Trafika Europe 7 - Ukrainian Prayer

Tango of Death

desire to take care of him will appear, but Yarosh had no need of care, he sought only privacy. On the other hand, he often visited auntie, bringing her food. He even supplied her with interesting books and patiently listened to her stories. Auntie was an enormous woman with a sagging neck. She had thick legs, and she walked, waddling like a duck. She smelled of Validol, although in her youth she used to look very attractive. She received the greatest satisfaction when she managed to sit down her nephew at the table and feed him something. Then she sat down across from him and looked at him with adoring eyes, gratified that themeal or cake with berries were tasty for him. Every August she set about cooking preserves from different berries and fruits, although she very

himself to his scholarly work. To earn a living and to pay for his monthly alimony he published literary reviews and translations. For a not overly wealthy, yet not miserable existence two or three publications a month were enough. And the most important thing was that no one get on his case. From Yarosh’s family his mother’s elder old maid sister Aunt Lucia was still alive; her fiancé had gone missing in the war, and she continued to wait for him even after the declaration of independence, when all those who survived Siberia returned home. She had a spacious house in Kryvchytsi and repeatedly called for her nephew to live with her, but in every possible way he made up excuses, knowing that auntie will give him no peace, she will yearn for conversation, attention, and finally the

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