The Russians are Coming!, 14 Months in the Life of the Town

Chapter 12: A New Stage

Ruslan heard a siren. It was ten o’clock, and he went outside. On the porch, he stopped for a moment. Taking a deep breath into his lungs, he looked around enjoying the feeling of the full measure of life and the charisma of this ambrosial morning.

The winter was gone, and the new aromas filling the air caused the young man to feel excited and smile dreamily like a drunk. Blowing into his inflamed face, the strong, but tender springtime breeze could not cool him down. He felt hot shivering run over his body.

At a leisurely pace Ruslan walked along the street. The powerful wind tore at the last clouds, driving them away like a pack of wolves dispersing a flock of sheep, and the radiant sun warmed up the world gaunt with winter’s frost and snowstorms.

* * * * *

Her alarm clock started playing waking music, and, keeping her eyes closed, Lana fumbled around to turn it off.

She pushed the button and stretched. She felt herself falling asleep again, then a loud resonant siren instantly drove away her drowsiness.

«Oh yes,» she muttered, rolling her eyes. «We don’t want to forget about the Cold War. Thanks for the reminder, Mr. Mayor!» She added a few very bad words, but she saw beaming sunlight from outside flow through the slits of the blinds, making everything around look fresh and jocund, and the girl smiled, sensing strength and young energy.

She was thinking about her upcoming date with Oleg, and those amatory thoughts stirred her stalwart body. The girl sprang off the bed and sang, skipping to the bathroom.

Still singing, she took a shower and danced a little, deriving joy from the feeling of the tickling streams massaging her skin, flushed with anticipation.

Agog, Lana almost ran to the living room, hastily preparing for her date with Oleg when unexpectedly, Ruslan Grafinsky entered and asked her very casually, «Have you finished your homework?»

Lana gawked at him with surprise. «It’s none of your business.»

«From now on it is.» He smiled coldly. «Your father asked me to control your study.»

«Liar!» Lana grabbed the phone and made a call. While she was talking, Ruslan went to the window and looked outside.

He saw Oleg Merkulov walking in front of the house like a cat near a mouse hole. Lana’s bodyguard, Tom, was sitting on the porch. Obeying Mr. Limpson’s order, Tom did not allow Oleg to enter, and Oleg dared not insist. He saw Ruslan, and stood still staring at him.

«Thank God we’re not in Russia,» thought Ruslan. «I bet he could kill me.»

He recalled his talk with Mr. Limpson about Oleg.

«I understand your concern, Mr. Grafinsky,» the businessman said sighing. «But I dearly love my daughter. If she wants to have some fun, why not? If it doesn’t harm her.»

«I hope so.» Ruslan tried to speak calmly enough, but Mr. Limpson gazed at him, and the young man became confused.

«She’s the only person in the world for whom I live,» the businessman pronounced with heartfelt intonation, and Ruslan sensed a strange tender feeling arise in his soul for this man.

«I know,» he replied. «But not only I know this.»

And the men fell silent, both sincerely worrying about Lana.

* * * * *

«Dad!» Her whining voice brought Ruslan back to the present. «I’m adult enough. I do understand… Okay, okay! Oh, Daddy, I love you, too…»

Ruslan heard her hang up, and he turned toward the girl.

Thinking, Lana looked at Ruslan, ready to debate.

«Look,» she said hesitantly. «It’s Saturday. Can I do it tomorrow, eh? Please?»

«Do it right away, and you’ll have all weekend for fun,» he pronounced with a very odd voice, and Lana gazed at him as an idea came to her.

Getting up, she neared Ruslan and put her hands on his shoulders. With pleasure she saw his face flushing, and she whispered intimately, «I’ll kiss you.»

He closed his eyes for a second, then, grinning, he took her arms away. He did it very gently, yet resolutely.

«I’d rather kiss a frog,» he answered sharply, and the perplexed girl simply could not find words to reply to this impolite guy.

«I will kiss a frog, if I see she has real feelings for me,» he declared, and a challenge sounded in his voice.

«Maybe I do feel something for you,» retorted Lana Limpson, using the same tone.

