Aniko: Shattered dreams of love

Anikó

Laszlo met Anikó for the first time in 1968 at a family friend's farm where he spent a few weeks in the summer. Anikó and her parents visited Martha, the owner of the farm, for a day. He really like the girl, who was 6 and a half years younger then he was. She reminded of a girl he was very found of, back in Hungary. Ironically both had the same name Anikó.

The second time at a wedding in 1976. Rose (his mother) and Laszlo were invited to a wedding, but he did not want to go. It was the marriage of Martha's daughter Baba. Baba was actually her nickname, which meant a baby in Hungarian. All her friends knew her by this name. Baba lived nearby, and Laszlo spent some time at her mother's farm in the summer of 1968. By now, Martha had sold the farm, moved to Niagara Falls to a small house, and retired. She supplemented her retirement by being a seamstress. Laszlo drove his mother down to Niagara Falls for visits a few times, plus Rose used her services to adjust some of her dresses. Laszlo bumped into Baba several times while walking Duchess (his German Shepherd) in the early evenings at the nearby park, as she lived across from the park. Laszlo used the excuse that he did not have a tuxedo to wear to the wedding and did not have a date. Such poor excuses did not stop Baba. She rented one for Laszlo and set him up with one of her bridesmaids as part of the groomsmen or ushers. Rose explained to Laszlo that it was an honour to be selected and would be an insult not to go, and he had to go.

It was a pleasant wedding held at the Hungarian Catholic Church in Toronto. Followed by an expensive reception at an upscale Hungarian restaurant, the Wooden Plate, on Bloor Street, near Yorkville. A chic and pricey area of downtown Toronto. Similar to the Fifth Avenue area with expensive boutiques in New York City. Baba indeed came through with a nice girl for Laszlo, but he wasn't interested in her. She was not the slim and sexy, the type he liked. Laszlo was mesmerized by someone else. An attractive girl (in Laszlo's eyes) about 18 was there as a guest with someone else. Something was drawing him to her. But since she was on a date, he did not bother introducing himself and just let it go.

In April, 1977, Rose, Laszlo, and the Duchess visited Martha in Niagara Falls. Their first visit since her daughter's wedding. Martha wondered what had happened between Laszlo and the girl he was with. Laszlo replied nothing; he was not interested in her, but he was in another girl there and described her.

"If you really want to meet her, she just lives around the block from here," Martha continued, "you may be surprised, but she asked me just a couple of weeks ago, who you were? I've told her your first and last names and that you lived in Toronto." After hesitating for several seconds, Martha asked "I can call her over if you would like?"

Ten minutes later, Anikó, with her mother, pulled up in a silver 1972 Cadillac Eldorado and parked it behind the 1972 Oldsmobile 98 on the driveway. After the short introduction, Laszlo, Anikó, and Mary (her mother) met in 1968 at the farm! Anikó was the young girl and her father who had invited Laszlo. A lot has changed since then. And not always for the better. A lot of water has fallen over Niagara Falls. Anikó had just turned 17 in March, although she looked over 18, and the Eldorado was hers. She had received it for her 16th birthday! It wasn't new but a very well kept low mileage car previously owned by a local Cadillac dealer.

Anikó was five feet, four inches tall, had a feminine figure but was not skinny by any means, had long dark brown hair in a ponytail, warm brown eyes with a sexy twinkle, and a great smile. She had little make-up, nicely kept pink nails on her hands that matched her lipstick, a blue mini-skirt, a strapless white top that nicely fit her firm breasts, and high-heeled casual fabric sandals. She looked a bit exotic, like a Spanish flamenco dancer. Maybe because her mother had gypsy blood in her veins. She was young, sexy, and desirable.

Anikó and Laszlo clearly hit it off! They went outside with Duchess to talk. Walking the dog was a good excuse while the mothers and Martha chatted inside. It was a long walk down to the falls and back.

They talked about their lives and heartbreaks, and both were very sympathetic toward each other. It turned out that Anikó's father had left her and her mother behind one day in 1970. He was declared dead a couple of years later, and her mother remarried. Now, she had a different last name than hers. Coincidentally, Laszlo had a different last name than her mother due to her marriage to Andrews that changed her last name. To have it changed back to her former name to match Laszlo's last name, was complex, not to mention expensive. When they showed up at Martha's house, Mary, Rose, and Martha were waiting beside the Cadillac, wondering where they disappeared. Anikó and Laszlo decided next Saturday to meet again around 11 a.m., next Saturday. Laszlo would drive down to Niagara Falls to see her on a date. Anikó got behind the wheel of the Eldorado and left with Mary, waving at Laszlo!