«Marina.»
«How strange that this idea came to me only now.» he thought.
«Do you have any plans this evening?»
Marina tossed her head and gazed over at him. She came close.
«Why do you ask?» She said tenderly and with such open hope that David was amazed. «I did not plan anything special…»
«Could you baby-sit my kids tonight?» David asked. He saw she was disappointed, and, confounded, he added: «I’ll pay you…»
She snorted; her eyes were as cold as ice.
«No way,» she answered sharply. «I mean, I’ll be happy to do it. But without payment.»
«Why not?»
Not a grin, but a ghostly smile flashed from her lips. «Have you ever heard, „Russians have their own pride?“» Marina went back to her desk and got her purse. «If you want me to baby-sit your kids don’t even try to offer me money.»
Fully confused, David nodded.
* * * * *
«Thank God!» Megan smiled, seeing her husband enter with the girl. Megan addressed her. «Have you ever babysat anyone?»
«I had a younger sister and two brothers,» Marina explained calmly. «My mom often left me with them. Sometimes we spent a few days all alone.»
Her accent surprised Megan, and she recalled that David had told her his teaching assistant was Russian. Deep instinctive fears and worry about her children stirred in Megan’s soul, but she pressed it down with her mind.
«Don’t be stupid,» Megan ordered herself. «Why should we be afraid of her?» And she started to explain to Marina what to do with the kids.
* * * * *
Hannah VanStein hated it when her parents left her at home, like she was a baby. She was seven, almost eight years old, and did not think of herself as a child. She hated all babysitters, and when Megan and Marina entered her room, she started wailing.
«Honey,» Megan pleadingly addressed her. «Marina is a kind lady. Please be a good girl.»
«Don’t worry Mrs. VanStein.» Marina sat down near Hannah’s dollhouse. «We’ll be fine.»
«What did she say?» Hannah did not understand a word. Amazed, she even forgot to cry.
«I said,» Marina carefully pronounced every sound. «I really like the vest on this Barbie.» She pointed to the doll.
It was Hannah’s favorite toy. Very old, with thinning hair, it was still first in the girl’s heart. Hannah was glad that this unknown lady who was talking so strange liked her doll, and noticed its new and really elegant vest.