«Knock it off, girl. Don’t waste your fire and time on me.» He nodded toward the window. «Your bull is close to jumping out of his pants with impatience.»

Lana just stared at Ruslan, speechless and feeling herself beaten. Not adding a word, she went to her computer and, taking her papers, she started to work.

She finished very quickly, much faster than Ruslan expected. Lana held her papers out to him, and asked with sarcasm, «Would you like to check it, professor?»

He took them, being sure there would be a lot of mistakes, but to his surprise everything was correct.

«You’re brilliant,» he murmured. «It’s a shame that you’re a C-student. You can have straight A’s.»

«Oh, big deal.» Lana glanced at the window. «May I go now?»

«Of course.» Ruslan sighed. The girl grabbed her purse and ran away. He watched through the window as she neared Oleg, and hugged him. They got inside his car, Oleg drove away, and a painful sadness hemmed Ruslan in.

«She didn’t even look back,» he whispered with bitterness.

He checked his watch. Today was David VanStein’s birthday, and he was invited. Because Lana had done her homework so fast, Ruslan saw he had plenty of time. He took his bag, went outside, and slowly walked along the street.

Spring weather began its rule of the town, and under beaming sunshine the snow started melting and losing its clean whiteness. Uttering optimistic chirps, the cheerful starlings were hopping on the budding branches and twigs of the revived trees and bushes, and the air smelled fresh.

Ruslan saw a squirrel. The shabby animal vigorously scratched itself, and the gray fluff of its old winter fur flew away like tiny clouds of smoke. Ruslan watched as another squirrel ran to the first one and they started playing.

A couple of pigeons were making love on the telephone wire, and a few yards farther on a cooing dove courted his mate, spinning around and blowing his crop out.

«Everybody’s two-by-two.» Ruslan sang a Russian song. «Only I’m quite alone, like an island in the ocean.»

Humming this melancholy melody, he reached the VanSteins’ house and knocked, and David opened the door.

«Happy Birthday!» greeted Ruslan, handing a present to the professor.

«Thank you.» David smiled, and together they went to the living room.

Ruslan looked round about.

Here were the Lapins, Megan in the armchair, and Marina sitting on the floor playing with Dylon. To his surprise, he saw Vera Grach here as well, but the subsequent dialogue explained the situation.

«Thank you, Nina, for recommending me to them,» Vera said in Russian, while drawing. «I really need clients.»

«They have money, we don’t.» Nina giggled. «Let’s shake them, eh?»

«Girls, speak English.» Marina interrupted them. «It’s not nice to speak a language that others present can’t understand.»

«Ruslan!» exclaimed Nina. «I didn’t know that you would come.»

«Didn’t Vlad tell you?» Ruslan looked at his friend.

Vlad shrugged his shoulders. «I didn’t think it important.»

«Where is Larisa?» asked Ruslan, taking an appetizer.

«She’s playing with Hannah in her room,» replied David.

«I brought a puzzle for the girls,» said Ruslan.

«Then let’s go.» A smiling Megan got her feet and they went upstairs.

When Larisa saw Ruslan enter the room, she gasped, and ran to him. Hannah looked at the man with astonishment.

«Mom? Who is this?» she asked.

«Ruslan is Larisa’s godfather,» Megan explained to her daughter, also surprised by the reaction of Larisa.

«I love my Uncle Ruslan very much,» the girl explained very seriously. «Because he’s kind. Once Daddy killed a spider. I pitied this spider. I like insects. I like animals. But Uncle Ruslan never kills spiders.»

«My mom always said it’s bad luck to kill a spider,» pronounced Ruslan such an upset intonation that Megan guessed at once, «His mother had passed away, and probably not a long time ago.» She said nothing aloud.

Ruslan gave the girls the puzzle and went back down to the living room with Megan.

When they entered, Megan saw her husband talking on the phone, and he was not smiling, but listening with a disgruntled face. «Okay,» he said into the receiver. «Thanks. Bye.» He hung up and looked at his wife. «The Jacksons can’t come, honey.»

