The caravan floor was littered with scraps of fabric and everyone was buried under half made quilts but the girls had been diligently working for the past five minutes so both Mala and Christine were pleased with the way the lesson was progressing. Their young charges had been taught all the basics of quilting and it was now a matter of putting everything they had learned into practise. The girls were still at the awkward stage of beginning to insert the wadding but so far there had been no disasters. Reaching across the lap of the girl sitting next to her, Mala tucked a tiny corner of wadding back between the layers of fabric before the quilt's owner sewed it outside the quilt. "Those are very neat stitches Florica," she commented, smiling at her.
"Thank you Mala," she replied, brightening at the comment.
Suddenly there was an anguished squeal and Mala looked up to see that the girl next to Christine, Drina, had lost her grip on her quilt. Whilst the layers of fabric were still clutched in her hands, all the wadding had fallen out of the bottom and had now pooled around Christine and Drina's feet.
"Oh dear," Mala exclaimed, sharing a look with Christine.
Seeing that all the other girls had stopped working and were now staring intently at the scene, waiting for what would happen next, Christine said firmly, "Girls, please focus on your own quilts," before turning back to Drina. "It's alright Drina, I've done that as well."
Drina's lip was starting to tremble as she asked, "How will I fix it?"
Christine took the shell of the quilt out of Drina's hands and studied it. Two and a half seams had already been sewn, which meant that it wasn't going to be easy to get the wadding back in, especially in the cramped confines of the caravan. "Umm...well we'll take it outside," she decided. "And that way we can spread it out properly and slide everything back in."
"But it'll get dirty," Drina sniffed.
"No it won't. We'll find a nice grassy spot so no dirt will get on it and it hasn't rained all week, so it won't get wet," Christine explained.
"The boys will laugh at me," said she pitifully.
"The boys will not laugh at you," Christine said confidently. "The boys don't know how to make quilts; they won't know what has happened. And just in case, we'll find a quiet spot to fix the quilt, alright?"
"Alright," Drina agreed, reaching down to gather up the wadding before carrying it out of the caravan.
Christine gathered the shell and followed Drina, stopping briefly beside Mala to ask, "You'll be alright until I get back?"
Mala glanced around the rest of the girls, who were all now diligently sewing, "We'll be fine," she grinned.
Drina had already found the perfect spot for them and was waiting with the wadding hanging by her side. She dropped the wadding when she saw Christine and helped her spread out the shell. Silently they gradually worked the wadding into the shell, reaching in and manipulating every bit of it to make sure that the quilt was perfectly flat with no lumps.
"See?" Christine smiled, "That wasn't too difficult. Now which side were you sewing on?"
"That side," Drina pointed to the right.
"Good," Christine pulled a small pin cushion out of her apron and extracted some pins, dropping them into Drina's palm. "We'll pin it closed and then fold it up so the spot where you're sewing is on top. Then you will be able to take it back to the caravan."
"Mmm hmm," Drina mumbled, already focusing on pinning the quilt together. When she was finished she returned to Christine the excess pins and watched as Christine expertly folded the quilt. She gave Christine a shy hug before carefully lifting the quilt and returning to the caravan.
"All fixed?" Mala asked when Christine returned to the caravan.
"All fixed," Christine confirmed, squeezing herself down next to Mala. "But I think we should get all the girls to pin all their seams, not just the ones they're working on, to stop this happening again."
"Hmm, good idea. We'll do it next time, when everyone's forgotten about today. Besides we've almost finished," she added.
Christine nodded and returned to her original seat next to Drina. The two older girls continued to watch their charges for the next few minutes, helping them untangle knots in threads and commenting on how the girls' work was progressing.
"Alright girls," Mala announced. "I want everyone to finish the stitch they're working on and then you can pack up."
Christine grinned as the girls very carefully finished their final stitches, knowing that any mistake would keep them there longer, and hurriedly tidied up their work. With a flurry of farewells and thank yous the girls left, leaving Christine and Mala alone.
