.

- Then let`s begin… reconstruction – grinned the midget old man – take out all these things, clean them with this brush and cloth. Don`t put in the damaged ones back and put the rest of them in the box. There are 64 trunks else – he murmured again and left the room.

Barbara returned the box and took out the things along to each others, such as; old books, which many of them had no the covers, some of them left half part of it. The folders, photos, the small boxes of decorations with strange medallions, many of them were empty. But there were small gems and buttons there. There were even coins in one box… yellow or blackened notes, cutting out the pieces of an elephant`s bone and wood... It was a real surprising box. And the things weren`t ending. Joshua was so entertaining this bottomless trunk looking through and sorting them, that he forgot the heaviness at all, which had been on his heart. He was not thinking of disappearing this magic second and suffering from the question if it really happened yesterday the fact that happened or it was just invented only by his adulting phantasy…

Barbara was not babbling any more, she was concentrated on the work and was staring all the things with such strained face, that Joshua thought that she couldn`t notice my presence.

They put the last thing into the trunk and Lulu stood with them.

- They obviously needed the help – Barbara pointed to the things putting on the coach – there were many things which reconstruction or helping couldn`t survive. For example, this one – she took out the cover-torn book putting all above – she was saying all about them so surely, that Lulu smiled.

- Do you know what book it is?

- Certainly not. It`s the first time I`ve seen such old things – Barbara laughed.

- Read it, but I can`t let take it at home. If you want, stay here and read …

Joshua looked at Barbara, who covered the enjoying smile on his face.

- Of course, I want – she exclaimed with joy and jumped up from her place. However, Lulu stopped her on time.

- Two hugs in a day they are too much, girl.

- Yes, but won`t they say anything at home? – Joshua managed at least and swallowed the sip.

- Oh, wait – she lifted her hand – I`m so hungry. They ate. They denied to have the third tea, Barbara took out in the pit the cover-torn book and went to his intended room. The room was so little that there were only a narrow bed and a wooden table. Barbara`s room was next to Joshua`s one and being all his ears, Joshua was hearing the feet`s clicking, then the noise stopped. `Maybe she is reading…there is Christmas in three days… What a strange Christmas I have – Joshua thought and was trying to hear the opening the book`s papers, but he couldn`t hear it. Tense and attentional Joshua didn`t notice how he fell asleep. He was guarding Barbara`s feet`s voice in the sleeping and at the end when it sounded at his bed feet`s non-mixed tinkling, he thought he was in the dream and didn`t open his eyes.

- Josh - he felt the touching of the hand of his shoulder, opened his eyes, Barbara was standng with her book and rug in her hand

- Do you know what? It is somehow room, dark... As if the water is dripping from the wall, I was afraid, may I be here? Joshua pulled up and the seat on the bed was free.

- I don’t want your bed, stupid - laughed Barbara. - I will lie on the top and let it be the light lit, please. I am reading... Barbara climbed on the second tier and had been trying to huddle comfortably for a long time, and then the screeching voice of the old wooden bed had stopped. Joshua was lying supine, staring at his bed’s “ceiling”, on which Barbara was lying now. They had been silent so long, at last he couldn’t bear and called out her.

- Barbara

- What’s the matter?

- Is it a good book?

- I don’t know...

- And aren’t you reading it?

- I’m certainly reading it...

- And don’t you know if you like it or not?.... laughed Joshua

- You are silly, what do you know - Barbara seceded her head from the bed and Joshua thought she would fall down now, different from the other girls she would not get a bruise, just she would wreck. Why is she so slim if only? Thought Joshua and he also leaned himself toward the bed.

- You have been here so long and haven’t read anything - continued Barbara - do you know? You won’t see such books anywhere. This one, for example, is published in 1860.

- And what’s this about? Will I read it as it’ old one? - excused Joshua.

- It’s about the Pirates...

- Really? - widened Joshua’s eyes.

- Certainly not, you’re stupid ...

- What’s this about...?

- It’s the history of the art, painting, do you know what’s that? - she asked quizzically

- Certainly I know... - harmed Joshua - at least which painter is that book about? - he tried to say the last word Oooh - Barbara seceded again - do you know that I should finish to read this tonight? You waste me the time - she intended herself and then they had been quiet long, Joshua couldn’t dare to say any of the words, how this night had stretched, he felt the sleeping was twitching towards him - I shouldn’t sleep, here is Barbara... - he repeated himself and at the third or fourth such repetition he was even asleep.