«Them too?» Megan asked with slight irritation, and Ruslan, then understood that this call was not the first.

«Is anybody going to come?» Megan gazed at her husband. «When did you give them the invitations?»

«About a month ago.»

«And they told you now?»

David could only shrug his shoulders. Feeling that something was going awry, the Russians exchanged glances.

The upset hosts lost the thread of the conversation and an awkward silence hung in the room. Nina was the first to break it. «How stifling!» She sighed.

«The heat is off,» replied David. «I’d be glad to open the window, but the frame is broken. Monday I’ll call someone to fix it.»

«No need to wait until Monday.» Ruslan had already checked the window. He took a knife, and, using it skillfully, fixed the frame in a few seconds, and uplifted it.

The fresh air burst into the room, and all the people laughed, enjoying it.

«Is it not cold down there?» asked Nina.

«No.» Marina smiled, helping Dylon. «Megan, call him.»

The woman beckoned to her child. «Come to Mommy.»

Suddenly the boy stepped forward. The adults held their breath.

The child stood for a moment, keeping his balance, then quickly minced towards his mother and fell into her arms.

«He walks!» exclaimed Megan. «He took his first steps! Oh, Marina. You’re a fairy.»

«It’s the best present that I’ve got on this birthday.» David smiled at her, and, blushing, Marina sighed, and lowered her eyes.

«You have to work with children,» Megan told her.

«I wish one day to have my very own day care center,» confessed Marina.

«I was working as a night orderly in the children’s summer camp,» cut in Vera Grach. «And I loved it. It was so wonderful to draw the sleeping kids. After every shift I had a whole bunch of pictures and sketches.»

«Larisa took her first steps when we were in a hospital,» said Nina sadly. «She walked from bed to bed.»

Taking snacks and drinks, the people shared their memories, and the party appeared normal, but the VanSteins wondered why and how it happened that only Russians had come.

* * * * *

The next day was Sunday, and the VanSteins went to church.

They had not been there for two weeks, because first Dylon was sick and, then Megan had the flu.

The VanSteins were not the first to arrive, and when they entered many people were already inside. They went to their usual place, and noticed with surprise that the pew was empty. They calmly sat down, but suddenly somebody behind them giggled. Turning to the sound, David stiffened, as it was one of the girls who had seen him when Marina had tossed him out her apartment.

This girl irregularly visited the church, and David had not expected to see her today.

He blushed and sat straight. But he heard whispering and saw a perplexed Megan looking around wondering why nobody took seats next to them.

David barely waited until the service was over, and people moved to the exit. Leaving his wife, he quickly followed the girl, and caught up with her outside the building.

«Look,» he started irresolutely, becoming ashamed under her gaze. «I’d really appreciate it if you would not make a big deal about what you saw. You don’t understand. It’s not what you think.»

«Aye, aye, Mr. President!» The girl demonstratively saluted. «Was she wearing a blue dress?»

«Who?» mumbled David, not understanding.

«Your Russian Monica Lewinsky,» The girl grinned «No man can resist the charm of a girl of Eastern European origin, eh?»

Baffled in the face of such insolence, David stepped back, and looked around. He noticed people were casting glances at him, some with curiosity, some with disgust.

«Oh my God!» he thought, growing cold. «This is why nobody came to my birthday party.»

While her husband was talking, Megan, holding Dylon in her arms, neared one of her pals and said, «Hi! What a shame that you couldn’t come yesterday. We were waiting for you.»

«Was Marina there?» the woman replied with a shifty look in her eyes.

«Why not?» wondered Megan. «She’s David’s assistant and my kids love her.»

«Not only your kids, I suppose,» the woman drawled significantly.

«What do you mean?» Her intonation scared Megan. «What are you talking about?»

The woman had no time to reply. David ran to them, and, grabbing the hands of his daughter and his wife, he led his family to their car.

Inside they kept silent for a while, then David started talking, and his odd-sounding voice made Megan’s skin creep.

