The Black Widow

Novosibrisk

The sun is just starting to set when we reach Novosibirsk. It is a big city, not as big as St. Petersburg but big all the same. To my surprise we don't stop anywhere in the city, we keep driving. We come to a beautiful field. Then another and another. We must be staying at a farm. I have never in my life been to a farm so this experience should be interesting. We pull into a dirt driveway. I hop out and get my first good look at the house. It is big but simple and kind of run down. Not so that it is unlivable but it could do with a new coat of paint. 

Ivan carries our suitcases and then the driver drives off. There is a wonderful grass field right by the house that looks like it goes on for miles. The grass is bright green and looks like it would come up to my waist. On the other side of the house are these little fenced in areas and a barn. I am assuming it is for animals. Behind that is a large field of wheat. I am mesmerized by the way it moves in the wind slowly but all together. The golden color could easily be brighter than the sun.

I look at Ivan and smile, "I like this place."

He smiles too, "Good I don't know how long we will have to stay here."

We walk up the front path and Ivan knocks on the door. An older woman answers the door. Her hair looks like snow and is tied up in a messy bun. Her eyes are blue and soft like melting ice. She wears a lot of layers despite the fact that it is summer and pleasantly cool outside. Despite how old she looks she still seems to be strong. If I were to imagine winter as a person I think this is what I would imagine. Cold but kind of soft too.

"Well hello there," she smiles at me. "I was wondering when you would have arrived."

 "Thank you so much." Daddy sounds relieved.

She smiles again. I like her smile whenever she does her eyes sparkle. "I am Lada. What is your name little one?"

I look down at the ground, "I'm Natalia."

"What a pretty name!" She exclaims, "How old are you, Natalia?"

"I am nine."

"She will be ten in two months."

She nods, "you must be starving. Let me get you some stew.

We end up sitting down at her rather large wooden table with huge bowls of stew in front of us. Ivan tried to tell her I wouldn't eat so much but she wouldn't listen. She said I was too small and this would help fatten me up. I smiled at that. Everyone thought I was always too small. I didn't really want to grow. If I grew too much I might be too big to be a ballerina. Ivan told me to eat as much as I could and that wasn't much. He ended up having to eat most of mine.

When she came back in the room she started chattering away again, "I live here with my son Ignati. He's the one who does all the work around here. He's just about to start the harvest before everything freezes over."

"I can help with that," Daddy offers, "I don't know much about farming but I can work."

"Oh nonsense," she says swatting her hands at nothing, "Your our guests."

Daddy smiles at me and I give him a tired smile back. We both know he'll end up helping regardless. Neither of us can stand to sit still and do nothing.

 Lada points down a hallway. "his bedroom is down there along with mine. You will be sleeping upstairs."

Daddy nods, "Again, thank you so much for having us."

She chuckles, "It's my pleasure it been so long since I have had children here and it's not like I could really say no anyhow."

I didn't know what she meant at the last part. Why couldn't she say no? Ivan glances at me and changes the subject.

"It's a very nice place you have here Lada."

"Why thank you Ivan." she grins, "It has been in my family for generations. After my husband died Ignati was so nice to come help out."

Ivan nods, "Is he your only child."

"My only son, my girls are all grown with families of there own."

They continue talking about adult things and I quickly get bored. I get very tired and start to nod off.

I hear Lada say, "Oh look at the poor thing she must be exhausted. I will carry her up and you get your cases."

Being only half asleep I still feel a little uncomfortable with Lada carrying me. She smells like grass and cinnamon which I think is an odd combination.

She sets me down in a bed. It is a nice bed but the sheets are kind of scratchy. Suddenly I really want to be home in my own bed. With Ivan just down the hall and not in the bed next to mine.
That's all I can think about as a drift off to sleep.

When I wake up I still think I am in my own room. Then I open my eyes. I am in an attic. But it isn't all dark and musty because there are two very large windows. One is right above daddy's empty bed and the other in between our beds. Right under that window is a wooden stool that is being used as an end table. There is a pretty vase with wildflowers inside. There is a wooden desk at the end of my bed and it is missing a chair. I am assuming that's where the stool goes. On the other side of the room, there is a dresser with fancy brass handles. It has four drawers. The door is right in the middle of the wall. I open it and peek out. I don't hear any sound. I don't want to wake anyone up.

I close the door and crawl on top of daddy's bed and look out. The sun is shining and the air seems very fresh. I see daddy with his sleeves rolled up next to a pile of logs. He holds an ax, he must be helping with the work. A young man with wheat colored hair walks past him with a big bag of animal feed. He must be Ignati. Daddy says something that makes the Ignati laugh so hard he has to set down the bag. They look like they are having fun. I look around the room for my suitcase and find it under my bed. I take out all of my clothes and put them in the bottom two drawers. Ivan has already taken the top ones. I put my books and other things in one of the desk drawers. I slide my suitcase under the bed again and then get dressed. There is a full-length mirror right next to the door and use it to do my hair. I comb it and then brush it until its flat.

When I go downstairs there is a plate on the table with eggs and toasts. I wonder if it is for me. Lada walks in from the kitchen. Her hair is in a bun again today but this time it is tight with not a hair out of place. Kind of like when it first snows and it is all so neat and pretty but by the end of the day people have stepped in it and children have played in it. Maybe she is the winter lady after all. I smile to myself just thinking about it.

"That's for you dear. Eat up." She points to the plate on the table, "I saw your nasty father steal your stew last night you must be famished."

I shake my head, "No I couldn't eat it all, he didn't want to be wasteful."

"Nonsense" She replies, "now eat up."

I try to eat it all but I just don't have a very big appetite. There is still a piece of toast and a small pile of eggs left when I am done.

"I told you I am never very hungry." I feel bad but I couldn't possibly eat anymore.

She chuckles, "Your stomach must be the size of a peanut."

I grin and am glad she isn't angry. Winter is never very fun when angry. She takes my plate, "you go outside and play, just don't get lost it's a big place."

"I won't" I yell as I am running out the door and into the fresh morning air.