The daylight made him wake up, he arose so that very nearly he hit his head on the edge of the bed, he raised his eyes on the top tier, Barbara put the opened book on her chest and was sleeping quietly. He was glad that he got up the first. He could say that he hadn’t slept at all, he didn’t exactly know why it was necessary to say so, but he wanted Barbara to know that he would do everything for her sake. It was twelve when Barbara woke up, She tousled lined the dining room, where on the closed verandah, like the winter garden, Lulu as always was sipping a cup of tea.

- I’ve read it... - she demostrately put the book on the table and looked over Lulu with a winning face.

- Did you like it?... - asked Joshua

- He doesn’t like anything - he wasn’t worth to answer straight her - it needn`t to like or don’t like such books, this is not... This... - Barbara knitted her brows - yeah... To play the computer or the film about the Pirates, this is that can expand the borders. Did you guess? From then You are more and more interested and want to understand that what you couldn’t understand, did you realize it? ” it expands the boarders...” - Joshua was embarrassed listening to her, Barbara was something different, was talking very differently and was interested in another things, and generally, from her familiars, she looked like none of them...

- Why are you against the computer? - he tried to bring out the speaking theme to his territory or are you a hundred years old like Lulu?

- Nothing... Just this book made me read another things... Uncle Lulu, give me another books about Italian painters, especially that it was here, at that period of time, agreed?

- Ok - agreed Lulu - try, maybe you like it too. - he turned to his nephew and pointed with his eyes to put the plates.

Joshua and Barbara was sitting quietly, none of them wanted eating, but Lulu would be angry if they stand up and leave the plates so empty.

- Let’s go for a walk, I don’t like this town, it’s very noisy... The weaver street is the best street in this city...

- All right... - Joshua agreed, he had walked all the city several times, but now it doesn’t matter, the main was that he could walk with her...

- But first I’ll go home and come back soon...

She ran headlong in the house, she even didn’t know what she was feeling, but she knew that she would be very happy, if Lulu let her move to him forever. She loved Joshua, it was the first time in her life that she wasn’t afraid of boy - he wouldn’t laugh at her, was ready to fulfill her foolishness and was looking differently... somehow... When she was seeing Joshua her pulse was accelerating and shaking her hands.

She was not quite sure that Joshua could understand what she was feeling towards him, that’s why she was trying to behave him more rudely - just, anyway... To be get ready for a sudden laugh at her. She couldn’t believe that the boy like Joshua, really fell in love. She had no even the friends before, no boys paid any attention to her. Barbara was happy and no doubt that it would be the best Christmas in her life...

She passed the long hall and hardly had stepped on the stairs, when Melissa stepped forward her.

- Did you come? I wish I knew where you have been going all nights and.... Now at nights too - Melissa ’s face was not suitable for her face at all, it was shining and expressed a joy

- Have you noticed? - chuckled Barbara

- It’s very funny... Come in - and she jolted her to “the shame room”, an awful premonition ran down from her knees and her eyes dappled.

The man’s voice was coming from the shame room”, which the woman`s ringing laughter was crossing it.

- This is Barbie... I don’t know how the children manage to turn into from such beauty into so ugliness - laughed Melissa hysterically and threw her hair back

- Why the deformity?... - The man tried to remediate the situation - she is a pretty young woman, I’m glad to meet you Miss Barbie - the man put out his hand.

- My name is Barbara... And not Barbie - she didn’t think to shake her hand, she turned and ran up to the steps. Melissa apologized to the guests and followed Barbara... Followed her step by step into the room, grabbed her into the arm and nearly threw her into the bed.

- Listen to me carefully, this man is a very popular talk-show producer, and this woman is the show director, they want to make the film about us... How we went and what successes we had, how was that life, of golden crowns and...

