Gruff but kindly, with dark-rimmed glasses prone to slip down his prominent ruddy nose and an unlit cigar habitually clenched in his teeth, he was everyone's Dutch uncle and let even strangers call him “Maggie” to his face.

Grey hairs straggled out from under her head-gear, which surrounded a dark face with bushy eyebrows and a long knotted nose.

What kinda music do ya want ta play? Do ya want volume or somethin' more subtle?

Honestly, it didn't much matter to me that Marina had forgotten Mother's Day, though I did feel bad on my mother's behalf. As any parent can tell you, what hurts far more than no card on a Hallmark holiday are the casual slights, the eye rolls your child thinks you don't see, the muttered whatevers, the unasked-for-and-unwanted criticism of your clothing, your speech habits, your existence.