BLACK LETTERS ON THE WHITE WALL

 

    All the misfortunes of Basilis had begun from the day he became the chief of the city-building departure. It was exactly nine thirty, when he returned from his job, laid down on his sofa with an iced frappe in his hand, ready to enjoy a nice, quite evening in front of the TV. The news had begun. And the leader of the program was firing the poor listeners with phrases, which dashed out of her mouth with the speed of one hundred words per minute:
“This very morning eighteen years old Swetlana ended her life, because she couldn’t stand the humiliation of her pimps no more. Listen into our program about all the details. Her friend shared with us all the secrets of that dirty business.”
Basilis merely prepared to enjoy the peppery details, when somebody knocked on his door.
“Who might it be? – He asked himself. And stood up, swearing  all the guests in general and the certain one at the door. – The guests, - he murmured with disgust, - must be obliterating as a class, especially the ones, who are making their visits after nine and a half in the evening.”
While he was speaking like that, he shook his cup with coffee angrily. The coffee split on the white carpet, leaving the indelible marks down there – the memories of this very enemy of the mankind – the Guest.

  1. I have something important to tell you, - the guest said instead of greeting, stepped inside and mentioned. – Oh, I see, you are drinking coffee!

  And this “oh” was her self-invitation for coffee. Basilis doomly trailed along to the kitchen to fix some coffee for her.

  1. Where do you keep the “Kleenex”? – Litsa said, suddenly appearing in the kitchen.
  2. What do you need the “ Kleenex” for this very time? – He said angrily and switched on the blender.
  3. The carpet is dirty again, - she explained seriously. – And I thought it would be reasonable to clean it up. At least, whereas I was here. So, where did you keep the  “Kleenex”?
  4. I don’t have any, - he was furious.
  5. You simply have to get married! - She said categorically, - Just look – Your carpets are dirty, your pyjamas – unironed! You have to get married! And as quickly as possible! Find finally a nice girl. One, who should be able to fix this mess of yours and should turn you into a human being, - and she gave Basilis a maternal glance.
  6. But I don’t want to be a human being! – He snarled out. -  I like it in here like it is. I like my unironed pyjamas and my dirty carpets. In fact I work a lot and I speak a lot. And I try to press people to respect the architecture of our island. I shout at them. They shout at me…But when I return at home, I long for a silence. Because I stay no more words.
  7. If you continue to live like this, you’ll turn into a hermit. Soon. Maybe in a couple of years.
  8. I don’t need that long, - he admitted frankly.

  But as he pronounced it, he regretted it bitterly: “Why do I open my heart to her? She would spread each of my word all over Tinos!”

  1. A hermit you said?! – He asked peevishly. – Me, hermit?!
  2. I always say the truth: neither a bitter one, nor a sweet one. Do you understand that?

  Basilis was not very patient, especially with Litsa. When they were children, they used to sit at the same desk. And always, always Litsa treated Basilis as if he was worse than she.

  1. You didn’t prepare your homework again! – She used to say in a tone, which she borrowed from his mother. – And it’s time to change your shirt!

  “That’s what she calls “the truth”, - Basilis thought bitterly. – At least, when we used to be children, I could give her a slap or two. But what should I do to her now?”
For his bad luck their houses were opposite each other and their balconies – about three meters apart. In the middle ran a narrow road. Litsa always used that fact to make Basilis’ life – a living hell.

  1. You got up so early this morning, - she said to him ironically at 8 o’clock in the morning.

  She used to wake up at 6. At 7 she cooked…So, by the time the normal people used to wake up, she was already properly dressed haircombed and took her place on the balcony to spy on neighbors.

  1. Would you like to come with us? – She continued. – Today is a big feast in Triandaros. There would be a ball also.
  2. Did I ever attempt a feast? – He cried out angrily.

  She only smiled at him ironically. Oh, how much he wanted to kill her! To cut her head and to throw it in the sea! Didn’t she know that he hated feasts, couldn’t stand the crowds and loved only himself, his own house and fishing with his friends!
Of course she did! But in fact she felt pleased to hurt him. He didn’t like, when somebody interfered in his life. She tried to play the role of his mother. He hated advises. She advised him all the time. He wanted to be alone. She used to visit him at anytime and brought her friends with her too.
Basilis couldn’t understand her husband. He, himself, would never allow his wife to poke about in a bachelor’s houses. It was strange that nobody in whole Tinos gossiped them.

  1. You mentioned some business, - he changed the unpleasant conversation about the marriage. – What’s that?
  2. My children grew up, Basili, - she said and her voice sounded human first time in her life. – Now, when you became the chief of the city-building departure, can you sign a permission to build two rooms in the backyard of my house?
  3. Do we have to speak about that again?
  4. I need it so much!
  5. Didn’t I tell you that your house was built 300 years ago? That it is a historical monument and has to be preserved?
  6. In Athens people tear down all kinds of monuments and build up three-floor houses. Why shan’t I build two rooms?
  7. How can I explain? Would you understand?

  “Would she? – He thought. – Who actually did? What are the right words for people to understand?”

