«Mostly animals,» Vera took out her notebook. «Do you want me to make a picture for you?»
The girl nodded. «A pony, please.»
And with just a few strokes Vera drew an image of small horse and gave it to the girl.
«Thank you.» The girl was delighted, then other kids moved to her.
«I wanna a giraffe. I wanna a peacock.» Vera heard from everywhere, and, smiling, she drew and drew and distributed the pictures. But suddenly one woman pulled the papers from the hands of her kids, and pushed them back to Vera, «We don’t need it!»
«Mom,» her daughter drawled in an upset voice.
«Stay away from her.» Not looking at Vera, the woman led her children to the exit.
The good mood left Vera again. She looked back, and saw Jeff walking to her with a gloomy face. He had a very short talk with the minister, very short and unpleasant for both of them.
«I understand, Jeff,» the minister had started softly. «She’s Russian, first time, et cetera, but I hope you understand that this first time should be the only time.»
«How about «Love me, then love my dog’?» Jeff looked at him. «And I do love this woman.»
«Let’s not go nuts,» the minister said. «Jeff, I hope, we can stay friends.»
«Don’t worry, it was the last time, I swear.» And, frowning, Jeff went to the exit.
Upset, Jeff Menard and Vera Grach got into his car not saying a word. They did not expect that their meeting, which started so happy, would finish so sadly.
About half of way home Vera suddenly giggled. «Do you remember «Thumbelina’?»
«Not very well,» he replied, sighing. «Why did you ask?»
«Don’t you remember how the mayfly left her because he was the only bug who liked her, and the others did not?» She tried to smile, but she wept, and hid her face in her palms.
«Oh, honey.» Pulling over, Jeff stopped the car, then hugged her. «Don’t cry. We’ll find another church, suitable for both of us.»
«No, Jeff.» She sniffed. «You shouldn’t do it.»
«You don’t want to go with me?»
«I don’t wanna be a burden.» She looked at his eyes.
«You never will,» he retorted bringing his face close to her.
The woman opened her lips, and their breathing mixed, but Jeff was afraid it would lead them too far. He did not want to give her the wrong impression or scare her. He wanted her to trust him.
So he took his hands away and drove the car again. He saw Vera was shaken, and he thought, «It’s okay that I stopped. She’s stressed. This was our first time together. Let’s not make it the last. Oh, Vera, my beloved. I’ll do anything for you.»
«You fool, say it aloud.» rang in his mind. Jeff wanted to do it, but a strange shyness squeezed his throat, and he was unable to utter a sound.