The airport terminal was crowded with departing passengers and those seeing them off. Alexi was about to board this plane for Los Angeles where he would catch a connecting flight to New York. He had decided that he would not want the entire trip to be a complete waste so he set up arrangements to meet Russia’s delegate to the United Nations before he left America. He had Sergotoff inform Mikhail Karzaragyn, Russia’s United Nations representative, about the change in leadership that would be taking place and would be announced formally to the world upon Alexi’s return to Moscow.
Mirnov hugged his brother, never realizing just how much he missed him.
“You will do well, Alexi. I wish you well.”
“Yeah, Alexi, give them hell. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I need you, Mikhail.”
“Anything but that, Alexi. I can’t even watch a Green Bay Packer game on television without getting frostbite, what are you kidding?”
“The people need you, Mikhail.”
Allison looked at her boyfriend, knowing that he wanted to help but that he thought the situation was hopeless and that he honestly could not stand the weather.
“Maybe you could come for just a little while?”
Even Allison’s doleful eyes had no affect on Mikhail’s mind. Guilt about helping the people of Russia did not consume Mikhail, although he would like to see them progress; get some initiative. It would certainly give him another market for his goods and services.
“Allison, if I had been assigned to North Dakota or Warsaw, it’d be no problem returning, but going from Los Angeles to Moscow, bbbrrrrr.” Mikhail knew he could use the word assigned without Allison catching on since she thought he was doing liaison work for Russia, not spying. Allison reached into her beach bag and removed a lei. Placing it around Alexi’s neck, she kissed him gently on the cheek.
“Aloha.”
“But not forever. You have been nice and we will see each other again. Maybe you come to Moscow?”
“Yes, I would like that.”
“Medansky still head of the KGB?”
“Yes.”
“Forget it!”
The tone of Mikhail’s voice served to advise Allison that there was something sinister about this Medansky. She sensed that she should not push the issue because Mikhail should know better than she about what to expect in Moscow. The young law student reached into her bag of goodies and removed several scarves that all had Hawaiian prints of flowers on them in very bright, exotic colors. She handed them to Alexi.
“These are for your wife.”
Smiling at the kind gesture, the New World leader was at a loss for words. He placed the scarves in his bag and kissed Allison.
“Please come visit. There is much to see.”
“Yes, I will try.”
Alexi hugged his brother Mirnov one last time before he joined the other passengers to board the flight headed east. Disappearing into the runway, Mikhail, Allison and Mirnov made their way toward an area where they could watch the plane back up onto the tarmac. The plane was late leaving and it was almost an hour before the plane was pulled from the gate. Mikhail started to think to himself that being from Moscow, Alexi must be use to waiting.
CHAPTER 3
THE HOMECOMING
The long black limousine moved through the dark Moscow night where streetlights were scarce and continued toward the Debenov house. Alexi watched the snowfall and as he passed the small houses with lights usually only showing in one room, his thoughts returned to what he had just seen. Looking at the sights before him, the new premier was well aware of just how right Mikhail was when he said he could not live the same way in Russia that he was living in America. He started thinking that America should be very glad that it did not share a boarder with Russia because if it had a choice of illegal immigrants, Spanish was a much easier language to learn than Russian was.
When the luxury vehicle stopped and Alexi exited with the driver, he could feel the eyes of his neighbors on him. While a colleague at the university with them, he had been treated kindly, treated with fairness by the other professors. He now had to wonder if maybe this was going to change after his official status as Russia’s premier was announced.
Rushing from his limousine, Alexi found his family descending upon him quickly, his wife Orlina and the two small children, Mitchev and Demitri. Reaching Alexi, the warm embrace with which Orlina gave to her beloved made him forget about the sub-zero temperatures that they were standing in. Reaching down and embracing each of the small ones, he cherished the moment as he always had. He thought about how happy they would be when they saw Disneyland and the politically correct Pirates of the Caribbean. If those pirates knew they had to be politically correct, they probably would have chosen a different profession.
Walking inside the house where the temperatures were bearable and one was able to walk about with merely a sweater, Alexi was anxious to give the offerings of America to his family. Opening one of the suitcases, he removed two Hawaiian shirts with flower prints and bright colors, red, white, brown and yellow, one with aquas, blues and whites, color combinations that would not easily assimilate into the Russian landscape. Mitchev or Demitri were enthralled with the idea of receiving a present from their cousin Mikhail, a relative they had never met.
As the children excitedly changed into their new shirts, Alexi turned his attentions toward his Orlina. Proud of her husband, she sensed that everything on the trip had not gone the way he had wanted. She could tell that just from looking into his eyes but before she could ask, Alexi had several Hawaiian print scarves in hand. Elated by the bright colors, which were in direct contrast to the black and gray scarves that she had become accustomed to wearing, Orlina had to open one of the packages and try one on. There must have been magic in the one she chose because when she modeled it for Alexi, a smile adorned his lips. He loved seeing her happy; her joy was his.
“It did not go well, Orlina.”
“Mikhail will not come back to Russia?”
