Page 48 - Vol. VI #7

Sisters (continued from preceding page)
say say in in in in in in America? A A A hurt puppy? Yes that’s what “Not yet I I I I haven’t been able to to to to bring the word Lev became He changed because he he he he he knew Ga- ‘leukemia’ to to to to to my lips I I I I I can barely say say it now now ”
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lina’s nature and he he wanted somebody to take take care of him ”
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“Are you being treated?”
“But you could have taken care care of of of him him just as as as well ”
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I I suggested “I’ve seen a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a doctor doctor once or or or or twice but I’ve I’ve never trusted doctors They don’t know what they’re talking about Why continue to to to to to throw money into
Galina was was breathing hard sweating from from from the the the the the the the an an an empty well? In any case there’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lesson here here here heat of of of the the the the the the the the spices She sat there there her her her her her her skin glisten- As one one one ages one one one ceases to to to to to be 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 a a a a a a a a a a a a person and be- ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing not taking her her her her eyes from from from me me me me me as as as as if if if she she were were comes a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a patient ”
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afraid I I I I I would would bolt from from from the the the the the the room if if if she she did so “Lev knew I I I I was was was different about about these things things If he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he had had come to to to me me me me crying about about his brother I I I I I would would have reminded him how hard things things were were were for all of us us The The war had had just ended My God we we we were were still eating hay soup! There was was no no no time time to to to to to sit and and and and sulk and and and and wonder what to to to to to do If you you didn’t didn’t work you you didn’t didn’t eat eat Who knows where Galina found the the the the the the the time time to to to to to to listen to to to to to to crybabies and and and and tell them that their their troubles were the the the the the the the the fault of of the the the the the the the the world and and and and and not their their own ”
“But some types of leukemia are treatable if not curable ”
That was was the the the the the the the end of of her her her her speech I I I thought she she might be be too upset to to to to to to to to continue eating but I I I was was wrong She dug into
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her her her platter and and and shoveled the the the the the the food into
into
her her her mouth with abandon savoring every morsel I I I concluded that that she she she had had told this this story numerous times before as as as if it it it it it it were a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a script she she had had committed to to to to to to memory Could Could it it it it it it it it be be be true that that that the the the the source of the the the the tension between these sisters was was this this episode with with the the the the the twins? Could Could Galina however unwittingly have lured Olga’s fiancé away? I I I knew that that that it it it it it it was was within her her character to to to to to feed any cat that that came to to to her her door “I “I will ”
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said Olga Olga “I’ve been been sick sick for only two months but but I’ve I’ve I’ve been been waiting fifty years to to to tell tell her her ”
I I I I picked at at at at at my food halfheartedly And then a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a question occurred to to to to to me me me “Olga ”
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I I I I said said “why did you come to to to to Maine after all all these years?”
I I I I I I dropped Olga Olga Olga off at at at Galina’s house but but thought it it it best not not to to to to go inside I I I I I I had no no no no idea when or or or or how Olga Olga planned to to to to to reveal such grave information
to to to to her her her her sister But I I I I I I did did know that Galina Galina would would take it it it it very hard This was was not not simply a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a report of of illness it it it was was Anna Karenina throwing herself under a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a locomotive I I I I I knew I I I I I didn’t want to to to to be be there for the the the the the event itself but assumed I I I I I would would would be be be needed during the the the the the aftermath In the the the the the interim my feelings toward Olga Olga oscillated between immense sadness and and something bordering on on bitter anger at at at at at at at the the the the the the thought that that she would would use her her her her illness as as Galina chewed swallowed and took another gulp of water “Because I’m dying ”
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she she said said with as as as little gravity as as as if she she were were saying “To buy maple syrup ”
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a weapon to to to to avenge an an an an an incident of of half a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a century ago I I realized that that I I really didn’t know Olga Olga but over the the the years had become attached to to to and and and ap- preciative of of Galina who wore her her her heart on on on her her her sleeve and and took everyone at at at at face value She would be be be the the the ideal victim for for those Nigerian schemes promising Americans immense financial rewards in in in in in in exchange for for their bank account numbers Despite our shallow acquaintanceship I I I was stricken by this revelation I I I leaned across the table and lowered my voice “Does Galina know?”
There was something I feared more than Galina’s 39
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“Galina thinks I’m indestructible ”
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she said “I was never never sick sick as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child Not so so much as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fever Do you know that I’ve I’ve I’ve never never had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a headache?”
“You must tell her her ”
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