Excerpt from “Anna Karenina Comes to America” by Leia Tolstaya*, Millerskaya Ltd., New York, 2009. For earlier installments please click on the keyword phrase “Of Children and Peasants”.Levin, William, and Levina had moved into the living room with their tea.
The front door burst open again. In burst the three older children: Katrina, age 12; Becca, age 10; and Zachary, age 8.
“Great-Grandpapa!” exclaimed Zachary. They dropped their backpacks, ran into the living room, and smothered him with hugs and kisses.
Great-Great-Great-Grandpapa sized them up and quizzed them on their scholastic knowledge.
“When can we meet your kids?” asked Katrina.
“That’s a very good question.”
“Do you tell them about us?” asked Becca.
“Hmmm….”
“Do you eat cats or dogs?” asked Zachary.
“That one’s easy. No.”
“Will you be staying for dinner?” asked Levina.
“Why not? I have nowhere else to be right now,” jested Levin.
“That’s part of the problem,” grumbled William under his breath. Levina threw eye-darts his way.
Over the baby monitor, they could hear Leia waking up. “I’ll get her,” offered William.
“We’ll continue our conversation after the kids have gone to bed,” Levina said quietly to Grandpapa.
To be continued…
*Leia Tolstaya is a pen name for Elizabeth K. Miller, and as such her works fall under the same copyright.
Above, a scene from the 1997 film "Anna Karenina".
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