  1. Oh, I do understand, - she said all of a sudden.
  2. Wonderful, - he smiled at her. – More coffee?
  3. I understand, Basili, that count Orloff used to stay in my house in eighteenth century…
  4. And the king of Greece as well.
  5. But I can’t always live with the memories of the past. My children need space. Who will be disturbed if I’ll build small rooms in the backyard of my house?
  6. It will disturb me!  - He cried out. - It will disturb the city!
  7. One can’t see them from the road!
  8. If I’ll give you this kind of permission, the whole city would ask me for the same the very next day…everybody will …
  9. But I’m not “everybody”! – She complained. – Doesn’t our friendship mean anything to you? Remember all those wonderful years that we shared!

  Basilis opened his mouth to object…But he understood that words were meaningless to Litsa. Common sense was unexistable to her. Basilis looked at her n doubt. Even the attempt to find objections made him tired…And he agreed to help her.

  1.  Basili, Basili! Would you really help me? – She asked, embracing him.
  2.  Yes, - he murmured.
  3.  You are wonderful! Wonderful!

  So, in magical harmony of those two passed by the hot October, crept the tearful November and came along the sunny December. The sky cleared up. And looked in surprise down, at the dark, disfended Earth. Borias, the northern wind, got tired and set off in his house, on the mountains of Tsiknia.
Tinos got rid of the tourists and now rejoiced, washed his face with the first rain. The flowers, invigorated from the hot sun, bloomed. The geraniums blushed with bright red. The chrysanthemums goldened in the sun. The tender grass germinated from the black earth. Peace reigned on the island.
Only Basilis felt uneasy. A strange feeling disturbed his sleep. Demanding voice
cried out in his ear, calling for action. “What have I done? – He complained to himself. –Why did I agree? Why? ” The night gave him no rest. The morning greeted him with a headache,
Exactly one of those terrible mornings, somebody rang on his door-ring. Basilis moaned and replaced the pillow on his head. But the person at the door was insistent.
“Damn! – Basilis said to the door. – Damn! Damn! Damn!”

  1.  Basili, open the door! – He heard a voice from the street. – I know you’re

at home!

  1. Who the hell is there?
  2. It’s me, Michalis! – Was the answer. – Maybe you forgot that we arranged   to go fishing.
  3. Did we? When?
  4. Last week.
  5. This week all my plans have been changed.
  6. Sleepyhead, e sleepyhead! Better tell me that you forgot and now are looking for excuses! Dress up and do it quickly! Teo is waiting for us in his boat. You know, Teo wouldn’t wait too long.

  That was the truth. Teo wouldn’t wait for anybody. Teo (and it was knowable to everyone) loved only one person in the world – himself. And cared only about his own enjoyment. If he said that the boat would leave at seven, it meant – it should be so. With you or without.
Teo wouldn’t feel uncomfortable about that… “You supposed to be here on time” – He would say.

  1. Fishing! – Basilis moaned. – I lost even my fishing because of her!
  2. It’s not funny! – Michalis lost his temper.
  3. Don’t shout in the middle of the street! Come inside!

  Michalis opened the door and stepped inside.

  1. What the hell is going on? – Michalis asked, exercising the chaos around him. – Are you changing the furniture?
  2. That’s a long story. – Basilis said. – But first,           sit down!
  3. Where? There is no place to sit.
  4. Wait!

  And Basilis made some space for his friend on the coach.

  1. Have you quarreled with Marianna again?
  2. No. Actually, we are in love with each other more than ever. - Basilis said. – I only wonder…have you heard the story about the damned busyness with the permission for Litsa?
  3. Something about the project for building? Teo told me that you voted against it. Litsa would never forgive you. Never. She is not the person, who forgives easily.
  4. I know something about that!
  5. But I wonder: how did she found out that it was you?
  6. Here, in Tinos, everybody knows everything. But to revenge me like that!

  Michalis looked at his friend with suspicion. Something was wrong with Basilis. He seemed ill. There were black circles under his eyes. There was something mad in his glance.

  1. Are you ill? – Michalis wondered. – Do you need help? What’s the matter? Tell me!
  2. Just look at it! – Basilis cried out, like a wounded animal, opened the balcony door and showed something with his finger. – Look!

  Michalis went out. There, on the snow white wall of Litsa’s house, were written with black paint the words:
“Friends must not be treated like that!”     

  1. Isn’t she unbelievable? – Michalis laughed. – She is a devil. She always was. From her childhood. From the time we went to the same class. I’ve so mush stories to tell you about her…
  2. Is there something that you know about her more than me? – Basilis got furious.
  3. Calm down! I wanted only to make you laugh.
  4. I already did. From the very beginning of this stupid story. But you haven’t realize, how is to wake up every morning and to see this, to be afraid to go out! I wanted to switch it off. But you see – it’s written on her property!
  5. I’m not jealous of you! – Michalis said very seriously. – What are you going to do?
  6. I wouldn’t sit here the whole life to watch this! I’d rather go in Africa. It’s the only place on Earth, where she can’t reach me. – Basilis said. – Do you believe that she is speaking about “must” things!!! Oh my!

  And it was then, when the first ray of the sun flickered out from the back of Basilis, and fell down on the round, black letters of the word “must”, stayed there for a while. And then crept up along the wall.