Three Rights Make a Left

AN UNEXPECTED RUSSIAN ENCOUNTER

Like you, my heart aches for the situation in Ukraine. I can’t stop watching the news even though it is disturbing. I have started several times to write and started over because I don’t want to share dark thoughts. I decided to tell an awkward, story that came to mind because of events that are happening now.

It was early December a couple of decades ago and as the tradition in Forney goes it was the time of year for Christmas parties. That was during a time that I served briefly as a Chamber of Commerce Director. A friend of mine and a fellow Director showed up at the Christmas party with his sweet wife and an unexpected guest. They were accompanied by a beautiful blond haired teenage girl. It was a complete mystery who she was to me, until my friend introduced her (I don’t remember her name) and said that she would be staying with them for a while. He went on to explain that she was an exchange student from Russia. The announcement sparked a great deal of interest in the room and as the mixer commenced people would go up and introduce themselves to her and engage in pleasantries. I decided to wait a while and get around to meeting her later.

I milled around and visited with people and forgot about our Russian guest. That is until I noticed her later in the gathering in the corner by herself. I used to teach World History and Government at Terrell Christian Academy and of course I was keen on seeing Russia and the world through from a young person’s perspective.

I went over to talk to her and she was very nice. I had no idea that the conversation I was about to begin would put me in a place I had no intention of going to. It started this way.

I asked her, “Where are you from in Russia?” (an innocent enough question, right?)

In very good English but with a distinct Russian accent she answered: “You wouldn’t know it. I’m from a peninsula on the far eastern edge of Russia.”

My eyebrows raised; this conversation might actually be something I know something about. Without hesitation I said: “Would that be Kamchatka?”

Her face brightened up and with both interest and puzzlement she asked: “Yes! How do you know about Kamchatka?”

At that point I didn’t know it yet, but the conversation was about to go south.

I answered: “From playing the game Risk.” As if everyone in the world knew what the game Risk was.

When she asked her next question it became clear that I had started down a path I didn’t intend to go down. She asked: “What is Risk?”

I tried to be dismissive, ready to change the subject, but it was too late. I answered: “It’s a board game.”

Then she asked exactly the WRONG question: “What is the objective of Risk?”

Reluctantly I answered: “The objective is to take over the world.”

She didn’t have to say it, I could see it in her eyes. She was thinking: “Americans actually play a game that the objective is to take over the world.”

As you can imagine, decades later the rest of the conversation is a blur. I explained the board, the armies, the cards and the dice. What I didn’t do was offer to come over and play a game with my kids and I.

And now you know one of my most embarrassing moments.