In search of the niche
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The next day, Grechko didn"t call and Leo sent him a short e-mail: "Where did you disappear? I'm worried!"
Grechko called back at the end of the next day. His voice was again alert and confident.
– Leo, sorry, could not call in the morning. I figured out what's wrong with the car.
– I thought you were working, - Koifman joked roughly.
– You are a joker, se~nor.
– Sorry, didn"t want to offend. So what about the car?
– Then it turns out that in the morning and in the evening a bus arrives to the plant. This bus takes you to the village. About an hour drive.
– Wow! 25 km they are driving for an hour?!
– Well, there are dangerous roads, along the mountains, winding. In general, this is what they told me. Maybe 55 minutes. In short, in the village there is another bus, which travels about 15 km to the larger city. And there, in this town, they have cars for rent.
– So you'll rent the car for six weeks?
– Probably. Without a car you got nowhere. How am I going to get to the sea?
– Well, and to the girls, too. 25 km to the nearest village it is not fun.
– Well, yes, well... Not fun, and far. Who knew that plant will be so far from civilization?
– Did you think that a metallurgical plant will be built in the center of the city, and around fashion boutiques and fine food restaurants with girls?
– Well, not in the center of course... But at least... you know, kind of... within the city boarders. Same as we have in my city in Russia.
– This is why girls in your city do not have very smooth skin.
– You are right. No, not smooth skin at all... No question about it. Ecology was below water line.
– So, will you go with your new friend? I mean, with Francisco?
– Well, no...
– What?! I don"t understand. And how you will communicate without the Spanish? Nikolay, what wrong with you? Imagine, you are local auto dealer and sitting in some small Russian village "Little Diarrhea". You just half year out of prison and you are reading newspaper, section "dating for adults". Even you know that in your village a dozen not married women, and with each of them he has already met from five to seven times. Suddenly some birded dude comes in and mumbles something to him in English. He even doesn"t understand Spanish if an intelligent person will talks to him.
– Well... I'll figure it out.
– Something smells here. I thought that you would take one car for both... Ride to the sea, for girls...
– I thought the same way, but he even doesn"t want to live with me in the same house.
– Wow... Looks like he afraid that if you don"t find the girls, then you'll start harass him.
– Ha. It's funny. H-m-mm...
– Well, come on, open up! What happened?
– He settled with his Spanish speaking guys in the same house. They planned it before departure, bitches. I mean, they agreed to live together. And they will take one car for three. Bitches!
– Make sense. When they find girls they not supposed to translate...
– I understand!
– By the way, Nikolay, you know what, take Francisco to court.
– For what?
– For his disgusting behavior. Like you wanted to take to the court the previous employer. Ha-ha-ha.
– You know, this is not a bad idea.
– Are you serious? Or you fool? I'm joking.
– No, you didn"t understand. I'll sue you for constant harassment.
– Sorry, Nikolay. I'm sorry. Sometimes I lose my breaks.
– Last time you lose your breaks very often. But I'm already used to... In short, what should I do?
– Well, first of all I would talk with the men with whom you settled in the same trailer. You can paint it colorfully as you go for a drive on the sea, go for beer and girls to the village. Everyone still has a weak points, it is only necessary to find them. Your weak points: food and girls, and somebody loves sea and historical sights, some likes alcohol and marijuana, another gambling... By the way, I have a couple of friends who is crazy about sport, and they are much more interesting in tennis court than all of the above.
– Let"s say I found their weak points, and then what?
– And then bring them all to the common ground. I mean - if today they went with you to the girls, then tomorrow you will drink with them, and the day after you will play soccer. I understand that this is not exactly your style. You're used to only benefit yourself. But sometimes in life you have to compromise.
– Okay thank you. The idea is certainly interesting. I will check their weak points.
– Just do not mix it up with the erogenous ones, - sneered Koifman.
7
During the weekend it was a snow fall in Toronto. Not much, but not all roads have been properly plowed, which naturally affected the traffic. The drive from shop to home for Koifman took extra half an hour. Returning after shopping, Leo noted with irritation that the snow from the snowplow truck had blocked the parking lot in front of the house. Snow was cling to shovel and it took extra efforts to clean it up. Finally all snow was out of driveway. Sweaty and tired Leo came home. Taking his boots off, with frozen hands, he scratched his finger badly.
– What a shit!
– Koifman shouted with disappointment. Blood started to drop on the floor.
– Do you want a plaster?
– wife asked him with compassion.
– No, I want to Panama, - he answered wearily and went swimming.
Grechko called on Tuesday morning.
– What about the car?
– began Leo without an introduction.
– With the car... With the car - deep ass!
– same short way answered Nikolay.
– Come on, talk to me!
– What to tell?! I talked to these men. First man is real alcoholic. This is the reason why he agreed go to Panama - just to drink without any control. His wife at home not allow him even glass of wine. We are fed three times a day for free, but alcohol is officially banned on the territory of the camp. Although almost everyone drinks. Somehow they found the way and from a neighboring village they are buying beer, wine and tequila. Another man, a new immigrant from Romania. He even doesn"t have citizenship yet. He grew in some Romanian small town and never visited Bucharest. He found here all sorts of parks, mountains... Kind of tourist... But he doesn"t interested to spend any money on the car. I certainly understand him. I was in his shoos fifteen years ago. And he is afraid that if something happens, he will be deported back to Romania. He even not a "chicken", he is a real coward.