My Apartment is WHAT?

[Chuck Stromme]

This is my essay for tonight's CNF class. The assignment was 250 words on "one event in your life". I suppose she meant something interesting but she wasn't more specific. Here's mine.

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My Apartment is WHAT?

Avto was the only KGB general I ever really knew. He died last year. Few Americans can claim KGB generals as friends but there was a time I did. Once he put an arm around me, Russian fashion, and said “Chuck, don’t worry about anything. You’re under my protection.” That’s not something you hear every day. In a supposedly dangerous country it’s not something you can casually dismiss, either.

The first time he came to my flat, for a party in February 2002, he arrived early. No one was there yet but my overworked housekeeper and me. Her eyes got big as saucers when she answered the door. She stammered “Ch-Ch-Chucki! COME!”

My arriving guests, all young professionals, had the same reaction, a whispered “Chuck, do you know who that is?” “Sure, that’s my friend Avto. Let me introduce you.”

One guest entered and said “Chuck, did you know your apartment is surrounded?”

“My apartment is WHAT?”

“There are machine gun positions at each corner of your building and a troop carrier full of KGB troops is idling a half-block away.” You don’t see that every day, either. But Avto left his bodyguards outside and came in alone because we were friends. It was enough.

Good-bye Avto. You were almost too big for your times. You were brave, you had strong opinions, you worked hard and you lived the life of a leader.

If you choose to condemn Avto -- and many do -- please don’t do it to my face. Avto was my friend.

[Ransom Southerland]

This brings so many things to mind it'll take a bit do decide which or what to share about. Maybe just for now, I should just say that I like it. I'm pleased you have friends "without respect of person."

More later about this . . . maybe.

Ransom

[SGTsickcall]

I never knew anyone in any secret police, ours, theirs or someone else's, but AVTO wasn't vert subtle was he? Or maybe this is normal for the KGB. I always imagined a seductive woman, as in Natasha of "Boris and Natasha", but maybe that's just my dream. It reminds me of a story about a General who showed up at a fashionable party wearing a sidearm. A female guest asked, "Are you expecting troube?". To which the General replied, "No Mam, if I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my shotgun."

[LC-Hawk]

Once again you have shared a story that I have read and enjoyed. I believe this may be a bit abbreviated from the original story I read. It is an amazing and thought provoking. Thanks for sharing.