"Papa always says he doesn't know how we do it," Mala said, leaning back.
"Do what?"
"Teach eight little girls. Mama only had to teach two of us, and she said it's a lot different when you're teaching your own child."
"Probably because she could send you to bed without any supper if you didn't behave," Christine said with a smirk, reminding Mala of her most hated childhood punishment.
"Oh, shush," Mala scolded her friend lightly. "We should do some work on the present for Nadya and Yoska."
"Where is it?" Christine asked, hauling herself up.
"Under Milosh's bed," Mala answered.
"You know, Yoska is Milosh's friend and we're not that close with Nadya," Christine said as she reached under the bunk. "Really, he should be helping with the present."
"True. He has done some work on their caravan though. Still, can you imagine Milosh trying to sew anything?"
Christine laughed, "I was just telling Drina that boys are terrible when it comes to sewing. Ooh here they are," she exclaimed, pulling out a neatly folded pile of fabric. Separating out the pieces she tossed one at Mala. Quickly threading a needle and clutching it between her teeth, Mala shook out the half completed curtain and started hemming.
Christine had never learned how to thread a needle as quickly as Mala or her mother, but she managed to get the thread through on her second attempt. Picking up a smaller curtain she folded the top hem down so the curtain could be hung and began to sew it in place.
"The wedding's only a month away," Christine commented.
"I know. I think I'm only just starting to get used to the idea. I know Mama still can't believe it," Mala said.
"I can understand that," Christine said, shaking her head. "Nobody saw it coming. Out of everyone in the clan they were the last two anyone ever expected to marry. Even Nayda's parents didn't really know about it until Yoska came to them to ask permission."
Although Nayda and Yoska were of a similar age, they had very different personalities. Nayda was beautiful and outgoing and it was expected that she would marry a future clan leader. Yoska had been a sickly boy growing up and had never played much with the other children, however he was quite intelligent and was learning to act as one of the clan's negotiators. The two had not spent time together as children and it was a mystery how they had had the chance to get to know each other and fall in love. However once they had announced their engagement they had become inseparable in public and it was clear to everyone how much in love they were with one another.
"I heard that Nayda's papa wasn't happy with the match, he thought that she could do better and was going to say no. Nayda was furious when he told her and she said that there wasn't anyone better for her than Yoska. They ended up screaming at each other until her mother had to intervene. But she won in the end," Mala explained.
"I can see Nayda doing that," Christine giggled. "But I can't see her acting that way with Yoska."
"No," Mala agreed. "She's definitely different around him, much calmer. They're just so in love with each other, I never seen anything like it."
"Vadoma read their fortunes when they announced their engagement, they have a good future."
"There will probably be a baby before their first anniversary," Mala smiled, rotating the curtain she was holding to start on another hem.
"Before their first anniversary? You're not giving them much time." Christine raised an eyebrow.
"Well you've seen how in love they are. And the more in love a couple is, the sooner the babies come," Mala said with a knowing smirk.
"Mala!" Christine gasped, faking outrage.
Both girls dissolved into giggles. Slowly they managed to get themselves under control and continued working on the wedding gift.
"It's strange to imagine, that our friends are the ones who are now getting married and having families," Christine said, stretching at her stitches when she saw that they were starting to gather the fabric.
"And of course that means that soon there will be young men wanting to court us," Mala stated.
"Has anyone asked you yet? To court you, that is?" Christine said awkwardly.
"Do you remember when Pali asked me a few years ago?" Mala shuddered. "I said no and escaped as quickly as I could."
"I remember, you were only thirteen. He couldn't possibly have believed that your parents would have agreed. It was disturbing," Christine recalled.
"I know. Which is why I left as soon as I could and avoided him for the rest of the visit."
"Anyone else? Someone you wouldn't have to run away from?" she probed further.
"Not really," Mala shook her head. "Not that I would want to actually court. I can't really imagine being married to anyone in the clan."
"So who will you marry?"
