Striving for Greatness: A Vladimir Chigvintsev Story

4

The next day I went into practice a little late. I wanted to see the reactions I got from both Maks and Valerie. However, I strolled in to find Maks there all alone, waiting on the both of us.

"Does our rehearsal time mean nothing to you?" Maks said slightly ticked off.

"It does.. Where's Valerie..." I couldn't believe she wasn't here, right when I was about to give her the benefit of the doubt regarding putting in the extra hours.

"She had a family emergency." Maks shrugged. "You guys are lucky I'm practically your uncle, Vlad. No other coach would put up with all of this.. I don't see a winner in you right now."

I immediately felt bad about thinking negatively about her again and began getting worried, hopefully everything is okay. Maks on the other hand is starting to get on my nerves.

"Why are you always so hard on me?" I asked him "You arent my father, I get enough of that at home! Well actually I get ignored at home, so this I guess is the better alternative."

"How is the old man, is he home or away on business?" Maks asked me looking concerned.

"Both.. because he is home but he doesn't make the home feel like a home, it's been more like a morgue lately." I got angry thinking about it.

Maks got physically upset. With a closed fist he walked across the room and went to the window. After staring up at the clouds for a few moments he turned back around to face me.

"I constantly ask myself why it had to be her. Why your mother? She had so much to live for, so much left to accomplish. And you know.. she made your father happy. Its unfortunate that her death has done this to him. He is in such a dark place."

"I asked him about Mom yesterday and he got angry with me, he mentioned you." I told Maks.

"Me?" He said looking puzzled, "I have nothing to do with his unhapiness."

Ever since my mother passed away things have been different between dad and Maks. They barely associate with one another, almost seeming like enemies more than friends sometimes.

"He just said something in the spur of the moment regarding you loving my mom, and when I asked him who mom loved he didn't say him, he said something along the lines of 'well she chose me.'"

With hearing these words Maks got furious. He grabbed his coat and began walking to his car.

"Maks!" I called after him, racing down to catch him but wasn't quick enough, he had already sped off.

I got in my car as quickly as I could but realized I had left my ignition key in my bag back up in the studio.

After wasting another few minutes I finally sped off knowing full well the direction in which Maks was headed.