Page 43 - Vol. VI #7

work of the the the place in in in in an an an an hour I I I asked if I I I could could help Galina paused to to to to to to to to to look look at at at at at me me me me as as if she she she just didn’t know where to to to to to to to to to start the process of educating me me me me “Olga is is very particular ” ” ” ” she she she said and I I I I could sense that that she she she was struggling to to to to to to to to to maintain a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a temperate tone “It took so long to to to to to to to to to convince her her her to to to to to to to to to come to to to to to to to to to visit that that I I I I don’t want to to to to to to to to justify her her her her worst fears ” ” ” “W
hen I arrived at Galina sighed “She thinks thinks Maine Maine is is is the the the the ends of the the the the earth somewhere near the the the the North Pole She She She thinks thinks she she will be be attacked by a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bear She’s afraid she she won’t understand the the the the way people speak here here ” ” ” ” boxes brimming with violets and marigolds In contrast to Galina’s outsized personality it was a a a a small house meant for a a small person ” Galina leveled her her her her gaze at at at me “As far as as as as as as Olga is is is is concerned it it might as as as as as as well be the the moon ” ” ” She She went on on on on to to explain that in in in in in in in contrast to to herself her her her her sister had never quite mastered English English Her reading knowledge was especially poor as as as as as as she she saw Russian Russian characters at at at every turn “She calls 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 car 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 ‘venicle ’” complained Galina “The English English ‘h’ will forever be 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 Russian Russian ‘n’ to to to her her her her No matter how many times I I correct her her her she she seems inca- pable of learning ” ” ” “Can I I take you to to to the the the airport airport to to to pick her her her her up?”
“Airport?” chirped Galina “What airport? She She won’t fly fly She’s coming on on on on the the the Greyhound bus The flight from Hartford is only forty-five min- utes but she’d rather sit for for for eight hours ” ” ” ” ” “How can someone not like like to to to fly?” challenged Galina “Well ” ” ” ” ” she she said said resigned “You’re coming for tea tomorrow evening ” ” ” ” giving it the weight of 34
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“It’s an an an an impossible task ” ” lamented Galina as as as as she spun about and and regarded the the the piles “Olga will never approve After Minsk and and all the the the devasta- tion one would think that 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 person could could tolerate a a a a a a a a a little untidiness ” “Your home looks perfectly presentable ” ” ” “Fears?” I I I echoed Galina’s house I stopped to to admire her flower “Maine is is not a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a foreign country ” “Not everyone likes to to to fly fly fly ” ” ” ” I said said