"Hurry up!" Mama shouted. "And don't forget to smile," she demands after scurrying her daughters up to the rooftop.
"Alright Mama," one of them shouts defiantly.
"Help me place the mat on the floor Leila," she called out to the youngest. Leila grabbed an end and they spread the mat in front of an old wooden bench. It could barely be called a bench with one splintered plank, warn and bent from years of multiple usage and two thinner planks positioned for seats. The two triangular wooden posts acted as supports for the resting planks, but need supporting foundations of their own.
Unrolling the mat, Mama discovered it was dirtier than expected. "Weren't you and Ayna supposed to wash this?" She scolds at Leila. Unable to clean the mat herself, Mama and Leila shake it out before placing it back on the floor. It's red stripes looked more like lighter versions of the black ones. She looked down at her now tarnished clothes. What was once unnoticeable dirt stained garments, became walking dust catchers. Seeing her in-law, Galina, climbing the ladder to the roof, she tried desperately to remove the dust from head to toe.
Looking at Galina's flowered frock and matching head scarf made her feel even dirtier. Galina's slightly worn clothes and scarves were far better than her dinged and faded garments. Ashamed, Mama started adjusting herself again. Cleaning the dirt off herself and her daughters. She wanted to make a good impression on her in-law, and she wanted her to approve of her daughters.
As Galina sat down on the bench she adjusted her frock and gold chain and earrings, making sure the photographer was able to capture her prized possessions. Momma took her seat on the rickety bench between her mother and Galina. She smiled politely as she settled herself, fiddling with her headscarf and dress, once more. Looking to her right she saw her mother holding a bushel of hay.
"Mama!" She yells out. "Why don't you leave that on the floor. We have to look good for Ayna's picture." As she tried to tug the hay, her mother groaned.
"It's mine, and I don't want to lose it."
"Fine." She settled herself back into position and tried one last time to slap the dust off of her skirt. Then she say a greenish speck. Quizzically, she lifts the spot to her nose. "Ecch!" She knew that scent well. It was from the stables. Most likely manure. Licking her finger she tried to rub it off quickly, but smeared it into an even bigger mess. suddenly aware of her audience, she looked up and caught the stare of Galina. Smiling wearily, she tried to hide the spot. "Just a little working stain, you know how it is." Galina looked away with a hint of disgust on her face. Her mother witnessed the interaction and began cackling and mocking her, still clutching her bundle of hay.
Behind the bench, her daughters began shoving each other. Already frustrated by the days mishaps, Mama stood up and turned to them. Ready to scold them again, she caught a glimpse of the bushy grasslands and mountainous landscapes in the distance, and took a deep breath. "Behave girls," She said, soaking in the scenery of the valleys and rooftops in her village.
Looking around, she saw her mother content with her bundles of hay, her in law decadent with her jewels, and her rowdy daughters, .as usual, disinterested and fussy. She returned to her seat and gave a pleased smile, remembering why she chose this exact location to host their picture.
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