My mama’s multicoloured dress
My sole memory of colours from Russia is mama’s dress in which she came from Poland. In it were all the rainbow colours, it shimmered in the sun like a magic dress of a princess. The material was heavenly soft in touch, I loved to hold on to mama’s legs and rub my cheek on the material. It was the only summer dress she had, so she was wearing and washing it all the time, three summers! It became thorn thinned out in many places. But there was enough for a little dress for me!
Few days mama measured me and the dress, cutting and sawing. We had a sawing machine in this one room we all lived in. Two beds, a cradle for my brother, stove, table, three chairs, little cupboard, and a sawing machine – old model with a wheel and a pedal. Unsurprisingly I preferred to play outside. And all the other children from the block with identical rooms.
Finally the dress was ready, I put on this colourful wonder. I obviously wanted to go out and show it off to my friends. I was walking around proudly and happy. Suddenly all the children started running away from me and shouting: Tar! Tar! I forgot about the dress. Bringing tar is a great happening. They pour it into a big square trench, to paint the roofs for the autumn and winter. While it runs from the truck into the hole, it splashes bits. If you collect the bits before they solidify and put them in your mouth still warm, chew them – you make an excellent chewing gum!!! You can keep it for few days in the chewable state.
I got a lot of gum, I am very happy. And then I looked down on my dress. It is dotted by little tar spots. I am in despair. My lovely dress no more! I am afraid to go home. I am going there late, only after mama calls me. She said nothing. She knows the ruined dress is punishment enough. I cry all evening. Mama consoles me: When we come back to Warsaw I will buy you a prettier one. But I was sobbing desperately. Because my dress died.
P.S. I remember the first dress my mum bought for herself in Poland after our return. It was full of flowers in all colours of the rainbow.
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