Ivan Zommer - October 1st, 1958. 11:47 A.M.
3 0 D A Y S R E M A I N
"Happy Early Birthday, Ivan!"
The exclamation confused me, "But it's not even close to my birthday yet?" Katerina squinted her eyes.
"Same month. Close enough," she replied stubbornly as she pulled me out of bed, "I got you an early present!" I suddenly woke up a little bit more.
"A present?"
"Yep! And truthfully," she admitted, "I only got it this early because I found a really good deal. I wouldn't be surprised if the very next person who saw it would have taken it." She led my to the living room, then put her hand over my eyes.
"No peeking," she giggled. I snatched her hand off my face.
"You're an ass." She giggled some more.
"Now now Ivan, don't be so frosted," she stopped me in the middle of the floor.
"Wait here," she said. She quickly retrieved something that make a sort of scratching sound on the floor as she dragged it.
"Mmmhmm." I responded, staying put. Finally, she sat me down on a bench, or stool.
"A chair? Is this my present?" I scoffed, sarcastically of course. Another chair is actually a nice thing to have. Now I can prop my feet up on my old one.
"No," she said, "I'm rolling my eyes. Be patient!" She grabbed my hands and tried to move them, but I locked them in place.
"Ugh," she groaned, "Let me move them!" I chuckled and loosened my arms. She lifted them up, forward, and down onto a smooth surface.
"What..." I said, trying to figure out what it was I was touching, when she suddenly pushed my hands down harder. A dissonant, off-key chord echoed through our nearly empty apartment. Shock covered my face as a smile undoubtedly crossed hers.
"It's a piano stupid," she said, "even you could learn to play the piano." I remained silent.
"What? Not good enough of a present for you?"
"N-no it's just...how did you afford this?" She "pfff'd" at me.
"I said I found a really good deal on it! It was free. Mrs. McBride, my school teacher, was getting rid of it. Said she was too old to play it or something that didn't make sense. So I took it."
"You took it or you stole it?"
"Rolling my eyes again. If its out on the street by the dump, its not stealing." She said, "If you want, I can take it back."
"No, no, no, I think we'll keep it," I said. I pushed a key. A note rang, resonating off of our walls. "Thank you," I said.
"No problem," replied Katerina, "I didn't really do a whole lot to get it, besides be in the right place at the right time." She paused. "Want to go get lunch?" I nodded.
"Yeah.I'll play this bad boy later."My sister probably rolled her eyes a third time.
~ ~ ~
Chi Chi greeted us as we walked in the door with a loud, "Hey! My favorite Czechs!" It was supposed to be funny because we were the only Czechoslovakians in town. Well, besides my brother.
Katerina laughed, I gave him my best pity laugh. Chi Chi was really nice, but not as funny as he thinks he is.
"How are you Chich?" Katerina said, probably giving him a hug.
"Fine! Fine! Not many customers. Very slow today," he said, "But its like that every Wednesday. People are working too much." He came to me and shook my hand.
"Senior Ivan," he said with a chuckle. It was a nickname he gave me when we first met.
"Senior...?" he had asked the first time we ate here. Without thinking I said, "Ivan." Apparently he meant my last name, and giving him my first was hilarious.
"Hello Chi Chi," I said, sitting down in a booth. Katerina walked to the jukebox. She started playing Sinatra. It reminded me of when I first came to America, the sights and smells and sounds I heard that so greatly contrasted those I had heard on the Farm.
If I had it in my power
I'd arrange for every girl to have your charm
Then every minute, every hour
Every boy would find what I've found in your arms
I sighed. Those were the days I missed most.The first few when we moved here, before the charm wore off and everything faded to grey, both literally for me and metaphorically for my family. Sometimes, being blind seemed like a blessing. I never had to see my parents die, never had to see how happy everyone was around us. That's what I'd say if I were a poet, or optimist. But in truth, being blind just sucks. But whatever. It is not as if there's anything interesting happening in Fromville to see.
My muse was interrupted by a loud question. "What to drink?"
"Water."
"Cream Soda."
Chi Chi dotted notes as I listened to the sounds outside. Cars, people, dogs. Not much variation from day to day. I sighed again.
Chi Chi went back to the bar, whistling the tune as some other people came in.