Seated on a plastic chair with her elbows on the molded arms, the teaching assistant propped her chin up with her fists and kept her eyes on the people in the yard.
«Hi,» Nina smiled, and sat next to her. «I think we should get to know each other a little better.»
«I’ll be happy to,» Marina replied with sincere gladness. «Why does your daughter speak English so well?»
«It’s a touching story.» Nina smiled. «Our neighbor in Russia was American. My mom once saved her doggie, and they became friends. She spent a lot of time with Larisa and taught her English without any charge.»
«Wow.» Marina sighed.
The women kept silent for a while, pensively looking around. This day there was no sun; the sky was hidden behind an unbroken cover of grayish blue clouds. The warm and humid air was still, casting a drowsiness over everyone and arousing in their souls odd, various, and bizarre fantasies.
«What do you think about Vlad’s adviser?» Marina suddenly asked.
«About David?» wondered Nina, looking at the host.
«Yes, about David…»
Marina’s dreamy voice surprised Nina. She shrugged her shoulders. «I don’t know him well yet.»
«Don’t you think he looks like a pirate?» continued Marina, still staring at David. «Have you ever seen a professor with a beard and mustache?»
«Yes.» Nina laughed. «You’re right, he looks like some buccaneer! I don’t like brunettes, but… It would have been so romantic. Imagine a pirate ship, they captured us…»
«Yeah.» Marina breathed out a slight moan. «Captured…»
While the adult guests were talking, Dylon, Hannah’s baby brother, crept closer and sat next to Larisa. Laughing, he stretched his arm out towards the toy table.
«Mom!» Hannah called with displeasure. «Dylon is disturbing us!»
«Play nice!» Megan glanced at them, and turned to the adults again.
Hannah pursed her lips, but Larisa cheered her up, «It’s even better. He can play with us.»
She addressed the boy, «Would you like a cup of tea?» She gave him an empty plastic cup. The child took it, looked at it all over, and made a motion that he was drinking.
«You see!» exclaimed Larisa. «He understood.»
Merriment returned to Hannah, and, smiling, she moved a plate with sweets to Dylon. The boy grabbed a handful of the candy and stuffed his mouth.
«No!» Hannah angrily shouted at him. «You should take just one.»