Poem

  1       | above
  2 Adonis|            before you get home. I am accustomed to doing my work properly.
  3 Couple|              I am exhausted. You are acting as if someone is chasing
  4       | actually
  5 Adonis|               and Adonis hastened to add:~"But we can give it a try.
  6 Adonis|            he declared, "but, I must admit I don't remember the agronomist'
  7 Couple|             think you are doing?" he admonished angrily. "What are you doing?
  8 Adonis|              fact, this very logical advice came as a surprise to me.~"
  9 Couple|         never done before. He showed affection to a woman in public. Placing
 10 Adonis|                Bravo, that's it," he affirmed, breathing heavily.~"I think
 11       | afterwards
 12 Adonis|          that they brought in a week ago, who they still haven't
 13 Adonis|             Adonis, holding the door ajar, gave me an inquiring look
 14 Couple|           the phenomenon of crime in Albanian society.~As he expounded
 15       | already
 16       | also
 17 Couple|             so, raised an inordinate amount of dust with his broom.~
 18 Couple|             psychological and social analysis to reach an understanding
 19 Adonis|               How should I know?" he answered coolly and switched to his
 20 Couple|      wherever you want. I can't walk anymore. Do you understand? I cannot
 21 Adonis|              if to say, "come around anytime!" and went on explaining
 22 Couple|             big city all by yourself anyway?"~"What concern is that
 23 Adonis|              outskirts of town in an apartment on the second floor of a
 24 Couple|              which made it more than apparent that he spent much of his
 25 Couple|          time caring for his outward appearance.~The young man with the
 26 Adonis|              several times before he appeared at the window in his underwear.
 27 Couple|       restaurant one hour before the appointed time and got in everyone'
 28 Couple|           metres away from her. ~She approached him. He said nothing and
 29 Couple|               The couple murmured an appropriate response, not without pride
 30 Couple|              the distant mountains.~"Aren't you finished yet? That'
 31 Couple|           place ceremoniously in the armchair assigned to him. ~"Oh, you
 32 Adonis|            face down, and one of his arms was out of joint.~"Sorry,"
 33 Adonis|        neighbourhood had noticed his arrival, he emerged from the car
 34 Couple|           turned out to be a vase of artificial flowers that looked almost
 35 Adonis|          corpse arrived, so I had to ask the mason to assist me.
 36 Couple|        ceremoniously in the armchair assigned to him. ~"Oh, you shouldn'
 37 Adonis|              had to ask the mason to assist me. I thanked Adonis once
 38 Adonis|         despite the latter's skilful attempts to hold onto him. The body
 39 Couple|             lady gave her husband an awkward glance and turned to the
 40 Couple|             woman took out a plastic bag to stuff it with leftover
 41 Couple|            were indeed filling their bags with food and drink.~"You
 42 Adonis|              out a five-thousand-lek banknote. The gesture did not go
 43 Couple|           replied a young girl. "The banquet is going to be held at a
 44 Couple|              about to protest to the barman, but her husband rose to
 45 Adonis|            fortified with rusty iron bars. The only thing which added
 46       | become
 47       | beginning
 48 Couple|             what would you do in the big city all by yourself anyway?"~"
 49 Couple|             ate a little and drank a bit of raki, retaining an air
 50 Adonis|            too.~"Go ahead, she won't bite you."~No thanks, it's alright.
 51 Couple|           wrapping paper with little blossoms on it, which rustled as
 52 Couple|             her head on his knee.~He blushed and griped: "What are you
 53 Couple|             ashamed of yourself," he blustered.~"Ashamed of what? What
 54 Adonis|            added, "you freeze to the bone once you're in there. Your
 55 Adonis|          could hear the agronomist's bones creaking and cracking as
 56 Couple|             hand.~They had both been born in the same village and
 57       | both
 58 Couple|             rose to his feet.~"Don't bother," he said, "it is probably
 59 Adonis|             of his life, "how is the boy going to get into the...
 60 Adonis|           frozen solid," I replied.~"Bravo, that's it," he affirmed,
 61 Adonis|             as soon as I've finished breakfast." ~He slumped into the car
 62 Adonis|             and, having taken a deep breath, looked at me and said, "
 63 Adonis|            made up with cosmetics as brides when they got married.~"
 64 Couple|            with whom she worked in a brigade. ~The husband was wont to
 65 Adonis|             to a swift conclusion. ~"Bring your father on in," said
 66 Adonis|            completely frozen.~Adonis broke my silence, saying matter-of-factly:~"
 67 Couple|              amount of dust with his broom.~The old lady was about
