The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!
As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I wondered why my stomach was in knots. We'd planned this a week ago. We'd decided we'd do this back on Guy Fawkes Day when we made the deal to teach each other the languages we knew. So, here I was, having showered and now dressed in one of the Compound washrooms, as I prepared to go meet Sean Cassidy and spend the afternoon with him, speaking nothing but Russian.
Standing here in front of the mirror, combing my hair.
Primping it a little.
After finally apologizing to and convincing the clothes box to pull out for me a pretty yellow sundress with a red belt.
Oh, God, I was thinking of this as a date!
I slapped myself. Literally, in front of the mirror. I'm afraid I made some of the other women in the washroom look. At least one of them gave me a sympathetic smile. I just took a deep breath and finished combing my hair, viciously, pretty much done with the primping, and left the washroom.
Good thing we weren't speaking French this afternoon, I thought. Xan's voice echoed in my head, speaking in a fake French accent. "French! It is ze language of loooove!" That's when I hit him with the snowball.
I slowed down as I left the Compound and entered the Island steambath. What was with the weather today? At least my dress was appropriate; light enough to let the breezes through, but any exertion threatened to undo the work I'd done to pretty myself up. Not that there was any special reason why I should, but... well... a person should take care of her appearance, shouldn't she?
I followed one of the lesser paths to where Sean's cottage was. Now that I knew the short cuts, I could be there in a half hour, but in this heat, my lazy pace made it a whole hour before I stood outside his front door, hesitating a little before I gathered up my courage again, and knocked.
I cleared my throat and spoke in Russian. "Anybody in there? It's time for your lesson!"
Standing here in front of the mirror, combing my hair.
Primping it a little.
After finally apologizing to and convincing the clothes box to pull out for me a pretty yellow sundress with a red belt.
Oh, God, I was thinking of this as a date!
I slapped myself. Literally, in front of the mirror. I'm afraid I made some of the other women in the washroom look. At least one of them gave me a sympathetic smile. I just took a deep breath and finished combing my hair, viciously, pretty much done with the primping, and left the washroom.
Good thing we weren't speaking French this afternoon, I thought. Xan's voice echoed in my head, speaking in a fake French accent. "French! It is ze language of loooove!" That's when I hit him with the snowball.
I slowed down as I left the Compound and entered the Island steambath. What was with the weather today? At least my dress was appropriate; light enough to let the breezes through, but any exertion threatened to undo the work I'd done to pretty myself up. Not that there was any special reason why I should, but... well... a person should take care of her appearance, shouldn't she?
I followed one of the lesser paths to where Sean's cottage was. Now that I knew the short cuts, I could be there in a half hour, but in this heat, my lazy pace made it a whole hour before I stood outside his front door, hesitating a little before I gathered up my courage again, and knocked.
I cleared my throat and spoke in Russian. "Anybody in there? It's time for your lesson!"