Ilona dug up another flower bed, threw a handful of fertilizers, carefully placed a bush of young rosalia in the hole and sprinkled the roots with loose earth. Margot vigilantly followed her every movement, sitting like an aged queen on a bench under a colorful umbrella. The girl generously watered the bush with a hose, stretched her shoulders and splashed cold water on her face. The lower back ached, the head buzzed from lack of sleep.

Helping the cunning old woman lasted for several days. Margo decided to take care of not only the flower beds, but also set up a flower garden throughout the local area. She said that she wants to arrange a small garden with roses, dahlias and peonies - it is very important to please the residents with beauty and comfort. It's good that there were a few more caring neighbors who helped Ilona dig, fertilize the soil and dig holes. One girl would not have coped and would have died on the first day of gardening.

She accepted the towel from the hands of Mehmet, an elderly neighbor from the second floor, and squinted suspiciously at the mysterious young man in a bright yellow T-shirt and light green pants. This was the fifth time he had passed by, throwing significant glances at her, and shaking his white-faded mop of hair, which fell in a thick cascade over his shoulders.

- Do you know him? Mehmet handed Ilona a bottle of water and dabbed at the perspiration on his forehead.

“No,” Il crossed her arms over her chest, angrily following the stranger with her eyes.

- Maniac, maybe what? - Margot squeezed between the man and Ilona. - Doesn't look like it though. Too young. Maniachils are usually old and creepy

“Just like you,” Mehmet looked at Margot without malice.

The young man, meanwhile, went to the playground and, in indecision, froze in front of the sandbox, in which the children were swarming. The mothers, sitting nearby on the benches, were anxiously alert, and Ilona resolutely walked towards the stranger in the desire to protect the little ones from the blond pervert.

- Hey! Il shouted, jumping over the curb onto the soft lawn.

The stranger turned to her and smiled broadly.

- Hi! Embarrassment flashed in his light blue eyes.

- What do you want? What are you sniffing out here? - Il snapped angrily at the young man.

“I,” he looked back at the children, “just wanted to play.

He looked into Ilona's eyes with delight and immediately frowned:

"I wouldn't hurt them!" I just love babysitting the little ones.

“Get out,” Ilona narrowed her eyes, peering into the pale face of the stranger. Otherwise I'll call the police.

“How evil we are,” the stranger clicked and broke into a smile, which made cute dimples appear on his cheeks. He brushed a piece of paper off her forehead. - Goosebumps.

Ilona grabbed his arm and dragged him away:

“Vali, who am I talking to!” She pushed him. - He loves children! Pervert!

— Hello! the young man waved at the wary Margot, who held the shovel tightly. - Do you need help? My name is Richard!

“Like a maniac,” Mehmet looked at the old woman. - Too smiling. All maniacs smile a lot.

A black SUV emerged from around the corner of the street, and the young man hissed:

“He was just missing here,” Richard froze like an angry statue, glaring angrily at the car, from which a tall, tanned man in a formal suit jumped out.

- Your friend? - Ilona sarcastically looked at the young man.

The stranger smoothed his short dark hair, combed back with a side part, straightened his tie, and stepped forward.

“Dicky,” the square face with sharp cheekbones twisted into a predatory grin, and an unkind light flashed in amber, almost yellow eyes. - Need to talk.

“Fuck your talk,” Richard carefully pulled his hand out of Ilona’s sweaty palm and backed away. "Hare to follow me!"

“Well, you know, it’s always either mommy or brother grazing you,” the man hissed angrily through clenched teeth. - And here is such luck! You're alone, and on neutral territory. A great opportunity to talk like adults.

“You’re losing your scent, Felix,” Thomas came out of the grocery store that was attached to the corner of the house, chewing on a sandwich. - I am always near.

- Come on?! squealed Richard. - And you're here?

Ilona looked back at Margot and Mehmet, who were watching the situation with lively curiosity. The girl turned her frightened gaze to Thomas, and looked around for his pet, but the cute wolf was nowhere to be seen.

"What a disgusting stinker," Thomas muttered as he descended the stairs and tossed the rest of the sandwich into the bin. - Dead squirrel tastes even better.

“You sure know about carrion,” Felix snarled.