came to her and invited her for a dance. It was a slow tune, and Galina felt very comfortable in his hands as he led her on the dance floor.
The next tune was fast and Galina went to the corner to watch how other people were dancing to this fast music. She was a quick learner, and by the end of the dance she knew all the jumping and jiving moves.
While watching the dance floor, Galina didn’t notice that the same guy that invited her to her first dance in American House was approaching her again with a glass of wine. He said pointing a finger to himself, “John.” Then he pointed a finger to her, and she said “Galya.” Both of them were smiling, happy that they understood each other. That was Galina’s first communication with an American. She drank the glass of wine that John gave her and started to feel great. Several times in a row she danced with John, then with another guys. At the end of the party she realized that she was happy. She felt like a young woman again! She completely forgot her responsibilities at home and at her workplace. She wanted to stay, but it was time to leave. Several drunken American soldiers tried to talk to her, but she dismissed them.
During the whole evening she had been watching this new (for her) crowd of young Americans that surrounded her. Most of them were holding glasses or even bottles full of whiskey or vodka. They were laughing and she realized that they seemed really happy.
Only one fellow out of the lot of Americans looked pretty serious. He also was holding a bottle in his hand, but it was a bottle of Coke. The bottle of Coke was in fact what attracted her attention, not the guy. She had never tried Coca Cola in her life, but had heard about it from her friend Nina, who liked it very much. She told her once “it’s full of bubbles, it is like sparkling water but tastes a hundred times better.”
“Next time I will definitely try it,” Galina thought. “Maybe this guy will share it with me.” She even smiled at her own idea. The soldier was skinny, tall with long curly hair and some pimples on his face. He was not so handsome but at the same time, he had a pleasant expression on his plain face. She wanted to find her prince here and although she didn’t feel he was the one, she couldn’t help noticing that he was probably the only guy there who was sober. Several times they exchanged quick looks at each other but that was all. She turned away, found Nina, and both of them left.
“How did you like it there?” Nina asked. “For me it’s always fun. You don’t have any obligation to these American guys. At the end of the evening they’re so drunk that you can disappear without a problem. Of course they want more than dance and some girls are ready to go to their rooms, but not me. I have so much fun dancing and flirting, that is enough for me.”
Galina said. “I loved it there. There is another life waiting for us, full of fun and joy. I am tired of this grey life that surrounds us now. I want something else. What about next weekend? Are you going there? Can I join you?”
“Yes, I’m going next weekend. You can meet me there, but if you like it there you will need to do something with your English. You cannot be silent all the time and you should understand some of what they’re talking about and avoid finding yourself in an awkward situation. If you like, I can give you some English textbooks for beginners. I learned my English by studying them.”
“Of course. I want them. Please bring me the books tomorrow. I’ll start learning English right away.” Galina said.
It was two o’clock in the morning when Galina came home. It was quiet; everybody was sleeping. She went to bed but couldn’t fall asleep. For an hour she turned from one side to another, thinking about the night before. She felt so good. She was also thinking about her new friend John. Nice fellow, she thought. He didn’t fluster her at all—just the opposite, she liked him. With that wonderful feeling, the feeling that her life was just beginning and the tingle of all the possibilities ahead, she at last went to sleep.
Galina always had an expedient character. If she set a goal for herself she would do everything to reach it. She started to learn English the next day after she got the textbooks from Nina. Every day she spent four hours learning words that she had never heard before. At the end of the week Galina could say several phrases in English like “how are you,” “what is your name,” and “let’s dance.”
Friday came quickly and after work she put her favorite dress on. It was a little bit provocative, but it was party time. She borrowed the perfume that she liked so much from Nina. Both of them smelled the same but what a smell it was! Galina was thrilled to be in social circles again. At the party, Galina surprised John. She asked him in English, “How are you? How was your week?”
John was so excited that he started to talk to her so quickly she had to stop him.
“That’s it. I don’t know anything else,” she said in Russian. “Let’s dance,” she added in English.
They danced together the whole night and the next too, which was Saturday. Galina liked John more and more. Not only because he was an excellent dancer, but because he was intelligent, talked to her respectfully, and never drank to excess. Her main attraction to him was he made it clear that he liked her too. At the end of Saturday night John asked her for a date. He explained it simply, so she could understand him.
“You need to practice your English. I can help you with that. Let’s meet each other tomorrow and I will give you some tips to get better in English. You have made so much progress in only one week. You’re a smart girl.”
Galina was happy that she would see John sooner than the next dance party. They decided to meet each other at noon near the entrance of the most famous park in Moscow, Gorky Park. It was Galina’s decision to go to the park. She liked the atmosphere of Moscow parks. She grew up near one, and Gorky Park was not only the biggest in Moscow, it was the most beautiful one, situated on the left bank of the Moscow River. It was like a forest near downtown Moscow. And as a bonus, it wasn’t far from American House. John had been stationed in Moscow for almost a year but he had never heard of Gorky Park. He was also excited to see some sights in the capitol of Russia with this beautiful Russian woman as his guide.
It was springtime in Moscow and the trees in the park had just broken into leaf. John was impressed. They walked hand in hand for a couple of hours. He told Galina all about himself, about his life in America, about his plans, and about his parents who were waiting for him in New York where he grew up. He wanted to go back there and had no desire to go anywhere else. Galina’s English was so poor, she hardly understood a word, but she listened and did not interrupt him.
“Are you hungry?” he asked Galina. “Let’s stop and have some lunch in this place. I think it’s a little diner.”
He was right. The small restaurant was inviting and they were the only visitors there. Galina wanted John to try some real Russian food and ordered Siberian pelmeni, dumplings filled with meat. For John this was something new. The dumplings were simply delicious.
They spent a pleasant day together and John taught her many new English words. They were both enjoying life and their moments together. They didn’t notice the two men that followed them during their entire date.
It was dark when Galina and John left the park. They said good-bye to each other near the subway station. They even kissed each other. Their kiss did not go unnoticed by the men who had been tailing them.
When Galina neared the entrance to her apartment house, one of the men approached her and asked, “Did you have a good time today?”
“It’s none of your business,” she answered him.
“It is our business now,” he said. “My name is Andrei. Don’t introduce yourself. I know you, Galina, for
