Based on true events – a story in sequels
In the previous: Telemachus suggests to his sister and Sevasti that they all go to the cinema together, but then he asks Sevasti to go out just the two of them. Sevasti hesitates, thinking of his sister, but finally accepts, charmed by his dynamic presence and personal interest.
The Time of Love
I told him, "Since you're taking care of your sister, okay."
After we reached the courtyard, we both went to our rooms and changed. I changed right away, I just took off everything I was wearing and put on my dress. I put a little bit of a bun on my hair, I didn't even put on makeup or anything back then, I was ready right away. However, he shaved and it took him a long time to come out of his room. He wanted to freshen up and put on his formals and he wouldn't come out. So, I went to his room and said, "I'm ready." He said, "You go first, go a little further down," and showed me the way. He said he would meet me later.
And so it happened, after we met on the street, we walked together and arrived from Neos Kosmos to Koukaki where there was the only tram line on Dimitrakopoulou Street, the one that made a lot of noise. We stopped there and he asked me where I would like to go. I told him that I had no preference, because I didn't know Athens at all. He told me that we would go to Alsos. Alsos was a pastry shop on Pedion tou Areos and had Economides as the host. We would get to Omonia Square by tram, get off and walk from there.
We went from Neos Kosmos to Pedion tou Areos because there was nothing nearby, while Pedion tou Areos was famous. Giorgos Economides was one of the best entertainers. An entertainer means a presenter, you would take a chair in the pastry shop and he would present the program. But it was already Sunday, all of Athens would go there, you couldn’t find a seat. However, you could sit as long as you wanted and he would present Danae Nikolaidou, she had the best singers, with songs of that era. These songs are eternal now and these singers had genuine voices, not artificial ones. Nikolaidou’s best song was “Two Green Eyes with Blue Eyelashes” and when we agreed to have a relationship, I learned this song and sang it to him.
“Okay, since you don’t have a preference,” he said, “leave it to me and we’ll go somewhere nice.” We got on the tram and he paid for my ticket, he didn’t pay for his. We didn’t talk on the tram because we were standing, there was nowhere to sit. But from Omonia to Pedion tou Areos, many questions arose. He asked me if I had a relationship, that was the first thing he asked. “No,” I said, “I don’t.” And he asked me: “What are your dreams?” “I want to study,” I said. I told him right away and he knew it. Anyway…
He was gathering information. He also asked me some difficult grammar questions because he had learned that I was the best student and he asked me about difficult words and spelling. He told me: “You’re not getting caught, your reputation is right.” When we sat down, we didn’t talk anymore. We found a small table because when you sit there you either talk or listen to the program. Of course, on the way back from Pedion tou Areos to Omonia, because the road is long, we were able to talk a lot. Until we reached my door, he hadn’t said anything, but just before we parted ways, he asked me: “Would you like to repeat this meeting?”
I asked: “Why?” and he said: “Haven’t you understood anything?” I replied: “I understand something, but I can’t understand what the purpose is. If you think you’re going to play with me, then no, let it not happen again. I have other things in mind and even if I don’t carry them out, the person I will dedicate my life to will be the person of my life. I can’t make connections today because I like you and tomorrow I don’t like you. Get that out of your mind.”
He told me: "I know, to ask for a second meeting, I have made my decisions. However, I can't do anything until my sister's wedding takes place. I can't formalize anything unless I arrange my sister. Then, we'll talk again. However, if you want to see me again, I'll come to the room on Tuesday to change clothes and since we met today, we can meet again."
"Okay," I tell him. "But how can I justify going out to my father and uncle? I don't usually go out." "That part is a little difficult, I understand," he said. "How did you justify it today?"
I had a good friend from school, Chrysoula, who, because her family had property and they rented a house in Faliro near the sea, often invited me to go swimming.
That Sunday - where everything is predetermined and where everything is lucky, because instead of going to see Eleni, I could have gone to see Chrysoula and not run into Telemachus.... That Sunday I left a fake note for my father because I knew he would come back from the cafe and not see me, that I was going to Chrysoula's in Faliro for a while. I lied to him because I started feeling guilty from the moment a man had suggested that we go out alone. It was the first lie, out of guilt.
I wrote: “Dad, I left at such and such an hour. I’m going to visit my friend Chrysoula in Faliro. I’ll be back in a few hours. Don’t worry.” So when my father came back and saw the note, he wasn’t surprised, because I had indeed been to Faliro other times before. He would say: “She was sitting here alone, she would get bored and leave.”
