were genuine wizards and wonderful miracles took place. Yes, it was my habit to romanticize things, but, if you understand, it was a genuine miracle. I understood that this was also not an easy perspective, but the physical work did not scare me.
I supposed that my restaurant sphere experience is still not enough to move to the position of bartender. I did not just take orders and serve the dishes, my mind noticed everything in the same time. Gradually the understanding of the whole structure of the restaurant business came to me. All the nuances created one big puzzle, looking at which I became closer and closer to the cherished goal. I did not have a dream, but I had the knowledge that I would get a job at the bar counter. I did not care how that was going to happen, I just left this question to destiny.
Jerry took another cigarette from a cigarette case, put it to her lips and set it on fire, interrupting her narration. She was looking at the ceiling, where she blew smoke rings. Gina mentally picked all the formulas of politeness and said:
«I am not going to judge your parents, but it was sacrilege – to blacken such fair relationships which Raul and you had.
«This is not a judgement, this is a fact,» the woman calmly replied, «you know that there is common sense, but there is also a dogma existing in our life. Following the dogma, a person commits a terrible crime, refusing from the possibilities of his mind, which power is unlimited. Father, following the tradition, wanted to have a son. He was so much indignant when I was born. Grieved, raged, then more or less get used to that. He was mad at my mother and me, because that did not meet his expectations. Expectations are a terrible trap, lots of people fell into it…
Jerry tossed her black hair behind her back, raised her sharp chin. She evidently possessed unbreakable spirit, which was inherited just to some people. This indescribable feature played a significant role in the development of her as a professional in her field.
«Nobody could even pronounce my name,» Hripsime grinned, «just a short story how Jerry appeared,» when I expressed a wish to work at the bar counter, all my colleagues showed a different reaction. You know the law of a small team – everyone has interest in everything what happens, every word you say will be heard and everyone will discuss it. I endlessly praise those people who believed in me, saw my potential and volunteered to be my mentors. I thank these people to this day. Definitely, the absolute majority preferred to mock. Every day I heard from them about ten jokes about non-female profession. Do you know how it hardened me? In order to keep up at your level and reach new heights, it is necessary to know two things: strictly fulfill your duties and do not take anything to heart. Strong ones help, weak ones – mock. Everything is simple, – she continued, – thanks to my cheerfulness, in any situation I noticed positive nuances and I reacted with a smirk to all sorts of jokes of middlebrows. Everyone remembers young Jerry always smiling, cheerful, tuned to the positive mood. The middlebrows have not gone away, they just forgot their jokes about gender, knowing that their opinion was obviously wrong. Now they have evolved, trying to prove that I «lose ground and young people are already overtaking.» While you consider this as idle chatter and nonsense, you are at the top, towards which they just cannot physically crawl, remember, – said Jerry edifyingly, – you will ask about my relationship with my parents, but I am going to disappoint you. We have never met since my escape. It’s been about thirty years. They are not getting younger, health is not the same as in youth, but I remained an only child, as I was before.
Suddenly a voice rang out from the corridor:
– Miss Jameson, a letter has come to your name!
Jerry turned around and, with her royal walk, walked to the door of the audience. The secretary of the association of bartenders, which was teaching future specialists, stood on the other side of the door, handing her an envelope and smiling:
«As always, you look great,» he remarked.
«And you are not falling behind,» Jerry whispered and took the letter.
The young man was a little taken aback by the answer. He watched Jerry returning to the audience, and hurried away.
Standing next to Gina, she opened the envelope, pulled out a folded A4 sheet and looked at the lines written by a trembling hand.
«Harout Zakarian… Father… What a coincidence,» she whispered, «look, my soul, come here…»
Gina rose from her chair and stood behind Jerry, trying to read the lines.
«Dear, hello,» she read, like a sexton, «I don’t know how you are doing, but I hope everything is fine with you.» Many years have passed, as we have not seen each other, you changed the name, well, for God’s sake, if you like it more. You have chosen your path. You have succeeded in it. If you are disturbed by some kind of sadness, come to us, a table will be always covered for you and the doors will be opened. Your Harout and Gohar. What is going on, Gina, – she distracted from the letter and looked at the girl.
«Jerry,» she breathed, «you better come and see your family. Forget what was before. After all, if that situation do not happen, you would not become who you are now.
Jerry hugged the girl, and for about a minute they stood, hugging each other.
– We are going to finish the classes tomorrow and take a flight to my hometown, are you agree? – she didn’t even ask, but stated a fact, – two hours by plane – and we are there.
«I agree,» Gina replied half peacefully, half lively.
Hripsime’s lips were touched with a slight smile, her eyes shined.
«Why did you come up exactly to me?» Gina asked
«Because I saw in you the potential, same as once upon a time someone noticed in me,» Hripsime answered firmly.
Chapter 2
Flight
In the evening, two friends went to the airport. Standing in line at the check-in counter, Hripsime continued to talk with Gina, who preferred to listen, discovering more and more new aspects of the personality of this woman and learning the lessons of life.
– If you do not appreciate yourself, then you will be sold to the first naive fool like an expired product at the fair. Remember that you can not doubt yourself. Sometimes it is good to ask yourself questions in order to adjust your direction in this life, if needed. Although only fools or clinical idiots do not do that. As a rule, they finish tragically. Did I doubt in my life? Sure, I did. No one is a robot with a recorded program, avoiding the implementation of which is impossible. We are greatly gifted by God because we can choose. In my seventeen there was Bill whom I just adored. I understand that I myself have chosen to love and become attached to him. No one else instead of me would have been able to do this, as well as to get rid of this person. At that moment I doubted: am I doing the right thing? Now I know, by doing right, I would never doubt my actions. This concept works for everyone, not just for me. Bill was thirty years old, he was very popular among girls. Even excessively popular. His idol was Marilyn Monroe, whose portraits, according to rumors, decorated his house. All his girls resembled Hollywood divas of the early twentieth century. Did he need Hripsime with appearance so different from Hollywood patterns“ she grinned, looking at Gina „after rumors about my feelings to him, he began to mock me, telling about it to everyone he met. He had an opinion that I was not worthy for him. I am not a religious person, but I love to remember the
