The Gypsy's Dream Read Online Free PDF Page B

her toenails pink.
    ‘ I just talked to Marina.’ Mitsos lowers himself into the empty chair. Stella is the only person who knows of Mitsos’ secret love. The many cut-up lunches and dinners he has eaten at her shop have, slowly, over the years, cultivated a trusting friendship. She knows the story right from when Mitsos first saw Marina, through her subsequent unhappy arranged marriage to someone else who, on his death, left her with nothing. Poor Mitsos, out of the goodness of his heart, has a wish to improve the quality of Marina’s life, to make her happy and secure even if she feels nothing for him. ‘What do you think Marina needs most in the world?’ he asks as he concludes his narration of their recent, and very brief, exchange.
    Stella can relate to Marina and her harsh life. Although that is a bit unfair: Stavros works beside her every day, they ar e still a team. Marina, from what she has heard, was a single parent even though her husband lived in the same house. He was never there, and provided very little. She raised two girls by herself and after her husband died she started the corner shop with all the junk he left behind. Now the village wouldn’t function without the shop. Stella admires her.
    No. Stavros is not like Marina ’s husband. Stavros may have his hand in the till and the payments may be late for the butcher but they always get by. Not so for poor Marina, for her it was proved that husbands can be absent even when they are there. In this culture, where many women do not work, not being provided for is the same as not being considered.
    Look at Vasso, she had the best husband in the world, he considered her with his every breath, loved and cared for her till death parted them and then left her a little something tucked away. Vasso holds her head high every day, always has her hair done, looks smart.
    Being ignored has to be the worst feeling in the world. When Stavros ignores her she can feel her self-belief draining away, her joy in the world evaporates. It is only the fun she generates with the customers that keeps her from sinking. That and a nip of ouzo. She knows exactly what Marina needs.
    After considering Stella says, ‘In all honesty, she needs what no one can give her.’
    ‘ What’s that?’ Mitsos asks.
    ‘ She needs a memory of a husband who was good to her, who thought about her and who provided for her. With a memory like that she would feel like a different person. She would feel valued and loved and lovable. As it is she sees herself as unlovable, worthy of neglect and unworthy of being put first. You can see it with her children. She sees them as having so much value and herself as having none, she does everything for them she can, breaks her back for them and just considers it the “right” thing to do. Over the years she has neglected herself more and more and that has all come from him.’ Stella pauses; Mitsos stays quiet, looking at her. ‘Sorry. Did you want such a full answer?’ She smiles but she is turning her head to look inside her shop. Stavros is still at the girl’s table and the dancing has stopped. He is pointing to the dirty dishes and saying ‘ plenis ta piata ’, in Greek very loudly over and over.
    Mitsos leans over and pats Stella ’s hand kindly.
    ‘ And you would know, Stella,’ he says.
    Stella lets a tear fall.
    Mitsos stands slowly. Stella wills him to go away. She could easily imagine her head on his chest, his arm around her and releasing all her sorrow, hiding from the world, him making everything safe. It is a long time since her father died but still, sometimes, she feels like a child, with childlike needs. Mitsos is up, he pats her on the shoulder before he sets off again back across the square. The pat releases another tear. Stella looks over the road to see if the Romanian in the sandwich shop is looking at her but she is busy putting bottles of water into her fridge. Stella wipes the tears from her face and braces herself to