The most probable time of when we got Cica employed at Avai. Vanji had called the economics high school and asked for name and address of whichever girl was their best graduate of whom they know isn't likely to enroll into a college this fall. Well, Brlja's mom was just a classmaster of the graduating class... He got it, and just called her to schedule an appointment. She came on time, despite heavy rain, on a bicycle all the way from Čurda (about 6km). I think this meeting took place this friday, and today she was a regular in the office - and she'd probably have to do her own paperwork as part of the job.
This may have happened two or four weeks before. Anytime around june, as this would be the time when the high school graduates have finished, and before the vacation season when there wouldn't be any teaching staff in the school.
My first impression is that she's a sweetie, smartie and has a weird voice that I'll easily get used to. And I did. Soon after she accumulated a few salaries, she established her standard wardrobe - black jacket and trousers set, white shirt, never skirt. We all adjusted to her really fast, perfect choice.
One of this first years in the new house I remember twice going for lunch. Once it was my folks coming to us, and down the railway track, on foot, guess so dad could have a shot before lunch (of course, his homemade loza). The path by the track was already neglected, the industry croaked and the thousand people who walked it daily weren't there anymore, so walk the track. Which wasn't easy, because the beams are never spaced exactly one step apart, it's always shorter or longer, and granma's slipper tore. Banatian business, in slippers everywhere.
That was the only time mom visited us since we moved. She did come a few times while we built it, as moba, made coffee and such, but as a guest never, except this one time. Guess the curiosity won. I never heard it loud and clear why she avoids coming and refuses anything from our kitchen, but I think it's because she never forgave us for moving out.
The other time it was in the other direction, also along the track, all five of us. It's not far, two kilometers. I remember just one detail, Nina said something... impossible to translate, two verbs which describe tearing of cloth, one of which means laugh, the other cry.
3-V-2022 - 30-VIII-2026