«Honey…» He drew in a sharp breath. «Hannah… I beg you. Whatever happens, whatever somebody says to you, please remember, I love you. I do love all of you, you and Dylon. I swear on my life.»

«Okay, Dad,» Hannah chuckled, but a dumbfounded Megan did not reply. Although her husband said what every woman is happy to hear, he sounded so strange that a deep worry seized her.

Chapter 13: International Women’s Day

Sitting in a restaurant Oleg, Ruslan, and Vlad were discussing an idea.

«Guys,» Vlad said doubtfully. «We’ve already passed Saint Valentines Day. Why should we celebrate this Russian holiday? We are not in Moscow.»

«I think we should keep our traditions even here,» replied Oleg. «We can rent this hall, invite our ladies, and celebrate. The Irish have their Saint Patrick’s Day, haven’t they?»

Here it was two against one. Ruslan was next to Oleg, and for the first time during the last few months their interest in Lana united these men.

«I understand, Vlad,» Ruslan answered softly. «You have to think about your family budget. But buddy, you don’t have to bring in the equal part as we did.»

Vlad blushed. Pragmatic, he hated it when people took his economical efforts as greediness and miserliness. He did not want his friends to think of him as a Grinch, so he did not continue arguing. He took out his wallet and put the money on the table. Ruslan and Oleg had already placed a pile of bills there. Hesitating, Vlad added two more, sighed, and thought, «Okay, Nina’s been asking me to go to a restaurant for a long time. At least she will be glad.»

Oleg took all the money, counted it, and nodded.

«If it’s not enough,» he said. «I’ll add the rest myself. Don’t worry, little boys, it will be candy for all.»

«I don’t understand,» Vlad complained with frail irritation. «Why did you come to the U.S.A.? You don’t need money vitally. I had no choice; I couldn’t find a job. But you have your own business.»

«Buddy, my wifey is here,» pronounced Oleg seeing Ruslan watching him with a skeptic look. «Imagine if Nina refused to go to the U.S.A. Would you come?»

Vlad sat still.

«I’m an egoist,» he thought, getting ashamed. «I just informed her. I didn’t ask if she wanted to go. She left her mother. How could I not think about her feelings? Oh, Nina, my beloved, forgive me my callousness.»

He was not sorry about the money anymore. It was a chance to cheer his wife up, and Vlad was glad he could do it.

* * * * *

When a drowsy Lana went to her living room and saw Ruslan Grafinsky casually sitting on her couch, she thought she was still asleep. She rubbed her eyes and looked again, but yes, it was reality. Despite it being early morning, Ruslan was here. He held a bouquet of flowers, three pink carnations wrapped in beautiful paper.

He was sitting with one leg placed on the other, hugging his knee, and the girl saw a strip of skin between his sock and the edge of his pants.

This sight struck Lana, arousing in her soul a burning storm of tenderness and fond dreams. The overwhelming desire to touch, and even to kiss this place, to feel his hair and skin, enveloped the girl so powerfully and unexpectedly that she felt confused, and barely brought herself under control.

«I’m just not awake yet,» she thought, shaking her head.

«Today is the 8th of March,» Ruslan explained calmly. «In Russia it is a holiday called The International Women’s Day, and usually men congratulate all the females they have known despite the age and family status.»

«Yes.» A smiling housekeeper went into the living room and served Ruslan breakfast and a cup of coffee. «Ruslan greeted me already and gave me a flower pot with irises.»

She put his meal on the coffee table, petted his head like a mother would, and left. Then Ruslan got up and held out the carnations to Lana.

The girl drew close. Watching his reaction, she extended her arm, and seized his hand with the bouquet. Ruslan stood still gazing at her. She saw his face go bloodless and red spots blush on his cheeks, like cranberries on the snow. He gasped, trying to normalize his breathing, but he could not.

Suddenly he pulled Lana to himself and embraced her with such passion that the girl was amazed. She heard his moan, and, chuckling, she asked, «Do you greet all the females like this?»

He laughed and gently pushed her away.

«It’s just a Russian tradition,» he said, smiling. «You can ask everybody who knows. In school we greeted even janitors, as in Russia most janitors are women.»