What did I do the second time we met? I quickly wrote a letter to my mother who was in Kalymnos, I told my father that I wanted to mail it to her and the post office was in Koukaki. The second time I met Telemachus, we didn't sit together for long, just a little while to talk and say goodbye. We sat there in Koukaki, not even on a bench and so it didn't take me long.
After my mother and sister returned from the island, I told my sister. My sister was working at the time, she was a budding seamstress, she took orders for dresses from the neighbors and had started working. I told her that he wanted to meet me once a week and I didn't know what to do. And she said: "I'll cover for you. I'll send you to clients who are going to be there for tests or that I want you to get materials for me and I'll cover for you for the hours that you're gone." And I said: "Okay, but you don't have to tell anyone anything yet, because he'll tell me when it's time for me to tell my parents." My sister had no problem with Telemachus. Everyone in the yard respected him, including my parents, so even if they found out, there wouldn't be a problem.
The second time we went out, Telemachus opened up to me a little more and told me about his plans. He mentioned the piece of land he had bought in Galatsi for his sister and how he had hired a contractor to build a second room. He said that once the room was built, their sister’s wedding would take place and then we could talk about our own future. We didn’t have regular meetings until the wedding, but when that wedding took place, they invited us all, including me and my father, to Zoodochos Pigis.
At the wedding, he personally handed out the favors. When I went to get mine, there was no doubt in my mind. He had already told me during our meeting: “We’re going to a wedding. You’re the one I’m going to. You’re not the girl I’m just going to spend my time with. But right now, I can’t, and I’m in debt.” So, when I saw him at the wedding favors, I went over and said: “And at the wedding favors, you’re welcome.” Now, I don’t know if the people behind us heard us or not, and I doubt if they understood the word “wedding” and whether it had an “a” or an “e”, but he understood and smiled.
After he married his sister, he came one day and handed the keys to my father, saying: “Mr. George, I will leave the room. There is no reason to keep it any longer. I sleep in the servants’ rooms.” “As you wish,” my father replied, and from that moment on he no longer came to the yard. However, we had agreed to meet once a week, and we continued to do so for six months.
One afternoon, he said to me: “Can you tell your father to come tomorrow afternoon at six o’clock to that café?” “Yes,” I said, I understood what he wanted to tell my father. During the whole time we were going out, I hadn’t bothered him for two reasons: First, he had told me that he owed me money, and second, I was young and in no hurry to get married. And while we were going out, we got to know each other’s character. It was good that we had the opportunity to get to know each other better. But now, everyone knew, including my parents, since my sister had informed them. However, everyone kept quiet to see how things would develop. However, my sister didn’t need to cover for me. My mother knew where I was going and I had told her exactly where I would be, because, after all, it was already winter and it was cold. We usually went to the movies.
As soon as they sat down in the cafe, he said to my father: “Mr. George, you know the reason I called you. I love your daughter and I want her to be my wife and I want you to know it.” “Does she love you too?” he asked him. “Yes, she loves me too.” “Since you two have found each other, what do I have to say? All I have to say is that I am poor. I have nothing to leave to my child.” “I didn’t invite you here to tell me that you are poor. I know very well what you are. I called you to inform you and to take your wish.” “You have this one.”
From that moment on, he started coming to our house in a more formal way. But when he came, my mother, who was an islander and the islanders are very hospitable people, started taking care of him. We had no money, he would go to the butcher, buy ribs and light a fire, he would spend and get tired. He considered it excessive and stopped coming. When I asked him why, he said: “Because I don’t want to burden your mother. Since we can be together, I don’t need to see you at your house, because your mother is being killed.”
A long time passed. After his sister's marriage, she had her first child and thirteen months later, she had her second child. When she gave birth for the second time, we had been married for two months. We got married in 1952, three years after our engagement. The wedding was very simple, without any luxury. It took place in Agios Panteleimonas of Ilissos, in my parish.
My wedding dress came from Australia from an acquaintance of mine who went there. She had an expensive wedding and made a vow for the wedding dress, to bring luck in her life, to be melted by brides. I was only the second bride to wear it. It was a heavy wedding dress and I also wore a small hat. The only luxury I had was that the hairdresser from Syntagma came to my house to do my hair. He was my friend Chrysoula's uncle and he had promised us both, he said that when I became a bride he would do my hair. He was known for doing the hair of the high society of Athens. He did my hair very nicely, even though I didn't wear any makeup at my wedding.
That's how I got married, even though I waited three years as an engaged woman, because we had no money and Telemachus was in debt. The money came into his hands later - and you can't even imagine how! I always save the best for last...
(goes on)
photo Vika_Glitter, https://pixabay.com
