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The four women came to see them at the house later in the afternoon. Alexander and Tatiana were playing soccer. Actually Tatiana had just gotten the ball away from him and, squealing, was trying to hold on to it, while he was behind her, trying to kick it from under her. He had lifted her off the ground and was pressing himself hard into her while she was shrieking. All he was wearing was his skivvies, and all she was wearing was his ribbed top and her underwear. Flummoxed, Tatiana stood in front of Alexander, trying to shield his near-naked body from four pairs of wide eyes. He stood behind her, his arms on her shoulders, and Tatiana heard him say, βTell themβNo, forget it, I will,β and before she could utter a sound, he came forward, walked up to them, twice their size, bare and unrelentingly himself, and said, βLadies, in the future you might want to wait for us to come and see you.β βShura,β Tatiana muttered, βgo and get dressed.β βSoccer is probably the least of what youβll see,β Alexander said into the womenβs stunned faces before going inside the house. When he came back out, suitably covered, he told Tatiana he was going to the village to get a couple of things they needed, like ice and an ax. βWhat an odd combination,β she remarked. βWhere are you going to get ice from?β βThe fish plant. They have to refrigerate their fish, donβt they?β βAx?β βFrom that nice man Igor,β Alexander yelled, walking up the clearing, blowing her a kiss. She gazed after him. βHurry back,β she called. Naira Mikhailovna apologized hastily. Dusia was mouthing a prayer. Raisa shook. Axinya beamed at Tatiana, who invited them all for a bit of kvas. βCome inside. See how nicely Alexander cleaned the house. And look, he repaired the door. Remember, the top hinge was broken?β The four women looked around for a place to sit. βTanechka,β said Naira nervously, βthere is no furniture in here.β Axinya whooped. Dusia crossed herself. βI know, Naira Mikhailovna. We donβt need much.β She looked down on the floor. βWe have some things, we have my trunk. Alexander said he will make us a bench. Iβll bring my desk with the sewing machineβ¦weβll be fine.β βBut howββ βOh, Naira,β said Axinya, βleave the girl alone, will you?β Dusia glared at the rumpled bedsheets on top of the stove. A flustered Tatiana smiled. Alexander was right. It was better to go and visit them. She asked when would be a good time to come for dinner. Naira said, βCome tonight, of course. Weβll celebrate. But you come every night. Look, you wonβt be able to eat here at all. Thereβs nowhere even to sit or cook. Youβll starve. Come every night. Thatβs not too much to ask, is it?
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