The Meeting In The Cafe

 

She sat in cafe. Today there was not so successful day against her arranged well life, and she decided to indulge herself. She would not like to leave. Especially, that at the next little table two known actors talked lively about something. It was unusual to see them here so close and it is awkward to consider them, therefore she only occasionally glanced on them like by the way.

To one always was thirty seven though actually it is more. He had dark hair and eyes. To another, on ten years more younger, there were blue eyes and a frizzy light hair, the gold Esenin’s forelock.

Unexpectedly light-haired approached to her and said, smiling:

- You see what business, me is inconvenient to tell to you it, but … we with my friend argued that I will kiss you.

- It was necessary to do, instead of to speak. I would be not against.

He made the movement.

- No, now it is late. I, as the decent girl, am compelled to refuse. But what had your friend won?

- Yes he had won nothing! To tell the truth, I have thought up about this dispute to get acquainted.

The girl titters as he also expected, but in other occasion.

- To tell the truth! But other all was not fair?

- Yes is not present, well why? – the yellow-haired was stumbled. – You learnt me of course? – he asked for change the subject.

- No. But should I?

- Yes is not present, though I thought … However so even it is better. Alexander Pozhatev.

- Yes I have learnt you!

- But why excuses?

- But it was amusing to look, as such well-known actor will bold face.

- А-а, it is amusing … - he said somehow bitterly.

- Rita Lagutina, - she hastened to answer that he was not upset at all.

- Mar-ga-rita! – he said joyfully, at last sitting down for Rita’s little table.

- No, simply Rita.

- Why?

- ‘Margarita’ it is somehow in a western way and it is pretentiously. But your friend so and will miss, observing of us?

- Andrey Ignatich!

Bolishak condescendingly smiled and, with a glamour thrown a legged, sat down by them for a little table.

- Rita, marry me! – Alexander blurted out suddenly.

Bolishak stepping on the him leg under a table.

- Why for you? Rita, marry me truly.

- I do not know, but whence I remember that you are married.

- So is it really a problem? It is possible and disperse.

- What for? To marry on the first counter? Your wife the beautiful and wise woman.

- From what you it took? – Andrey sighed.

- It is very heavy to be the wife of such actor as you.

- It is interesting, why?

- All envy, wish you to beat off, become on her place. Fans notice each her misconduct. But to suffer and to look quaitly, how you kiss other women?

- On the platform. A such work! But you reflected, what it is to kiss the unloved woman and to play in this moment, what she is pleasant to you? And from what you took, what my wife looks at it quaitly? Plates fly to me! But you marry with she, Sasha! Not made up, but like not the terrible.

Rita just now with disappointment recollected that has washed off all make-up when cried today – from loneliness. She looked on pure, without a uniform black point a direct nose of Bolshak and his accurately cut nails, wished to sarcastic something, but restrained.

- Rita, so as my offer? – Alexander reminded shyly.

- Oh, it is difficult to be your wife. Always to be in shape, to look.

- Well, you can not be painted, - inserted Andrey.

- And if I weigh under hundred kgs and to go in a gown?

Pozhatev was confused.

- Well, you after all will not grow fat?

- But if? What then? Will throw? But then among a life to be always interesting, ready after your late rehearsal to talk about a role, to understand it – to explain after all very long, but may be talk about theatre and cinema you bored, so about what another?

- Well, with a theme for conversation problems will not be. You after all the psychologist, Rita? – has tried to guess Bolshak.

- No, not taken place actress, - said Rita with a call, expecting, what will be reaction.

- With such husband will take place, - assured Bolshak.

- I more do not wish to be the actress.

- Here is how? – Andrey moved one eyebrow.

- Yes, you know, to depend of the director … the husband will jealous again.

All have burst out laughing.

- There are all general phrases, Rita. – said after a pause Bolshak. – All young ladies dream to be actresses.

- You are right, - Rita admitted. – I, probably, do not have the boldness.

- The boldness? – Pozhatev was surprised. – You so have met me that I have thought: what impudent! So you marry me?

- Well, in an extreme case, we will disperse as quickly as have converged. I am agree.

Actors exchanged glances – they did not expect. But was already late.

