really come all the way to Odessa? I rubbed my eyes. The days seemed longer and longer. Lonely night stood around me. I wanted friends. I wanted myself .
‘Darling, you look tired,’ the Grande Dame said. ‘Help one more, and you can go home. Have I been working you too hard?’
I shook my head.
‘The computer technician created a program to match up our women with Westerners. Why don’t you give it a chance?’
‘I already tried computer dating. It didn’t work. Besides, I’m still corresponding with one of Milla from Donetsk’s men.’
‘If you refer to him as Milla’s man, he must not have a place in your heart. I’m sure this time will be different – the technician promised a simple questionnaire with fool-proof results. I need you to do it. For me. For research purposes. I’ll give you a bonus,’ she smiled winningly. I could see why she’d been an effective Party leader. And why I was here five nights a week.
‘Fine. For you. I’ll try it,’ I said as one of the clients joined us.
‘Hello, I’m Robert,’ he said nervously and held out his right hand. I shook it. He was what Jane would call a geek – a sweet, intelligent guy. He was tall and thin, and boyishly handsome, though he needed a haircut and more flattering clothes. Why do men wear XXL shirts and scuffed shoes?
‘You seem a bit young,’ I commented.
‘People always say that. I’m actually thirty. Ready to settle down and start my life. I have a good job and a nice house. I want to share that with someone.’
I nodded. ‘Anyone in particular?’
‘I’m not like most guys here. I can’t just pick a girl out of a hat. Or out of a room. I was hoping you could . . . help. I want someone who is smart, kind, and not too pretty.’
‘Not too beautiful?’ I asked. This was certainly a first.
‘Looks aren’t everything,’ he said.
‘When you work in this atmosphere you certainly forget that is true. Mostly, the prettiest girls find mates first.’ For the first time, I actually enjoyed conversing, even commiserating, with a client.
He nodded. ‘Ideally, she’d already speak English.’
‘What do you like to do in your free time?’ I asked.
‘I like to read, cook, and garden.’
I looked at Robert speculatively, and wondered if he could be the man for me. Then I remembered Will from Albuquerque and felt disloyal. The Grande Dame put the cherry on the cake when she chose that exact moment to say, ‘Daria, you’re my best interpreter – the only one who wouldn’t dream of keeping a client for herself. Thank you for your trustworthiness. You’re a good girl.’
Guilt and shame – two strong motivators.
I helped Robert find a shy, sweet English-speaking girl and left them to it. Valentina Borisovna reminded me to hurry so that I wouldn’t miss the last bus to my district. I needn’t have rushed. As always, it was late. When the woman standing beside me saw the bus arrive, she groaned. Nearly midnight, and it was packed. We made eye contact and shrugged, as if to say, what else? I’d ridden this bus for years and had never had a seat. I almost wished Vladimir Stanislavski would drive by and offer me a ride. He often did in the evening, but I always said no. I stared straight ahead so he wouldn’t know that I knew he followed me to the bus stop, then trailed the bus to make sure I got home safely. Once, when I’d wanted to sit on the seashore and watch the waves, I accepted his invitation. We drove to a deserted beach and sat on the sand, looking out at the horizon. He held my hand. I told no one.
I sighed. At my stop, I stood and looked at the tall buildings in the moonlight. If Will came, this is what he would see – tombstones sticking out of the earth. I didn’t want that. It occurred to me that between my jobs and the thank yous for helping get shipments through customs, I’d amassed nearly enough to buy a flat in the center. The thought excited me. I had come to hate our building. There were even
‘Darling, you look tired,’ the Grande Dame said. ‘Help one more, and you can go home. Have I been working you too hard?’
I shook my head.
‘The computer technician created a program to match up our women with Westerners. Why don’t you give it a chance?’
‘I already tried computer dating. It didn’t work. Besides, I’m still corresponding with one of Milla from Donetsk’s men.’
‘If you refer to him as Milla’s man, he must not have a place in your heart. I’m sure this time will be different – the technician promised a simple questionnaire with fool-proof results. I need you to do it. For me. For research purposes. I’ll give you a bonus,’ she smiled winningly. I could see why she’d been an effective Party leader. And why I was here five nights a week.
‘Fine. For you. I’ll try it,’ I said as one of the clients joined us.
‘Hello, I’m Robert,’ he said nervously and held out his right hand. I shook it. He was what Jane would call a geek – a sweet, intelligent guy. He was tall and thin, and boyishly handsome, though he needed a haircut and more flattering clothes. Why do men wear XXL shirts and scuffed shoes?
‘You seem a bit young,’ I commented.
‘People always say that. I’m actually thirty. Ready to settle down and start my life. I have a good job and a nice house. I want to share that with someone.’
I nodded. ‘Anyone in particular?’
‘I’m not like most guys here. I can’t just pick a girl out of a hat. Or out of a room. I was hoping you could . . . help. I want someone who is smart, kind, and not too pretty.’
‘Not too beautiful?’ I asked. This was certainly a first.
‘Looks aren’t everything,’ he said.
‘When you work in this atmosphere you certainly forget that is true. Mostly, the prettiest girls find mates first.’ For the first time, I actually enjoyed conversing, even commiserating, with a client.
He nodded. ‘Ideally, she’d already speak English.’
‘What do you like to do in your free time?’ I asked.
‘I like to read, cook, and garden.’
I looked at Robert speculatively, and wondered if he could be the man for me. Then I remembered Will from Albuquerque and felt disloyal. The Grande Dame put the cherry on the cake when she chose that exact moment to say, ‘Daria, you’re my best interpreter – the only one who wouldn’t dream of keeping a client for herself. Thank you for your trustworthiness. You’re a good girl.’
Guilt and shame – two strong motivators.
I helped Robert find a shy, sweet English-speaking girl and left them to it. Valentina Borisovna reminded me to hurry so that I wouldn’t miss the last bus to my district. I needn’t have rushed. As always, it was late. When the woman standing beside me saw the bus arrive, she groaned. Nearly midnight, and it was packed. We made eye contact and shrugged, as if to say, what else? I’d ridden this bus for years and had never had a seat. I almost wished Vladimir Stanislavski would drive by and offer me a ride. He often did in the evening, but I always said no. I stared straight ahead so he wouldn’t know that I knew he followed me to the bus stop, then trailed the bus to make sure I got home safely. Once, when I’d wanted to sit on the seashore and watch the waves, I accepted his invitation. We drove to a deserted beach and sat on the sand, looking out at the horizon. He held my hand. I told no one.
I sighed. At my stop, I stood and looked at the tall buildings in the moonlight. If Will came, this is what he would see – tombstones sticking out of the earth. I didn’t want that. It occurred to me that between my jobs and the thank yous for helping get shipments through customs, I’d amassed nearly enough to buy a flat in the center. The thought excited me. I had come to hate our building. There were even
Similar Books
