Page 45 - Vol. VI #7

At first I thought Olga was just trying to be funny but as as as as as as she she she spoke those magnificent teeth flashed and and snapped like like weapons With every click Galina pulled back under the the assault “Listen ”
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she she she said in in in in in an an an an an an an an an an attempt at at at at at amelioration patting the the air
with with her her her hands “you can can can stay as as as as as long as as as as as you you you like like You You can can can have have have have anything anything you you you you want want You You know that ”
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“Well ”
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she said said “if this is is is the worst thing that happens to to to to us I I I I think we’ll have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a good visit ”
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Before Olga Olga could return fire I I I I interceded again “Olga ”
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I I I I I said said “I’m going to to to to to run some errands today Maybe you’d like to to to to to to come along in in in in in in in in case there’s anything you you need ”
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Olga would not be be mollified She began to to fan herself furiously with with her her her tissue “How can can can I I I I have have have have anything anything I I I I want? I I I I don’t even have have have have 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 venicle I I I I have have to to rely on on you ”
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Galina perked up She moved to to to to to to to speak then then thought better of it it Instead she she waited for for Olga Olga Olga to to to to to to respond Olga Olga for for her her her her part looked first at at at her her her her sister and and then then at at at me “Yes ”
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she she finally said “that would would be be be nice I I I I I need to to to to to to move move around It’s too cramped here In In New Haven I I I I I have 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 lovely yard and and even a a a a a a a a a a deck ”
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“Ach!” exploded Galina having finally had enough “After all all these years you you you still say ‘venicle ’” And then turning to to to me me me me with her hands out as as as if if beg- ging ging 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 witness “Have you you you ever heard such 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 word as venicle?”
Galina would would not not allow herself to to to to be be afflicted with with guilt for not not having 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 deck deck As she she rose to to to to clear the table she she she she commented diplomatically “We’re all all all different ”
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I I I I I I noticed Olga looking me me over as as as as I I I I I I held my cup cup out and and Galina Galina Galina poured What could she she she be be be be think- ing? Her Her look look was was beguiling I I I I I I had been in in in in in in in in in her her presence only five minutes and and and already I I I I I felt that I I I I I understood her her her completely Although she she was was the the the the the the the younger sister Galina Galina Galina seemed to to be be be be more more in in in in in in in in in in in in control but more more discomfited by the the the the the the the the difficult na- ture of of their relationship Olga Olga on on on on on on on the the the the the the the the other hand proceeded on on on on on on the the the the the the the the assumption that the the the the the the the the world including Galina Galina was allied against her her Galina looked relieved as as as as as I I walked out out the the the the front door with Olga Olga Olga who took my arm as as as as as as we we we went down the the the the steps The two hens clucked and scur- ried out out of of our way Olga Olga seemed fascinated by the the the the sight “Look ”
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she said “That one has no feathers on on on on on on on its head ”
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She continued to to to look on on on on on on on as as as as as poor Sonya emitted 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 stream of of of of diarrhea under under Anya’s relentless pursuit Once in in in the the the the the the car Olga was unable to to abandon the the the the the the theme of of of the the the the the chickens chickens “I don’t understand why she keeps chickens chickens Whoever heard of of of such a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a thing?”
Olga Olga rattled her her her own teacup onto the the the the the the the saucer with 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 look of of disgust “No ”
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she said “it’s too sweet ”
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“She likes them them ”
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I I said Olga Olga shrugged “We can’t have everything we we like like ”
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“Then why did did you you put so much sugar sugar in?” Galina Galina pleaded I I soon learned that that Olga Olga could be as as as as as loquacious as as as as as her her sister As we we drove along she spent most of 36
Both women looked at at me me me me expectantly as as as as if if chal- lenging me me me me to to to choose sides Instead I I I tried a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a feinting maneuver “Galina what kind of tea tea tea do do you have?”
The sisters stood down as as as Galina Galina Galina reached for the teapot “It’s Georgian ”
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she she said “You’ll like it Here give me me your cup ”
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I I thought that nobody could disagree with with such 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 benign statement but Olga Olga found 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 “Ach syestra ”
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she she she ached as as as she she she straightened her skirt “we’re more alike than you think ”
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Olga grabbed her her her pearls and and and glared fiercely at at her her her sister “I thought it it was was sugar sugar but it it was was Sweet and and and Low Why didn’t you you tell me?”
her her time staring out the the passenger window and commenting on on on on on the the passing scene Why was that that Galina rocked her her her head and and and attempted to smile (continued on on next page)