Mama was “light on her feet.” If she decided to go, we went at once. That is how the first trip to the sea in Yevpatoria came about. We arrived with the whole family on my birthday, 11 August. Acquaintances advised and gave an address at Moinaki (there is such a district with healing muds and a liman).
Here is how interestingly the locals lived in the holiday season: their best housing, and that was one room in a communal apartment, they rented to wild holidaymakers, like our family, and themselves lived in sheds nearby, and by these sheds they cemented small platforms for benches and a table. It turned out like gazebos twined with grapes. Of course we did not sit in our holiday rooms, but went out into the air and talked with the locals. Some even had televisions in the sheds.
Papa woke very early and went to buy dairy products, for which one still had to stand in a queue. And then he also made tea for breakfast. I think there was an electric hotplate in the shared kitchen. In short Papa gave us three “girls” the chance to rest well.
I remember from the local inhabitants Aunt Tonya. We went to her every evening for sittings by the shed. Recalling now her image, I understand that she had a very hard life. Stately, plump, with strong men’s hands and with a tiiiny tattoo, I think, at the base of the thumb. Only one letter …. I don’t remember which.. Aunt Tonya never smiled. My mama was talkative, so Aunt Tonya had to listen to her. And Papa went to play dominoes with the locals.
And once my mama was telling Aunt Tonya something about Papa (I think some of her woman’s discontent) And Aunt Tonya quietly, “in all seriousness” said: “give HIM to me!” Of course I learned of this “incident” when I myself was already married. Mama told that these words sobered her forever! She began to look at Papa with different eyes.
To be continued….