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her hands. And then he kisses Josipina, hugs Srečko and
me. Hello, Ballerina, he says. Ida is there, the signorina. I
see her. She’s standing at a distance, smiling. In the evening
Mama will tell me that she was embarrassed, poor Ida. In
the evening, when Mama sleeps in my room and
Tata
is in
my room, too. Then I see Mama step over to Ida and shake
her hand.
Tata
does the same, as do Josipina and Srečko.
Now we’re in the kitchen. I’m looking at Albert, my brother
from Australia. He has beautiful eyes, Albert, like the sea,
says Mama. Ida has similar eyes. Mama says that people
who love each other always have something in common on
their faces.
Albert and Ida are handing out parcels. One for everyone.
Mama says that they are presents and we must open them. I
see
Tata
has already opened his. Mama says it’s an ashtray
in the shape of Australia. Oooh, how beautiful it is, she
says. Then Karlo unwraps his present. Mama says he got a
bottle with photographs of kangaroos. It’s Josipina’s turn.
She unwraps it slowly. Then she says: Oooh, what a
beautiful plate! and she shows us it. I see Josipina holding
the plate. Then I hear Albert say that a photograph of the
capital of Australia is stuck on the plate. Everyone says once
more: Oooh, how nice it is. Then Srečko unwraps his
present. Albert says that it’s a barrel organ, where you have
to turn the handle and then music plays. Albert says that it
plays the song
Lili Marleen
. Then Mama says I should
unwrap my present. I can’t. She helps me. I see her hands