 68 Couple|           perspiration. He wiped his brow with a folded handkerchief
 69 Couple|          your shoes. Go and get them brushed off at the shoe shiner's
 70 Adonis|              a moment and added in a brusque tone:~"Because they didn'
 71 Couple|            Seeing that she would not budge, he returned to her.~The
 72 Adonis|        sockets. He was thickset, had bushy eyebrows, and his white
 73 Couple|            thieves, they went into a cafe on the outskirts of town.
 74 Adonis|              into the... what do you call it... the morgue? I mean,
 75 Adonis|           gone so pale?" he inquired calmly. "It's nothing serious.
 76 Adonis|             this very logical advice came as a surprise to me.~"Where
 77       | cannot
 78 Couple|              he refused. She put the cap on the bottle and stuffed
 79 Couple|              up the present with due care, in order not to soil her
 80 Couple|            he spent much of his time caring for his outward appearance.~
 81 Couple|            rustled as they carefully carried it home.~With all the preparations
 82 Adonis|            requested that he help me carry the body out to the car.
 83 Couple|      senseless to try to condemn and castigate social evils nowadays. I
 84 Adonis|           open the freezer door in a casual manner. My father was inside,
 85 Couple|              Gasping, she eventually caught up with him and uttered:~"
 86 Couple|               This charged statement caused him to stare at her for
 87 Adonis|           July, of perfectly natural causes. At his age - he was over
 88 Adonis|         crashed to the cement floor, causing a terrible thudding din.
 89 Adonis|            agronomist crashed to the cement floor, causing a terrible
 90 Couple|             table and took his place ceremoniously in the armchair assigned
 91 Adonis|             alone in that cold, dark chamber, in the company of persons
 92 Couple|               he did not hand us our change. There are ten leks missing.
 93 Adonis|         explaining the merits of his character to the relatives of the
 94 Couple|         capital," she lamented. This charged statement caused him to
 95 Couple|              acting as if someone is chasing us. We still have three
 96 Adonis|          proper job, and would never cheat anyone. As he spoke, Adonis
 97 Adonis|              suddenly, as if he were checking the ripeness of a watermelon,
 98 Couple|              glass of wine with some cheese, and ponder on the order
 99 Adonis|          upon my father's hand. As a child, I used to stare at his
100 Couple|                          THE COUPLE~(Çifti)~Whenever an old couple
101 Adonis|       subject:~"The best thing is to clarify things from the beginning
102 Couple|             got off the truck was to clean themselves up. She took
103 Couple|            pass the time.~At eight o'clock, they got up and left or,
104 Couple|              finest dress out of the closet. ~At the village store they
105 Couple|           will you, or I am going to collapse here on the spot. Go, leave
106 Adonis|           not too sure. She probably committed suicide."~"Why?"~"How should
107 Adonis|              from the car with great commotion and shouted, "Come around
108 Adonis|           cold, dark chamber, in the company of persons unknown.~While
109 Couple|              the road when she began complaining. The old fellow refused
110 Couple|             or, more precisely, were complimented out. The waiter pretended
111 Couple|              yourself anyway?"~"What concern is that of yours?" he retorted. "
112 Adonis|          could be brought to a swift conclusion. ~"Bring your father on
113 Couple|            It is senseless to try to condemn and castigate social evils
114 Adonis|             the young girl, ready to confer the same demonstrative whack
115 Adonis|            make himself clear.~I was confused, and replied:~"My grandmother.
116 Adonis|         respects, recommended that I contact Adonis, the keeper at the
117 Couple|             our hands." she replied, continuing her work with devotion. "
118 Couple|            from the lack of a social contract. Only this would provide
119 Couple|            to attend alone. His wife contradicted his plan immediately:~"If
120 Couple|          tears with a white kerchief conveniently at hand.~They had both been
121 Couple|            old lady tried to spark a conversation with her neighbour, a rather
122 Couple|           around and dancing than in conversing with two old people from
123 Adonis|          should I know?" he answered coolly and switched to his favourite
124 Adonis|       solution used to disinfect the corpses. I was surprised at the
125 Adonis|              girls were made up with cosmetics as brides when they got
126 Couple|            you are worried about the costs, I have enough money for
127 Couple|             by 'not customary'?" she countered angrily. "They don't invite
128 Couple|             the city, they all go as couples. Didn't you know that?"~
