so much for the guys. It was their first experience… … No, I haven’t heard or read the weather forecast yesterday. … Oh, thank you so much! We are ok, everything is good. Thank you! I’ll tell Vika for sure now.
Dan interrupted the phone conversation for a second and shouted out.
– Vika, congratulations from Nick and Stacy! They are so happy for us. They opened the bottle of fine Californian wine and raised their glasses for us and for our marriage. Cheers! They sent the best wedding wishes to us and their personal “Hi,” to Slava.
– Thanks. Thank you and your friends, my dear husband. We’ll see them soon in California, won’t we? – I shouted out from the bathroom.
– Okay, my sweetheart.
– And I’ll go to sleep, my dear hubby. I’m tired. Is it ok?
– Okay, night-night, my sweetie pie! I’ll join you pretty soon; – Dan replied and continued the conversation with his friends.
I went to the bedroom and fell asleep in a moment.
In a while I was woken up by Dan’s loud laugh.
– And she said “awful” instead of “lawful!” Ha-ha-ha…
Dan was still on the phone with Nick and Stacy describing our wedding in all the details. He was sitting at the computer desk in the bedroom, sipping the red wine, and turning around in his hi-back executive chair.
– Am I awful Stacy? Does Nick confirm this? Does he agree with the fact that I can be an awful husband? Ha-ha-ha. … Thank you, guys. I’ve never expected to hear that from you. Are you kidding? Seriously? Absolutely… Hmm. – Dan finished the bottle and was answering some Nick’s questions.
– Yes, of course, Vika’s mom, and sisters, and aunties called and congratulated us. Yes, I talked to everyone. … Of course, in Russian. Ha-ha-ha: “Prie-vet” (i.e. “Hello”), “Ha-ro-shiï muu-sh” (“Good husband”), “Pa-ka, pa-ka” (Bye-bye). – Daniel boasted and joked at the same time.
My excited husband was overwhelmed with the emotions and wine. He couldn’t stop describing the wedding in all the details. He did it very eloquently, specially for his best friends. When he noticed that I woke up, he waved me: “Night-night, sweetie pie!”
Oh, that wedding of mine…
3. American Couples
I was watering my favorite fantastic rose bushes in the front yard.
Dan came back home from his mom’s house, and I found it weird, yet wonderful that he was in a very good mood.
– Dear, Nick and Stacy want to meet you and Slava. They are coming to California to visit Diane, Nick’s mom, in a couple of weeks. Their children are going to come to see their granny, too, to do some shopping with her. Diane is so generous. She has been spoiling her grandchildren since childhood, and she always gives them a lot of cash and different presents. She is having a party at her house this month and looking forward to see us all there. So, my sweetheart, be ready! Okay? – Dan said this very quickly, almost holding his breath.
– It’s great, dear. I’ll be happy to meet Diane, Nick, and Stacy, – I smiled at my husband.
– You are so sexy Vika! And I noticed, sweetie, you are so playful with the hose and water, – he smiled at me, – let’s then go to the bedroom to play with my “hose”. It’s ready, as usual, look!
Dan took the hose from my hands and put it against his penis. He loudly laughed, however got confused once he saw a neighbor with a little boy by our gates. It was a young unemployed dad, who never was downcast and always was so polite and talkative. Dan waved to him and his little son, and they started to discuss the latest IT news.
I, in turn, returned to my roses with some along-side thoughts about Diane, Nick, and Stacy. I remembered a story, recently told me by Dan – the story about his dearest and favorite friends.
That day we went to Van Nuys to get the marriage license.
– Can you see this glassy skyscraper? This is the Supreme Court of Los Angeles. Recently a young prosperous and very talented lawyer was killed here, on the front doorstep, by a direct shot into his back. One of his client’s opponents took a revenge on the lawyer’s excellent job and decided to solve his personal problem in such a terrible way, – Dan pointed his index finger at the porch and staircase where the tragedy took place, – please, remember this place, dear.
– Why, Dan?
– I mean the location of the court, the building. You might have to come here, in future; so it’s useful for you to remember.
– Hmm. I don’t think so. The Supreme Court’s location? Why? I don’t understand, Dan, and it’s kind of odd to hear that from you.
He didn’t reply; instead, he digressed from the subject of discussion and again pointed out the glass buildings and magnificent fluffy and curly clouds slowly flying high in the sky.
– Look at the beautiful funny clouds, Vika!
– They are so mysterious, – I answered and as well decided to ask Daniel a question about one of his habits.
– Dan, why do you always point out with your index finger? Everywhere.
– Why? Nobody ever asked me about this, Vika. – He was embarrassed and stared at me. – What?
– Foolish habit, Dan. In Russia every child knows that this is a bad habit. That’s why I wonder.
– But you are not in Russia any longer, my dear Vika! You are in America. Relax, please.
“Oh, yeah! Really, it’s better to relax and do not take so seriously such triviality, – I thought that moment, – people can have different habits, so what? I chose Dan myself, and it’s probably better to take him as he is. He doesn’t gnawing his finger nails, he doesn’t pick his teeth or nose. He never spits the gum at passersby; he never loudly burps every five minutes. And never eases himself outside. Hmm… Probably, it’s I, who is too much fussy. It’s better to forget of this and relax. He is right.”
Dan’s cell phone rang; he checked the caller id and mentioned that Nick had just called. He decided to call him back in the evening, switched the cell phone off, and we entered the office to see a huge line inside the building and only three or four clerks servicing the clients at once.
I paid special attention at the people there. The couples in line were so different, and attractive, and I was greatly amazed by such a variety. We, like all the others in the line, were patiently waiting for our turn.
Dan made a joke.
– So, miss Vika, there are lines in the US, too, not only in Russia. Could you imagine, dear? I didn’t expect that. It’s because
