46. My little Jarka pet

I move into the guest house on Tim and Silvia’s property and I enjoy my newfound privacy. It’s still limited but at least I am not being watched like a 5-year old anymore. I still spend the majority of my time with Silvia. In fact, every morning, I come over to the big house for breakfast, unless I eat a poptart at “my house.” Then I run Silvia’s drive-through errands with her and after dinner, I go back home. When I am alone, I read a book and keep working on my English skills. I find a Dean Koontz novel on a shelf and slowly read it, using my dictionary. I look up every single word I don’t know and then I test my new English skills and words on Silvia. After three weeks of intense reading and memorizing words, I finally finish the book. I can’t wait to tell Tim, Silvia, and the entire family. Hey everyone, listen up! I finished a book! I read an entire book in English! I know it doesn’t mean anything to you but this is a huge achievement for me. Huge! I am so proud of myself. Unfortunately, I have to use my hardcover Dean Koontz book to kill a scorpion that sits by my front door one morning. I drop the book on top of it and jump on it several times. I let it sit there with the squished scorpion for several days because I am scared to pick it up. What if the scorpion is not dead and will jump on me. Sigh, Georgia life. 

In addition to having my own space, Silvia arranges for me to have a job. She takes me to her daughter Claire’s house twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Claire has a fast progressing Multiple Sclerosis, even though she is only in her late 30s. She is wheelchair bound and needs assistance with eating and using a restroom. At this point in the progression of her disease, Clarie has difficulty speaking too and her body gets overtaken by frequent tremors and violent shakes. I love Claire very much and I feel sad for her beautiful suffering soul. I talk to her, even when she can’t respond and I often watch TV with her as well. In return, I get paid by her husband. I get about $20 per week. When he feels more generous, he even pays me $40. It’s not much but I am incredibly grateful. I am absolutely out of money and I have no other way to earn it. I still fully depend on Tim and Silvia for everything. 

At this time, my situation with Peter is not good. Our relationship is falling apart. We are on the brink of breaking up. I don’t ever see him but when I do, we argue anyway. We argue about everything and we argue in Slovakian because no one can understand us. This is the one thing that we currently have in common. Our language and our country of origin. Slovakian Peter and American Peter are two different people and I am not a fan of his American side.

I resent him. I feel he has adopted a “kiss butt” attitude because Tim is paying for his college. I understand that my way of thinking is not fair. I know Tim is not paying for my college, however, I am afraid of being sent back to Slovakia so I am also on my best behavior. I do as I am told, I play the piano, I go to church, I take care of Claire nearly for free, and I keep Silvia company. I help her pick out trees even though I am bored out of my mind. I am also a hypocrite with a “kiss butt” attitude. This doesn’t prevent me from resenting Peter though and I don’t care. All of my feelings that I ever had for him have vanished forever. There is no getting them back. Our break up is imminent; I am only waiting for the right opportunity and timing to tell him. 

When I finally do it, Silvia is the first to know. 

“Awww, bless your heart!” She exclaims with genuine concern, which only lasts for one fleeting second because she continues on talking, chirping happily. 

“Oh, Jarka…. you know what? I saw it coming. You will be ok, I just know it. I know it in my heart. God has a plan for you. There is a guy out there that God meant for you to be with.” 

She is silent for a few seconds but I can tell something is coming. She is going to talk about Henry, I am certain. It will be an idea or a plan that involves me being her daughter in law. It wouldn’t be Silvia if she didn’t try to arrange people’s lives or meddle with them. So I am not shocked when her next question comes.

“Uhm…..Jarka?” She says carefully. “What do you think of Henry? Do you like him?”

Silvia always asks the trickiest questions. They make me think fast and keep me on my toes. I can’t answer no and bluntly state I don’t like Henry. He is her son! But can I actually answer yes? Do I like Henry? He is her son and would be like playing with fire. There is no right answer here!

“Uhm….yes, I like Henry.” I finally respond.

Correct choice. Silvia is beaming.

“Ok!” She is excited. “You are beautiful, Jarka, and you are so precious. Such a sweet young woman you are. I would love having a daughter in law just like you. I have no doubt that Henry will like you too! He can say goodbye to his horrible girlfriend, Sharon. The sooner the better.” She makes a disgusted face when she is talking about Sharon. 

“How about we go shopping tomorrow? We can do a little makeover for you. What do you say?” Silvia has planned it all out. And I am stuck. I nod quietly. I guess I am having a makeover. 

*************

We are at Macy’s and I am getting new clothes again, more old lady dresses and shoes. I know that Silvia is spending a lot of money on me but it is making her so happy. Just like the first time, this is not the attire I would choose for myself but I have to go along with it.

After we are done shopping and finally on the way out of the store, we walk by the cosmetics department. There is a lady sitting in a chair and a young girl is applying make-up to her face. She is clearly working here and she appears to be an expert on make-up. She is about to be finished with the lady, when Silvia approaches her. 

“Hi, ma’am? Are you free? I have this precious girl here with me and I would like for you to do her make-up. Can you do that, please?” She asks in her sweetest voice imaginable.

“Of course!” She smiles at Silvia and then turns to me. “Please, sit down.”

Before I know it, I am all made up, beautiful eyes, lips, and cheeks. All under Silvia’s guidance and instructions. There are eye shadows, foundations, blushes, brushes, and lipsticks all around the counter with most of the product covering my face as well. Silvia is watching the entire make-up application process and my transformation with a critical eye but in the end, she is satisfied with the result. 

“Ahhhhh, Jarka!” She brings her hands to her chest. 

“You are so beautiful! You are gorgeous! You are like a movie star! Isn’t she?” She turns to the make-up artist who is nodding her head with enthusiasm. “Yes, I agree. She could be a model!”

“Oh, yes, yes!” Silvia agrees. “And hmmm don’t you think she would look great with darker hair? Or even black? I think her dark eyes would pop even more. Oh, Lordie, that’s it. We have to dye your hair, Jarka!”

Silvia doesn’t wait for anyone’s response and she certainly doesn’t care about my protests. She has made up her mind. She pulls me off the make-up chair and drags me out of the store. 

“We have to hurry and stop at a drug store to get your hair dye. We still have some time to get it all done before Timmy gets home. Aaaaand….I also invited Henry for dinner. He is going to be swept off his feet!”

I follow her like an obedient little puppy. What choice do I have? I watch Silvia choosing a box of dark hair dye. She chooses several shades and keeps putting the boxes against my hair to decide which one would suit me best. It’s almost as if she was trying to pick a new tree at Home Depot. It’s obviously a very difficult decision. She settles on black color and then I watch this train wreck happen right in front of my eyes. Actually, right on top of my head. When she is finished and after I wait the required 20 minutes, I rush to rinse my hair to be ready before Henry arrives.  I have to be careful not to ruin my make-up though. Whew. My hair is black, my muddy eyes are popping out of my face, and my make-up is caking up everywhere. 

Finally, the job is done and Silvia is very pleased with the results. I am beautified. And I am ready for her son Henry.