Russian

Katya brings her October rota to Sam's room: four nights a week, eight to eight, and the two of them plan the week with a real if, in the future on both sides.

Sam brings a thermos of Baba Valya's soup to the hospital desk at two in the morning: the nurse sends him up, Katya would love some soup and would sleep for a week, and the night is quiet so far.

Katya comes home to Sokolniki at nine after a night shift and everyone gives advice: you need to sleep, first I need to eat, you'd better sleep, better not talk to her before breakfast, and better at five.

Sam has a cold and Katya is his doctor: open your mouth, it's a cold, drink tea with honey, and a string of ifs in the future each followed by an order: if it doesn't help, take these; if you get a temperature, call me.

While Katya sleeps, Baba Valya teaches Sam to make pelmeni, and the lesson is I want you to: do you want her to eat properly, I want you to teach me, I want you to listen, not talk, and dough as thin as paper.

Katya rings from the ward at six: she has to stay, a colleague is ill, and Sam has two tickets; forgive me, you should have told me earlier, you should have looked at your phone, don't be cross, it's a pity that you can't.

Nina Sergeyevna puts Sam's six beginners into the school's winter concert on the twentieth of December, and the lesson is let him, let them: let each of them play one piece, let him play with two hands or with one, let the parents come too, and let them not sit in the front row.

After her lesson Nastya, fourteen, says she won't play at the concert, and Sam talks her round with in your place I would: I'd play a favourite piece, something slow, mistakes are quieter in a slow piece, and if you stop, start again.

Katya's one free evening of the week: cinema or the club, I'd rather stay home, let's rather have supper at home, I'd rather listen to you play, the neighbours object after ten, so play till ten, and anything slow, I'll fall asleep, don't be offended.

Walking home across the river after the last night shift of the rota, Katya and Sam play the unreal if: if you weren't a doctor, what would you be; I'd sleep, seriously, a vet; if I didn't tune, I'd play in a band; if you didn't work nights, we'd see each other more often; then I wouldn't be a doctor; then I'll bring soup.

Two days before the winter concert, Sam runs the rehearsal in the small hall: once more so that we don't stop on Friday, play so that the back row hears, to turn on the lights you need the key, ask nicely so that he gives it, and so as not to be nervous, look at the keys.

The twentieth of December, the winter concert: break a leg and its only answer, today my pupils play for the first time, I ask you for patience and quiet, I wish you many evenings like this, Nastya stopped once and started again, and for a slow piece that's the best praise.

In the director's office after the concert: the parents are delighted, Nastya did all the work, I'd give you a full post but without a work permit I can't, without it only hours, what do I need, without the school's letter nothing, and then in January I'll start.

At Galina Petrovna's table, Dima and Lena have chosen the fourteenth of February: what if it's minus twenty-five, then we'll put on coats, what if the dinner is at the Georgian restaurant, what if Baba Valya cooks, she's eighty-four, you tell her that, and what if she makes only the pies.

Dima and his witness at the registry office desk, Lena on Sam's phone: we'd like to register a marriage, let me see whether the fourteenth is free, ask Lena whether two suits her, she asks whether there'll be music, the question is whether you want the ceremonial hall, and I don't know whether you've paid.

A bridal salon with Lena, Katya and Sam on a chair: the white one or the cream one, either as long as you can breathe, as long as Dima doesn't see it, if only it fits in the car, what men notice, whether the bride smiles, if only there's no snow, and if only it's not minus thirty.

The banya at the dacha the week before the wedding, with Uncle Vova's advice for husbands: never argue with your wife, and if she's wrong, then argue half as much, and for me, learn to swim first, will your car start on the fourteenth, if it doesn't we'll push, and advice from a tuner: order a taxi.

The registry office on the fourteenth of February: do you consent to take Elena as your wife, yes I do, I declare you husband and wife, witnesses sign, where do I sign, congratulations on your wedding, and Sam signed on the wrong line.

The wedding dinner at the Georgian restaurant on Pokrovka: a toast to the young couple, the fifth shout of bitter, now the witness speaks, may there always be music in your home and may the neighbours be deaf, to that, you've learned to give toasts, now learn to dance.

Dima and Lena leave for Sochi and Sam gets the keys: if anything, call, water the flowers on Wednesday and just in case on Saturday, if the neighbour comes about the noise say we got married and left, where are you going in case anyone asks, Sochi in case it's warm, and take a coat just in case.

March, the director's office at the music school, and the list of papers for a work permit: here is the list, so long, you'll have to translate your documents, a notary, the Russian exam, after three years, the rules, a medical check, and if something's missing, then you'll have to start again.

A notary's office, Sam's translations on the counter: next, what have you got, a translation of my passport and diploma, the translation must be official, from the bureau on the Arbat, the copy must be complete, the cover too, young man, sign here, must I come back, no, nine hundred roubles.

The clinic for the permit's medical check, a doctor who is not Katya: sit down, do you smoke, do you drink, only at weddings, pressure a little high, were you nervous, no need to worry, what do you do, a piano tuner, then it's worth checking your hearing, room five, should I worry, no need, next.

Sam's room the night before the Russian exam, Katya testing him with if questions: if you lost your passport, I'd go to the embassy, right, and if you had come earlier, I'd have met you earlier, that's not in the exam, if I'd known I'd have said it better, and if you fail, you'd test me again, then I'd take away the piano.

The speaking part of the Russian exam, Sam across a table from the examiner: good morning, tell me about yourself, I'm Sam, a tuner and a teacher, when did you come to Russia, three years ago, I knew two words, and if you stay, when the permit comes I'll work, you said when, not if, when; if I say if, Katya will be upset.

The migration office, window six, Katya at Sam's side: documents, here, the application and the passport, the photos must be matte, yours are glossy, does it matter, redo them, otherwise I can't accept them, there's a photo booth downstairs, hurry, or else at one we close, fifteen minutes, fifteen, otherwise tomorrow.

Tea at Sokolniki while the permit is decided: how long now, thirty working days, and if they refuse, even if they refuse you'll apply again, even if they refuse twice, even if the sky falls we'll have dinner, your Russian has got better, the cases are almost right, almost, thirty working days, correct, eat.

The school corridor in May and Nastya's news from the district competition: second place, if it weren't for the slow piece, if it weren't for you I'd have given up, if it weren't for the news I'd scold you, if it weren't for Nastya I'd be at the meeting, go, if it weren't for the exams I'd give you the day off, I'll take it anyway.

Window six again, and a card valid for a year: Cooper, your permit, thank you, in the event of a change of job inform us, and in the event of loss, a new application, and in the event of a wedding, congratulations and a different permit, next, Sam, what did you ask, only a question about documents.

Sam's room in June, his parents on the phone from Portland and Sam relaying in Russian: Mum asks whether July suits, they're coming, Dad wants the dacha if that's possible, Uncle Vova will fix the banya if the car starts, Mum asks what to bring, let her bring herself, Dad asks whether I've got the permit, say it's in his son's hands, say it in Russian.