In N city were so many barbers’ shops and funeral parlors that it seemed as if all citizens were born to shave, cut their hair and immediately die afterward.
In fact, people in the city shaved, cut their hair and died quite seldom.
Life in N city was rather peaceful.
Spring evenings were delightful.
Youth were so much in love with a local secretary that it inhibited her in collecting membership’s fee.
Questions of life and death didn’t excite Hippolyte Matveevich Vorobyaninova, although he was in charge of this things from 9 to 5 daily, with half-hourly launch break.
In mornings, he usually drank a glass of warm milk, which was served by his housekeeper.
Then he went into the street, it was the prettiest street, which can be met in a city like this one.
On the left, he could see a signboard of «Nymph» funeral parlors.
On the right, behind dirty small windows were placed dull dusty oak coffins belonged to Bezenchuk coffin maker.
A bit further was situated the hotel, that had barbers shop inside.
Behind the hotel was a calf, which licked rusty signboard of funeral parlors «Welcome».
There were many funeral parlors unlike clients of these establishments.
«Welcome » had ruined 3 years before Hippolyte Matveevich settled down in N city.
The lack of clients led Bezenchuk coffin maker to alcohol addiction; he even tried to pawn his best coffin.
People in N city died rarely and Hippolyte Matveevich knew it better than anyone because he worked as a clerk in a registry office and had to register all cases of births and deaths.
June 2016
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