Teufel Reich - Stories of the insignificant

Chapter 2 - Latvian Elderly Life

We meet an old man named Pēteris Balodis, a Latvian man who served in the Latvian white army during the second Russian Civil war. He sat on the porch of his simple house in the Latvian Countryside, his house since he retired. His wife, Elza Balodis would walk onto the porch. "Hey, Pēteris, my Dear.." she said, smiling warmly as she sat down on the chair next to his. "What're you thinking about?" She asked. "I'm reminiscing about the Civil war.. the good times I had with my brothers in arms, how the White army pushed the Communists out of European Russia," Pēteris said, looking at his wife. "Oh.." Elza said, "I received a call, our grandchildren want to visit us." She said "hm, Wonderful." Pēteris said. "When will they arrive?" He asked.

"They will arrive in about an hour." Elza said. "Good. Please, stay. I could use the company of you, my dear." Pēteris said, smiling as he looked at his wife. Both Pēteris and his wife waited out the hour, talking about random stuff about their day. Eventually a car would pull into the driveway, and the door would open. "Hey, father!" A voice, said. It was Pēteris' son, Aleksandrs, and his children. "Ah, Aleksandrs!" Pēteris said, smiling warmly as he greeted his son. "How have you been?" He asked, deciding to stand up and walk off the porch. "I've been just wonderful, the married life is quite nice." Aleksandrs said, shaking his father's hand. "Grandpa!" The children said, rushing up to Pēteris. "Ah! My grandchildren! You've grown!" Pēteris said, picking up one of them "ah, you're getting heavy!" Pēteris said, partially straining his voice while smiling. He would soon put the kid down "alright, go say hi to grandma!" Pēteris said.

"So, my son, i have much to discuss with you." Pēteris said, looking at Aleksandrs.