129 Adonis|              s even been made up. Of course, it's your decision. I'm
130 Couple|             early, and were received courteously. Rather embarrassed, he
131 Adonis|             otherwise..." my distant cousin left the rest of her suggestion
132 Adonis|      agronomist's bones creaking and cracking as Adonis huffed and puffed.~"
133 Adonis|           The body of the agronomist crashed to the cement floor, causing
134 Adonis|          hear the agronomist's bones creaking and cracking as Adonis huffed
135 Adonis|              are lots of people with crooked noses," he declared, "but,
136 Couple|        slowed down, and stopped at a crossroads, not knowing which direction
137 Adonis|            You go and get yourself a cup of coffee and I'll finish
138 Couple|             where she placed it on a cupboard. The rustling of the paper
139 Adonis|              shoulders.~He gave me a cursory wave, as if to say, "come
140 Adonis|              resolutely, "I think it'd be a good idea to put your
141 Couple|      interested in joking around and dancing than in conversing with
142 Adonis|              all alone in that cold, dark chamber, in the company
143 Adonis|             bodies over the last few days, not only from the hospital,
144 Couple|                What?" she asked in a daze.~"Nothing," he replied.
145 Adonis|            What can I say?" I asked, dazed.~"Go ahead, touch him."~
146 Adonis|            face was pale either from death or from being frozen.~Adonis
147 Couple|            before dinner, the couple decided to stretch their legs and
148 Adonis|              with crooked noses," he declared, "but, I must admit I don'
149 Adonis|            shelf and, having taken a deep breath, looked at me and
150 Couple|              would provide us with a definitive solution to the ills of
151 Couple|             the bride. ~The wife was delighted at the invitation and said
152 Adonis|             ready to confer the same demonstrative whack he had given her frozen
153 Adonis|         Adonis once again as we were departing, with my father's coffin
154 Couple|            the night preceding their departure.~The next day, a Saturday
155 Couple|           unclear whether the sorrow derived from the 'said' ills of
156 Couple|            that crime in our society derives from the lack of a social
157 Adonis|        result, out of Adonis's, too, despite the latter's skilful attempts
158 Adonis|              not too happy about his detailed explanation.~He shuffled
159 Couple|             continuing her work with devotion. "Just look at your shoes.
160 Couple|          This she did with swift and dexterous movements, as he stood there,
161 Couple|            his theory, the young man dexterously waved his impeccably white
162 Adonis|            But, tell me, how did she die?"~"The girl? I'm not too
163 Adonis|         floor, spread out stiffly in different directions. Adonis lost
164 Couple|           and shouted at him, having difficulty making herself understood. ~"
165 Adonis|          causing a terrible thudding din. He was now lying face down,
166 Couple|              although it was not her direct relatives who were getting
167 Couple|        crossroads, not knowing which direction to take. Gasping, she eventually
168 Adonis|             out stiffly in different directions. Adonis lost his train of
169 Couple|          pick-up truck. The wind had dishevelled their hair and they were
170 Adonis|            from the solution used to disinfect the corpses. I was surprised
171 Adonis|              employer had put at our disposal, and I drove off alone.~
172 Couple|            raki, retaining an air of distinction. From time to time, he listened
173 Adonis|         moment, will you, so that it doesn't slide away. It's no problem.
174 Adonis|          under the respectful and no doubt jealous eyes of the neighbours.~
175 Couple|    countryside. ~He ate a little and drank a bit of raki, retaining
176 Adonis|         added a hint of life to this dreary picture was Adonis.~Adonis
177 Couple|         steps. In no time, they were drenched in perspiration. He wiped
178 Couple|           hastened to get her finest dress out of the closet. ~At the
179 Couple|             their bags with food and drink.~"You see," she said as
180 Adonis|             now realized what he was driving at and handed him another
181 Couple|             wide open because of the dryness of the air. She plodded
182 Couple|         almost real. The present was duly enveloped in transparent
183 Adonis|             second floor of a grimy, dust-covered tenement building. He insisted
184 Adonis|              ritual manner and noted earnestly:~"I am not the type of person
185 Adonis|         upper shelf so that it'll be easier to get him out tomorrow?
186 Adonis|           set to work. It was not an easy task. At one point, he had
187 Couple|          around to pass the time.~At eight o'clock, they got up and
