Very bad English / Очень плохой English

However, as the global parental experiment showed, the unbreakable paternal theory had a stumbling block…

Now when Eva appeared before me in full force, I realized that time had played a cruel joke on me. It was as if I saw myself from outside: jeans outstretched on my knees, black T-shirt and sneakers dreaming to rest in peace in some landfill…

No makeup, so as not to age prematurely…

Hairstyle? I've never had any hairstyle in my life!..

That was our very first meeting.

Then Eva suddenly got married, graduated from medical university and, thanks to her stepfather, got a job in a fashionable clinic.

And now she brings up two boys. By the way, they are also twins!

What an irony.

В«Taska, you look cool!В» said Eva, meeting me once again at Pulkovo airport. I do not like it when she distorts my name, but this is a long-standing children's showdown.

В«I'm glad you agreed to stop by! Your next flight is in a day anyway.В»

В«Is that mom's car?В» I asked unconfidently, pointing to the mocha-colored Audi.

«Yeah… Mine is under repair. How are you? How's dad?»

В«As usual. What about mom?В» I asked, trying to be polite.

В«Getting younger and younger! I'm not a competitor to her. I'll take you to her if you want, without declaring war!В» suggested Eva, most likely, also out of politeness.

В«Nope. I don't want to upset her.В»

«You should! Actually…» Eva thought for a moment, «It's time to change at least something in life.

After all, we only live once, right Taska?В» she said with a slight sadness.

Now, looking at the mysterious letter, I remembered the recent conversation and assumed that there could be some connection between these two facts…

Chapter 2

The Letter

В«I have no idea what you're talking about, Taska!В» Eva said when, suspecting her of pandering, I called her without really understanding the essence of this strange and mysterious letter.

В«Well then fine! I'll figure it out myself.

The only trouble is… my English is very bad! Or, like they say: „I speak English a little!..“»

«Hey, bogey, send my best to dad! By the way… Mom was very upset that you did not call her. That's true, Taska! She has recently become some kind of sentimental,» Eva added before saying goodbye.

Having put the phone in the side pocket of the bag carefully imitating leopard leather, I returned to the letter.