He turned and left the house, and for a long time a puzzled Lana just looked at the flowers, not understanding what to do and how to react to such odd treatment from this mysterious Russian guy.

* * * * *

That evening all the adult Russians assembled in a small hall decorated with flowers and banners, and a smiling Oleg took the microphone.

«I would like to pronounce,» Oleg greeted them, «a toast in honor of the charming ladies in this room and city. To hope that they enjoy this special holiday in their name and would like to congratulate them for their lovely work here, because of the way they keep this town on its toes. A big thanks to all of you here and happy 8th March, ladies! Be happy!»

Uttering cheers, the Russians raised their goblets. Husbands kissed their wives, and Ruslan did the same with Marina.

Marina and Oleg were taking her guitar by turns and all the Russians sang their favorite songs. Then they put on a tape with native melodies.

Sharing their memories, the Russians felt nostalgia fill their souls, and, trying to be blithe in the present, they drank and danced.

Holding hands, Vlad and Nina looked at each other like newlyweds.

Browsing through their memories, they both remembered the day when Vlad moved into Nina’s apartment, as it had happened exactly seven years ago.

All Vlad’s belongings took up only two suitcases, so the young couple did not even take a taxi, but went by bus.

As they entered they heard music. It sounded very familiar, but the young people did not realize at once that it was the wedding march by Mendelssohn. Nina’s mother, Alla, stared at them, and they were astonished, but guessed that the music simply came from the radio.

«It’s just a coincidence, Vlad had said to himself. «Gosh, that stupid march scared me! Why? I do want marry Nina, don’t I?»

«It’s an omen’, thought Nina in awe. «I chose the right man!»

«It’s Vlad Lapin!» she exclaimed, addressing her mother.

Smiling, Vlad put down his suitcases, carefully took out from under his coat a small bouquet of mimosas, and gave it to Alla. «Happy 8th of March!»

«Very nice,» the woman replied, taking the flowers. Nina was surprised by her tone, for usually her mother was active and full of optimism, but now Alla looked doubtful.

«Are you okay, mom?» the girl asked with concern.

«I’m fine.» Alla snorted and addressed Vlad. «Is that all your stuff?»

«Yes.» Lapin flashed his engaging smile.

«Very nice,» Alla repeated. Then she walked to the kitchen not adding a word. Nina looked at Vlad and met his gaze.

«Didn’t you tell your mother that I’m gonna move here?» he asked with suspicion, and the girl became confused.

«I was talking a lot about you,» she murmured. «I thought she understood…»

Vlad only sighed. «Okay, show me our room.»

* * * * *

Not a word was spoken during dinner.

Vlad surveyed the kitchen. It was awfully small, and he thought, «When we have a child, where can we place a chair for him? No, better, for her. I hope it will be a girl.» Overflowing with love, he glanced at Nina. «Well, if nothing else we can seat our child on our laps…» He dreamily smiled, finished his meal, and said thanks. He put his dishes in the sink, and took out his wallet.

«Who’s doing the shopping here?» he asked.

«I do,» Alla replied not looking at him. «The money’s in the box on the top of the refrigerator.»

Vlad put his bills into the box, kissed Nina and left the kitchen. Then she got up and shyly hugged her mother.

«Sorry,» she whispered. «I didn’t specify the date of his arrival. Please, forgive me.»

«It’s okay, honey.» Smoothing her hair, Alla sighed.

«I thought you’d be happy if I found a man,» Nina mumbled, searching the upset face of her mother.

«I am happy for you,» the woman replied sadly. «Sorry for my mood. One day you’ll understand me.»

But Nina understood already. She could not find appropriate words, and only stroked her mother’s shoulders and back.

«I hope he’s a good man,» Alla sighed again.

* * * * *

«Good!» recalling that day and the words of her mother, Nina thought, staring at her husband. «He’s not just good; he’s the best!»

Vlad looked at her with a delighted smile, and his love was the finest present that she’d wish to get on the Women’s Day. Lost into each other, the Lapins did not even notice the others casting envious glances at them.