-What a nonsense you are speaking, which golden crowns? The rusty rings nailed on the wall, those ones? - Barbara laughed cynically, Melissa grabbed her so that she was burning and she wanted to flea in her ears

- Shut up and listen to me very carefully continued Melissa - this report record is starting in two days... It may be on in the Christmas program, do you understand what it means? Everyone will see it and be excited about me. Then maybe I will be invited to the television to work. There aren’t really anyone best people except you and me, ungenerous frog, won’t obstacle me... You’ll be very obey and quiet, you’ll behave as I say, you’ll put on your dresses and tell how I have doomed everything for you to become somebody... - Melissa shook her head theatrically.

- Can you understand anything at all? - Barbara sat up and looked at her mother with interest - it was a nightmare, an awful, dark nightmare, that I’ll never forgive you.

- You are a toad, it’s pity you were born such unworthy and ugly, I can’t believe you are my child. I think they mixed the children in the maternity house. And he himself went to Barbara’s house. Her house was at the same street beginning. It took him. 10 minutes to ascend the pavement. There was a small yard and a wooden gate in front of the house. There were such houses in this street. The fences were painted in other colours and it made the magic tone to everything. Once the fence of Barbara’s house might be painted pink. Now it looked like faded grey and and seemed and seemed to be a sad one. There was no light in Barbara’s room, maybe she has already gone? - he thought he didn’t know how to behave. There was no trees nearby to hide, and he couldn’t enter the house. He had been temporizing for a long time, at last he turned and descended down.

- Wait...- Barbara was running breathless and waving him - what did you want? - she overtook him at least and stood in front of him.

- Nothing... Didn’t you say to walk in town? I waited for you and...

- Do you love me? - asked Barbara immediately and stared at Joshua so that he felt uneasiness, he nodded for answering

Joshua didn`t know if he was getting angry or embarrassing. In his opinion, the boy should ask the girl this question first and not vice-versa.

- Come – ordered Barbara and went front. He followed her without any word. This strange girl frightened him, but he liked her very much, as he hadn`t had such feelings before. He was even pleased with doing her foolish wishes.

They walked from the Weaver Street to the Cotton one and also passed the Blue Alley Street. After that there was a park and then the lilacs which joined to the trunk. The cars were driving madly all days and nights. There was a bus stop nearby. From that place the buses were going in the central and east parts of the city. And to get some places you needed to change two transports. Generally, Joshua was wandering the places where the buses were going. Barbara sat on the iron bench at the bus stop and pointed Joshua to sit there.

- Where will we go? – Joshua took breath.

- We`ve already come – Barbara looked at him surprisingly.

- I want to sit there

- All right – Joshua agreed again. Though he had no idea what to do there on that chair. They had looked for a long time how the cars were driving, coming and going the buses. Some people got off, ascenders were few. It was seven p.m. and extremely dark, but it couldn`t be noticed in such cities as theirs. You couldn`t noticed that it was night. Everything was over-bright with lamps and Christmas bulbs. How Joshua liked those New Years torches, when everything was lightning as a big theatre stage and he himself felt as a participant of this play. Now this girl too... No one knew what idea she could have and what she wanted. These expectations were strained Joshua with pleasure and was filled in him, but Barbara was not going to do anything…

- I `m cold… Let`s go she said at last and stood up.

- O.K. Let`s go…- Joshua agreed with her too. They walked back road without word. There was a fir-tree in the lilacs street, also a big tree stood in the park, more decorated and bigger than that one, which had the net of the neons around it and was completely blinking.

Barbara entered the park and stood at this fir-tree.

- How I thought it would be my best Christmas – Joshua noticed a tear had rolled on Barbara`s cheek and this confused him.

- What happened? Anything wrong?...

- I must kill myself. I`ve decided so – said Barbara quietly.

- How stupidity – Joshua uttered - Who commits suicide on the Christmas Day or anyway, who kills.

- He, who wants to die – Barbara explained quietly. - Let`s go…

They went from the lilac street to the Blue Avenue. As the quarter was getting far away from the central trunk, everything was getting more different. The central road noise couldn`t reach to the Blue Avenue and their feet`s voice were coming back as echo in nearly empty streets. They passed the weaver street descent in five minutes, Barbara unfastened the bell door and went down the stairs only with her rattle steps. They passed dome style hall and entered the winter garden, where Lulu was sipping his tea.

- Where have you been for this time? –asked Lulu and Joshua understood that his uncle was trying to conceal the anxiety.

- We were walking… - Joshua replied – We`ll also drink tea, won`t we?..