188 Adonis|             At his age - he was over eighty - any little thing is enough
189 Couple|   imprecations of a good-looking and elegantly dressed young man who, in
190       | else
191 Adonis|              noticed his arrival, he emerged from the car with great
192 Couple|              result of some fleeting emotion she felt as she listened
193 Adonis|           coffin into a car which my employer had put at our disposal,
194 Adonis|              tray.~I felt completely empty.~I went over to my father'
195       | end
196 Couple|              From time to time, they endeavoured to shake it off, but the
197 Couple|            voices.~A young girl then entered the room. She picked up
198 Adonis|       underwear. After surveying the entire street, he hollered: "Oh,
199 Adonis|            drive him right up to the entrance and he did not get out right
200 Adonis|             and his eyes were deeply entrenched in their sockets. He was
201 Couple|           real. The present was duly enveloped in transparent wrapping
202 Couple|              rarely spoke - only the essentials.~The wife satisfied her
203 Adonis|         While I was pondering on the eternity of our separation, Adonis,
204 Adonis|              replied, relieved.~That evening, we lifted the coffin into
205       | ever
206       | Every
207       | Everything
208 Couple|          will you?" It was more than evident from his reply that he wanted
209 Couple|         condemn and castigate social evils nowadays. I think, and I
210 Couple|             all the preparations and excitement, it was late before they
211 Couple|         asked for the "best and most expensive present for a wedding in
212 Adonis|              I introduced myself and explained my problem to him. He sighed
213 Adonis|         around anytime!" and went on explaining the merits of his character
214 Adonis|             happy about his detailed explanation.~He shuffled over and opened
215 Couple|              Albanian society.~As he expounded on his theory, the young
216 Couple|            in choice vocabulary, was expounding on the necessity of psychological
217 Adonis|         Lurching towards me with the expression of someone about to make
218 Adonis|               I was surprised at the extent to which he resembled the
219 Couple|            was long and the road was extremely dusty from start to finish.
220 Adonis|              Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adonis fiddling with
221 Adonis|              was thickset, had bushy eyebrows, and his white shirt was
222 Couple|            they got into town, their faces were pale and their fine
223 Couple|     listening? I think I am going to faint." She would not give in,
224 Couple|           him. Her head was about to fall off his knee.~Embarrassed,
225 Couple|        setting off.~"Where? It's too far!" she protested and followed
226 Couple|            bride's father in routine fashion.~The couple murmured an
227 Adonis|           coolly and switched to his favourite subject:~"The best thing
228 Couple|           four in the afternoon. For fear of thieves, they went into
229 Couple|            There was no more hint of feeling to be seen in his face.~
230 Adonis|            closing the door, my eyes fell upon my father's hand. As
231 Couple|               The wife satisfied her female passion for gossip with
232 Couple|             on the curb near an iron fence.~He continued walking, but
233 Adonis|              of my eye, I saw Adonis fiddling with the agronomist's face.
234 Couple|              when they had had their fill, the old woman took out
235 Couple|           from the city, were indeed filling their bags with food and
236 Couple|             their fine garments were filthy. The wrapping paper had
237 Adonis|            door was closing, I had a final look at his face. I was
238 Adonis|           But the head was frozen so firmly that the moment we had raised
239       | first
240 Couple|            or was the result of some fleeting emotion she felt as she
241 Couple|       pretended to have to sweep the floors around their feet and in
242 Couple|              be a vase of artificial flowers that looked almost real.
243 Couple|             He wiped his brow with a folded handkerchief and continued
244 Couple|              far!" she protested and followed behind him, taking little
245 Couple|              filling their bags with food and drink.~"You see," she
246 Adonis|             he had to stand with one foot on the fellow's chest in
247 Adonis|              I agreed.~Thus, we were forced to lug the agronomist around
248 Adonis|             s your decision. I'm not forcing you. It's your father after
249 Adonis|               gave it a whack on the forehead with his hammer. There was
250 Adonis|            its human warmth once and forever. Adonis waited for my reaction.~"
251 Couple|         corner. Thereafter, everyone forgot about them.~The old lady
252 Adonis|           the heat. The windows were fortified with rusty iron bars. The
