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Lakme Flower Duet (L. Delibes)
Joline (letters)
September 13, evening
I had to be sure. Alois Del Castillo. Was he our Alois ? A man who had cowardly abandoned us, Mommy, you and me ? The boy who always called me to swim farther, saying : “come to the buoy, Jo ! You can do it ! I’ll never let my little sister drown, you know ?” I’ve never understood the pleasure one can have to swim in deep water. Neither did you. “What is there to gain ?” you said, and then Alois shrugged. He’s never got any answer to good questions because he doesn’t understand them. You know I’ve always liked to put my strengths in what is useful : to study, to work, to make money. Money solves problems. You made such a big effort, Mom and you, helping me to have my own business ! At the time when the economy was
