Very kind man

"I don't think Monsieur is coming to the factory today," Theo said as he looked at his watch many times, as if he wanted to speed up the time with his gaze.

"I think so too. Well, then, today, I'm your new president," Jean said happily and disappeared into his office.

The woman in the black dress, with a very tired and red face no longer asked about Adelard, instead, she just sighed loudly and stomped her feet.

"Esmeralda, I think we should go now. This place turned out to be a very ordinary train station," said the elderly man, who was the woman's husband.

"Well, is Adelard here?" Esmeralda asked, clutching her hand nervously.

"No. I am so ashamed that you had to wait so long. For your time, I am willing to give you a whole box of soap for free," Jean said, feeling the power at Adelard's table.

"This position suits you better than this strange man. Adelard is handsome, but he's not serious. He's like a child. And how does he even manage to succeed in this life."

"You shouldn't say that. He is a great man. And you don't know him like I know him."

"Yes. You probably know him because you've often been in his bed."

There was silence in the room. A poisonous silence.

"Very funny dear. Your jokes are as funny as ever," the old man said, unable to look up.

"Let's not waste any more time. Get to the point," Jean said and shouted, "Theo!"

"Yes Monsieur."

"Make us some tea."

"I see you've been drinking tea here all day. Or playing a wedding."

"How can you play a wedding several times? Your words always sound impossible."

"David, why are you even here? You can go. You're free for today."

"I don't have the energy to put up with you," the old man said and waved his hand. But nevertheless, he didn't leave. He just sat down in a chair and covered his face with both hands.

"All around me are nothing but worthless people. All my children, my husband, they're all worthless. And why did I ever get married."

Jean could barely contain his surprise. And he didn't hold back. "Forgive me for intruding, of course. But if you're telling all this, it means you want someone to interfere. I look at you and I'm scared. If a human can't be kind and understanding and patient with his own family, what is a human capable of then?" He was silent to give everything he said some meaning and then continued, "Human is not capable of anything."

David raised his head and there was complete agreement in his eyes. And only Esmeralda said, "I've come to buy soap from you. So let's make a contract and I'll go."

"You want a steady supply of our soap, don't you?"

"Yes."

"That's fine. You've already heard about our product, right? Our soap is the best in the whole world."

"Yes. I saw all the people who complimented your soap. They were too bright with purity that I had to close my eyes."

Jean laughed out loud and pictured Adelard in that situation. From the mere thought of what Adelard would say to this woman, he could barely contain his amusement. "In that case, you need to sign here and every month we'll deliver our soap directly to your house. But here's the interesting thing, why do you need so much soap? Do you want to sell it?"

"No. Let's not ask too many questions. I'm going to pay you a lot of money."

"Sure. I'll keep quiet."

While Jean had money flashing in his eyes, on the other side of town Adelard was drawing patterns on the skin of Celeste's back that only he understood. Under a tall lonely tree that stood in the middle of a green field with many yellow flowers, they were lying on a soft blanket. A warm wind embraced them, whispering the secrets of the sun. Birds flew together with butterflies, dancing and celebrating. Somewhere in the distance two white horses were running and jumping, competing with the hills that stretched high into the sky. Somewhere, deer was sleeping peacefully, thinking of nothing but the beauty around them. And higher still, among the clouds, eagles flew like guardians of the place. With everything together, Adelard searched Celeste's back for constellations, traces of divine origin, but found only love. His lips drifted smoothly down her arms, toward her collarbone, which became home to the fallen leaves. And then even higher, to where scarlet lips awaited love.

"You are so beautiful. You are my queen. My world. My home," he whispered. And as her arms wrapped around him, he rested his head on her heart area and began to listen. "You know, your heartbeat is my favorite sound."

"You're so sweet," she said, laughing.

"Do my words make you laugh?"

"What makes me laugh is happiness."

"I want you to laugh always. Is it possible to live like that?"

"How?"

"Always laughing."

"You are so strange. But so cute," she said and gave him a kiss on the forehead. At such a happy moment, thoughts are always ready to spoil something. And Adelard's love was no exception. Sitting on his knees, as if he had done something awful, he lowered his head as low as he could and said, "You know, I have a secret."

Celeste, a woman who was no longer surprised by anything, said, "We all have secrets. So do I. I have too many of them. It's okay, isn't it? And you don't have to tell me your secret just because I'm your wife. Your wife! How interesting that sounds."

"No listen. I can't keep it from you any longer. It's too serious."

"What could be serious? Do you have children?" Laughing, she put her head in his lap and playing with his curly hair, she said, "You're just an impossibly sweet man."

Adelard blushed and felt like the worst person in the world who could only lie to his beloved wife. And so, he mustered up the courage to say, "I think I like women and men too."

"I know."

"What?"

"I know that. It happens, doesn't it. You like both men and women. It happens. But I'm the one you fell in love with, so what's the problem?" Celeste asked, as if the subject was too familiar to her. Adelard felt relief all over his body. His face even began to shine with intense happiness. "I'm so glad you understand me. But I must tell you that I have never been with a man. I just admired them sometimes. Or maybe I don't like them. Maybe it's just sympathy, solidarity so to speak. And anyway, my first love is you."

"You're so innocent. You're my little bunny," she said. Looking around, she shouted loudly, "I love you Adelard!" Her voice was louder than the wind, louder than anything in the world. Now, the whole world knew of their love.

"I love you and I'm ready to say it over and over again."

"Now, make me love you even more," she said and took off her wedding dress.

"Wait. I want to see you. Don't hide." Tossing his jacket aside, Adelard knelt down and his snow-white skin rivaled the sunlight. He was breathing hard; he was ready to lose his mind. All because he longed for her touch. "Celeste, I want us to have many children. I want as many children in our house as possible. And I want them all to be like you."

"My darling. My angel," she whispered in his ear as she let him in deeper to explore every secret hidden behind the hills. It was only when Adelard appeared in all his beauty that he suddenly heard a rustle behind the tall grass. And that rustle turned to laughter and groans. "There's someone here!" he exclaimed, covering Celeste with his jacket.

"There is no one here. Go on," she said, distracting him from the secrets behind the hills. The love grew, changed, breathed, all under this sun that burned with shame. And afterwards, the moon closed its eyes with clouds. But the stars didn't care. They were just wandering and dreaming.

"Let go of me! Let go of me!" the little boy with the limp leg screamed as the three big boys continued to beat and kick him. Covering his face with his hands, he cried and prayed for salvation, but no one came to help. The blows got harder each time.

"You shouldn't have been born! Nature's mistake!" the boys shouted in one voice, attracting the attention of bystanders.

"Hey you! What are you doing?" a man asked, shouting from his balcony.

"It's none of your business!"

"Stop right now! Or I'll call the gendarmes!"

"Well, call them!"

"Where are you running off to?! You're a mistake of nature!"