The Second American Revolution - The Building of an Empire Read online

  “Razdevaisya, ya hochoo tebya!” Lidya said to Jerrick.

  Jerrick looked over at Lidya in confusion and asked, “What?”

  “I said in Russian, Undress, I want you!”

  Jerrick would comply happily, helping to cure his impending headache.

  After a week, Jerrick headed to the GUM because he wanted some hot tea and cookies.

  He approached the café, and lo and behold; Amaliji stood at the cash register again.

  Jerrick approached the counter, trying to be cool and said, “Hello, Amal-i-ji.”

  Amaliji smiled at him.

  “My name is Jerrick,” he said slowly in Russian.

  She asked something in Russian.

  “I don’t understand.”

  She repeated slowly, and Jerrick recognized the word, young woman.

  “Oh, we broke up,” Jerrick replied in English, spreading his hands apart, indicating Lidya and Jerrick went in separate directions.

  Her smile strengthened.

  “I’ll have a tea with cookies, please,” he asked in Russian.

  Amaliji arranged his order, placing tea and cookies on a tray.

  “That’ll be 5,000 rubles,” Amaliji said.

  Jerrick understood numbers, his first breakthrough in Russian.

  He fished the money from his wallet and handed it to her. He added an extra 2,000 rubles for a tip.

  Amaliji tried to return the tip, but Jerrick insisted that she keep it.

  Jerrick thought what in the hell and said, “Good bye beautiful,” in Russian.

  She reddened a little and used her right hand to wave good-bye.

  Jerrick sat down and drank his hot tea with cookies. Finishing the last sip of tea, he put the tray away and threw away his trash.

  He glanced back at the counter and saw Amaliji helping a group of customers.

  Before he had turned, he saw Amaliji bent sideways to glance at him and waved good-bye again.

  Jerrick returned the gesture and waved good-bye to her.

  ***

  Lidya worked long hours at a construction company as a finance specialist in January 2003.

  Jerrick rarely saw her anymore. If he were lucky, he saw Lidya once or twice on the weekend. Other days, Jerrick was alone and isolated in Moscow. Killing some free time, Jerrick spent time at the café, and, every time, he flirted with Amaliji. Of course, if Lidya found out, he would be in trouble.

  Lidya would toss him out on the street, making him homeless in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world.

  ***

  It was March 8, International Women’s day in Russia. All Russian men show their appreciation to the women in their lives, whether it was their mother, sister, wife, or girlfriend.

  Jerrick bought a bouquet of 11 red roses for Lidya, following the Russian tradition. An odd number of roses indicated a romance while an even number indicated a funeral.

  This year, March 8 fell on a Saturday, and Jerrick prepared dinner for Lidya and bought her a bouquet of red roses.

  It was late, and Lidya still didn’t arrive.

  Jerrick worried and picked up the phone to call her.

  Lidya answered after the second ring.

  “Hello, Jerrick. How are you?”

  “I’m doing fine. I thought I could show you my appreciation for you by making you dinner.”

  “Ah Jerrick, that’s wonderful, but I forgot to tell you. My company has a party tonight, and I planned on going. I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy at work. How about you make me dinner tomorrow night?”

  “That’ll be okay. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

  Jerrick slammed down the phone.

  Jerrick was disappointed and heartbroken because Lidya went to a party without him.

  Jerrick noticed Lidya was acting strange lately. She rarely came over anymore, and if she did, she wouldn’t let him touch her.

  Jerrick learned a hard lesson about Russian women. When a Russian woman is in love with you, she puts you on a pedestal and worships you, following you around like a little puppy-dog. When she falls out of love with you, she turns into the cold, icy waters of the Arctic.

  Jerrick knew something bothered Lidya, but at this point, he didn’t know what.

  Jerrick glanced at the bouquet of red roses and recycled his present. He glanced at his watch and saw it was 3:30.

  Jerrick picked up the bouquet and headed to the GUM.

  As fate would have it, Amaliji was working.

  Jerrick proudly maneuvered to the counter and handed the bouquet to Amaliji.

  Jerrick noticed the other women in the store were casting evil, jealous eyes at Amaliji.