253 Couple|           There is not even a public fountain here. Get me a bottle of
254 Adonis|             No one'll know about the fracture." Adonis set to work. It
255 Adonis|             very difficult to find a free space. He opened the freezer
256 Adonis|              day. "Put him somewhere freezing cold because otherwise..."
257 Adonis|            to get 'em into the other fridge rather than leave 'em out
258 Couple|           the old couple in question fully merited the invitation because
259 Adonis|            which, it seemed, was not functioning particularly well.~"Listen,"
260 Adonis|         house overnight up until the funeral the next day. "Put him somewhere
261 Adonis|             frozen solid. Not even a furnace could melt him," muttered
262 Couple|             were pale and their fine garments were filthy. The wrapping
263 Adonis|             out of joint.~"Sorry," I gasped ruefully.~"Why've you gone
264 Couple|             which direction to take. Gasping, she eventually caught up
265 Couple|               stared at the handsome gentleman with sorrow in her eyes.
266 Couple|        stroked her grey hair ever so gently. She seemed to sense the
267 Adonis|            at and recalled how young girls were made up with cosmetics
268 Adonis|              When we arrived, Adonis glanced around the yard, and I had
269 Adonis|             t know."~He stared at me gloomily for a moment and added in
270 Adonis|         gasped ruefully.~"Why've you gone so pale?" he inquired calmly. "
271 Couple|             to the imprecations of a good-looking and elegantly dressed young
272 Couple|     satisfied her female passion for gossip with the other women of
273 Adonis|            from being frozen.~Adonis grabbed the body by the shoulder
274 Adonis|           confused, and replied:~"My grandmother. She gave birth to him."~"
275 Adonis|              up the body?"~I finally grasped what he was getting at and
276 Adonis|          agronomist around again, me grasping his head and Adonis his
277 Couple|             her head, he stroked her grey hair ever so gently. She
278 Adonis|             on the second floor of a grimy, dust-covered tenement building.
279 Adonis|             an historic decision, he grinned and said: "You know what,
280 Couple|             his knee.~He blushed and griped: "What are you doing, woman?"~
281 Adonis|             was slouching around the grounds, smoking a cigarette. His
282 Couple|            time as the rock-and-roll group. ~The bus back to the village
283 Adonis|            hesitated, with a hint of guilt in my voice.~"Alright, alright"
284 Couple|           without saying a word. She gulped it down as he waited, looking
285 Couple|    oppressive. They had not even got halfway down the road when she began
286 Adonis|             on the forehead with his hammer. There was a strange metallic
287 Adonis|           what he was driving at and handed him another five thousand
288 Couple|              wife a bottle of water, handing it to her without saying
289 Couple|         wiped his brow with a folded handkerchief and continued down the road
290 Couple|         distance away, stared at the handsome gentleman with sorrow in
291 Adonis|              no problem. Such things happen," he continued. "And do
292 Adonis|              how many times this has happened to me! And you know why?
293 Adonis|               although I was not too happy about his detailed explanation.~
294 Couple|             the village. They were a hard-working pair and got along with
295 Couple|             off before dawn, and had hardly slept a wink.~They journeyed
296       | has
297 Adonis|             week ago, who they still haven't picked up, and there's
298 Couple|       rustling of the paper could be heard all the way into the other
299 Couple|           see it in his face, he's a heartless thief." They set off, not
300 Adonis|            snagged the pensioner and heaved him onto another body in
301 Adonis|               he affirmed, breathing heavily.~"I think we're finished,"
302 Adonis|             out of keel."~We finally hefted the agronomist carefully
303       | herself
304 Couple|              while and looked around hesitantly before sitting down on the
305 Adonis|              I really don't know," I hesitated, with a hint of guilt in
306 Adonis|             someone about to make an historic decision, he grinned and
307 Adonis|              After much struggle, we hoisted my father onto the second
308 Adonis|              our separation, Adonis, holding the door ajar, gave me an
309 Adonis|      surveying the entire street, he hollered: "Oh, you're already here!
310 Adonis|             pick up Adonis. I had to honk several times before he
311 Adonis|        convinced of that," I stated, hoping that the discussion could
312 Adonis|            he was.~Because it was so hot, the people who had come
313 Couple|             want to spend money on a hotel room. At dawn, they finally
314 Adonis|          leave my dead father in the house overnight up until the funeral
