Introduce briefly please in autumn the war was still there, but we did not go to it any more. our service was over. it was cold in milan and the dark came very early.we all came to the hospital every day. the hospital was very old and very beautiful. there were new pavilions behind the old hospital, and we came there every day. we sat in the machines. the doctors considered that these machines could help us.the doctor came up to the machine where i was and said: “what did you like best of all before the war? ”i said: “ i played football.”“good,” he said. “you will play football again better than before.” but the machine didn't help me. my knee didn't bend1.“everything will be all right,” the doctor said. “you will play football again.”in the next machine was a major who had a hand like a child's. he looked at me when the doctor spoke to me.“and shall i too play football, doctor? ” he asked. he played football very well before the war.the doctor went to his office in a back room and brought a photograph, which showed a hand of some other man. it was as small as the major's before the machine course, and after the course it became a little longer. the major held the photograph with his good hand and looked at it.“very interesting, very interesting,” the major said, and gave it back to the doctor.he major was an italian and he often spoke italian-to me. we talked tone _ is such an easy language to me, that ican't take a great interest in it.”“but you must learn grammar,” said the major.i began to learn grammar and soon italian was such a difficult language that i was afraid to talk to him until i had the grammar in my mind.the major came to the hospital every day. i thought he never missed a day.one day he asked me: “what will you do after the war? ”“i will go to the usa.”“are you married? ”“no, but i want to be.”the major grew angry.“a man must not marry,” he said.“why? ” “he cannot marry, because he will lose that. and he mustn't place himself in such a position. he should find things which he cannot lose.”“but why should he lose it? ”“he'll lose it.” the major said.then he looked down at the machine, took his hand out of it, and went away.when he came back into the room, he said: “i am sorry, i received bad news. my wife died.”“oh,” i said. “i am sorry.

ilona125    3   28.08.2019 11:50    3