His long brown hair parted in the middle, and his beard was groomed to follow the line of his jaw. His legs, on the other hand, had turned to noodles. He was afraid with his first step he would fall to a pile of fool upon the driveway. That's when the back door opened and Sylvia's sister Sophie stood staring down at him.
"Are you coming in or not? I have things to do today." Sophie wasn't sure why she was helping this boy. He didn't look fit in her eyes to date Sylvia. More importantly, all this business was keeping her from her own boyfriend.
Josh moved up the steps and waved while saying, "Hi. Thanks again for doing this. I just-"
"Don't mention it. Let's make this quick". Sophie turned her back quickly on Josh and walked off into the first floor apartment. "Close the door behind you."
Josh turned around making sure the door shut, but with a gentle motion so as not to upset Sylvia's grandmother. He then moved forward through the inner door and shut it as well. When he turned around the old woman stood looking at him with squinted eyes and a hunched back. She had a cane in her hand.
"Hello," she said and then turned to Sophie continuing in a language Josh didn't understand. "(Ask him to sit down. What's his name?)"
Sophie relayed the information and Josh followed the gesture of Babcia's hand and sat in a chair. She joined him by sitting to his right while Sophie took a place to his left. He looked up at the courier cabinet filled with glasses, cups, saucers, vases, and projects which Sylvia must have made for her grandmother.
"Hello, my name is Josh."
Sophie translated for Babcia who just shrugged as she said, "Oh," For Babcia, Josh's name was foreign and she wasn't sure how to pronounce it. Nonetheless, she asked Sophie to ask him again if he would like anything to drink.
Josh was thirsty, but he was too nervous to simply accept. When he was offered cookies, he again passed. At this point Babcia and Josh found themselves staring at each other. Sophie was on her phone texting her boyfriend. Josh cleared his throat.
Babcia went on to ask what Josh did. He replied saying he was going to school and worked at the bookstore where he studied. Babcia was curious as to what he was studying. Josh answered with some combination of Biology and the Martial Arts. Sophie was unsure how to describe this, so she turned and in one word said "Doctor".
Babcia was thrilled to be meeting such an intelligent and determined young man. She smiled at Josh and said, "Oh, that's nice". Josh was happy, things seemed to be going well.
Next followed the questions, such as how he knew Sylvia? Where did he live? What do his parents do? Was he Catholic and did he go to church? What she could do to help him? At last it was time.
Josh asked and Sophie translated that he would like to ask Sylvia out. First, he thought it would be prudent to give Sylvia a gift or some token of good faith. He wasn't sure what to give her.
After almost a half hour, all they had determined between the three of them was how Sylvia was most busy with finals on the way. She was working at her job and completing homework all the time. Come to think of it, Sylvia could use some more time.
At this point Babcia went on to tell the tale of Czaskorek. Before Christianity found it's way to the country of Babcia's birth Skaska, long before she was ever born, in the annals of antiquity, there was a pagan religion known as Dazh. According to Dazh, when the seasons were first born they tugged at their blanket known as time.
Three weavers of time were created to keep the blanket intact. One would fix the wear of what was already created, one would crease the wrinkles of what was before it, and the third was constantly stitching new sections. In this way all was even across the seasons from the hours of day to the hours of night.
Like the worst of siblings, the seasons began to squabble. Summer wanted the sun to be its crown and reign of glory. Winter preferred the moon. Spring and Fall grew tired of the other two bickering, and sought to put an end to this. Yet, when they tried to stop they were only thrust aside by their bigger, and stronger siblings.
As Fall and Spring sat crying over their woes, an ugly old woman with the legs of a chicken came out from the woods and asked them why they were crying. When they finished telling their story, she offered to help them. She promised to make them a ring which could be used to stop time, or let it flow faster, depending on what the wearer would like.
Fall and Spring were so excited they agreed to let her help them. She pulled out a mortar and pestle, pinched the air before her with two fingers, and was able to remove a slither of sun's ray. She placed this in her mortar and pestle and began to crush it up. Once it turned to powder she spit into it, molded the paste around her finger, and thrust her hand into the air.
The two seasons watched as the sun grew larger, and the old woman thrust her hand deep into it. When she pulled it out, the ring Czaskorek was complete. She gave it over to the seasons and told them to present it wisely to which sibling they thought would be more responsible.
They did so, giving it first to Summer. Summer was so excited to have this ring which it put it on slowing down the days so the sun may shine long, and the winds may be warm. It would speed through the nights for the next day to come quicker. Overjoyed, Spring and Fall believed the bickering was done. Of course, this did not sit well with Winter.
One night when Summer fell asleep, Winter stole the ring and hid it. As time went on, and Summer decided to go off and find the ring, Winter put it on speeding through the days, and lengthening the nights. So are the mechanisms of why we have the change in daylight hours between summer and winter. When Summer learns of Winter's treachery, it comes back and steals the ring away again. In this way the seasons constantly change, with Spring and Fall trying to clean up the mess left when the fighting resumes.
Of course we know none of this is true now, but then again neither is the existence of Baba Jaga. That's the name of the old woman who forged them the ring to begin with. Still, from time to time you can find a ring being sold as a souvenir by the name Czaskorek. As a matter of fact, Babcia was pretty sure Sylvia's cousin Adam had just a ring like it.
Josh was determined to find a Czaskorek for Sylvia, but he didn't know how. He thanked both Sophie and Babcia for their help, and realizing Sylvia could come home at any moment decided it was time to leave.
In his car, Josh pulled up the internet on his phone and tried to see if he could purchase a Czaskorek. His search turned up nothing, but eagerness was taking him over. He had to get one of these rings. There was only one thing to do. He was determined to get the one Adam had. With a start of the engine, Josh was off to find where Sylvia's cousin lived.
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