315 Couple|             husband, the head of the household, reacted solemnly:~"Get
316 Couple|            dust out of his eyes. She huddled against him, screened from
317 Adonis|      creaking and cracking as Adonis huffed and puffed.~"Can I help?"
318 Adonis|            cold. It had lost all its human warmth once and forever.
319 Adonis|         yellowish stains. His jacket hung loosely from his shoulders
320 Couple|           The people listened to his ideas respectfully and nodded.
321 Couple|           wife contradicted his plan immediately:~"If you are worried about
322 Couple|          felt as she listened to his impassioned words.~After a while, the
323 Adonis|           noticed my shock and asked impatiently:~"What's wrong now?"~"Look
324 Couple|            man dexterously waved his impeccably white hands and pink nails,
325 Couple|             time, he listened to the imprecations of a good-looking and elegantly
326       | indeed
327 Couple|           Rare pedestrians passed by indifferently.~The old woman initially
328 Couple|            taciturn and rather stoic individual.~"No, I didn't." he muttered,
329 Couple|         indifferently.~The old woman initially leaned against his shoulder,
330 Couple|           and in doing so, raised an inordinate amount of dust with his
331 Adonis|            the door ajar, gave me an inquiring look and asked an unusual
332 Adonis|         casual manner. My father was inside, completely frozen.~Adonis
333 Couple|              while, the old man lost interest. There was no more hint
334 Couple|            latter was, however, more interested in joking around and dancing
335 Adonis|        trousers were mis-buttoned.~I introduced myself and explained my
336 Couple|       countered angrily. "They don't invite women there just to help
337 Adonis|             in yellowish stains. His jacket hung loosely from his shoulders
338 Adonis|              respectful and no doubt jealous eyes of the neighbours.~
339 Adonis|           one of his arms was out of joint.~"Sorry," I gasped ruefully.~"
340 Couple|          however, more interested in joking around and dancing than
341 Couple|            hardly slept a wink.~They journeyed into town on the back of
342 Couple|            you must." She jumped for joy and hastened to get her
343 Adonis|             My father passed away in July, of perfectly natural causes.
344 Couple|             along, if you must." She jumped for joy and hastened to
345 Adonis|              being quite that out of keel."~We finally hefted the
346 Adonis|           that I contact Adonis, the keeper at the morgue.~"It is only
347 Couple|              to the chest where they kept their money.~Knowing him
348 Couple|          muttered, and asked for the key to the chest where they
349 Adonis|          thousand leks.~"It would be kind of you if you could do it."~"
350 Adonis|          mother.~Touched by Adonis's kindness, I took another five-thousand-lek
351 Couple|              face in the window of a kiosk.~The couple arrived at the
352 Couple|            there just to help in the kitchen, as they do in the countryside.
353 Adonis|             t worry about it. If you knew how many times this has
354 Couple|             society derives from the lack of a social contract. Only
355 Adonis|            and said: "You know what, lad? I'm really touched. Look,
356 Couple|            been to the capital," she lamented. This charged statement
357 Couple|          exhausted." He continued in large paces.~"Hold on for a moment,
358       | later
359 Couple|          were soon covered in a thin layer of dust. From time to time,
360       | least
361 Couple|            three hours until the bus leaves."~He slowed down, and stopped
362 Adonis|          anyone. As he spoke, Adonis led them over to the freezer
363 Couple|         plastic bag to stuff it with leftover meat.~"What do you think
364 Couple|             decided to stretch their legs and go out for a walk.~They
365 Adonis|           relieved.~That evening, we lifted the coffin into a car which
366 Couple|              return home after work, light himself a cigarette, have
367 Couple|            in this world.~She snored lightly and snuggled against him.
368 Couple|           some time. The couple were liked by the rest of the village.
369 Adonis|           not the type of person who likes to take money for nothing.
370 Couple|           departed and they had been living by themselves for some time.
371 Adonis|             alright," I said, and we loaded my father into the freezer.
372 Adonis|             open. In fact, this very logical advice came as a surprise
373 Adonis|        impression that he was on the lookout for bodies.~Of a passerby
374 Adonis|              stains. His jacket hung loosely from his shoulders and his
375 Adonis|               We have been getting a lot of bodies over the last
376 Adonis|            from the start. There are lots of people with crooked noses,"