- Yes – Barbara agreed. Then she stood up, brought the glasses from the wooden cupboard and poured the hot aromatic liquid in the porcelain cups. There was only the voice of the drinking noisily of the tea and the tinkling of the spoon, Joshua couldn`t explain this secret – how Lulu managed to have new beverage, so hot and steaming.

- Isn`t he a really magician? – She laughed aloud about her thoughts.

- Shortly, I don`t want you to wander lonely in the city so late, is it clear? – Lulu looked out of his glasses over the children and tried to remember how he was behaving at the age of fourteen, but he couldn`t.

- Uncle Lulu, may I ask you?

- Ask me – the old man shook his hand in his common manner.

- How old are you?

- Why didn`t you ask Joshua? – Lulu chuckled – 100 years old…

- Really? – Barbara widened her eyes.

- Certainly not. A person`s age is as he considers, as he lives and thinks. I`m exactly at this age, as I am – Lulu laughed

- Yes… according to that , I`m really 100 years old – Barbara sighed.

- Why do you think so?

- I want to die, I want to die tonight. I wanted before… When I was eight, I wanted it very much, but … I didn`t die then. But I want it now very much. Didn`t you say, if someone wants something with the whole heart it will certainly come true, and I really want it…

- Well, well… You`ll love heartily after some years. Believe me – Lulu shook his head.

- It won`t be after some years… Do you know why the people were born in the world?

- I think, I know – Lulu nodded. – A person`s main mission and goal is happiness…

- Happiness? Joshua was looking sometimes Barbara sometimes his uncle. He felt himself as a child relating to Barbara. Though he is older than Barbara. Such questions and wishes were strange for him. Lulu answered so seriously that there was not a thirteen-year-old slimmest but an adult.

- Yeah. We all were born for happiness. We still remember it in our childhood, then we demand others to make us happy and do much nastiness to become happier, but such acts, repulsion, it parts us from what we have already have since our birth. We forgot that we wanted the happiness with the growth of ages at all. And we are only trying to see the pleasure in the unhappiness and the mission in person`s torment. All these change into accustom and people don`t ask – why they were born in this world. To relief this they innovated numerous of rules, laws and “the public sense” separate people have no the obligation of the thoughts, they know what to do, “the public sense” selects the food and clothes, it is easy, but… some people, very rare persons realize anyhow that this looks like a living in falseness, and are trying to make their happiness or return it.

- Is it possible to create happiness?

- Certainly, but being and living happily they are important until you are alive, and until you are alive – you`ll be always able to be happy. It is not necessary the special conditions and overcoming the heights at all. It`s enough to try not to be unhappy first, this is so pleasant… I`m always surprised, how the people are so stupid to understand such simple things.

- But… If they don`t give you any chance, and are doing their best to be unhappy? If you can`t see any way and don`t want to be someone`s doll – Barbie?

- Right! Exclaimed Lulu - You have no another way… Good for you, girl. Many persons can`t understand that!

- What do you mean? Barbara couldn`t guess why Lulu was delighted.

-Do you know how the most people way that? Do you know? – Lulu was staring at Barbara with shining eyes so that, it was clear, he was waiting for the answer from her.

- No… - Barbara shrug.

-How, and they`ll say there is no way, and this is what they can`t see and feel something. That`s why they couldn`t change anything or approached the dream, that they had destroyed and themselves and turned it into dream. There is a way my girl. You just can`t see it. Because your heart and mind now is bedimmed with dark ideas and anxiousness. As soon as this excitement quenches, you`ll see there is a way out of the situation and not only, but several, maybe ten, or hundreds of them. You should choose the best one among them – the one that approaches to the calmness and happiness. Vengeance, jaundice, retaliation, indeed these don`t need the people, but the thing, what you really want.

- And what do I really want? How do I guess?...

