Sunday Story/ Honeymoon

2024-09-15 20:20:00, Kulturë Agim Xhafka

Journalist Agim Xhafka

Berti rests in Pogradec in August. With the wife, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren love the sea. The lake is for old people, they tell him. He is not upset by these words. As soon as the morning of August 1st dawns, I put my suitcases in the car and together with Hope, they drive towards that place that they love so much. Even for the climate, for the air, and for the color of the sky. Also because they spent their honeymoon there.

When they remember August 30 years ago, they get excited. It was a magical day and night. Filled with so much happiness and laughter that when they remember it today, they envy that age.

After the wedding, Berti's father said that a friend of his, Llazi, who was the head of finance at Pogradec tourism, had provided them with a room for ten days. Enjoy, he added. And that was all it took for the couple. They boarded the bus and after an hour at the door of tourism. They asked for Llaz. He was a middle-aged man, a little fat. Well, that's what this job does to you, laughed Berti.

- Agron's son? - asked Llazi.

- Yes. With the wife. For honeymoon.

- I know, I know, - Llazi said seriously.

He took them by the arm and went out to the side, not to obstruct those who were registering at the reception.

- We had a problem, - he started. - In the room where you would stay, the director has placed one from the ministry. For 4 days, then it's yours.

Bert's tongue stuck in his stomach. He felt like fainting. It seemed to him that the light of the sun had gone out. He didn't say that Llazi broke the thorn, entered the office. Hope held him by the arm. They went outside and saw him towards a bench. They went, sat there. As it seems, we will sleep here, Berti said to himself. They didn't know what to do. They were a little ashamed to return to Korça. That he was boasting about tourism vacations. To that tourism that was a dream for every newly married couple. Yes, it was impossible for them to stay in Pogradec. Every season there were no free rooms in the hotel. Even in some houses that let out premises, they were booked.

- Let's eat a pie, - said Berti, while his mind started to work.

After a few minutes, he remembered Vjollca, a cousin of his father. She was married in the city and worked in a grocery store, in canning. After eating the pie, they reached the Pogradeci factory, that's how it was then, for ten minutes I ate them one after another. They didn't wait long. As soon as Violet was informed that Berti was waiting for her, she came running. He hugged her and did not stop asking.

- I'm a little upset that you didn't invite me to the wedding. Even Bajram was worried, she said.

Bajram was her husband. Bert learned that they had no children. We have done some analysis, but we are not discovering the culprit, she laughed. Then she took Berti and Spresa by the hand and led her home. Near tourism, in a two-story building. It was narrow, a room and a kitchen.

- You will stay here until the hotel room becomes available, - he said firmly.

The apartment opened the door to the kitchen. Opposite was the bedroom.

- You will sleep here, - he said and started to change the sheets.

It felt like home. Bajrami came after two hours and straight to the table. With homemade wine and stuffed animals given to them by Petro, their fisherman neighbor. That night they left Vjollca and Bajram in the kitchen when they closed the bedroom door so they could sleep.

- Where will they lie because I didn't see a couch or a bed in the kitchen? - asked Hope.

Indeed, there was a large table and six chairs. That was the place. How much of a doghouse. Luckily the bed didn't make a noise, the couple honeymooned that night and morning came full of sunshine at the window. Berti came out first. He didn't see anyone in the kitchen. Paskan went to work, he said. There was a notebook paper on the table. He took it and read: "Have fun. You are a young couple and we are leaving you alone until you go to the hotel. We are sleeping at Bajram's brother's place."

Hope was almost crying. He had only read about people with such big hearts in books. On the third day there was a knock at the door. It was Petro, the neighbor. He had brought beluškas, but ripe ones.

-Viollca told me that she likes you very much.

- Where did you find Vjollca? - asked Berti.

- To hydrovor. Bajrami works there. There is a repair room and these days they opened a portable bed and sleep there.

Bert's eyes widened. He felt bitter that he embarrassed those good people so much, and he was happy that he stayed one day. They would go to the hotel the next day.

He and Shpresa remember those honey days filled with the honey of Vjollca's heart and Bajram. While walking, they approached tourism.

- Why didn't we go to Vjollca once, - said Hope.

They looked into each other's eyes. What was this wonder that from that year onward they didn't even knock on that door. Be it for a thank you. They were given after work, after the birth of children. They didn't really rest in this city for a few years, but every time they came, their eyes fell on him. Never over that apartment that became the shelter of his heart.

Bertie knocked. They waited. A fist-sized old woman appeared at the door. His hands and words were shaking.

-Who are you looking for?

They got to know Vjollca, the good and dear, generous woman.

- Sorry, we knocked wrong, - said Hope.

The door closed. Bert froze. From what he saw and from the wonder why Hope did not let him know. They went out to the yard. Some women were talking under a tree. Hope went to them and started a not short conversation. Then he took Berti by the arm and headed towards tourism.

- The women told me that Bajram died a few years ago from an accident at work. Violet has no children. She is alone, with half of her husband's pension. He suffered from kidney problems and now he is on dialysis three times a week. Yes, sometimes it doesn't work because there is no money for a taxi to the hospital. And worst of all, they have cut off the lights because you can't pay them.

They did not speak after that. They were seeing each other as guilty. Now they wanted to correct a mistake, or a fault.

- Let's go to the electrician tomorrow and cancel the arrears. Let's pay a taxi for the whole year...

- One of those women was unemployed, - said Hope. - Let's hire her as Vjollca's guardian.

They were relieved that they could help him with money, but they did not feel good about themselves. They felt like the lake that on hot days the water above was warm, but below the razor, cut his cold feet.

-How did we do it like this, how? - Berti wondered, it seemed as if their ingratitude had ripped Vjollca's kidneys from her body.

They stayed on the balcony for a whole day. Yes, not with eyes from the lake. But looking at that apartment filled with goodness. They were happy when they saw the yellow taxi that took Vjollca and the caretaker, who held her so close to her chest as if she had her own person, her own blood...