Haykush lives upstairs and often comes to me to sit and chat at the weekends. My role in these conversations is necessarily limited, because we speak in Armenian, but I can understand a lot more than I can say. Who knew listening could be so much fun?

“Karine has a new husband. She got married”

“I know. Aleta told me”

“But Aleta hasn’t met him. Karine was here with him today. A good man. Younger…”

“Younger? Good for her. Good for Karine”

” I know. She did right. I told her ‘you did right’. I am happy for her”

“Good for her”

“He’s a good man too. Drives a car. Has his own cows. They live in Khndoresk now. She doesn’t work. Doesn’t need to. Just takes it easy. I told her I was happy for her”

“If Karine is married, maybe you’ll be next. Maybe you’ll find a new, young husband”

Haykush bends double laughing in her seat by the fire 

“Now that would be big news… Karine had no house you know, in Yerevan. Her granddaughter went to Russia. She had nowhere. No one. It’s okay to have friends, neighbors, but if you don’t have anywhere to live….. She did right to marry him. I told her. ”

“Good for her”

“I asked her if she loved him. If she cuddled and kissed him. She got all shy and looked away”

We both laugh 

“No more selling clothes, packing them up and moving from village to village. She takes it easy now. He has his own house”

“Has he been married before?”

“Yes, his wife died. He has two daughters and a son”

“Big now?”

“Yes, big and away–they have houses of their own. They have the house to themselves, Karine and her new husband. Lots of kissing and cuddling”

We both laugh some more 

“It’s ok with the kids though. They get on well. They come and go all the time”

“That’s good”

“Yes it’s good. I told her, she did right. I am happy for her”.