‘But that’s the case,’ Tanya defended herself.
‘Or… the man should just go and do sports instead of screwing hell-knows-who when his hormones are playing dirty tricks on him. Otherwise one might end up developing some perverse habit or even some unhealthy mania. It’s so unnatural in my opinion. Men have penises, women vaginas, as simple puzzle as that. A stick fits into a hole. What are they supposed to do when it’s two penises or two vaginas?’ Yulya expressed herself vigorously.
Katya finally interfered, ‘I don’t even want to know it. But if you want to know the answer, perhaps you should try it with a girl. Anyway, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone and both sides are willing, I see no harm in any possible variation. But there’re cases of the same sex who feel love emotions to each other, so just accept it, hun. I am still your friend even if you two smoke and I don’t. Free will for everyone, sweetie.’ She produced a long sigh, noticed her comment made no particular persuasive effect and pushed the two speculating friends of hers farther, ‘Come on, we have lotsa other things to see, not only playboy girls.’
Red-haired shrugged her shoulders to the unsatisfying answer. On seeing the strengthening disgust on Yulya’s freckled face, Fringe changed the topic asking, ‘And what about coffeeshops then?’
‘I thought we’ve talked it through, ladies,’ reminded Blondie pushing them gently forward.
‘I know, but I still don’t understand your point. We are in Holland. And who knows maybe we’ll never be here again. We must have a smoke. I know you think it could be dangerous, but, come on, almost every Dutch does it. Look, they are still alive!’ Tanya was waving her arms trying to persuade prudent Blondie.
‘I don’t wanna do it, cuz I’ve heard stories. Besides, a person can have much fun without drinking or smoking or getting high. And yes, it can be dangerous,’ Katya explained herself.
‘Why don’t we eat a cake with hashish at least. I heard it’s not that strong as a joint. Just new experience? And you don’t need to try it if you don’t want to, just come with us,’ Red-haired joined Tanya’s floor of persuasion.
‘Fine, fine, let’s go to a coffeeshop, otherwise you’ll never leave me alone. I’ll come cuz I’m curious to see the place, watch you get stupid and take pictures. But, only in the evening! First, we see the sights!’ Blondie agreed finally and performed a theatrical evil laugh anticipating interesting snaps.
Till seven p.m. the trio managed to see the Van Gogh paintings, Rembrandt House Museum and take an Amstel River tour. Time for the coffeeshop!
Being pioneers in coffeeshops they were advised against space cakes stuffed with cannabis. To start with, they ordered just two pre-rolled joints which were a mixture of cannabis and tobacco. Katya ordered just water, which was damn expensive, and got comfortable to watch the ladies get high. The time was creeping very slowly now. Katya noticed the friends’ eyes get glossy and red. They started giggling.
‘Ok, you were right, nothing dangerous so far. Just silly giggling girls,’ commented Katya.
Tanya and Yulya looked at each other and started laughing even louder.
‘Still I don’t regret not having tried it,’ Katya said aloud but seemed as if to herself, as the girls were covered in their laughter not paying much attention to her. The only thing she regretted was that they should’ve had dinner first and then head to this place as she felt her stomach rumble with hunger.
chapter 4
Arriving back to Berlin meant resuming the Berlin routine.
Having shaven her legs and washed with a sweet and slightly sour shower gel, the smell of which would remind her of Berlin for the rest of her life, red-toweled Blondie would walk up to Yulya to wake her up. To Tanya she would come up two or three times and sometimes she would even succeed in waking her up.
Days were passing. The three Russians and two Germans saw each other from time to time, having lots of laughter-giraffter.
Once, on a perfect July day the girlies were invited to a picnic in Volkspark Wilmersdorf by their learning German internationals. What a grand event for them! Lots of jovial youngsters hanging out in a park, with food and drinks!
Everyone seemed to be under the happy spell. The sun was shining in their faces! Birds were chirping in the trees. Multiple trees were stretching out their green fluffy arms all over to offer a shadowy shelter. A blue clear endless dome was hanging above. What else can a soul desire? A hearty meal! And the ladies were hungry like hell as they hadn’t eaten the whole day.
As the bottles were opened, Katya emptied her first plastic cup of wine at a go. And she instantly felt herself somewhat high in the bright blue sky. Tuned to the sun’s energy Blondie seemed to be in her childish mood, annoying everyone like kids do. Having small-talked to every possible soul in their circle, Katya approached Fil. He was busy talking to Tanya. Was that an obstacle? Katya sat beside him and tickled his knee.
‘Stop it!’ came his reaction. What kid would stop after such a phrase? Apparently, that was exactly the motto for kids meaning Do it again! Thus, the hungry girl tickled him again and again, smiling, watching his reaction.
‘Hey! If you do it again, you’ll be in trouble!’ Mr. Curly Hair pronounced like some mafia boss warning his victim for the last and only time with playful malice. Soon Filip learnt that the silly kindergarten girl was in a playground mood that sunny afternoon. And his last words were understood as not only Do it again! but as green lights, the encouraging non-stop signal, meaning C’mon, tickle me to death, Katushka!
Thus, the silly-goose girl was obliged to tickle him again. In a second she knew not how she was lying on the grass on her back with Filip sitting atop her. It was not the happy look of under him at last, but the look, how the fuck did that happen?
The rest of the evening the two spent fighting with each other. You know, like puppies do bite each other when playing? After the picnic everyone was aware of Katya-and-Filip’s mutual non-indifference towards each other. No wonder everyone was asking if they were a couple. Funny enough, the two of them kept on denying it, even to themselves. And yes, they were grown-up people who behaved like…kids? More like aged kids, frankly speaking.
The next morning Katya woke up with bruises all over her body. Definitely something to remember Filip by. Was it their way of showing love to each other?
chapter 5
This time it was Filip who invited them to have a meal at his Mum’s apartment. Filip’s Mum was away on holidays. So it was the perfect time to occupy her decent apartment on the top of the house, where there was a nice terrace with a dinner table and everything necessary. Sven couldn’t make it that day. Was he to practice his headstand instead?
As they headed to the place they bumped into a playground with a merry-go-round that looked like a big plate that was fastened to the ground in the middle. While Tanya and Yulya decided not to be stupid, Katya, on the contrary, placed her bum down onto the plate merry-go-round. Filip began to spin it.
The playground whirled faster and faster in Katya’s eyes. The whole world became one mess of various colours. As she started to feel dizzy, she yelled, ‘Enough! Stop!’
But this time she completely forgot that stop-phrase worked like an encouragement for kids. So Mr. Curly Hair started to spin even faster…and there Katya flew! Was it dropping like a stone more like? Her bum landing on the ground. As Katya heard sorry, she briskly glanced at Filip. A pitiful look on his face.
‘Never mind,’ Katya heard herself say, a cold angry look froze on her face. And all of them resumed walking in silence; Katya, shaking off the dust from her skirt and observing the scratches on her elbow.
What a lovely apartment Filip’s Mum had! Having understood from the previous time that girls were not really inclined to choose their music, Mr. Curly Hair took a liberty