Denis

and Petersburg. May-June of 1983 Before work, I take my three-year-old son to the kindergarten. On the sidewalks there are huge groves after nighttime rain. Denis is pleased to swim in the hills. The splashes of the wind fly to the sides. The rainbow reflects the sun. Beautiful but cold. I endured it for a while, and then decided to stop it. I explain to him, “Dennis, you’re in a warm coat, in pants, in rubber boots. You are warm. Look at my mom. I am in shorts, in shoes. I’ll get wet, I’ll freeze and I’ll get sick.” Deniska stopped his "water procedures", for a while went quietly, and then suddenly said, "Mommy, when I grow up, I will earn a lot of money, buy you rubber boots and we will go along with the lies!"

Dean, I’m still alive and still waiting for your call.