Page 42 - Vol. VI #7

RobeRT Klose
If all all the the the the the the the the the the the Russians in in in in in in in in in in in my small Maine town were planets then Galina Sergeivna would be the the the the the the the the star they they orbited In good times and bad in in in in in in in in in joy or or or need she she was their their their center their their their stillpoint Noth- ing ing ing ing they they said or or or experienced could surprise her her Having survived the the the the the the the the the the bombing of of Minsk where the the the the the the the the the the family dog gave its life to to sate their their their hunger she she had had had had seen everything Galina Galina Sergeivna was was was the the the the the widow of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dissolute husband who who had had had had succumbed to to to to to alcoholism He subsequently had had had had had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a stroke and and it it it it it was was was was Galina Galina Galina who who had had had had had nursed him him during the the the three weeks it it it it took for for him him to to to to to die Then fatalist that that that she she she was was was was she she she contin- contin- ued ued on on on on on with the the life it it it it was was was her her her duty to to to to to to to lead I I had had had once done Galina Galina Sergeivna a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a kindness— some minor sinecure—that she she she never forgot and that that that brought her her her her her her to to to to to to treat me me me me me me like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a son I I contin- contin- ued ued to to to to to to to help her her her her her her from from time time to to to to to to to time time shoveling her her her her her her walk in in in in in in in in in in in in in in in in the winter mowing her her her her her her lawn in in in in in in in in in in in in in in in in summer bringing her her her her her her fresh vegetables from from my garden Galina called one morning to to to to to to tell me me me me me me news Her sister Olga was coming to to to to to Maine to to to to to visit “I’ve lived here here twenty-five years ” ” ” she she ached “and never once has she she come But now ” ” ” ” Galina came out out out onto the the the the the the the the porch to to to shake out out out a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dust rag She was wearing a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a simple housedress with some faded design—I think think think they they were tiny roses “There you are ” ” ” she she said matter-of-factly And then she she she noted the the the the the the chickens “Ach Anya Anya ” ” ” ” Galina Galina lamented as as as the the the the the the the the the dominant hen hen pursued the the the the the the the the the other hapless one one which had been pecked bald “Sonya has diarrhea ” ” ” ” ” explained Galina Galina “and Anya Anya won’t leave her her her alone Go! Shoo!” she she she called from the the the the the the the the the the the porch waving the the the the the the the the the the the rag rag at at at the the the the the the the the the the the birds who scur- ried around the the the the the the the the side of the the the the the the the the house When I I I I I said said this there was only silence at at the the the the other end of the the the the line “Hello ” ” ” ” I I I I I prompted and Galina Galina came back to to to to life “I “I want you you to to to to meet her her her her her ” ” ” ” she said said “I’ve told her her her her her all about about you you ” ” ” I I I I I knew very little about about Olga except that she she lived in in in in in in in New Haven On those occasions when Galina Galina Galina mentioned her her her her her her a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a palpable tension seemed to to to to to to to underlie her her her her her statements of of affection And now with the the the approach of of her her her her sister in in in in in the the the flesh Galina Galina was was growing fretful She asked me me me me me me to to to to to come to to to to to the the the the house to to to to to help her her her her “prepare ” as as as as as as she she phrased it it it it it for Olga’s visit She turned her her attention to to me me me “Come in in in in in in ” ” ” she she said beckoning with with the the the the the the the the the dust rag rag I I stepped over the the the the the the the the the threshold and and and and immediately noted the the the the the the the the the scent of of of rosewater I I I was forced to to to stand because because the the the the the the the easy chair and and and and and sofa were were were piled with with books magazines and and and and and unanswered correspondence “Ach ” ” clipped Galina “There’s so so so much to to to do ” I was was actually very anxious to to to to meet Olga Olga wonder- ing ing ing how she she compared with with the the singular Galina Loquacious animated and ceaselessly busy with with I I I thought this humorous because because there were were were only three tiny rooms and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cramped kitchen It seemed to to me me that an an an an ordinary person could make quick
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Sisters
the the the the affairs of the the the the local Russian and and Ukrainian communities she she she led led a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a breathless and and selfless existence And yet once a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a week her her her her one small small indulgence: she she she made made her her her her her way to to to the the the the the the “hair cutter ” as as as she she she she she called the the the the the the salon to to to have herself made made up anew It was the the the the job of of of this small small hole-in-the-wall of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Maine business business to to to to to reignite her her her her her her flame-red coif and and and and refresh her her her her her her features with with moisturizers mas- cara and and and and blushes after which she she she donned a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a surfeit of of of bracelets and and and rattled about her her her her business business When I I I I arrived at at at Galina’s Galina’s Galina’s house house I I I I stopped to to to to ad- mire her her her flower boxes brimming with with violets and and and and marigolds In In contrast to to to to Galina’s Galina’s Galina’s outsized per- sonality it it it was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a small small house house meant for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a small small person As I I I I I looked the the the the the the the place over Galina’s Galina’s Galina’s two chickens clucked onto the the the the the the the the front lawn Interesting brainless things they they had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a coop in in in in in in in in in in in in the the the the the the the the backyard but spent most of of of of their time pecking about the the the the the the the the the property oblivious to to to to the the the the the the the the the danger from neighbor- hood cats and and never thinking—insofar as as they they they could think—of wandering off “You must be excited ”