第22期:桥(6)

Barbara took her friend's arm. 'Let's go over there to that cafe, ' she said. 'You need to sit down. ''The Bridge Cafe, ' said Alma.

'I remember it - Nina often waited for Dragan there. Yes, let's go there -I feel close to Nina there. ' They crossed the road and sat down at a table outside the cafe.

They both had coffee, and Alma began to look better. 'Are you OK? ' asked Barbara. 'Yes, thanks, ' said Alma. 'I just need some time - and some more coffee perhaps. '

Barbara felt the warm sun on her face. 'This is a difficult day for Alma, ' she thought. 'But the sun's shining, and people are doing the usual things - working, driving around, shopping, talking, having coffee. . . Perhaps that can help her. '

Alma and Barbara had another coffee, and watched the river. Just then a big black car stopped near the bridge.

A beautiful young woman in a long white dress got out of the car with a young man. She carried a bouquet of white flowers in one hand, and the young man held her other hand.

They walked onto the bridge, and when they got to the middle, they stopped. The young woman took two flowers from her bouquet. She dropped one flower into the river, and her husband dropped the second flower.

Alma and Barbara watched all this. 'What are they doing? ' Alma whispered. 'Find out for me, Barbara. Ask somebody. ' Barbara turned to a man at the next table. 'Excuse me, ' she said. 'I'm a visitor here. Can you answer a question for me? '

'Yes, of course, ' the man said. 'What do you want to know? ' 'Those two young people on the bridge, ' said Barbara. 'What are they doing?