  Amaliji blushed and reddened. She pointed at the clock and told Jerrick she finishes work at nine.

  Jerrick’s Russian was limited, but he understood the number nine.

  Jerrick returned to the GUM at 8:45 and saw Amaliji cleaning the counters and tables. He sat at a table and waited for her.

  After she had finished, she removed her apron and the scarf from her hair. Her black hair flowed down, and around her shoulders. Some strands found their way to her front while most draped along her back. She was gorgeous.

  Amaliji put on her coat and grabbed her bouquet of flowers that Jerrick had given her earlier.

  Lidya did not kid, when she said Tatar women are famous for their beauty.

  As she approached Jerrick, he stood up, and shook her hand.

  Then they headed outside.

  Jerrick being a perfect gentleman, opened the door, and let Amaliji walk out first.

  Although Moscow was chilly, they didn’t wear their fur hats as a light snowfall pelted the ground.

  Amaliji asked Jerrick to walk her home.

  Jerrick saw Amaliji’s petite figure. He stood at 5 feet 10, and she was 5 inches shorter than he was.

  They walked side by side in the direction of Amaliji’s apartment building.

  Being a perfect gentleman, Jerrick walked Amaliji to the stoop of her apartment building.

  They both paused and stared at each other.

  Then unexpectedly Amaliji stood on the tips of her toes and kissed Jerrick on the cheek.

  Jerrick smiled and blushed. He didn’t brush the kiss away, and would not wash that cheek for a week.

  Jerrick lightly grabbed her hands to pull her close, but she pulled away. She ran up the three steps to the apartment door.

  Before she entered, she turned to face Jerrick and said in Russian, “I don’t work tomorrow. If you want, you can take me out tomorrow.”

  Jerrick asked, “How?”

  Amaliji pulled an old store receipt from her pocket and wrote down her phone number. She walked back to Jerrick and handed it to him. Then she disappeared for the night in her parent’s apartment.

  Sauntering home, he was in a state of bliss; he could have walked home naked, and not felt the stinging coldness of a Moscow spring.

  Next day, he thought only about Amaliji, but he told Lidya he would make her dinner.

  Jerrick waited and waited and still no sign from Lidya.

  At 2:30, he called Amaliji.

  An older woman answered the phone with an angry, questioning voice.

  Then Amaliji snatched the phone away from her mother.

  “Hi Amaliji, let’s go do something.”

  “Okay, come over here.”

  Jerrick heard her mother’s angry voice in the background, demanding answers in Russian.

  Jerrick met Amaliji at the apartment door.

  Waiting for him, she wore a short red dress with black poke-a-dots. She didn’t button her coat, revealing her slim figure. She also dabbed a touch of makeup, and used a curling iron to put a little weave in her hair.

  Amaliji grabbed his arm and said, “Let’s go.”

  They walked to the nearest Moscow substation, and Jerrick was at a loss of words. The Soviet engineers constructed an impressive subway station where ever
y station had a theme. Soviet planners dedicated one station to the Soviet cosmonauts and another to the Soviet scientists and writers. They spared no expense. They constructed the stations using marble steps and floors, tall columns, statues, and elaborate crown molding. Some stations had large, ornate chandeliers and painted murals.

  Amaliji directed Jerrick to the center of Moscow, Red Square, the power center of the Soviet Union.

  They visited Lenin’s mausoleum, the Russian fine arts museum, and finally, the underground mall that bordered the Red Square outside the Kremlin walls.

  Jerrick was surprised because Vladimir Lenin’s body laid on display in his mausoleum. Followers could pay homage to the god of the Soviet Union.

  Although Amaliji and Jerrick didn’t speak much, this became one of Jerrick’s happiest days. He skipped an extra step as his smile froze on his face.

  Several Russian men exchanged dirty looks as Jerrick passed by with an extremely hot Tatar woman.

  Jerrick could adjust to life in Russia. Every year, he could trade in his Russian girl for a newer one, like some wealthy people who trade in their cars. Every year, he would date a younger, prettier woman with fewer miles and less baggage.

  At the end of the day, Jerrick returned Amaliji safely to her apartment.

