Tea and a Little Problem
After Sonja tidied herself up, she went downstairs and took Nikolenka with her, she looked for Vasily and then saw him waving to her, she waved back and they walked up to him and sat down at a table he was sitting at. "So what kind of tea would you both like to drink?" he asked. "I have no idea, right now I'm probably supposed to be serving tea," she joked. "So do you like earl gray or green tea, I prefer green tea," said Vasily. "I'll have the same thing you're having then," said Sonja. "Ok what would you like Nikolenka?" "I don't drink tea sir, some water would be nice," said Nikolenka studying Vasily intensely. "Ok I'll get some green tea and some water," said Vasily leaving the table and going to the counter to get the tea and water. "Wow you actually like green tea? Yuck!" said Nikolenka. "I've never tasted it, I'm just hoping to make a good impression on him, come on he's offering to buy us something to drink, he's a gentleman," said Sonja. "That may be true, but why not order something you've actually have tasted and like," said Nikolenka. "Oh don't be so critical," said Sonja. "I'm back here you are," said Vasily as he gave Sonja and Nikolenka their drinks. "Thank you so much, you didn't have to buy us drinks," said Sonja. "Oh it's my pleasure. I have something else for you," he said as he started reaching into his pockets. "I don't like the sound of that," said Nikolenka,
"Please Nikolenka get your head out of the gutter," said Sonja.
"Here you are!" he gave Sonja and Nikolenka some little pieces of paper. "What are they?" asked Sonja, "They're coupons, to buy yourself some books from the bookstore," said Vasily. "Really, you didn't have to give us any coupons," said Sonja. "Don't worry, I have plenty more where those came from," said Vasily. "I don't even know what classes I'm taking," said Sonja. "Wait a moment, what do you mean you don't know, you did sign up didn't you?" asked Vasily. "No I'm afraid I didn't do you know where to sign up at?" asked Sonja. "All you have to do is go into the lobby and ask for a list of classes down at the university," said Vasily. "Ok that sounds easy enough, but first we should drink our tea! Na starovia!" said Sonja raising her glass. "Na starovia!" said Nikolenka and Vasily clicking their glasses against Sonja's.
Later on, Sonja went out into the lobby, and up to the front desk. "Excuse me, I need a list of classes from the university," she said. "I'm sorry classes have already started over there, but I'm sure they'll be happy to let you into one or two," said the lady at the front desk. "Oh thanks," she said and she took Nikolenka by the hand and tried to walk out of the lobby only to be stalled by Vasily. "How did it go up there?" asked Vasily, "Not very good I'm afraid, classes have already started and I'm a bit late to sign up for anything," said Sonja. "Here I suppose I could pay, I'll go grab the list for you and we can look it over in my room, how does that sound?" asked Vasily. "Only if…." "Yes of course Nikolenka could come too, what did you think we were going up to my room for?" "Oh nothing, nothing at all," said Sonja with a fake looking smile on her face. Later on they went up to Vasily's room, and all the sudden when Vasily unlocked the door, a little dark brown Pekinese ran up to him barking really loudly. "Oh my goodness what is that thing?!" Sonja yelled. "It's a dog of course!" said Nikolenka. "It's just Vera, she wouldn't hurt anyone she's just excited to see me is all! Aren't you Vera?!" said Vasily getting silly over her. "So what do you suggest we do now?" asked Sonja. "I think we should look over the classes that are available," said Vasily getting a sheet of paper from his table. "What in the world, so we went up to the desk for nothing?" asked Nikolenka. "Well yes, but don't worry let's look them over."
