Yesterday at Eastertide I spent almost all the day in the church and saw her again. That time she came together with her daughter to see the shroud of Christ. They couldn’t come to the relic because of the queue and stood in the light of the Easter sun. The girl was very naughty and didn’t want to what her mother sad, didn’t want to be among those people. I stood in the shade of the icon case and my position let me see the woman with the girl and listen to their talk.
“You are too young” –- she sad to her daughter -– “Listen to me. Mother always wishes you well. Mmm..? I didn’t believe in God too? But he exists. Really. When you’ll grow up you’ll remember my words. And now -– con on – be a good girl, let’s go!”
People standing near them forgot about their prayer and started to follow the young woman, her beautiful legs, with their eyes with craving. She was wearing a rather short skirt, shoes with high heels and looked a little bit strange there, in the church. But she was so natural that I (a city-dweller working in the country) didn’t think she was defiant. She tried to be well dressed for such a holyday. And people started again: “What a slut! She is wearing dark glasses to hide her eyes! What a shame!”
The woman set her kerchief straight, lifted her head and, as I thought at the moment, looked at me through the glasses. I dropped the camera down when she smiled to me, as I was her old friend. Then she let her daughter near the icon case and went to the queue alone.
Later during the religious procession and vespers I wanted to see her again and tried to spy her out, but alack she didn’t came any more...