Marta and the Blue Tiger by Alla Kudziieva

“Well, of course, for pure aesthetics. Such a beautiful piece,” Marta looked at silvery
reflections on her wing. “And most likely, it cost you a fortune too.”
The Blue Tiger ignored this remark as well.
“And what now? Going to get married again?” and still with the coat on, he came close to
Marta and took hold of the edge of her chain.
“Oh, well, I was planning it,” Marta sighed and, exhausted, sat down on the stair, “but this
strange feeling that you instilled in me got everything confused in my head. I felt completely
at a loss.”
“What feeling?”
“This one of yours – the silly one. The feeling of feelings.”
“And how does it manifest itself?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Marta was angry with the Blue Tiger now. “Not only I can’t escape
properly, but I also left your trinkets on me,” and she just pulled the chain out of The Blue
Tiger’s paw.
“Well, my dear, you have always wanted to attract more attention. Never mind that wing
instead of your left arm, now on the top of it, you have a broken chain on this wing and you
are very close to your aspirations, in my opinion.”
“Only it seems to me that no one is going to marry me with such a dowry.” Marta smiled with
sadness.
“But you’ll take your black wedding veil with you, won’t you?”
“I think, I might.”
“And what about the feeling?” Now The Blue Tiger laughed at Marta rather arrogantly,
enjoying his superiority or it might have been his defensive position.
“Oh, it has to be cured,” she sighed
“Such a strong contagion?”
“More than. The symptoms have already reached the level of fantasies.” Marta began to
sound more and more ambitious. “Imagine yourself, those are the fantasies of the future, and
these are the scariest ones.”
“So, you got frightened. That’s the point.”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.” She nervously flapped her wing, almost hitting The
Blue Tiger on the nose with the silver chain links.
“Well,” The Blue Tiger sat beside Marta, “this is an odd feeling indeed.”
“You can feel it too?” Marta stared at The Blue Tiger.
With an almost pleading look.
“What can I say, my little girl,” The Blue Tiger embraced Marta. “Those are human feelings,
and I am a tiger. Besides, I am flabbergasted that you were capable of such human reactions. I
thought your heart is too pricked by the feathers of this wing.”
“Well,” Marta hesitated for a short while, took out the veil from the box and, coquettishly
pinned the thin lace to the hair. “I think it’s time I left.”