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-And why you are saying "everyone"?
-Who will go to investigate?
-That means not to sue? Just swallow all this shit and forget. Forget that they wiped off their feet on you!
-What are you talking about? What feet, what court!? With whom you talked? Who heat you up?! The company has no job, and almost 400 people were laid off. And your new adviser, is he at least once tried to sue the company?
- I do not know... I didn"t ask. Why you're boiling? I just called for consultation.
-I understand that you lost girls opportunity, but the firm has nothing to do with it. OK, bye. I still have a lot of work to do.
They continue to call to each other twice a week. Koifman tried to support his unlucky friend as he could. He sent his resume to several acquaintances, made several recommendations and so on. However, the employment issue did not move.
Once, Grechko called Koifman and almost shouted:
-Leo, you will not believe, I just went after an interview for the Panama project!
-Wow! Congratulations. And how did you get there?
-How, how? Francisco helped, as promised. Who needs me? In spite of your criticism, I did not lose contact with him. I called him two or three times a month.
-Wow! What a great news! When do you start?
- From next Monday. I have already signed everything. Francisco vouched for me.
-Well done, well done. And when are you going to Panama?
-They told me after two or three months. They have a different drafting program. It will be necessary to receive the training, to get familiar with the project, and some little things. But they have different arrangement for a business trips. I mean, different schedule, not as we had. They have six weeks in Panama and two weeks at home. Well, two weeks is not bad - like mini vacation.
- Six weeks without wife, of course, a bit tough. But from another side you maybe find girls there.
- Okay, you always have to pin me up. How all what we discussed co
- I meant who will wash your laundry during these six weeks?
-Oh, I see. You like a snake, always will find the way out. Hey, Leo, maybe you want to join to this project?
-Me?! And what I didn"t see there?
-Well, it's more fun together. And it's warm in Panama, same as in your Israel. In Canada 3 feet deep snow, and there you have sun and sea...
- And the girls in the bikini.
-Yes, girls. And what's wrong with that?! I"m not talking about boys. Ha-ha-ha.
-Thank you, Nikolay that you do not forget about your friends, but I feel better at home.
Two months later Grechko flew to Panama, strongly promising to Koifman be in touch and continue to communicate through e-mail.
6
A message from Nicholay came already on the second day.
"Leo greetings! Flew well, we have here +26C in the shade. The sun, palm trees, fruit etc. We are located from the sea approximately 40 km, I've already looked at the map. I'll go for a swim on the weekend. The people calling to Toronto ten times a day. I will call when understand how it works. Nikolay." Also to the message was attached a photo with an exotic flowerbed on the background of a mountain, covered with green weeds. Koifman smirked and wrote the answer: "Why you sent me a flowerbed? Did you get pictures of girls and price list? Leo. "
Next day Grechko actually called. His voice, saturated in Panama sun rays, sounded fresh and cheerful.
- Hey, Leo, is it you? Ha-ha-ha. Do you recognize old friends, or your ears have frozen there? Ha-ha-ha. You probably have -15C there?
-Nick?! - Koifman sincerely was delighted to hear his voice, - well, I didn"t expect. Yes, we only have minus 14C, so not so bad. And how are you there? Do not sweat?
-Here, the weather is just super! It was +23C in the morning - in a shade, and in general - the temperature very comfortable. The plant is located not far from the sea. Around 40 kilometers. The roads, however, are smashed into the smoke, and mostly no asphalt, just compacted clay. Well, I mean, if it is rain you can use just horses. Although if it"s a rain, why go to the sea? To the Panama Canal somewhere same 40 km. To Costa Rica about 280-300 km, so in some weekend I will drive there and stay overnight.
-OK, and how you settled there?
-Close to the plant they have a mini village. They placed about hundred mobile houses here, like a trailers. In each house can live for three people. As you enter, right in the center of the house, a common kitchen, a shower, a toilet and a washer / dryer. And there are three separate rooms. Everyone in the room has a bed, desk, internet, TV and a large walking closet. In general it is quite normal.
-So you do not live in the city?
-Yes. When it rains, how you will get to work? To the nearest small town somewhere 20-25 km. Sounds like close, but the roads simply awful. And about eight years ago they decided to build such a mini-town.
-Wait, I didn"t understand. Do you have a car?
-Car? From where? Why?
-And how are you going to go to the sea? Not to mention Costa Rica.
-Well, I don"t know. Probably it is possible to rent somehow..., - Nikolay answered uncertainly.
-So where are you going to take a car? You just said that to the nearest village 20-25 km and during the rain, almost impossible to drive. Especially it"s no guarantee that in the village they have car rental service.
-Well... H-mm, yes... Leo, what kind of asshole you are!
-In terms of?
-I called you in a good mood, and in 5 minutes the mood was spoiled. And everything was..., damn was so good!
-So, how I spoiled it?
-Whatever! Okay, I'll call you again tomorrow.
After hanging up, Koifman shrugged and looked out the window. It was snowing in Toronto. For the second consecutive day. From the window he saw his car, which stood under a twenty-centimeter snow "blanket" and thought sadly: "After work I need again to clean the car, then two hours be in traffic, in order to get home, and after that to remove the snow from the driveway... Hmm... Oh, maybe it would be better go to Panama! "
The next day, Grechko didn"t call and Leo sent him a short e-mail: "Where did you disappear? I'm worried!"
Grechko called back at the end of the next day. His voice was again alert and confident.
-Leo, sorry, could not call in the morning. I figured out what's wrong with the car.
-I thought you were working, - Koifman joked roughly.
- You are a joker, señor.
-Sorry, didn"t want to offend. So what about the car?
-Then it turns out that in the morning and in the evening a bus arrives to the plant. This bus takes you to the village. About an hour drive.
-Wow! 25 km they are driving for an hour?!
-Well, there are dangerous roads, along the mountains, winding. In general, this is what they told me. Maybe 55 minutes. In short, in the village there is another bus, which travels about 15 km to the larger city. And there, in this town, they have cars for rent.
- So you'll rent the car for six weeks?
-Probably. Without a car you got nowhere. How am I going to get to the sea?
-Well, and to the girls, too. 25 km to the nearest village it is not fun.
- Well, yes, well... Not fun, and far. Who knew that plant will be so far from civilization?
- Did you think that a metallurgical plant will be built in the center of the city, and around fashion boutiques and fine food restaurants with girls?
-Well, not in the center of course... But at least... you know, kind of... within the city boarders. Same as we have in my city in Russia.
-This is why girls in your city do not have very smooth skin.