  They stood outside the stairwell to the apartment.

  Jerrick reached down to grab her hands and reeled her in.

  Then he bent down to kiss her.

  Amaliji kissed him, and, afterwards, she broke away. She ran up the stairs and turned to Jerrick and said sweetly, “Thanks for the wonderful time.” Then she disappeared into the apartment.

  Jerrick waved good-bye to her and returned to his apartment.

  Opening the door, he saw no sign of Lidya. He wondered about her as his intuition screamed at him that it was over. He wondered if she even called him today. He sat on the couch and opened a book to start reading. With Lidya acting strangely, what could he do?

  The next day, Jerrick asked the director if he could rent a room at the institute, so he could complete his studies in Moscow. He felt his relationship with Lidya had ended, and he doubted Lidya would let him stay in the apartment and see another woman.

  ***

  During April, Jerrick hadn’t seen Lidya in weeks.

  Finally, Lidya called him unexpectedly and told him that they must talk. Her voice was so cold on the telephone that Jerrick’s ear caught frostbite.

  When Jerrick returned to the apartment after work, Lidya sat quietly on the couch in the living room with a cold, mean look on her face.

  “Jerrick, I’m sorry to tell you, but we’re breaking up.”

  “Why Lidya? What happened?”

  “I met someone at work. He is a manager, who owns his own apartment and drives a new black Mercedes.”

  “A black Mercedes? Ah, I see. I guess I cannot compete with that. My Mercedes is just a remote control car.”

  “Jerrick, you and your stupid jokes. This guy is serious and has goals; he is building his career and wants to marry me. He has already proposed, and I accepted, of course.”

  Then Lidya held out her right hand and showed Jerrick the one-carat engagement ring. He spent a small fortune on her. Odd thing about Russia is men and women wear their wedding bands on the opposite hand.

  ”I guess you want me to move out?”

  “I know I dragged you to Moscow. My parents and I decided to let you stay until June 1. Then you either return to the United States or find another place to live in Moscow.”

  Jerrick was crushed. He sensed something was happening with Lidya, but damn, the guy already proposed to her? When a Russian man wants something, he just reaches out and snatches it.

  He was also hurt and wanted to tell Lidya about Amaliji but dropped it. If he reciprocated and hurt Lidya’s feelings, then she’ll kick him out sooner. At least she granted him two months to live rent-free in Moscow.

  “Lidya, I wish you good luck. I really mean it. You come by on June 1st, and I’ll hand you the keys. I’ll clean up the place, and leave it the way I found it.”

  “Thank you, Jerrick. I hoped you would understand.”

  Then Lidya sprang up from the couch and dashed for the exit.

  ***

  Jerrick kept his promise. On May 31, he cleaned the apartment for the whole day.

  He bought Lidya’s dad an expensive bottle of Smirnoff’s vodka, leaving the bottle on the kitchen table in the apartment.

  He wrote a note and thanked Lidya's father for his hospitality, tucking the note under a vodka bottle. Sometimes, he wondered if Lidya ever gave him that bottle.

  Although Lidya broke Jerrick’s heart, and he felt guilty about dating Amaliji. However, it made no difference in the end. Lidya and Jerrick fell out of love with each other, and they must move on.

  ***

  Jerrick and Amaliji were poor, trapped in one of the most expensive cities in the world. They both worked long, grueling hours.

  During good weeks, Jerrick spent a whole day with Amaliji, exploring Moscow. Then he would often drop by the café several times a week for lunch.

  Amaliji was always happy to see him.

  Jerrick continually tried getting to second base with her, but she always struck Jerrick out like a pro baseball pitcher. She was a tough nut to crack, but in the end, Jerrick didn’t care.

  Although they had trouble communicating, he enjoyed being around her. What difference did it matter if she never slept with him. He liked her draped at the end of his arm, and then he showed the public his beautiful girlfriend.

  Of course, Jerrick must admit. He would never study Russian if he never had met Amaliji. Incidentally, his English language improved also.

  ***

  Jerrick’s second year in Moscow came to an end. He finished his Master’s Degree from the Moscow Institute of Business.