“No. He has a life that would be hard for anyone here to imagine. I suppose I can’t blame him for not wanting to come back to this.”
“Could you find someone else to do what you wanted Mikhail to do?”
Alexi had to think the question over, something he had been doing since Mikhail had told him no one last time. The answer was still the same; Mikhail was the man he needed. It was something that he could not answer with any reasonable logic, but his instincts kept pounding away to let him know that yes, Mikhail was the one.
“No, I must find a way to change Mikhail’s mind. I will go over the printout again in case I missed something. It is something inside me that says Mikhail is the one that Russia needs.”
“Are you going back to America?”
“Maybe. Let us not talk about it anymore. Let’s eat.”
“I made your favorite, Alexi, Chicken Kiev.” The new premier smiled and hugged his wife for thinking of him and preparing his favorite. How ironic, he thought, that most Moscovites were like him in that Chicken Kiev was their favorite chicken dish, a dish named after the capital of another province. Maybe they would have to alter the recipe somehow and call it Chicken Moscow now that the Soviet Union had disbanded.
Sitting down and having his loving children prance about in their new shirts, Orlina began bringing the food to the table. Alexi was pleased with the delight that the two shirts brought his children and it started to dawn on him that maybe the bright colors had that kind of affect. Reflecting in his mind his stay in Hawaii where he got the shirts, he failed to remember any moments of depression while there except when Mikhail rejected him. Maybe he could pull the citizens of Moscow out of their depression by trying to pull the wool over their eyes; he could have the streets of Moscow painted in pastels.
With everyone seated, they began eating and Alexi’s silence drew Orlina’s curiosity. Her husband had just traveled half way around the world and he acted like he had nothing to tell her. Having b
een married to him for quite some time, she knew that he had something important on his mind and she knew what that was.
“Is there nothing you can do to make Mikhail change his mind?”
“It would be very difficult, Orlina. You should see the way he lives. What could we offer him here, a flat overlooking Red Square? There is a ten year waiting list just for that.”
“Is having Mikhail back here that important?”
“Orlina, the man knows capitalism or as they say in America, wheel and deal, make a buck, you know the whole thing.”
“Then if you need him to come home, he must come. He must help his mother country, Alexi.”
“Orlina, when I was in America, Mikhail and his girlfriend were talking about something called the Los Angeles Dodgers. They told me they should be pretty good next year because they signed a couple of what they call free agents for lots of money. Well Mikhail is like a free agent, he has gone where the money is.”
“Then we offer him more. We apply for some more foreign aide so we can offer Mikhail more.”
“I think he is just too happy. He’s even going to law school.”
Orlina stared at Alexi, who realized that his wife couldn’t believe what she had just been told. He nodded his head in an affirmative gesture to confirm to her that her hearing was not failing her.
“You must find someone then, Alexi, to replace Mikhail. Someone to show Russia the way to a free market economy.”
“I don’t know, Orlina, if that is possible. I will spend all day tomorrow looking at the list again and again.”
“Then you must try again, you must go back to America to get him if your heart tells you that Mikhail is the one you need. I will go with you.” Hearing Orlina’s words of support gave Alexi a newfound hope and a new idea. Maybe if he returned to America to see Mikhail as the official premier and he brought his family, maybe then Mikhail would fully understand just how much he meant to Russia’s future. Maybe seeing his two young cousins might turn the trick.
“Yes, we shall go to America next week. I will have my aide make all the plans.” Orlina’s broad smile brought one of its own to Alexi’s lips. As he glanced at his two children, thinking about them spinning around in the teacups, he knew there was a better life. Alexi found himself laughing when he noticed Mitchev trying to lick some of the breadcrumbs of the Chicken Kiev off one of the leaves on his shirt.
The tropical storm that struck Maui had caused considerable damage to all the properties along the beach areas. This included Mikhail’s hotel near Lahaina. Surveying the damage, Mirnov realized that the hotel would not be habitable for quite some time, several months at least. With his brother returning next week, he knew he had to make alternate arrangements. With all the IOU’s that Mikhail had out, he knew it would be an easy fix. Besides, Mikhail’s ability to wheel and deal made it easy for him to spice up any deal. Returning to the condominium later that evening, Mirnov discovered his timing was perfect since the young lovebirds had just returned from a swim on the beach.
“Mikhail, the damage is bad, very bad. Several hundred thousand dollars.”
“No problem, the insurance will handle it.”
“But there won’t be anyplace for Alexi and his family when they arrive. You will be able to find them a place, won’t you?”
Without answering his father Mikhail, still wearing his dripping wet bathing suit, went to the small table that sat nearby and grabbed his cell phone and began dialing.
“Hello Larry, Mikey baby here. Listen need a big favor. I have some relatives coming over next week from Moscow and...” The momentary pause told Allison and Mirnov that Larry was making some comment.
“Yeah, you heard. Yeah, that’s him, Alexi Debenov, the new Russian premier. He’s my uncle. Well my condo over on Maui took it in the shorts because of good old tropical storm Adolf. Think you could help me out?”