"I don't know. I haven't met him yet. But he will be very handsome, and very brave. He'll have to be from another clan, or maybe he won't even be a gypsy!" she exclaimed.
Christine snorted. "Your mama would have a fit if you married someone who wasn't a gypsy."
"No because he is going to be so wonderful and we will be so in love that Mama won't be able to help but love him and want him to marry me."
"Ah, I see," Christine said seriously, "It will be the great love of the century. A match between gypsy and outsider."
"It will," Mala confirmed, sitting up straighter, before grinning. "But it will need to wait a little, since I haven't met anyone like that yet."
"Maybe it will happen tonight. Someone amazing will come as a visitor tonight and sweep you off your feet," Christine predicted.
"Perhaps," Mala smiled. "But what about you? Is there anyone that you would like to court you? Because I would be happy to talk with them."
"I am sure you would," Christine said, imagining Mala approaching any of the young men in the clan on her behalf.
"Anyone?" Mala said eagerly.
"No...not really." If she was honest she had never really thought about any of the boys she grew up with as potential husbands, not when she had Erik. And despite what had happened with Erik she couldn't see that changing any time soon. "There was someone that I thought...but I was wrong."
Sensing that this wasn't the right topic to tease her friend about, Mala said, "I'm sorry. Are you sure? Maybe if you wait a little bit things will change?"
"I'm sure," Christine nodded. "It was never going to... I don't know."
"Who was...?" Mala started. "Never mind."
Christine just gave a small grateful smile and turned her attention back to her sewing.
Trying to lighten the mood again, Mala said, "I've got a better idea, you should marry Milosh."
"What?"
"No, just think about it for a moment. You two already love each other; you know everything there is to know about each other."
"Because we're friends," Christine interrupted.
"Details," Mala dismissed Christine's comment with a wave of her hand. "Feelings can always change."
"I don't think they will ever change that much," Christine said wryly.
"They could," Mala insisted. "And I'm not the only who thinks so."
"Who else?" Christine demanded. She knew after overhearing Danior's conversation about her future that there were people that thought she and Milosh wanted to marry but she assumed that these were some of the older gypsies. Did Mala know of gypsies their own age who thought the same?
But Mala ignored the question. "Besides, if the two of you got married, then we would be sisters. I've always wanted a sister and you would be absolutely perfect."
"You always wanted a baby sister to play with," Christine retorted. "I'm not a baby."
"This is even more perfect then. You marry Milosh and become my sister. Then you two will have babies and I can play with them," Mala teased, knowing that this suggestion would really get a rise out of Christine.
As Mala knew she would, Christine lost the battle and went bright red at this final suggestion, "Mala! I'm not...with Milosh."
"Why not?" she whinged.
"Because...he's Milosh," Christine said inarticulately. "He's like my brother. I couldn't marry him."
"Then why are you blushing?" Mala countered.
Christine paused for a moment, "Because you are making such outrageous suggestions."
"It's not an outrageous suggestion," Mala protested. "It's perfectly reasonably that a boy and a girl who played together as children would grow up to fall in love and marry."
"Maybe," she conceded. "But it's not going to be me and Milosh."
"I think that you're protesting too much. You know that I can talk to Milosh on your behalf. And Vadoma and our parents would be thrilled."
"And you're..."
Christine was interrupted when the door to the caravan swung open and Milosh entered.
"Oh Milosh, perfect!" Mala squealed, clapping her hands in delight. "We were just talking about you."
Milosh surveyed the scene in the caravan, his sister looking wickedly gleeful and Christine looking embarrassed and ready to kill Mala. "Do I want to know?" he asked Christine.
"Not really, no," Christine shook her head. "But I don't think that will stop Mala from telling you."
Mala grinned, "I was just saying to Christine how wonderful it would be if the two of you were to marry."
Milosh immediately flushed at the suggestion, "Christine is like a sister, I couldn't marry her."
"See!" Christine pointed at Milosh.
"It's a pity that we don't have an older brother," Milosh directed at his twin. "Then Christine could marry him and we could have her for a sister."
