Welcome back to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday, weekly Sunday hops where writers share 8–10 sentences from a book or WIP. This week’s snippet picks up where last week’s left off, after Violetta told Igor he must be of Russian descent with a name like that. As they begin talking a bit about their family histories, Violetta suddenly realizes their potential family connection.
“Guilty as charged. I was born in America, but my parents, grandparents, and oldest sister immigrated from Russia after the Revolution.”
“I’m Russian–American too. My mother’s family came here just before the First World War, and my father’s family arrived a bit before that. Are you a native New Yorker, or just here for school?”
“I was born in New York, but I moved to Minnesota with my mother when I was six weeks old.” Igor clenches his teeth when he thinks about the circumstances of their leaving New York and arriving in Minnesota. “We still come back regularly to see family and friends. My brother Ilya and I are living with our great-aunt and great-uncle.”
Violetta’s eyes widen, and she sits back slightly.
Welcome to My Magick Theatre 
You’ve got me wondering what her reaction means.
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I sense trouble….
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She’s mostly scared because she realizes she knows Igor’s older brother Fedya, who most certainly knows she had polio. Violetta needs to make sure Fedya didn’t tell his little brothers any personal details about her, or else her attempt at starting over at university is for nothing.
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I didn’t realize there was a stigma attached to having had polio. I do hope she’s able to keep her secrets, and have that fresh start!
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I get the feeling she knows his family, or at least something about them.
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Nice snippet–I see trouble brewing. Can’t wait to see what happens.
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Uh oh, hope her reaction doesn’t mean she’ll pull away from him now. They’ve just met but already I like the two of them together.
Marcia
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She is worried about something!
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Oh, if they are related, does that mean there will be no way to get into a romance? That would be bad for him.
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They’re not related, though their families know one another from way back. Igor’s two oldest siblings and a few other members of his extended family are good friends with Violetta’s family, and the blood father of Igor’s oldest sister has quite a history with Violetta’s family, to say the least.
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Life takes strange turns sometimes, for sure. I’ll be interested to see what happens next!
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She seems worried, but I have a feeling she can trust him more than she thinks.
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That’s certainly not the reaction he’s hoping for, I bet. I saw your explanation above, so I hope the brother hasn’t told him, or that he can reassure her he doesn’t care. Great snippet!
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Well, something startled her. I wonder what it is–and if she’ll share it with him. She seems inclined to keep at least some secrets.
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Uh oh. See that’s the thing–one’s past will always come back to haunt you. Sounds like it’s finally time for her to deal with the emotions she went through?
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I’m curious not just about her reaction, but also his when he thinks about why they left New York and went to Minnesota — I’m very curious about that back story.
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Her reaction really had me wondering, and now that I read your explanation in the comments, I’m eager to see how they’ll both handle what it means.
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Uh oh. That reaction is not going to be a good one I’m guessing.
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