C4 antho - Chamber Four

~84~ The Chamber Four Fiction Anthology
generously larded rye bread. Tanya is at home. Yawning, she
puts on a flowered nightgown which has no idea of its mistress’
night life in foreign quarters. She takes up a deadly
boring textbook she has never progressed beyond page 14
when the phone in the hallway rings. She hastens barefoot to
be the first to pick up the receiver and make her nosy mother
retreat into the kitchen.
“Hellooo,” Tatyana says in the deepest of her bosom
tones.
“Oh, Andrey, it’s you,” she switches into standby mode,
knowing why he usually calls.
“I would like you to help me, Tanya.”
“I know you want my lecture notes again. Listen, can’t
you try and do your homework yourself, for a change?”
“Tanya, it’s not your notes I want.”
“Be quick, I’m falling asleep.”
“Tanya... I would like you to give me a gift.”
“Your birthday was two months ago, dear, and you got a
whole pack of Marlboro from me!”
“Tatyana, it’s a different gift I am asking you for. I would
like you to give me a baby.”
“Have you lost your wits? Have Semolina give you a
baby.”
Deeply, though, Tanya is flattered by the request. Even
Andrey the market champion... She is half-wondering if she
could secretly refit her duet score for his bass.
“Let me think,” she says. “Call me tomorrow.”
In the morning before classes Tanya runs into Dmitri the
baritone at the cigarette kiosk. He leaves his entourage of
two blondes and takes her by the hand to the side.
“May I ask you a question?”