"That would be nice," Mala agreed. "But we don't and I want her for a sister so you'll have to marry her."
"No."
"Why?" Mala pestered. "Is there someone else you want to marry?"
"Well...no," Milosh stammered. "But that doesn't mean I should marry Christine."
"Perhaps he's waiting for his great love to come to the camp," Christine said pointedly.
"Exactly. What?" Milosh turned back to Christine in confusion at where the direction of the conversation had gone.
"No," Mala shook her head. "We can't both have great loves. Milosh will have to marry someone in the camp."
"What if he meets someone before you do?"
"That won't happen," Mala said confidently.
"How can you be sure?" Christine asked.
"Because it's my destiny. It's been read in the tarot."
"Mala, I read the cards. And I know Vadoma's never done that sort of reading for you."
"Girls!" Milosh interrupted the argument. "What are you two talking about?"
"Mala believes that she's going to fall in love with an outsider and that it will be a great love and the clan will tell the story of it for generations to come," Christine explained, embellishing the story slightly.
"That's not quite true," Mala said, holding up her finger. "I never said that the clan was going to tell the story of it."
"But the rest of it is true?" Milosh grinned.
"Yes," Christine answered for her friend, grinning back.
"There's nothing wrong with it," Mala defended. "I'm young enough that I don't need to say yes to any man who is interested, I can afford to be selective."
"Mama would be furious if you wanted to marry an outsider," Milosh pointed out.
"I said that," Christine mentioned.
"Yes, and as I explained to you Christine, this man will be completely wonderful and will win Mama over and she will want him to marry me."
"Ah, you have it all worked out I see," Milosh teased.
"Exactly, so now we just need to work out you," Mala replied.
"Work me out?"
"Yes. If you won't marry Christine then we'll just have to find someone else for you," Mala said nonchalantly.
"Really?" he questioned.
"Absolutely," Christine agreed with a telling grin. "I'm sure we'll be able to find someone for you."
"This is going to come back to haunt you," Milosh said, knowing what the two girls were about to do. "Trust me."
"Well let's see," Mala began. "There's Lyuba."
Milosh relaxed slightly at this suggestion. Lyuba was a girl around Christine's age and was quite nice, although he suspected that she was about to announce her engagement to an older man in another clan.
"She's nice," Christine agreed, echoing Milosh's thoughts. "But I think she's being courted by someone in another clan."
"That's a shame," Mala said, sounding like she already knew it. "How about Mirela?"
"Too old," Christine shook her head.
"She's only five years older than Milosh. Besides if someone doesn't marry her soon..." Mala trailed off.
"That's not very nice," Milosh stated.
"Aishe." Christine suggested. "She wouldn't be too old."
"True but she already has three children," Mala pointed out.
"I don't think I'm quite what she's looking for," Milosh said. Aishe had been very young when she was married and her husband had died shortly after she had had their third child. It was a well known fact amongst the clans that she was looking for another husband, preferable an older one who wouldn't expect a large family.
Mala giggled to herself.
"What?" Milosh asked, knowing that she was laughing at him.
"How about Tsura?" she laughed.
"Absolutely not. No way," Milosh said before Christine had a chance to say anything. Tsura was an elderly woman, widowed, who was always commenting on how handsome all the young men were.
"I don't think this is going to work," Christine said sadly, although she was fighting to hold back a grin.
"Thank god," Milosh muttered, mostly to himself.
"Besides we don't need to worry about this yet anyway. We're still young," Christine said.
"Exactly," Milosh agreed, relieved that they had stopped making suggestions.
"Imagine how much life will change, for all of us, when one of us gets married," Mala observed.
"It's been the three of us for so long," Milosh added. "I can't imagine anyone else joining us, and I don't want to lose either of you."
Both the girls flashed smiles at Milosh at this comment.
"I think it needs to be just the three of us for a while longer," Mala stated, the others nodding in agreement.
"But if you two aren't married by the time Milosh is twenty one, you're marrying each other," Mala said, determined to have the last word.