There was a time when my morning started with a little exercise. Eventually a cup of coffee replaced the exercise. It turned me on just as well as charging. But for a few days now, as soon as I open my eyes, I switch on my computer. I'm not interested in weather forecasts, sports news is not my thing either, even fashion news is no longer interesting. There's only one thing on my mind: How are my pictures online? Are there a lot of views, are there new comments. And so on. Today, for example, I discovered a new option. Clicking on my photo with the right mouse button, I saw the item: find with... I realised that you can search for this photo on the net, in case it appears somewhere else. That would be interesting. Let's see. But there was no miracle. The search engine only gave me one address. So, nobody is interested in my work yet. Let's wait!
We have a phrase: the award found its hero. Four months ago, my husband became a pensioner. And only now his office has managed to give him a trip to their departmental recreation centre. But he took offence and demanded another voucher.
- I will not go without my wife, - said Ivan and he conceded.
The base, of course, is not a resort in Antalya, but it is not a shithole. Two weeks in nature is not bad! Especially for free. Even though we're not needy, it's still nice. I've got some books with me, you won't believe it. I switched off my smartphone and left it at home. I took an old button phone for communication. I'm thinking about taking a camera. I decided to take it. But beforehand I deleted all the photos from my memory, they are all duplicated on other media. I left one picture of me alone in my negligee. I particularly liked it. Let it be, it won't hurt! I also brought a tripod, though I hesitated for a long time. I didn't take a car, so we came by taxi. I didn't want to go into the city unless I had to. And here I am sitting on the terrace in a chaise longue, breathing fresh morning air, reading. I love detective stories, I can't help it. I go to the beach once a day. I go in the afternoon, so the water is warmer. I say I go, but we don't go because I go alone. My husband found like-minded people here pretty quickly and they formed a circle. For days on end, they either play chess or argue to the point of madness, analysing old games of some champions. But I don't take offence. He has his own life, as you have already realised, and I have mine. Ivan hasn't mentioned our fundamental dispute lately. Besides, he doesn't know that I've already done part of my work, and a significant part, almost half of it! But I'm trying not to think about it myself right now. I need to take a time-out, so that I don't become satiated. I know that's a peculiarity of mine.
Time passes imperceptibly but inexorably. It's past the equator of our "holiday." I lead a measured life. But here is my husband is constantly in a whirlwind of events, then he has a tournament or away session of simultaneous play in a children's sanatorium. Not a minute of peace!
Three days of calm and measured existence remain. I am already trying on my bag, in which I will pack my things. But, as it often happens, chance intervened. I'm walking down the beach. I'm walking and I'm humming a tune I've been singing since last night. Suddenly I hear a man's voice calling out loudly. I don't pay attention, I don't know anyone here, but the voice is insistent.
- Madame Milovani, stop, please!
I stare dazedly at the tall, bearded man smiling broadly at me.
- Yes, I am Milovani. That's my surname. But I'm sorry...
- Luda, don't you recognise your friends?! I'm Lob, you remember him.
I took a closer look, mentally removed his beard. I think it's Kostya, Kostik Lobov. That's him.
- Kostik! No way!
- That's him. In person!
- What are you doing here? I've been here ten days and I haven't seen you.
- I went to see some friends yesterday. I'm leaving now. How long has it been? Fifteen years?
- No, Kostya, ten years," I replied smiling.
- It's a pity I don't have time now, I'm in a hurry, - Kostya smiled back at me. - Come with me, I'm on wheels. We'll sit and remember the past! And tomorrow I'll bring you back. In one piece, so to speak.
- I don't mind if you don't bring me back in one piece!" I agreed, unexpectedly, even for myself.
I must say that Kostya and I were close. No, we didn't have an affair, we didn't have a reverent relationship. But I won't hide it, Kostya and I fucked. Not every day, sometimes once a week. But most of the time it was less frequent.
I didn't have long to pack. I wasn't packing, I just grabbed my bag and went! I tried to call my husband on the way, but I remembered that he had another chess "tour" today. So Ivan won't miss me, at least not today.
- So tell me, how are you doing?" Kostik asked, when he saw that I'd finished my manipulations with the phone.
- What is there to tell? I live like everyone else and not worse than others. - You know, Kostya, let's go to my place. Instead of telling me how I live, you'd better see for yourself. All right. But I'll have to go away for half an hour. I need to sort out a few things. Is that all right?
Kostya drove me home, not to a city flat, to a house. He dropped me off and left. He wasn't gone for half an hour, but much longer. To be exact, Kostya was gone for an hour and a half. I thought the man had run away. He got scared and ran away. Then why'd he tear me from my seat? While he was gone, I opened my bag and decided to leave some things at home. I took out the books I'd read, a warm knitted jumper. I took out my camera, my tripod, I shouldn't have taken them, I didn't need them. I took them to my room "photo studio" and set them up there. Then I looked at the renovations. Yeah, the guys have done a great job. Everywhere walls and ceilings are covered with plasterboard. Somewhere plaster is already applied on them, but not everywhere. The ceilings, as we agreed, are made in two levels. There were wires hanging from niches for lamps....
I was wrong to suspect Kostya of running away! He came back, and not empty-handed. The big bag from the supermarket was full.
- Kostya! What for? I've got everything here! The fridge is full.
- I'm a guest! You don't come empty-handed!
Kostik bought enough provisions to last a week with moderate consumption. He brought alcohol, too. What a weirdo!
We drank well, I mean a lot. We didn't eat much. But we talked a lot. A little of it was me, the rest was Kostya. He was irresistible as a conversationalist. He still is. He hasn't changed a bit! He had this peculiarity - if he drank, he couldn't be stopped. He had countless stories and topics in stock, with which he was stuffed like a homemade sausage with garlic. The funny thing was that Kostya could never finish any of his stories thanks to endless digressions, insertions, comparisons and riddles. And now he was in his repertoire. I used to know how to stop this endless verbal marathon. I had to knock him off his feet by changing the subject abruptly. In such cases, Kostya would either get lost or offended and shut up for a while. I repeat, for a while, not forever. I decided to use this tactic.
- Kostik, do you want to see my house? We're renovating. Maybe you can tell me something.
Indeed, my interlocutor was silent. But his look was clearly not offended, rather satisfied. Maybe because I asked for advice? Kostya was looking round room after room with an important look. He was clearly enjoying his role as a counsellor. But it was noticeable that he was an amateur when it came to construction and repair. But I tried not to notice it, why?
- And here, I see, you have a warehouse of furniture, - said Kostya, when we went into my room-"photo studio". I didn't want to show this junk, but it was too late.
- You could put twenty people to sleep in here!" quipped Kostya. Did they tear it down from the whole house?
- Yes, we didn't throw them out yet. You never know. But I sometimes sleep here....
Kostya noticed a tripod with a camera.
- Oh, you're into photography, I see! I commend you, it's interesting. What's yours? It's not a bad machine. It's not a pro, but it's pretty good. What have you taken? Can I see it?