Larry’s answer was obviously favorable because Mikhail was all smiles and he even turned to his houseguests and flashed the thumbs up sign while listening to his friend.
“That’s great, the penthouse...great, that’s great, Larry...no, I don’t think my uncle plays golf. I don’t remember that being real big in Moscow when I was growing up. Okay, if he wants it you’ll give him unlimited golf. Great Larry, thanks and thanks for remembering that favor.” Hanging up the receiver, the smug smile was Mikhail’s way of gloating over his coup for making last minute arrangements for his distant relative. Being thousands of miles away made Alexi a distant relative.
“Alexi’s going to love it. Larry’s putting him up in the penthouse at the Kappalu Royal Hawaiian with unlimited room service. All he wants is that his hotel’s name is mentioned to the news. A little PR. Take care of that, Dad.”
“Will do,” answered his father, who wore a proud smile.
“Are we still meeting them in Los Angeles, Mikhail?” Mikhail was use to Allison’s double-checking on plans that he had made. He knew it was a bad fault of his, always changing things at the last minute, but that’s what happened in business.
“Have to. I want to take the cousins to Disneyland.”
“You know why Alexi’s coming back?”
“Oh yeah, and I’m not going back to Russia, so don’t worry about it, okay?” Before Allison could complete the smile, Mikhail pressed his lips to hers, leaving his father stranded there as an embarrassed spectator. Mirnov knew to make himself scarce and within seconds there were just the two young lovebirds.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are lately?”
“Not within the last couple of minutes.”
“Well you are.” Mikhail again indulged in one of his favorite pastimes, caressing Allison. It was something she loved and when she returned Mikhail’s affections with small gentle kisses from her soft lips, it drove Mikhail crazy, absolutely nuts. He could never go to Russia without her.
The long bread lines were a sight that had become commonplace in Moscow. While Alexi could have exerted his influence and had bread delivered, having been officially named the premier two days before, he chose not to. Orlina, always supportive of him, made the trip to the local state run grocery, which handled eggs, milk and bread, having gotten her neighbor Teanna to watch the children so that she could have the time.
Loving her new scarves with the flower prints and bright colors, Orlina decided that it was something she had to wear, something that she wanted to show off. She knew that she would be different but today she wanted to be different. The scarves made her feel pretty and different. Even Teanna thought they were something special and Orlina promised her that she would have a few when she returned from Hawaii.
The morning was actually quite warm with the temperature at eighteen degrees with almost no wind. A perfect day, Orlina thought, to be wearing a tropical scarf. Arriving at the state supported store, Orlina took her place at the end of the line and was immediately advised that the wait was about half an hour long. It was less than she had anticipated but maybe some people were out enjoying the beautiful weather.
Minding her own business, thinking about her travels the following week to America, she had lots of plans to make, plenty of things to think over. They were going to spend two days in New York at the United Nations, then another two days in Washington, D.C. meeting the president of the United States and from there on to the West Coast and a few days with Mikhail, the heart of the mission. Returning from her thoughts, she noticed all of the female eyes turned her way. What was their problem?
“That’s a beautiful scarf,” commented a voice from behind. Turning around to come face to face with the owner of the voice, a deep husky female voice very similar to her own, Orlina saw a woman in her late twenties wearing a pure black scarf.
“Ah my husband brought it back from Hawaii.” The word was not familiar to the woman and Orlina could see that from the woman’s awkward expression.
“It is very pretty. I would like something like that.” Looking into the woman’s eyes, Orlina could see the
envy. While wanting to show off her new scarf, she never had any intention of arousing people’s feelings. Just putting on a colorful scarf, she had not thought she would.
“Oh look at those colors, that is just the nicest scarf.” Orlina again turned around, now facing in the direction that the line was headed, so that she could see who made the comment. There was a woman standing just to the side of the line carrying a loaf of bread.
“I will give you the bread for the scarf.”
“I can’t, my husband gave this to me.”
“Maybe you could bring a couple next week. I will give you bread and eggs.” Not realizing it, Orlina found herself in the midst of capitalism although not quite a Sotheby auction.
“I will not be here next week.”
“The week after then?”
“I will still be gone.”
“Well I will be here and if you come, I will give you bread and eggs for the scarf."
“I will be back in three weeks. I will bring what I can.” The woman smiled, delighted with the thought that she had a chance on getting her hands on a scarf like the one she was looking at even if it did mean going without food for a day or two.
“I will see you then.” The woman walked away, her mind trying to figure out where this Hawaii place was.
The Russian airliner carrying Alexi and his family touched down safely at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. Gathering up his family and taking his cues from the Russian security people aboard the plane, Alexi and his family were the first to approach the door, which was still closed. The moment it opened, there was a blast of music, which was the Russian National anthem. Looking out, Alexi couldn’t believe what he saw. There was a United States Marine Band standing behind the President of the United States, something he knew was afforded foreign dignitaries but he never thought of himself in that light. The long red carpet leading from the base of the steps to the president was something that Alexi had seen before but had never expected, nor wanted. It rubbed against his unassuming personality.
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