To Sing Frogs Chapter 45c

Friday morning found a somber group around the breakfast table. We pretended to be happy. Jokes and playfulness were hollow. We knew we were coming to the end. Everyone wanted our reunion to finish as happily as it began. It wasn’t to be.

On that day it was common to round a corner of the villa and catch one of the adults wiping away tears. When it happened we’d quickly excuse ourselves and pretend like we didn’t know what was going on.

The last day together was sacrificed to photo albums. Yana and Anya helped the mothers dress the girls in various costumes for the sessions. Wedding photos should be as much trouble.

Julia donned the bright pink and green flamenco dress her mother and grandmother made for her. It had polka dots of mixed colors. Green stood out the most. A large silk flower, earrings, and necklace of the same color amplified those dots. I remember Josephina standing behind the daughter while she put the flower in her hair. Julia was motionless. The mother’s hands held the large bloom in the perfect place while her head was tilted back to look. A bobby pin protruded from her lips as the bright sunlight reflected off the unmoving mother and daughter who were joined together as one.

Small red polka dots on white made up the body of Sarah’s costume. Below the hips, that same fabric alternated with layers of solid bright red material as the dress flared out toward the ground. The rose and scarf of the same color highlighted her strong personality.

Marina was stunning. When we were at the store the day before, she had preferred a different dress. Yana subtly intervened. The older sister told the younger one how much more the large yellow polka dots on white made her look like a woman. The vibrant sunny rose in her dark hair glowed. Marina was a vision in yellow.

The three former sisters sat together on the manicured grass by the pool. Lush green plants buttressed them. Marina and Sarah stared away in the distance. Julia, who would remain, looked at the camera. After several clicks and flashes the girls jumped from a rustling in the bushes behind them. As they hurriedly raised and turned a large neon-green Ocellated Lizard burst from the foliage. Then it disappeared down a hole. Screams and squeals mandated a new location for picture taking.

There were photos of the three girls donning black cowboy hats with sparkling tiaras. There were others of them in the princess dresses of Russian empire times. Photos with flowers. Snapshots with the villa. Family photos. Group photos. Finally there were shots of each of the girls in traditional costumes from the countries of their homes.

That’s the one burned into my mind. Sarah’s black jeans were held up by a rhinestone belt with a silver buckle. The black shirt was covered with shimmering blue sequins and a sparkling tiara banded her black cowboy hat. She looked like a miniature rodeo queen. Julia remained in her flamenco, the traditional dress of her home. Marina was crowned by the beaded headpiece that went with the red satin gown of her Russian princess costume. The two blonde girls stood on each side of their dark haired friend. The three of them had their arms around each other. They smiled as they waited for the camera while they squinted at the sun. There could not have been a brighter day.

Costumes were put away by lunchtime and the remainder of the afternoon was spent casually visiting and trying to eat the large amounts of food that remained. We began to pack and to prepare the villa for our departure.

 

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