Page 44 - Vol. VI #7

Sisters (continued from preceding page)
an an order “Olga should be refreshed by then ”
glosses that defined the the the older sister Her Her hair
was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a creamy bleach blond Her Her sunken cheeks were were were fired up with with rouge and her her her her lips lips shone with with bright red red lipstick setting these features apart from from her her her her her her otherwise strikingly pale skin Around her her her her her her her neck was 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 chain of of costume pearls—they were were were too fat to to to be real But most notable were were were her her her her her her her full dentures white and and and protruding as as as if they they could leap from from from her her her her her her her her head of of their own volition “I’m “I’m happy to to to to meet you ”
I I I I said as as as I I I I handed her her her her her her the the flowers Having said this she she she turned turned and I I watched her her full rather pear-shaped body as she she she disappeared into the the kitchen I I too returned to to to my business but Galina now had me reflecting about the the the the the the nature of of of relation- ships and how we truly are are cornered by our our families Despite the the the the the the current fashion of of of of of labeling friends friends as as as family friends friends always have the the the the the option of of of of of exiting our our lives But 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 parent or or or or brother or or or or sis- ter ter ter retain their rolls in in in in in in in in in spite spite spite of of of of enmity or or or or disaf- fection fection In spite spite spite of of of of everything Olga averted her her her her her face from from the the the the the carnations and and and then looked at at her her her her sister “I’m “I’m allergic to to flowers flowers ”
”
There was no doubt in in in in in in in in in in in my mind that Galina loved her her her sister On many occasions she had had spoken in in in in in in in in in in in affectionate terms about the the the the the the special bond they shared as as as 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 result of of of huddling under the the the the the the kitchen table while German bombs were were raining down “Let’s count them them ”
”
Olga had had said to to the the the the the the the the the younger Galina Galina in in in in in in in in in in order to to calm her her “Whoever guesses how many will fall is is the the the the the the the the the winner ”
”
Well both both of of them them survived so so in in in in in in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a way they were were both both win- ners Further Galina’s personality was was relent- lessly consistently defiantly bright belying the the the the the the the horrors she experienced in in in in in in in in in the the the the the the the twin onslaughts of of German and Russian armies at me expectantly “B
as if challenging me to choose sides ”
I I I I was was was not at at at at at the the the the bus station when Olga arrived Instead I I I I waited at at at at at home patiently anticipating Galina’s phone call Shortly after supper I I I I was was summoned she she said as as if in in in in in confidence though though though loud enough for me me to to to to hear And then in in in in in in afterthought “Thank you ”
Galina took the the the the the the the flowers and placed them immediately into 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 vase though though though at at at at at 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 point far re- moved from Olga Olga Then she she returned to to to to to to to the the the the the the the the the the table table “She’s here ”
”
”
she announced “And no no no worse for wear When can you come?”
I I I couldn’t help noting that both sisters sat very close to to to to to to one another on on on the the the the the the the the the same side of of the the the the the the the the the card table table I I I I took the the the the the the the seat opposite them Olga Olga reached into the the the the the the the the front of of her her her her her housedress and pulled 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 tis- sue from her her her her her cleavage “Shew!” she gasped “It’s hot hot in in in in in in in in here here I I I thought Maine 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 cold place ”
”
”
”
“I’m on on my way ”
”
I I I stopped to to to buy 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 bouquet of of of carnations—an ap- propriately neutral choice—as 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 way way of of of welcom- ing ing ing Olga to to to Maine I I I arrived at at at at at Galina’s dacha knocked and and 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 a a a a moment later was was looking in in in in in in in in “Well ”
”
”
”
began Galina already already looking pained “it gets hot hot here here too But if you you you you stay stay long enough the the the winter will come and then you’ll be be be be begging for heat ”
”
on on 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 a a a a a a a a a scene of of of of of of quaint domesticity: the card table draped with with an an an an an an an embroidered party-colored cloth 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 a steaming pot of of of of tea tea 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 a plate of of of of frosted cakes and and and and of of of of course Olga She was was sitting bolt upright and and and and expectant I looked from her to Galina and and and noted the powerful resemblance with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few distinct
Olga registered shock “So you’re already already trying trying to to to to get get me me me to to to to stay? Or are you you you you you trying trying to to to to move me me me out because you you you you don’t think I could take the the cold?”
35
oth women looked