– Well, yes," the man replied and walked away, muttering to himself: "Who in his right mind would buy a newspaper?"
It worked. Soon Louise would be home. And the night would be over.
The girl quickly jumped across the road, not even knowing about the crosswalk. The path was lit by streetlights, but Louise did not pay attention to the "zebra" drawn on the asphalt with chalk.
She knocked timidly on the door of the store, but got no answer, opened it herself and looked inside.
The store was small, and the windows were full of all sorts of things in brightly colored packages. The only products Louise could recognize were weathered loaves of bread and plastic bottles of milk; chips and potato chips were unfamiliar to her. The tired saleswoman, a full-figured middle-aged woman, turned to her unhappily:
– Well? Speak.
– А… I'm sorry," Louise hesitated, but still she was not confused. – Do you sell newspapers?
– Yes, by the cash register. Which one do you want?
– The newest one.
– Five coins.
– No problem.
She did it! She will go home, then lie in bed and draw a portrait of Niels in her mind, and in the future (the summer is so long!) she will use pencils and make it for real. The city frightened the girl – so big and always running somewhere. Now it will be nicer to hide under the blanket, lighting everything with only a tiny but bright and hot fire in her heart.
The unknown always seems simple, but until you personally experience everything. Louise would definitely return to the City – she must see Niels again.
The girl was already rushing home, but suddenly something stopped her – it was her heart. "The settlement," it whispered.
There was a light burning in a single cottage. It tugged at her. Niels went to the window and saw a small figure. A girl. With long hair and wearing a light jacket. Louise. Niels waved to her.
The girl didn't answer. She just stood looking up until the lights on the first floor of the house went out. Then the front door opened and Niels's father shouted:
– Get out!
I should say it wasn't necessary. There was no one under the window. Niels climbed back into bed and prepared himself for his father to come up to his room. His footsteps were already echoing down the stairs.
No girls, he knew.
– Did you bring it? Good girl," Galya praised the girl. Louise even thought: "Does the nanny even need a newspaper?" In fact, she did – what if people showed up in their little world with guns? We need to find out more about them.
– I was scared.
– What's wrong?
– It's dark. You don't know what's around the corner.
– But you wanted to go to the City so badly.
– Why did you let me go alone? " Louise asked; she was beginning to feel drowsy.
– Go to bed," said Galya suddenly.
– I want to see the boy.
– You'll run away tomorrow.
– What?
– Good night.
Confused, the girl went to her bedroom. "I'll find you. I need you," she whispered and fell asleep.
– I'm waiting.
– Father, I want to sleep.
– No, I want an explanation! Who was that girl standing under the window?
– I… I don't know her. She must have been passing by.
– Liar! A girl doesn't go out alone late at night! Well, so what? " dad insisted.
– I have my first day tomorrow. I have to sleep.
– Suppose I believe you, Nielson. But next time I won't let you get away with anything. Remember, you'll stay in this house forever. Your mother and I decided it a long time ago. We birthed you and raised you, so pay us back. You'll have to serve and kill things that shouldn't be.
