Margarita and Luca, book 1. Julia Alex A.

assist at the installation of many things inside the house. Finding time is a rare thing, day should be over 30 hours....

      How will you celebrate Christmas? Do you like it? For me it's strange because I like it but at the same time it gives me some sadness, don't know exactly where it comes from but I cannot avoid it.

      Have you already jumped into the crazy crowd of pre Christmas hustle that runs everywhere like hypnotized? In Italy people at this period seem to become insane, running around without a particular destination…

      This year I asked to materialize you here and talk to u looking in the eyes. I've been a good boy?, do you think it will be possible soon?

      Ps By the way, what kind of music do you like?”

      Her letter.

      “What a frightening thing U told me. Please, be careful.

      Meanwhile I’ll ask Santa to shorten the year for U, you really need it.

      Life is throwing us back and forth! Once I also kissed an airbag .

      For me this year was terrible and great, especially the Friday 13th in June, when I became so nervous and exhausted that thought would truly have a heart or brain attack (many relatives died of them). Same day I did important translation for my boss, passed the final exam, defended the thesis, got the diploma, was robbed and found out that my beloved husband had been unfaithful to me. And that was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, as only God knows, what I’ve gone through to graduate from this first-rate university of Nizhny Novgorod studying free of charge.

      I never notice when Christmas or other holidays come, ’cause I usually have to keep working. I think I’ve never celebrated Christmas, but would like to. I guess just never had time, unfortunately, always busy at various jobs, that even didn’t finish school. The consequence – must have done my best completing education at one of the “evening schools” in Moscow to be able to enter the university. Always dreamt there were 48 hours in a day. So, I don’t know whether I like this holiday. What I’ve always liked about New Year’s Eve – I could sleep whole night and next morning till late, as nobody works!

      How do U usually spend Christmas? New Year? Could you take some photos for me? In Russia everybody gets drunk to death and fall asleep, face in popular salad “Olivier”. I eat, then sleep.

      About music: I love Tiziano Ferro, but some of his songs are too romantic for me, depends on the mood… I also enjoy a lot Adriano Chelentano, Eros Ramazzotti, Biagio Antonacci and somebody else whose names I don’t remember. But recently I’ve forbidden myself to listen to music and now add only Spanish lessons into my mp3player, a kind of trap, otherwise I’ll never start speaking the language”

      CHAPTER 4

      “ Ciao, principessa!

      Christmas is a family day, so, everybody gather at our house at a big table, a lot of food, presents… I’m sending you few pics. They are not so sharp but I hope you’ll get the idea, the atmosphere…

      One of the ancient grandmas at the table is about a hundred years old? There is my brother with his wife and kids, my mother and father, my aunt and uncle.

      The dish is “ravioli”, very popular in Italy. Do you know?

      Tonight nothing so special or incredible, dinner at friends house till midnight then who knows?? We do not have any special agenda for the New Year’s Eve, as in my experience the plans never go as you wish… We try to have fun with a good company, for me: more friends – more relaxation… :)

      Try this site www.deezer.com, it is all about music of all kind

      Поцелуй на твой нос ”

      It was the 31st of December.

      On waking up she hungrily ate everything that her eyes caught sight of, fixed a cup of coffee, made herself comfortable and opened the mail to thoroughly enjoy it.

      The pictures were blurry and must have been taken by a simple hand-held camera. But they were pathetic with all those present-boxes and children impatiently rushing for the gifts; candles by each plate on the long festively laid table; two old grandmothers with rigorously made for the occasion white-haired curves.

      Her letter:

      “Good morning!

      Thanks for the pictures! I’ve enjoyed much! You have a great family! I love the way you celebrate this holy day.

      I have already brought a suitcase of presents to my parents and hid a kilogram of Swiss chocolate in the flat? I’ll tell them later;)

      I’ve bought a bottle of wine and going to relish it!!!

      Happy New Year! ”

      Margot turned on the radio and opened the Zinfandel … The adorable fruity flavor influences her taste sensors producing endorphins, thus a smile.

      “Селёдка под шубой” was waiting for its turn in the fridge. She called the mom.

      CHAPTER 5

      January, 19

      Two-metre high snowdrifts, three suitcases… The parents-invalids shocked by the situation, standing stiff with fright on the platform at a railway station of Nizhny Novgorod. Mom is after a stroke, the right half of her body is still uncontrollable: the right foot is curved not able to step, the arm is moving wherever it likes, one eye is dead. Her brains confuse things. Recently they’ve been working on crossword puzzles. Father asks: “A bird with a solid beak?” Mother cries out: “A rabbit!!!”

      The dad is a former boxer, now suffering Epilepsy and has psychiatric disorders, which has irrevocably changed Margot’s personality, but this story will be mentioned later.

      Greta is goggling at them, calming herself down: “I have a life-insurance. They are supposed to transport the body all the way to Russia… In case an epileptic attack happens in the sea and he will choke with water and drown…”

      –I wish he wouldn’t spoil our trip by dying… – mom whispers into daughter’s ear.

      –Don’t bother, mommy. It’s organized, in case… – the girl kisses mom’s cheek.

      Six hours flied: black tea in old-fashioned glasses with holders and cheese-with-meat sandwiches, prepared with love by the caring daughter; old movies on the train TV; dozing.

      CHAPTER 6

      Moscow. Our girl has thought everything over long in advance: a taxi driver meets the family by the carriage, helps with the luggage and chooses a “sightseeing route” heading towards Sheremetyevo . The traffic is heavy, but parents are not bored: they are childishly staring out of the car windows, eyes expressing curiosity and cautious happiness. Amazing architecture is slowly moving by: the Kremlin, the white high-rise beautiful building on Vorobyovy Hills is Moscow State University named Lomonosov, Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya, embassies; blocks of flats with huge impressive advertisements stuck on high buildings; imperial churches and majestic cathedrals: Nativity Church at Putinki, The Cathedral of the Annunciation, Arhangelsky sobor, Ivan the Great’s Belfry, gothic catholic Church in Presnya, colorful Pokrovsky Sobor on the Red Square is partially visible now…

      Parents are totally fascinated by the changes since “perestroika”, when every single thing was grey and identical: buildings, restaurants, clothes, even city plans and street names in Russia were alike in every region. If you felt like dining out, you would know what is on the menu wherever you come: modest dishes, which you could find in any home, tasty but all the same. No variety.

      If you desired a different dress, the only way to get it was to sue it yourself, in case you’d managed to “obtain” a piece of fabric in that “uniform” or as school-girls called it “incubator chick” society.

      Airport. Parents’ wide-open eyes. Planes. Mountains and seas in the porthole. Daughter is smiling happily seeing that mom is on the top of the world!

      CHAPTER 7

      Antalya. Extremely bright