In search of the niche
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– And they are cold engineers.
– Well yes. More legends about these Spanish machos. Now listen further... Well, came to the night club. Just for you to understand - the village club in Siberia in comparison with this barn, this is like a Kremlin Palace in comparison with your house. It's dark, noisy and dirty. Sits a dozen local machos. All small, like children. Leo, absolutely honestly, everybody with difficulties maximum can reach to my navel. Well, women, even lower! One foot lower than local machos and age can"t be determined at all. If I would meet her in Toronto I will be sure that she is twelve years old. Well, a maximum of thirteen. Okay, came already to this children garden. I sat down at the table, took a beer and smile to people around. They looked at me from the beginning with interest, and then got used to it. I sat for half an hour, sucked already two beers, but no one came up. Okay, I took a third beer. And time goes by. And beer cost five bucks! In an hour the bus departs. Literally, I"m running out of time. Not funny. Then it seemed to me that one of these "teenagers" looking at me and smiling. I winked at her and showed her a glass of beer. She kind of nods and smiles. Coming over. Well, I took her a beer and ask: Como estaz siniora?
– Wow. Sounds strong. Do you know Spanish?
– From where? But in critical situations, I probably can speak Chinese. She started mumbling something in Spanish, and I with an intelligent look answer: "Si siniora, si." And she laughs loudly.
– So maybe she asked you: Nikolay, are you an idiot? And when you answered: "Si, Si" she laugh...
– I don"t care who asked and what. I would like come to my business as soon as possible, especially only 30 minutes left before the bus departure. Then she again told me something and went to the exit. Well, I understand that she kind of hints me. I quickly finished the beer and followed her. Well, we are going somewhere. Dark. Strange. She tells me something, and I just repeat "si-si seniora". And she laughs all the time. Well, I'm thinking to myself: "the bus has only 15 minutes to leave. So... If right now I'll run to the bus stop, and even during my way back I don"t get lost, then maybe I'll be in time. And on the other hand tomorrow it is Saturday, so if she leads me to her place, then I can easily spend the night with her". Finally we approached a crooked cabin from the wooden shields. She went inside, and I remained standing outside. She didn"t show to me that she invites me to come in. I'm waiting. It is already too late run to the bus stop. About ten minutes later the door opens and some aboriginal guys with little children came out. They saw me and told me something in Spanish, and after that they started to laugh, but not aggressively. I would say friendly.
– Of cause, not every day clowns from Canada performs acrobatic focus "si-si senior", - evil joked Leo.
– Anyway, I got completely confused. What exactly going on...They probably thought I was kind of potential groom? In short, I told them: "si, si senioras", and slowly started to move aside. After that just run away from this place.
– I got confused as well... Are they her parents? Or maybe she is a prostitute and they came to protect her from problematic client?
– This is what I"m talking about! I have no clue what it was, who against whom and didn"t understand at all what exactly happened. Whatever. It's cold at night, so I would not want to sleep on the street. In general, I went to a bus stop. I hoped maybe I'll catch a taxi to the factory. And then Leo, you will not believe - I got lucky! From liquor store one guy from our factory is coming out! I jumped on him, almost hugged. In general, I happily bought five boxes of beer and we went back to the factory.
– It"s hell of the story... Lucky you, so lucky. Say thanks to God for not be beaten. You could find much more problematic adventures on your ass.
– Absolutely. No doubts, it could be much more painful. They could get out a machete and check my guts.
– Okay, with hard emotional sex, I hope, you're done. And how at work?
– Oh boy. This Francisco picking on me, and honestly, I don"t even understand what he wants. He really got me... He yells on me like I"m a boy.
– Wow! I thought you're friends... He recommended you.
– He is a "condom"! Leo, just look... Two days ago he sent me again to the smelter for some measurement. And my leg this day was in real pain. I explained it to Francisco in details and said that I"m sorry, but today I can"t go.
– And the next day you already run after the girls without any hurt?
– Again?! Why do you start?! I'm telling you how it was. Well, what the hell am I going to do there, in this hell, especially with a broken leg? They even don"t have there any basic dust-cleaning system! Dust like a fog, and so hot... You will go there five-six times to take a measurement and your lungs will fall off.
– And how do the others work there?
– I somehow don"t care! They will work like this for five years, and in age 50 will move to the cemetery.
– Well, did you draw at least one drawing? I know, just for fun.
– If they give me something I will draw. Don"t start with your sarcasm!
– Listen, Nikolay, maybe you need to look for an emotional job?
– Stop to pin me up! Not funny already! I'm here so far from the family, from the children, under this killing sun, in this ecological hell...
– In which you refused to go.
– What do you want from me?! There are some dudes there who are doing nothing. Anyway, I'm tired of all this shit. And in my soul is somehow ugly, disgusting... In short, I'll come to Toronto and say that I will not go to Panama anymore. Ask them to find me something in the office.
– But you got this job just because you have to go to Panama.
– And here you go. I went once. And now let others to work hard here, who are younger... It has to be some turn. Or they thought that they are smart. I mean, smart-asses who seats in the offices!
– So you'll be fired immediately.
– Who knows? Or maybe not get fired. Well, if I get fired, then maybe it is for better. I'll find a normal job.
– So you, what... When you will arrive, you will call to the HR department?
– No. I'll wait calmly for two weeks, and on the flight day I'll call and say that I'm sick. I didn"t have time to use all my benefits. My wife already used her part and in two weeks I just will finish all my part. And I don"t think that I get fired immediately. Big company, long stories...They will call me to discuss... And they have many procedures... And maybe they transfer me to another project in Toronto. OK, bye. I'll go to drink coffee. I'm tired today. I have arthritis on my wrists again. Difficult to hold mouse in the hand.
9
Grechko had many guests in a house. Nikolay gave a banquet in honor of his return. Koifman with his wife a little delayed, because got into a traffic jam. This turned out to be very useful, since Nikolay had already begun to tell to the guests about the scary working conditions in Panama. The absence of any safety standards, nor the professionalism of local people, etc. And if he wouldn"t have responsibility to the family, he would never have gone there. Someone jokingly asked: "What about local women? Are there any cute ones?"
– Ha, you never can say that they are women. They are so short - all up to my belt. So you can see only the top of the head. And guys, you will not believe, they are all so small, as a children. And I"m not a pedophile. Ha-ha-ha.
Finally Koifman appeared and all amicably sat down at the table. Glasses were full with wine. Someone even shouted: "For the return!" But Grechko vigorously stood up and solemnly raised his glass.
– Dear friends. I do not often say a toasts, but today I would like to say something short and important from the bottom of my heart.