sailor’s uniform with her unbending left hand, danced waddling like a duck. Her eyes were closed, her head lay on the doll’s shoulders, but Bagila knew that Mancia’s neck was simply twisted. She took clumsy steps, not keeping up with the rhythm of the music, it was especially noticeable because the prosthesis tapped on the floor out of time. A thin bluish jacket and tight jeans only emphasised her ugliness. Bagila could no longer look at the poor woman and quickly went to her room. There, she threw her bag on the table, she felt a leaden weight on her heart. After sitting idle in an armchair, she mechanically picked up a book, “Shadows in Paradise…” She remarked… Even since it’s purchase, Bagila had no idea who the author was. The book opened with a crack, as if it had dried on a shelf. Bagila flipped through the novel unaccountably, unsticking the pages. She did not want to read. The Polonaise was still playing in the living room. From the minute Bagila entered the house, Mancia put on a record for the third time. And so, the dancing with the sailor doll continued. Soon the music stopped. Mancia could be heard putting the record into the envelope, turning off the radiogram and, loudly banging her prosthesis, moved into the kitchen. In the corridor she stopped, the wooden knocking stopped. A switch clicked by the hanger. Then Mancia went back. Bagila hurriedly buried herself in the book. When the door of her room banged open, she shuddered and looked up… Mancia looked at her with hatred. Bagila waited in horror… “Well, did you see enough of how I enjoy myself?” Mancia whistled, spraying white saliva. “Mance…” “Shut up! Don’t call me Mance! You have no right to this!” “I just came,” Bagila whispered, not knowing how to extinguish her tantrum. “You’re lying! Well, show me how many pages you’ve read.” She ran up to Bagila with surprising speed and snatched the book out of her hands. “Only the first page! So, you were following me!” She threw the book on the table. “I swear I just got here! I don’t understand what you’re talking about…” Bagila babbled. “You’re lying! I touched your coat, it’s already warm, here’s your bag, it’s warm too! You came a long time ago and watched me… You… You laughed at me, yes, you laughed! You’re just
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