Forged Steel's Wrestling Journal

Entry 26

The train ride was uneventful, which I suppose is good. Glitter spends a lot of the ride going between our room and the observation deck and lounge. She first wondered why I didn't so much, but then remembered that I already have a hard time moving around on the narrow train, my shoulder sling only making it worse. It's already inconvenient enough for her since my right side is where she likes to put her head.

Due to delays at a few stations, the train arrived in Stalliongrad in the evening. Home. I haven't been here since I graduated Papa’s school. The train station has improved, now the platforms have an awning over the top, so during the storms you at least will stay dry. As the breeze blows down the platform, Glitter carries a few of our bags. I insisted that I should but she won out because I'm hurt.

As we walk from the baggage claim with the rest of our stuff, I see a very familiar, old face with silver hair. Babushka squeals my name loudly as she sees us, almost throwing herself at me. “You make me wait five years to see your handsome face again? What kind of grandson does that?”

I've been busy. I'm so popular that they don't want to give me much time off. Besides, I brought a friend.

“Oh, you did,” she then sees Glitter and introduces herself in Russian. Before I could say that Glitter didn't know the language, I was proved wrong. I've known her for about a year and she still finds ways to surprise me. Babushka remarks that I still make some good decisions, finding such a beautiful lady who speaks the language.

On the way to her place I ask about Dedushka, and why he didn't come.

“Someone has to crack the whip down at the distillery.”

Still working like he's my age?

“You know his old saying, Kovie, ‘The day you stop working is they day you start dying.’”

A little sheepish, I only ask her to please not call me that. Glitter giggles and calls me by it again.

As we arrive at their villa, I can see not much has changed. Large billows of steam come from the distillery furnaces behind. As soon as we get in, Babushka leads us to her kitchen. I say that we've eaten on the train, but she counters that we all know they don't serve real food on the trains.

How I've missed my grandmother's cooking. Maybe it's just the feeling of home but in their kitchen it always tastes just that little bit better than everywhere else. Shchi, vinegret, pelmini, hot sauerkraut, and pirozhki. We could have as much as we wanted.

It was not just Glitter and I eating. As I mentioned before, grandmother runs a completely open kitchen, no questions asked. There were many homeless and indigent who had come to eat, some who had brought the whole family, and some of their distillery’s live-in workers. Maybe it shouldn't surprise me, but some of them knew who I was, and I even took time to meet with the kids around.

I've always seemed to get along better with kids than with adults. I posed with a few for photos, signed a few things they offered, including one boy’s forehead, and arm wrestled with a few. I even managed to win with six of them against my one arm. Glitter also was in the spirit, doing some of the little girls’ hair and later doing face painting which even some boys to joined in on.

Almost nobody really wants to live here. The weather is harsh and changes wildly from day to day, the governorship has always been horribly corrupt, the law enforcement equally corrupt and oppressive, and the wealth disparity rivals that of dystopian fiction. The few “haves” here live in lavish luxury, while the vast majority are “have nots” and doomed to poverty, unless their child becomes famous.

Babushka and Dedushka even didn't want to live here. I once asked Babushka about why she does anyway and she says because it's a moral obligation. She could never sleep at night knowing she has so much to give to her home, and not doing so. This is why her kitchen is always open to anyone who walks through the door, at almost any hour of the day, and without any questions. No one should ever go hungry, and with her open kitchen, nobody has to.

Dedushka keeps his distillery here because the great potatoes make for even better vodka, but also because the sheer size of the distillery provides work for so many. Their large property, which is constantly getting larger, also has large dormitories for those without a home to stay while they work. While in, let's say, Canterlot many businesses would hide that they hire convicts, addicts, or indigent, Dedushka takes great pride about it and curses those who sneer at him for it. He believes that everyone deserves another chance.

Speaking of grandpapa, shortly after Glitter and I got situated in the guest room, he came to greet us. His first question was “Who messed up your shoulder, and where can I find him?” I told him it was my own fault. Though I am taller than him, it's not by much, and his hands are almost as large as mine. He invites us to his lounge, offering us drinks.

Although I know he reads wrestling newsletters to keep up on me, as well as the business he left behind, he lets me recap all I've done in my time in the Crystal Empire. Glitter also introduces herself and talks about her and her family. When she mentions that she's a jeweler, Dedushka goes into a bit of panic.

“That's risky, Kovanaya. I guess Spravedlivost doesn't know yet?”

No, Glitter hasn't met Sister but I had planned on it.

“You probably should introduce them. Your sister seems show you much more mercy than others.”

I suppose I could, but I'm not that worried by Sister. Glitter is just as strong and doesn't need me to fight for her.

“Don't be so sure. You and I both know how volatile she is…”

Sister is volatile, but she's not irrational.

And this thought bothers me all night long. I say she's not irrational, but when she's angry you can certainly see we are related. My sister, Spradlivost, has a legendary temper, which I've hinted at earlier, but those weren't even the tip of the iceberg. Her rage gives even me pause.

Glitter doesn't seem that worried about Sister but I've heard Sister air her utter hate for jewelers and gem farmers in the past. Those times it was in relation to her work, but to Sister on duty and off duty are all one and the same. When she met Cynder, Sister flipped her lid and only I stopped them from coming to blows. I only hope that she can at least be respectful towards Glitter, or at least not outright hostile.

Making matters worse is that her and Rusty are coming to visit this week. She had heard from Babushka that I was going on a vacation back home, and she wanted to save me a long train ride back south. My best hope is that if she loses her head, our grandparents being around will keep her from completely blowing up.

Glitter asleep on my shoulder as I write this does help me not worry too much about it. I suppose I should join her. I just wish that someday I can be as happy and carefree as Glitter Jewel.