- How, you can imagine that there are not people or the circumstances you got angry and you feel miserable for their sake. You are free from those dark emotions, quite free. You can decide what to do with those freedom and lightness, what you want to do, what you want whole-hearted for your happiness… and what you decide this will be the key of your future, this will be where you find yourself and return the happiness. Nothing is worth than to sacrifice the most important spiritual quietness and happiness. Believe me – anyone who is worth he doesn`t require such sacrifice, doesn`t need to sacrifice at all – it isn`t even necessary, it`s simple my girl, very simple – Lulu leaned to Barbara and kissed on her forehead. – Do this what is pleasant, what makes you in a good mood. Someone gets you angry and irritates you because they give an exaggerated place and take them an important and in your life. And then happens such things… You lose yourself and you can`t understand what you are. You are not like others. Now if you can`t see the way, it doesn`t matter. It`s important to know and remember that there is always the way and it will get you happiness…

There was a silence…

Joshua had never seen Lulu such shining and excited. Maybe he hasn`t said so many words and talk in such energy in his recent years. Joshua could swear that for previous week he has said just maximum 10-12 words and mainly interjections and Lulu`s `yes` and `no` Joshua understood his word`s in general. But now he understood that Lulu`s words made an impression on Barbara, as if she released shoulders from the luggage. That`s why he disposed towards his uncle more respect and was grateful – he was very clever, I think she was really going to suicide and his words changed her mind. Josh was glad but wasn`t quite sure. He would expect everything from Barbara as he didn`t know what she could think and in what mood she would soon be.

-I`m going, I have to go now – declared Barbara immediately. Joshua rose up too and until he asked what new disaster you had thought, she was already running up the stairs with the hurried tinkle of her feet.

Joshua was lying supine and counting himself with staring at the ceiling – till Christmas there are two days left and also this night. Idest, twice twenty-four hours and else twelve or eleven… - I wonder what time is it? He was lazy to get up and light the bulb. Maybe 2 or more. He decided to leave this night and now he ought to sleep as he considered the time would pass quickly – He calmed. Ides, there left 48 hours. Is this much or little?… he tried to think unilaterally and remember such stories , when 48 hours were very little… he doesn`t know exactly, not exactly but at all what and why he was waiting for coming the Christmas in such way at all. The main was that Barbara was here, with him and it was enough. It`s true that yesterday, the day before yesterday and almost more than two weeks he spent the time with her. But being together at Christmas it would certainly great. He could not compare to spending the time together.

In the morning he was glad. He thought he was not sleeping, but he slept well. He immediately looked at watch – it was nearly 11 o`clock. This made him in a good mood and tried to stand on the place where on that strange day and `could see` Barbara to one step from him, naked and very slim…

There was a voice of pace in the hall – It`s Lulu. He is going to call me to drink tea – he thought and Lulu pushed in his head

- it`s time to have breakfast, we have to drink tea – he said generally and again disappeared.

Joshua had been waiting for the jingle of Barbara`s feet all day long. It was nine o`clock. He was sitting voiceless without moving and looking at Lulu, who had stood a big china statue on the table and was cleaning with a thin brush like a needle. He tried imagine what life Lulu had. How he could live in this damp and dark place for years and spend his life collecting and brushing those old things all the days. The house was full of thousands of old things, paintings, statues, books and who knows what and there was no any place for people. He was even afraid his mystical loneliness. He couldn`t guess why he liked such life or what for he wanted all these things – at last he will die and what hell he collects those old things, whom he is going to leave – thought Joshua. The heir would be any of his sister`s or brother`s child and leave everything. In the family everybody knew that Lulu would choose it himself and leave everything. Maybe it was Joshua and it`s true that the old things junks weren`t attracted him at all, but now he wanted to be the heir. Joshua would be closer to Barbara house and maybe she would move to him to live at all. But when will it be? – He sighed desperately.

Lulu won`t be going to die and even he would do it, no one let a-fourteen-year-old boy live alone here, but won`t they let me be to Lulu? – in Joshua`s mind there carved step by step as he thought this `splendid idea` - thought Joshua so that he couldn`t notice it was already three o`clock and Barbara was not anywhere and he had just decided to go and understand what happened to her when Lulu pulled a new box. There were very many things there in the trunk…

- What are you going to gift Barbara for Christmas? Come to me… you may find something good here. There were many things and Joshua thought it would take me the whole night to choose something. However he pulled the chair and began to take out the things at least. There were the same trash as in another trunks, though barbara was fascinated with such things and Joshua himself tried to see everything to her sight. He was gradually disappointed that he wouldn`t find anything suit for present and he was getting angry with Lulu. Why he thrusted me this box now, it would be better to to go to the shop and find some present there.