377 Adonis|        deceased?" he continued, in a low, respectful voice.~"My father."~"
378 Adonis|              Thus, we were forced to lug the agronomist around again,
379 Adonis|          seven. Right here!" Then he lumbered up the stairs under the
380 Couple|         little something with us for lunch tomorrow. Look, everyone
381 Adonis|           him without saying a word.~Lurching towards me with the expression
382 Couple|            at him, having difficulty making herself understood. ~"Slow
383       | many
384 Couple|          this time and continued his march.~She gave him an ultimatum. ~"
385 Adonis|         arrived, so I had to ask the mason to assist me. I thanked
386 Adonis|             broke my silence, saying matter-of-factly:~"Well, what do you think?"~"
387       | Maybe
388 Couple|          where to go.~The old couple meandered through the streets, looking
389 Couple|            to stuff it with leftover meat.~"What do you think you
390 Couple|           The sun shone mercilessly, melting the pavement in front of
391 Couple|          sound asleep.~The sun shone mercilessly, melting the pavement in
392 Couple|             couple in question fully merited the invitation because they
393 Adonis|           and went on explaining the merits of his character to the
394 Adonis|          hammer. There was a strange metallic vibration.~I was stunned.
395 Couple|           curb himself, two or three metres away from her. ~She approached
396       | might
397 Adonis|              it back into place in a minute. No one'll know about the
398 Adonis|      shoulders and his trousers were mis-buttoned.~I introduced myself and
399 Adonis|           that the corpse's nose was misshapen. Adonis noticed my shock
400 Couple|           change. There are ten leks missing. You can see it in his face,
401 Couple|              clothes and smelling of mothballs, is invited to attend a
402 Adonis|             having left me without a mother.~Touched by Adonis's kindness,
403 Couple|              his eyes to the distant mountains.~"Aren't you finished yet?
404 Couple|            off to the right with his mouth wide open because of the
405 Adonis|             Or do you think I should move the agronomist they brought
406 Couple|             with swift and dexterous movements, as he stood there, looking
407 Adonis|          well frozen, I must say," I mumbled and requested that he help
408       | myself
409 Couple|      impeccably white hands and pink nails, which made it more than
410 Adonis|           away in July, of perfectly natural causes. At his age - he
411 Couple|             and sat down on the curb near an iron fence.~He continued
412 Couple|           sat down at the stall of a nearby shoe shiner, while she wiped
413 Couple|    vocabulary, was expounding on the necessity of psychological and social
414 Couple|      restaurant and there will be no need for your help. In fact,
415 Couple|              a conversation with her neighbour, a rather portly woman.
416 Adonis|          made certain that the whole neighbourhood had noticed his arrival,
417 Adonis|            doubt jealous eyes of the neighbours.~I drove back home utterly
418 Adonis|              to the relatives of the newly-arrived deceased, stressing that
419 Couple|         continued down the road in a noble manner. She panted and shouted
420 Couple|           his ideas respectfully and nodded. A young girl, sitting a
421 Adonis|          lots of people with crooked noses," he declared, "but, I must
422 Adonis|            another five-thousand-lek note out of my pocket and passed
423 Adonis|             almost ritual manner and noted earnestly:~"I am not the
424 Couple|           and castigate social evils nowadays. I think, and I am quite
425 Adonis|          which did away with quite a number of people younger than he
426 Couple|              pass the time.~At eight o'clock, they got up and left
427 Couple|        organizers of the wedding are obliged to do so for custom's sake.
428 Adonis|           thanks, it's alright. It's obvious she's frozen. But, tell
429 Adonis|           shelves, all of which were occupied. ~"I'll remove the one on
430 Adonis|              that," he went on in an official tone, "but, as I said, it
431 Adonis|              alone.~The morgue was a one-storey building separated from
432 Couple|            leaving, "we are the only ones who got nothing."~"They
433 Couple|           the invitation and said so openly, although it was not her
434 Couple|             off slowly. The heat was oppressive. They had not even got halfway
435 Couple|              city, it is because the organizers of the wedding are obliged
436       | otherwise
437 Couple|          clothes, and held it in her outstretched fingers where the wrapping
438 Couple|              his time caring for his outward appearance.~The young man
439 Couple|            to take a city bus to the overland bus station.~They waited
440 Adonis|             dead father in the house overnight up until the funeral the
