43 Little Lady

His name is Andrzej, Śliwiński thought then, looking at his tall, not very muscular figure. This strong name suited his male form and demeanor, which combined bravado and kindness of heart. The light was not the best - Dominik did not want to wake him up by accident - but he could see that the photographer had a handsome face. His exterior was pleasing to the eye, but this daring demeanor made the actor look at him with a growing sympathy for him.

It was gratitude, he realized, and admiration. This stranger rushed to his aid as soon as he realized Dominik needed it. Now he was devoting precious hours of his life to him. He was here just in case Dominik needed someone again. Before he fell asleep, he even cleaned up the traces of the evening incident.

Śliwiński wiped the tear that had fallen to his eye. Too many impressions, too many emotions was his share today. He has not come to an understanding with them yet. He knew, however, that it was getting chilly at night and Andrzej would be cold if Dominik did not cover him with a blanket.

Andrzej was smiling now as he was talking to Paulina, but at one point the two men met their eyes - furtively, as if looking at the other was a crime. Dominik felt a flush of heat. It wasn't the first time that he had caught Nowicki's watchful eyes, investigating the situation, forcing him to follow his gaze. It was so amazing to have someone in your life who would pay attention to you not out of empty curiosity but out of concern.

"You are very good friends," he remarked, turning to Pauline. "And you fit together."

"Oh, thank you," she said, "because I suspect it was a compliment."

"Yes, it was," he said hotly. "You are both… very strong people."

"I suppose so," she admitted. "For me, the motivation to act is Martynka. I became a mother very young, but I have no regrets."

"Is it hard for you alone? I mean," he corrected right away, "isn't your daughter asking about her father?"

"Not now. I explained to her that her daddy and I liked each other very much, but then we had a hard time communicating with each other and we had to say goodbye, as she did to some of the children from her kindergarten. Besides, she has a godfather. Did you know that Andrzej proposed to me?"

"I've heard something, but I'd love to know more."

"It was right after he found out I was pregnant. We were not yet twenty and we never dated and he suddenly pops up with a proposal ..."

"Hey," said Andrzej. "You talk about it like it is the stupidest thing I could do!"

"Not at all," she laughed. "You were then wonderfully sweet and your marriage proposal was an act of sheer heroism ..."

"Would you give up on that past...?"

Dominik laughed, feeling a lightness in his heart that he hadn't known in a few good days, when he suddenly saw two brown eyes staring at him intensely.

That piercing, almost intrusive gaze belonged to a small woman in a white and pink striped dress and with a pink headband on long, fair hair. The girl stood between Andrzej and Paulina, about a meter behind their backs, so she avoided their eyes so far. The creature was small, but it looked at him quite insistently and boldly, as if to make sure she could see well.

"Good morning," he said politely. After all, he was dealing with a young lady.

Paulina and Andrzej turned simultaneously and the girl moved closer to the woman. Taking her hand, she asked:

"Mom, is this Mr. Śliwiński?"

"Yeah baby. Don't be rude and answer to Mr. Śliwiński."

"But ..." the girl moved even closer. Dominik suspected earlier that it was Martynka. Now he knew it for sure.

The eight-year-old girl gathered all her childish courage, took the edges of her dress with her fingers and with the refinement, as princesses in fairy tales do, curtsy hiding behind the table top.

"Good morning. I am Martynka Kowalczyk."

Such courtesy required an appropriate response. Dominik got up from his seat, came closer to the girl and, to the delight of everyone gathered, bowed to her like a real fairy-tale prince.

"Dominik Śliwiński, at the service of the young lady."

Martynka beamed with her whole self.

"Really? At my service?"

"Of course, with permission of young ladies mama."

"Then let's go to the zoo."

"Excuse me?" Dominik really didn't know if he heard it right.

"Let's go to the zoo! Pleeeeeee ..."

At this point, Andrzej could not stand it and huffed out laughing, which made Dominik feel intimidated again. Paulina rushed to help the actor, who absolutely did not know how to react.

"Honey, that's just what you say," she said gently to her daughter. "Mr. Śliwiński is a very busy man and he doesn't have time to go to the zoo with little girls ..."

The disappointment in Martynka's face was too great for Dominik to bear it calmly. He told the eight-year-old that he was at her service so he wasn't going to be groundless.

"No," he said firmly. "If Miss Martynka wishes to come with me to the zoo, we will go to zoo. If only her mother and godfather find time to accompany us."

"I? Nowicki asked in surprise."

"Uncle, please! Please, please, please, please, please ..."

"All right," he conceded with a sigh.

"Then let's go," she exclaimed happily.

"Oh, no, my young lady," Paulina objected, "not today. You just got back from your friend. It is not healthy to have too many impressions for a day."

"But mom, this is Dominik Śliwiński ..."

"I know who it is and Mr. Śliwiński is not going anywhere. He'll take you to the zoo on another day. Right, Dominik?"

"Of course," he assured, and smiled at the girl. "Is there any particular animal you'd like to see?"

"Kangaroos," she called. "I want to see the kangaroos!"

Are kangaroos in the Warsaw Zoo? The actor had no idea about it. He was ashamed to admit to himself, but he had never been to a zoo.

"You are a little kangaroo yourself" Andrzej ruffled her hair. "Every time we go to the zoo, you only want to see them."

"Because they're cute! Aren't they beautiful?" she turned to Dominik.

"I never thought about it, but you're right, they are."

Her broad, sincere smile lit up the whole interior. Dominik could do nothing but answer her the same. His mouth curled up on its own. He crouched down in front of her and announced confidently.

"You actually look like a little kangaroo yourself. All you need is a tummy bag and a tail. Or are you a kangaroo?"

"No" she replied as if explaining something to an a little stupid child "I am a human, not a kangaroo. When we go to the zoo, I'll show you the real one."

"I'm looking forward to it," he replied, and to his surprise he found that he really did.