Hello, Privet! #1: Hello/Привет

Chapter 31

SOPHIE

Henry's family runs a bakery and deli right in the center of the town of Manhasset. Henry's wife, Rachel, recommends apple pie with a wedge of cheese and vanilla ice cream as we are shown to a table. Henry's son fetches him from the park, where he apparently spends his afternoons walking the dogs.

Anton only contemplates his plate, where the vanilla ice cream is melting on the apple pie.

I lean forward and whisper, "Are you going to eat or what?"

"No. We already ate those sandwiches. I am full."

"Look, when your host offers you food, you have to eat it. It means they want you to feel that you're welcome in their home, and when you eat, it means you accept their—kindness."

"Okay, I am eating it," he says grudgingly, but he sure acts like it's such a big chore to eat it.

"It's just that Rachel will think you don't like it." Then I shrug. "But you know, do whatever you want."

At that, he shoves a large mouthful of pie into his mouth and smiles at me while chewing, showing me the half-masticated food.

Why do people think Anton is so attractive?

ANTON

When Henry arrives, one of the guys points us to him, and he walks to our table, and he shakes the devochka's hand and my hand, as if nothing has happened. I don't know what to say, so I just nod at him. I never know how to act around people after I have a fight with them.

"You must be Sophie Rosenbaum."

"Yes, sir—" she says and then she kicks me in the shin.

I glare at her. It was not hard, but she is so annoying. I nod and then I say, "Henry."

The devochka then talks about the restaurant and I don't understand why she is talking about the restaurant. We came here to get Henry back.

"I had no idea you owned a place like this," the devochka is saying.

"My wife's family owns it. It's been in the family since the turn of the century. See those pictures?"

The devochka turns her head to look at the pictures. Then they walk around the restaurant looking at all the pictures and I follow them very quietly. And she says to all of them, "Wow," as if they are the most amazing things in the world. It is just old pictures with some old people.

She is saying again now, "Wow."

We are in the kitchen where Henry is showing us their ovens and one of the cooks is taking out the bread from one of the ovens.

"The best bagels and hamantaschen in Long Island." Henry calls one of his employees to bring us some.

"Hamantaschen is my favorite," the devochka says.

She's still going to eat after our big lunch? How is this possible? She is so small. She could not have any room.

She says to Henry, "You're not eating with us?"

"I've been trying to cut down since the cancer."

"Oh, I didn't know about that—" She glances at me as if I should have told her about this. "Anton didn't mention it—when did you have it? It's in remission though, right?"