441 Adonis|               As you wish," he said, pacified. "You go and get yourself
442 Couple|              too shredded and dusty, pacing towards the other end of
443 Couple|             They were a hard-working pair and got along with one another,
444 Adonis| cream-coloured from the start or had paled with age. It contained three
445 Couple|          road in a noble manner. She panted and shouted at him, having
446 Couple|         towards the other end of the parlour, where she placed it on
447 Couple|           for custom's sake. In this particular case, the old couple in
448 Adonis|          seemed, was not functioning particularly well.~"Listen," he then
449 Adonis|             lookout for bodies.~Of a passerby he inquired:~"Have you come
450 Couple|            wife satisfied her female passion for gossip with the other
451 Adonis|         cream-coloured walls and was patchy-looking from the fallen plaster.
452 Couple|              were the only surviving paternal relatives of the bride. ~
453 Couple|             mercilessly, melting the pavement in front of them
454 Couple|         people out on the road. Rare pedestrians passed by indifferently.~
455 Adonis|               I freeze the bodies to perfection."~To prove his point, he
456 Adonis|              passed away in July, of perfectly natural causes. At his age -
457 Adonis|     earnestly:~"I am not the type of person who likes to take money
458 Adonis|           chamber, in the company of persons unknown.~While I was pondering
459 Couple|          time, they were drenched in perspiration. He wiped his brow with
460 Couple|              an understanding of the phenomenon of crime in Albanian society.~
461 Couple|           into town on the back of a pick-up truck. The wind had dishevelled
462 Adonis|             one's given a thought to picking him up."~Within five minutes
463 Adonis|          hint of life to this dreary picture was Adonis.~Adonis was slouching
464 Couple|             I am going to give him a piece of my mind and, on top of
465 Couple|           impeccably white hands and pink nails, which made it more
466 Couple|            of the parlour, where she placed it on a cupboard. The rustling
467 Couple|      affection to a woman in public. Placing his rough hand on her head,
468 Couple|            His wife contradicted his plan immediately:~"If you are
469 Adonis|       patchy-looking from the fallen plaster. It was surrounded on all
470 Couple|             the old woman took out a plastic bag to stuff it with leftover
471 Couple|           everyone is doing it," she pleaded. It must be said that all
472 Couple|              dryness of the air. She plodded on, several paces behind
473 Couple|               Rather embarrassed, he plunked the vase with the shredded
474 Adonis|     five-thousand-lek note out of my pocket and passed it to him without
475 Adonis|             spot for him," he added, pointing to a rusty freezer. It was
476 Couple|           wine with some cheese, and ponder on the order of things in
477 Couple|              another look at her and pondered on the order of things in
478 Adonis|         persons unknown.~While I was pondering on the eternity of our separation,
479 Adonis|              hospital, but also from poor people like yourself."~I
480 Couple|              her neighbour, a rather portly woman. The latter was, however,
481 Couple|            got to sleep on the night preceding their departure.~The next
482 Couple|             got up and left or, more precisely, were complimented out.
483 Couple|        carried it home.~With all the preparations and excitement, it was late
484 Adonis|            for nothing. I don't just pretend to freeze the bodies and
485 Couple|         complimented out. The waiter pretended to have to sweep the floors
486 Adonis|            given her frozen face the previous day.~ ~
487 Couple|    appropriate response, not without pride in their voices.~A young
488 Adonis|       beginning so that there are no problems. Your father is going to
489 Adonis|         resembled the rigours of his profession.~His unkempt hair rose vertically
490 Couple|          stood in front of his wife, protecting her, his face turned to
491 Couple|            The old lady was about to protest to the barman, but her husband
492 Adonis|            bodies to perfection."~To prove his point, he again opened
493 Couple|            contract. Only this would provide us with a definitive solution
494 Couple|       expounding on the necessity of psychological and social analysis to reach
495 Adonis|        cracking as Adonis huffed and puffed.~"Can I help?" I asked.~"
496 Adonis|          opened the freezer door and pulled out a wooden tray on which
497 Couple|          bottle and stuffed into her purse. ~Once again, the couple
498 Adonis|             around. This he did in a quiet, reverent, almost ritual
499 Adonis|              finished," he added.~To raise the agronomist this time,
500 Couple|            little and drank a bit of raki, retaining an air of distinction.