  Drifting into sleep, Jerrick heard Michigan calling him home every night. He must tell Amaliji.

  Jerrick’s Russian improved greatly during his second year in Moscow. He spoke Russian with Amaliji almost fluently.

  One day, they sat on a bench outside Amaliji’s apartment building near the playground.

  Jerrick blurted, “Amaliji; come with me to Michigan.”

  “Jerrick; I don’t want to live in the United States.”

  “Why, Amaliji? That’s my home. Come with me?”

  “No Jerrick. Moscow is my home. Mother Russia is my country.”

  “Amaliji, I love you. I want to take you with me to Michigan.”

  “If you love me, then stay in Moscow with me.”

  “But Russia is not my country.”

  “It can be your country too. I’m not Russian, but I was born and raised here.”

  “Amaliji, I don’t expect you to understand. My whole life, I thought I was meant for something great. God came down and touched me, giving me a special gift. I lived a lifetime figuring out what that gift was. I think I know what god wants me to do. I must return to America, save my country, save my home state, Michigan, and leave my mark on humanity.”

  Amaliji just stared at Jerrick blankly. She stood up and took Jerrick’s hand, leading him to the sidewalk.

  “Show me your dorm room.”

  Jerrick was surprised. Dating Amaliji for a year, Jerrick never showed her his dorm room.

  Jerrick obeyed her. He led her to his tiny dorm room, that contained a single bed and small desk.

  Jerrick shared the community bathroom with the floor’s residents and prepared his meals in the community kitchen. If it weren’t for Amaliji, he would flee this dump months ago, returning to Michigan under night’s darkness.

  Jerrick closed the door and Amaliji started undressing.

  “Amaliji; what are you doing?”

  She slipped naked under his covers and stated, “You’re a man; you figure out what to do?”

  Jerrick undressed and slipped under the covers with her. Then he gently made love to her. <
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  Afterwards, Jerrick experienced the shock of his life.

  “Jerrick; I don’t care that you’re not rich. I’m not rich either. If I must be poor for the rest of my life, then so be it. Russia is my country. It’s my home. It’s the only home I know. You can stay here with me. I’ll let you marry me if you want, but you must promise me that you’ll stay here in Moscow with me. I only let you sleep with me, so you know what you would miss in Michigan.”

  Jerrick thought how cruel God was.

  God gave him a mission and ah, by the way, God threw some kinks and curves along the way to shake him up, ensuring Jerrick was paying attention. God checked if Jerrick were sticking to the master plan.

  “Amaliji, please don’t be that way. Try Michigan for a year. If you hate it, then we’ll return to Moscow together.”

  Amaliji slid out of bed and quickly dressed. She turned to face Jerrick and said, “Jerrick; you have a choice. Stay with me or return to Michigan. If you choose Michigan, then I never want to see you again. I was born in Russia, and this is where I’ll die. I can never call Michigan my home.”

  She unlocked the door and walked out of Jerrick’s life forever.

  Jerrick was crushed as he felt someone take a red-hot cattle branding iron and plunged it into his chest.

  Jerrick knew he must return to Michigan as destiny called him; destiny can be a cruel mistress indeed.

  Jerrick never saw Amaliji again as his second love walked out on him. He knew she was serious about her decision; Jerrick must choose between her and Michigan but not both.

  Jerrick had returned home. It was time for him to build his empire, leaving his mark on history.

  Part 2 – The Collapse of the Democracy

  The Journey Home

  Jerrick finished his Master’s degree from the Russian institute in 2005 and returned to the one place he called home, his birthplace, Holland, Michigan.

  Jerrick drove to Larry’s parents’ house, searching for Larry and Tommy.

  They didn’t change one bit; they still partied like there was no tomorrow.

  Although they were the same age, Tommy and Larry had aged.

  Tommy had aged to 40 as the smoking and drinking dried his skin like cracked leather. Skin on his face was rough and covered with many fine lines and cracks, and he had dark circles around his eyes. He hadn’t a good night sleep in a decade.

  Larry aged to 30 as the partying life hadn’t severely hit him yet, but Larry had a beer gut as if he were already five months pregnant. His face became rounder, and gray stubbles poked from his beard.