They let bunches of their Jewish retirees leave, and we let them all in as refugees. Then, since they were no longer in their country, the soviets did...’t pay them pensions. Lots came to our neighborhood. I don’t think there are any Russian kids, though I wouldn’t bet on it. I wouldn’t give odds against Eskimos in the local school.”“So,” Kathleen summarized, “the Chicago library has books in English, Spanish and Russian. Eskimos are out of luck.”“Our branch library has books in English, Spanish,. Already there were two inspectors going through one of the containers. They had pulled just about everything out of the 53' container and had it piled up to one side. One of them stood and checked items off on his clipboard while the second inspector pulled stuff out and showed it to him. We had brought over a large amount of medical supplies for the hospitals here and it consisted of gurneys, hospital beds, overhead lights, IV trees, mattresses, saline solution in IV bags, syringes, different. ‘Well, I know I’m sometimes late with my rent, but I’m going to be very late this month. I lost my job, and I am super short on funds right now.’ ‘Well,’ I began, before she cut me off. ‘Look, I am not someone who avoids problems. I like to tackle them. I’m looking for a break on my rent this month, and I’m willing to make it worth your while if you can let it go.’ Now, I’ll be frank. I immediately thought dirty thoughts however I assumed she was going to suggest something more above-board,. Many deep, gulping breaths later, Silmaria stood and took in her surroundings. There were clusters of trees at the shoreline, and spread out farther west, but for the most part the Dale opened up before them; sweeping plains covered in thick, shin deep snow, pure and untouched save the occasional tracks of deer or mountain yaks or other wild creatures. Here and there, large stones broke up the bleak, empty spaces of the plains, their rough, rocky faces wearing the white of falling snow like.