To Sing Frogs Chapter 18c

Katya with her flowers, meeting Dyedushka Bill for the first time.

“Mama!” We heard the squeal just after a creek from the door opening behind us. Before we could turn, Amy was slammed like a car door after a bank robbery.

“Katya!” Amy gushed as she swept the five-year-old up in her arms. “I missed you so much! I blew you kisses every day!”

“She says she blew kisses to you every day too,” Anya translated. I have never seen a child squeeze with as much strength as Katya did while she hugged Amy. My wife was equally forceful in the embrace. It continued. And continued.

“It looks like a professional wrestling deadlock for submission,” I said to Bill. Amy ignored me. “Hey, give somebody else a chance,” I said, only half-joking. That didn’t speed things up. The petrified mother and child tuned all else out while they basked in their reunion. Warmth emanated from them as if sunlight was reflecting from their motionless, almost alabaster features. Finally after several minutes, Amy pushed Katya back and kissed her on both cheeks and her forehead. Katya’s grin seemed to touch her ears. Then she dove forward and clutched Amy again for another extended embrace.

“Papa needs a hug too,” Anya translated for Amy after a long delay. Katya finally released her grip as Amy stooped to place her on her feet. She ran to me ignoring the offered bouquet and threw her arms around my neck. I stood and embraced her firmly with one arm and awkwardly with the one that was still holding the flowers. None of my other children had ever hugged me with such commitment. I could feel her little heart beating against my chest. I tried to push her back to look at her, to give her the flowers. She wouldn’t let go. I felt my heart rise up into my throat and my eyes began to fill. Then I hugged her as strongly as she was squeezing me, ignoring the fate of the flowers.

“You came back when the flowers came,” Anya translated when I looked at her for a response to the Russian words spoken firmly and softly as I held the little girl.

“Yes, Katya. You can trust us,” I responded. Somehow she squeezed me even tighter. After a moment I pushed her back. Her attempt to resist was futile. I kept pressure on until she finally relinquished. “These are for you,” I said as I handed the flowers to her. She sat on my arm and cradled the large bouquet. “We tried to find flowers more beautiful than you, but it was impossible.” The dimples swallowed her cheeks. “Eta Dyehdushka,” I said as I turned her toward Bill.

Bill dove to catch her as she lunged from my arms. Then she clamped herself to him with the same force she had with Amy and me. Bill closed his eyes and I watched him drown in the moment minutes. His eyes were red and puffy when he finally opened them. He walked over to Amy and handed Katya back to her for more of the same.

“I could feel her heart beating against my chest,” Bill whispered to me while we watched Katya and Amy.

“I know. Me too.”

“This is one of the most incredible things I have ever experienced.”

“I know. Me too.”

Bill and I both wiped our eyes. Wait— “Marina!” I almost shouted. A group of children were leaving the room from where Katya had come, through a different door at the other end of the locker area. The dark haired beauty grinned and waved rapidly, not breaking stride with the others. She didn’t take her eyes from me until she disappeared into the forlorn hallway. “That was Marina!” I said to Stass. I wanted to turn and chase her down. I wanted to pick her up and hold her. It was all I could do to keep my feet nailed to the floor. Had I moved one foot even slightly I would not have been able to hold them back.

Stass walked over to me before quietly explaining we weren’t really supposed to spend time with other orphans. Winter camp had been a lucky exception. You can’t take Marina away from me like that!Reading the frustration in my eyes he extended the explanation. “It’s kind of a law.”

“Kind of a law? What in the world are you talking about? Like don’t rob banks? Like don’t shoot people? Don’t blow up schools? Don’t talk to children. Are you kidding me? The government must have spent years perfecting that piece of… legislation. Are you guys out of your freaking minds?”

“Calm down. I’ll see what I can do.”

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