She has agreed. Rita did not worry that leading roles at her future husband are already played and she account to console him, assort his new actor's works, to search for the reasons not such bright success. She even began to speak "to tell the truth", trying to prove good moments in his roles. Rita did not worry, because simply has not thought of it. She became even not shaken, but squeezed out as a lemon. And they have left, is simple because he has met another girl.

 

Elena Ponyatovskaya

The Skating Rink

Somehow in one of the most fristy evenings on the small a skating rink flooded by children of our court yard appeared the ice princess.

Anybody did not know her, but looking at the nice face framed with lush curls, at the thin neck, which is bulding a clavicle, and at all it, thin and fragile in the present (for figure skating) a blue suit with an open back and short chiffon, a blue skirt too and as she easily and ease fabricated by legs the most complicated paths, she was surrounded at once with our most beautiful and self-assured children.

But, however strangely, I was one, whom succeeded to carried through her and so to learn, where she lives to continue relations.

Soon there came her birthday. I came in the evening, chose the biggest snowdrift near her entrance and buried in it a gift. Then called the princess, and we together searched for it. And then throw in snowballs.

To me so it was cheerful from own idea, but she only helpless and not persistently repeated: «It is not necessary, it is not necessary!». However, she smiled too, but somehow with effort.

In couple of days I came – relatives and neighbours sob – my princess has died of a banal pneumonia which already then was treated elementary. Simply so quickly nobody has defined the diagnosis. A heat forced down. Thought, she caught a cold, eaten an ice-cream, will pass.

Anybody not blame me, but may be did not know. What she has finished – walk on a skating rink or game in snowballs? Probably, both that, and another. But wasn’t a day that I recollected the ice princess and tested the deepest sense of guilt for my careless pleasure and for my slow-wittedness will take care of the girl, as a fact – absence of brains.

In a youth all criteria on myself. I was strong and healthy. From such also would not be ill or rided with a slight cold.

How more I repented, a resentment and disappointment on myself that did not know, and could rescue, if I come earlier (would call the best doctor, would carry in hospital).

I never told to anybody about the princess. I thought, time treats, came to myself on a throat, crossed through not passing, despite her death, feelings to her, tried to be forgotten with other girls over whom shaked, protecting, so, that they laughed.

But then I understood that was simply terrified that emptiness which comes as sharp darkness after loss of the person, to fill and replace which it is impossible anybody and anything.

Meeting each following girl, I felt that I betray the princess, let and forever fallen asleep, that that it was at me with her, it is impossible with one another, and what wasn’t, but could be, only with the princess would be somehow especially.

I have understood that have crossed through the love, have seen a non-existence and was frightened.

Here, to you told. If though someone understood, what exactly I tested and I continue to test, let and not so strong, and as a deposit, to me it is easier.

Eventually, I have found any, let and not a full consolation, an outlet – in work and with other woman. Children were born. The healthy. And like all is from outside normal. I the exemplary family man. On work I take additional loading – all think that for the sake of money for children. But it is to distract less to recollect the princess.

With the wife we live in peace and friendship, we do not quarrel, even it is dullish somehow. Even she does not know about my greatest not passing pain and inability already to be absolutely happy in spite of the fact that there are remarkable children.

Now I understand that would be absolutely happy person if would marry with the youthful, strongest love. I had an ice princess. If I would love another girl, may be stronger on health, I would be happy too. But what to do, if I loved only the princess?

 

Elena Ponyatovskaya

The Bridges

 

The composer stood on the bridge and looked the stopped sight in twilight.

The girl approached, thought that it is the suicide, decided to start talking, distract. She show the river under the bridge, penitrate and carring fragments of ice.

He looked at water, then on her … and again in many fruitless years in his head begun to sound not clear music.

The girl, seen that the face of the person has brightened up, silently went. But she always thought about the stranger.

The born melody captured all thecountry, and then flown about the world.

And suddenly on any evening in a native city they met. There was a game to forfeits. To her falled to kiss him. She, having left a palatine on a chair, disappeared, run away. He caught up her on the bridge. Since then they are together. Perhaps just because she not executed a forfeit?

 

Elena Ponyatovskaya