Meanwhile back in Russia a few weeks later, things were so depressing for everyone, now that Sonja was gone, Marya didn't have anyone to take her unhappiness out on, nor did Natalia have anyone to look after her. It was night and Natalia was so depressed she that she started knitting a sweater. "Oh so who is that sweater for mother, might I call you mother?" asked Marya. "It's all right but I would feel more comfortable if you called me Natalia," said Natalia with a sarcastic grin on her face. "In-laws I simply can't deal with them!" said Marya. "I'm knitting it for Sonja and I'll give it to her when she gets back from studying abroad, I wonder what she's going to school for? Literature, art, perhaps history," said Natalia. "You've never knitted me a sweater," said Marya. "Dear as long as you're married to Nikolai then what are you complaining about?" asked Natalia. "By the way this letter came in the mail for you," said Marya handing Natalia a letter. "Ok let's take a look shall we?" said Natalia smiling sarcastically again as she opened the letter. "It's from Sonja!" said Natalia. "This I have to hear, read it out loud!" said Marya.
"Hello my dear Natalia, I have decided to take classes at the university in Rome, I am taking literature, Italian and art. They are a lot of fun, which reminds me, I hired a private tutor for Nikolenka to learn Italian. I made a new friend, his name is Vasily, he's from Siberia and he's very handsome and kind to me and Nikolenka. He has a dog named Vera, she's so adorable. But I'm afraid that he's my only friend here, I can't speak a word of Italian, and my French isn't as good as it used to be. By the way could you send some more money so I can buy Nikolenka and I some cloths. Thanks for everything Natalia and I'll look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely Sonja," said Natalia as she finished reading. "She wants more money from us? Why in the world can that be?" asked Marya. "Remember that she's not really considered a princess in the family like you are, she's just a cousin of my son. We adopted her after her parents died, its not like she has any money like you and Nikolai have," said Natalia. "Well all right then, I'll talk to Nikolai."
Later that week in Italy, Sonya was painting a picture for art class, while Nikolenka was with the tutor. All the sudden Vasily came into the room with his faithful dog by his side. "Hello there what are you doing?" he asked. "I'm painting a picture of Venice, it's for art class," said Sonja. Vasily grabbed a chair and sat next to her. "So tell me Sonja what's it like being born into a rich family?" he asked. "Excuse me?" she asked. "Well you know I had to work my way up, I left Russia after my wife passed away and I had to make a living here in Italy, oh that came out wrong," he said intensely. "You were married?" she asked, "Yes I was, it was an arranged marriage, she was really beautiful and well I fell in love with her, but our marriage wasn't a great success, she ran off with a white man and the last time I heard about her was that she died of typhus in Moscow. So I moved to Rome, and I got rich and now I have an apartment at the Russian embassy in Rome and I have a house in Venice. Quite so if I wouldn't have left Russia then I wouldn't be making a lot of money now would I?" "So let me get this straight, you come from a poor family and you had to work your way up?" "Yes its true, your parents must be so rich, are you by chance one of the daughters of the Rostovs?" asked Vasily. "Of course I am why, are you familiar with my mother Natalia?" she asked.
"Of course I am, I met her when I was a child, she was much more prettier back then, how is your mother by the way!" he asked. "Wait a minuet, you know my mother?" she asked. "Yes my parents used to work as servants for your mother's family before she met your father, that was until my father decided to go and work for another family. Your mother sent us a letter informing that she was married and had two daughters and two sons," said Vasily. "Right that's correct, wow it is a small world after all," said Sonja. "Look I have a question to ask you." "Go ahead." "Well I was wondering if you and Nikolenka would like to come to my house in Venice, it's really lovely. You'll love Venice, they have all sorts of museums, masked balls and not just that, the best thing in the world, gondolas!" said Vasily. "Sure when should we leave?" asked Sonja. "Immediately!" said Vasily. "But I have class tomorrow!" said Sonja. "You can always make class up!" said Vasily. "Yes that is true, I'll go get packed, come on Nikolenka!" said Sonja. "Aren't I supposed to be in the middle of a lesson?" asked Nikolenka. "We're going to Venice to Mr. Mashinev's house!" said Sonja. "Mr. Mashinev has a house in Venice?!" asked Nikolenka. "Come on we mustn't waste time!" said Sonja. "Yes I don't have to have any more lessons for now!" yelled Nikolenka with excitement.