Romance about Immigration

So the grandfather, let us name him Vassilis, was a man from this old school and had seven sons. Grandmother Vassilissa raised them properly, in deep respect to the father, who really worked bloody to put them all through university although he himself had completed only a few classes. And he and his wife married them these sons of theirs to good girls also brought up in respect for the senior generation. And the first six wives without hesitation named their firstborn sons Vassilis in honour of their father-in-law. As you have rightly guessed, the six first cousins had not only the same first name, but same family name as well. When the seventh daughter-in-law gave birth to her firstborn son, six Vassilises were already going to the same kindergarten and only St. Vassilis knew what their teachers said on that occasion. So the seventh grandson was named after an alternate grandfather, to which the mother-in-law made quite a face, but grandpa Vassilis was staunchly "for" as there was someone to inherit his name. Six times at least! Oh, you in Bulgaria, you also have such tradition? Yes, I say, I'm walking proof of it. Cheers to that. Cheers, our friends say, we will soon marry the very first Vassilis of the sextet, wonderfully nice couple with his fiancee, of course, at the Greek church, come and you will meet with all of them. Quite simple, informal, from our side there will hardly be three hundred people! Also the Retsina will be from the old land; better than this vintage here.

As a Pythia over the wine vapors in my glass I see how the six Vassilises have six sons each, may God bless them with even more, and their sons also have sons, and each one honors the sacred tradition the first male offspring to bear his paternal grandfather’s name, and all they have the same name, and go to the same school. There are enought for at least two classes annually, in health and happiness, and their teachers need nerves like steel ship cables, till they unravel who exactly is son of whom. And grandpa Vassilis is alive and well, he sits on St. Vassilis’s day at the helm of a long table, informally, and he counts them, all his great-great-grandchildren and grandchildren, and he knows that his name will not die with him.

Perhaps the visions are due to the Retsina. Do not overindulge in it. Still…

Black Sheep, or Keep Your Windows Open

- Ha, he is the one to say that I am black sheep! I'm black, doubt no, but if he is a ram, why attribut his qualities to me! Of course he signed, what is the question?!

My neighbor is a cheerful retired lady who has just explained in detail and colorfully to the city employee why she does not agree with his decision on our condominium. The lady is a nurse by profession and a gardener by vocation. Never has the garden strip in front of our building been so beautiful as under her expert guidance. Because her schedule is free, she is usual volunteer to bring