- What will you say about it? – Lulu took a small velvet box from the reordered ones. There was a golden necklace like a net in that box.

The last part of this necklace ended with a small triangle medallion. Joshua didn`t know if it used as a present or not. He didn`t like lightly green places and here and there black places. To his mind, the present would be new and polished.

- She will like it… you can trust me. This is a very valuable present and I`m not sure if it is suitable for a little girl, but… I think, Barbara isn`t a small girl – Lulu carefully closed the box and put it on the table. It`s true that Joshua couldn`t understand what Lulu meant, but now it was not main. The main thing was that he had a good reason to run towards her immediately and give her a present right now.

- I`ll show her if she likes it and… I`ll gift it too at the same time –Joshua pattered and till Lulu said anything, he put it in the pocket and disappeared into the hall.

He turned into the end of the street and saw Barbara from a far distance. She was sitting on the log folding her legs. She had her head on her knees. He went slow down the step hoping she would see him and go straight, but Barbara was looking though an empty place and couldn`t notice Joshua`s approaching.

- What are you doing there? – Joshua stood in front of her.

- Oh, is that you? - Barbara was surprised. – Nothing… I`m thinking…

- What are you thinking about?

- About you?

- About me?

- Yeah, about you too? You know, what can you do for me?

- I don`t know… - Joshua discomfited and couldn`t understood what she wanted from him, who always managed to please her, confuse and even get blush.- What do you want to do?

- I want to help me, come with me… - Barbara went towards her house and shook her hand imperatively. He obeyed her. They passed the hall. There was nobody at home. Once he had been there before. There was no such tensity between them and even hadn`t seen her naked. Barbara stopped at the staircase, and then breathed deeply as if she was getting ready for diving. She opened the pink coloured door carefully, lit the bulb and looked at Joshua standing behind her.

Joshua speckle his eyes. He had never seen so many photos, ribbons, cups together.

- What`s that?

- It doesn`t matter… These are awful…

- Who is that girl? – He couldn`t believe his eyes.

- It`s me – Barbara replied quietly. These are so nauseous. I want to take off these photos, and even cups… We`ll leave the photos on which this woman appears, without me. – Barbara pointed to her mother`s photos so disgusting that Joshua shuddered. – When it gets dark- and she looked at the clock- maybe in two hours, we`ll take them out and burn everything.

- Why?

- As I want that – Barbara turned towards him with an irritable.

- If you don’t help me I`ll do it myself, but then don`t tell me that you love me.

- All right, I`ll help you but what will your mother say?

- My mum will get mad, but really… she`s already quite and nobody will notice it – She laughed cynically.

-And… Will she let us do it?

-Of course not, but we won`t ask her…

- And if she comes…

- She won`t come, she is with her sewer friend and is going to stay at her. She is sewing a dress for Christmas program. – She again laughed cynically. – O.K. Let`s stop talking. We`ve got much work to do. Joshua couldn`t understand what program it was or why Barbara was so angry about these photos. He took the hard frame photos without any word and putting them onto the table. Soon the chair wasn`t enough.

- Go to the end of the hall, there is a library ladder and bring it - Barbara called out so that she didn`t interrupt to untie the pictures. Joshua pulled in the ladder, he felt guilty, he intuitively guessed they were doing something very bad, but he couldn`t say anything. Until he was pulling the ladder, he heard the glass breaking sound, then followed the second and third. Barbara was throwing the photos from the wall straight on the floor. Some photos were saved by the carpet. But the floor without a carpet was full of the breaking things. They had been cleaning the walls for more than an hour. They only left five or six photos where Melissa was. The rest of them, which they collected, Barbara took the scissors, selected them one by one where she was with her mum, cut down her side carefully, then gathered her mum`s photos with frames and the rest ones threw into a cellophane and with ribbons and cups she pulled them into the yard. Then she brought out the coloured, soft dresses out of her wardrobe and threw above the cellophane full of the photos. Joshua didn`t take part in the other process. He was watching how she brought the petrol and matches, poured onto the piled things and threw a lit piece of matches. The flame burnt immediately. The tongues of the fire were lighting Barbara`s face. She didn`t remove her eyes out of the fire and as Joshua seemed, she was delighted with a wild joy. The bonfire had been lighting for several minutes and the blow down. They had been standing almost at the extinct fire for a long time silently. At last Barbara interrupted the silence. She came to Joshua, put her hand to Joshua`s throat into his neck tightly and put her head into his neck. Joshua breathed, he thought he would kneel or suffered from his heart. Barbara was standing so for a long time and when she lifted her head, he saw that she had wet face with tears.

