AT THE MARKET
It was not until he was alone with his mother that night that Jonitza
mentioned his desire to see Nicolaia at the market on the morrow. His
mother put her arms around him. "It is a long time since I've gone to
market. Suppose I go to-morrow morning and take you with me?"
"How good a mother is," Jonitza thought as he went to bed, "and how
well she understands a boy."
[Illustration: "'WILL YOU NOT LET ME TAKE YOU HOME IN THE CAR?'"]
It was delightfully cool next morning when a touring car took them to
what seemed a village of booths or stalls, presided over by gypsies,
peasants and Jews.
Nicolaia and his aunt were evidently looking out for them for they
came up as the carriage stopped. Mrs. Popescu gave Nicolaia a hearty
handshake and then turning to his aunt asked for permission to keep the
boy with them for the rest of the day. The aunt pointed to a basket
over her arm, already filled with the purchases that she had wished
Nicolaia to help her make, and cheerfully gave her consent. Then Mrs.
Popescu made a gracious offer. "While the boys are enjoying the market
together, will you not let me take you home in the car?"
Nicolaia's aunt was evidently surprised and somewhat embarrassed, but
when she saw that the offer was sincerely meant, climbed in with her
basket, remarking that it was the first time that she had ever been in
"one of those things."
As the car drove off, Jonitza grabbed Nicolaia's hand and squeezing it,
exclaimed: "Isn't this fine!"
"Bully!" returned Nicolaia. "Let's go from one end of the market to the
other."
To show how entirely he intended agreeing with anything that his
companion might suggest, Jonitza, laughing, took hold of Nicolaia's
arm and pulled him rapidly forward. Both came to a standstill where a
heavily bearded man was measuring out rose leaves to be boiled into
jam. Near him was a stall with the bright pottery made by the peasants,
while across the lane an old woman offered amulets of various kinds for
sale. "Buy one of these," she urged the boys as their curious glances
fell on her wares. "If not for yourselves, my dears, then for your
mothers or sisters; what I have will surely protect them from evil."
The boys paid little attention to her words, but when she laid an arm
on Nicolaia he nudged Jonitza with his elbow, said a few words in a
low voice and both suddenly darted off, almost knocking down the boys
and girls who were going in an opposite direction, carefully balancing
stone jars or baskets laden with fruit or vegetables on their heads.
They stopped again where food was offered for sale. There were melons
and pumpkins, berries, dried fish, caviar, poultry, and bread booths,
some of them with women in charge who were knitting or spinning, while
waiting for customers.
"Look who is behind me," Nicolaia called out suddenly. Jonitza turned
hastily and saw a knife-grinder who, having caught the remark, made a
grimace at the boys. They followed him to a booth, and after watching
him for a few minutes, made their way to a place near by where all
kinds of birds were for sale. "I must have one," said Jonitza, but when
Nicolaia could not help him decide whether it should be a parrot or a
canary, he decided to postpone the purchase until another day.
This bird stall was not far from another entrance than the one by which
they had come. From it they could see numerous carts approaching, some
of them drawn by buffaloes, with peasants seated on the front rails.
As the boys eagerly gazed around for anything out of the ordinary, the
chant of a minstrel reached them. With difficulty they forced their way
into a crowd gathered around an old, half-blind man who seemed to be
improvising some fascinating tale of war time deeds accompanying the
half-chanted words to a twanging on a flute-like instrument called a
_cobza_. Every once in a while as he stopped the gathered people would
shout their applause.
It was not until he grew tired and signified a need for rest that the
boys left. Right around the corner they came upon an equal attraction.
It was a sort of "Punch and Judy" show to see which a trifling fee was
demanded. "We mustn't miss this," Jonitza insisted and led the way into
a structure which was crowded with children.
As they came out, a bell tolled the hour. The boys stopped to count the
strokes. As they ceased, Nicolaia's face grew serious. It was half an
hour past the time when they were to meet Mrs. Popescu. What would she
say?
But, when they found her, she did not give them a chance even to
offer an excuse. "I know you're late and deserve a scolding, but how
dare I scold you when I was ten minutes late myself? I do believe in
punctuality, however, for sometimes time is very precious, and I'm
going to try not to ever have this happen again. What about yourselves?"
"Oh, we'll try to keep track of time hereafter, dear mother," Jonitza
answered both for himself and his friend, at the same time gratefully,
pressing one of her hands under the laprobe.