Page 46 - Vol. VI #7

Sisters (continued from preceding page)
man man walking bent? Look at at at at at that that woman—she’s on on on on on who ordered the the most expensive dish on the the menu—Thai Seafood Delight “Star?” peeped the the the the waitress waitress oxygen and yet she she she she smokes How come that that child is not not in in in in school? Occasionally she she she she sighed At one point I I I commented on on on on the the the the the the the beautiful weather weather but but she she she she she said the the the the the the weather weather meant nothing to to to her her her “Five ” ” declared Olga Olga “Like fire ” ” I I I I made 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 few quick stops at at at at the the the the the the the the the pharmacy the the the the the the the the the bakery and and and supermarket Olga accompanied me me me me into each each of of these places but but while I I I I shopped or or acknowledged familiar faces she she she she only meandered aimlessly among the the the the the the shelves In the the the the the the supermar- ket ket she she she took 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 can of of sliced peaches in in in in in in her her hand struck 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 thoughtful pose and and and and regarded it it for for the the the the longest time before replacing it it and and and and moving on on on on At that that that moment I I I I I felt that that 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 small window into her her her real self had opened It was just 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 peek but some- how a a a a a a a a a a vivid detail The waitress waitress giggled as as she she took the the menus but Olga’s expression remained blank as as if she she had made this comment countless times before and and didn’t understand why anyone would find it it it hu- morous Once back in in in in in in in the the car I I I I I announced that that that my er- rands were done “Is there anything you need?” I I I I I I asked Olga “Except “Except for for weather weather ” ” ” ” ” I I I said said said indulging 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 bit of of mischief I I I had recalled the the the the incident from Ga- lina’s house “I “I feel hungry ” ” ” she said without looking at at at at me me me me “Let’s go someplace nice nice ” ” ” Olga nodded and and squinted at at at me me me “Yes ” ” ” ” she said said “Except “Except for for weather weather ” ” ” ” And And then then “But everything else—hot ” “You like like it it hot hot ” ” I I remarked Olga looked at at at me She raised her her her glass and and took a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a long cold sip of of her her her water “Yes ” ” ” ” she finally said said “I like like it it hot hot ” For
me me me me “nice” was 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 a luncheonette downtown where the the jukebox was was was on on on on on hiatus during the the noon meal But I I I I sensed that basic fare might not be be to to Olga’s taste so so I I I suggested 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 Thai Thai restaurant I I I knew of and rarely patronized because it it it was was was 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 a a a a a a a a a a little pricey Olga Olga brightened at at at at at its mention though I I I I smiled in in in in in silly embarrassment and and tried to to look away but her her gaze held me me me And And then then out of of the the the the blue she said “I think my sister is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a deeply frus- trated woman ” ” The The Thai Thai Siam was was was doing 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 brisk lunch business when they served the the the the same dishes as as as as as in in in in in the the the the eve- ning but 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 a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cheaper price price The The place was was was fam- ily owned and and displayed 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 tacky elegance with with ceramic elephants 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 small altar studded with with jost sticks 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 a a a large water-stained portrait of the the the the the the the the the king over the the the the the the the cashier’s stall We took seats oppo- site each other 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 a a a a a a a a table table in in in in the the the the the the corner I I I I I I I had hoped I I I I I I I wouldn’t be maneuvered into evaluating Galina whom I I I I I I I was very very fond of of I I I I I I I attempted to to to lighten the the the mood by speaking in in in in in in in in in positive terms “Oh I I I I I I I don’t think so so Olga ” ” ” I I I I I I I said “Frustrated people tend to to to lash out even at at at at irrelevancies Everything is is is is grist for for for their mill Your sister is is is is the the the the most deep-feeling and forgiv- ing ing person I’ve ever met ” ” When the the the the the the the waitress waitress came I I I ordered the the the the the the the only dish I I I ever ate ate in in in in That restaurants—vegetable pad thai “How “How spicy?” asked the the the the the the waitress waitress 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 heavy ac- cent “How “How many star?”
Olga pursed her lips as as if aware of my efforts to to to to steer the the the the conversation into more more humane terri- tory “When you you you you speak ” ” ” ” she finally said “I “I don’t don’t understand a a a a a a a a a a a word you you you you say ” ” ” ” “No stars if possible ” ” ” I I I told her She smiled and scribbled my order Then she turned to to Olga “I “I think Galina regrets that you you you you don’t don’t spend more more time together She’s very much aware that that you’re her her only sibling ” ” 37