- Why are you crying? – Joshua couldn`t recognize her voice. As if someone was talking instead of her.

- I`m glad… I`m so happy and because of it… Barbara sobbed. I wish I could burn this house too. Then I would be a real happy… Why did you come to me today? – Joshua shrug, what question it was… As he wanted to be with her. And quickly he remembered the gift. He removed her hands carefully and took out the box from his pocket.

– This is a present, your present…

Barbara opened it and her eyes shone.

- How wonderful, how wonderful – she repeated as a bewitched And Joshua was sure once again that this girl was not quite normal, he couldn’t imagine how she could be delighted by this old things

- Help me - she turned and raised her hair. Joshua folded the silver necklace with shaking his hand, it was

For Joshua it looked like a strike of the electricity.

- Let`s go – Barbara held his hand and went out of the yard. Joshua first looked at the opened door and the heap of the drown coal, but said nothing. As soon as they entered the antique shop, Barbara ran the arch hall and rushed to Lulu.

– Uncle Lulu, today I`ve made a success step for my happiness, and it leaves very few now… and I`ll be quite free – Barbara didn`t let him speak any word. Today as if it is Christmas, I`ll stay here… then she opened Joshua`s door and first she entered, Joshua murmured something like apologize he followed the guest, who turned into a hostess. Without word Lulu was looking how the children closed the door in front of him and he, maybe first in his life, couldn`t find at least any word to think something.

Joshua has never forgotten that night. They were lying in one bed and Barbara had wreathed her hands on Joshua`s neck and was sleeping quietly. Joshua hadn`t closed his all night. The air, coming from the girl`s transparent nostrils, plumping on his hot body like waves and he had fire on him, but this slim doll was so sweet and strangely intoxicating that he was afraid not to awake and lie on the upper bed. He was thinking about nothing, just listening to her equal pulsate of her heart, and was surprising how anyone could be so inmost and strange.

Everything was ended in the morning. Barbara was still sleeping, when Joshua heard the jingle of the bells and heard the sound of the foot, then followed the woman`s and man`s voice. Lulu was also saying something, but the woman`s hysterical petty voice was covering everything. Joshua took out Barbara`s hand carefully, dressed and went to the door with quite unpleasant expectation. There were two policemen in the main hall, another man and a woman. Lulu looked at Joshua, standing at the door and said to him – Wake her up, they are calling her… he wished he had a power to get these people out or could afford to go away secretly with Barbara. He would take her in his town and they weren`t found by anyone there. Joshua`s temples were burning, entering his room Barbara had already woken up

- I know… -Barbara looked at him with a happy smiling. – I`ll go out right now. She put on her jumper and trousers in blinking an eye and went out of the room and until she left the room, she hugged to Joshua very hard, then kissed on his face several times.

- Thank you very much. I`ll always remember you… and love you very much. This meant to say good-bye. Joshua felt that he had been hanging 10 £ rock on his heart. Barbara went out of his sight at the end of the hall. Joshua couldn`t dare go to the hall. Everyone was talking together. The woman`s petty voice and crying was covering everyone`s voice. At least he came to the threshold. Only Barbara was standing with a quiet and smiling face among the anxious people. And Lulu was looking quietly at intruded people in his residence. The policeman was holding a notebook and writing down something. These all had lasted for some minutes, at last the man dressed in civil clothes held Barbara and took her at the stairs.

-Everything is not clear yet. I hope your nephew is not going anywhere. We need to question him. – said another policeman and he also went to the stairs. Melissa was very furious with disheveled and red-eyed as if she was asking for help. Soon all these campaigns had disappeared beyond the door and Joshua had a strange and foreign bile, he had already known that he wouldn`t be able to spend Christmas with Barbara… If something wouldn`t happen like a magic… but this Christmas passed without any miracles. But it left the whole dream of the rest life about an ideal Christmas which he would spend with Barbara…