Winter Visit to Aunt and Uncle

V sobotu ráno som sa vybral vlakom na Oravu k tete Zuzke a strýkovi Ferovi, hoci som tam nebol už poriadne dlho.

On Saturday morning I set off by train to Orava to visit Aunt Zuzka and Uncle Fero, even though I hadn't been there for quite a while.

Keď som otvoril bránku na dvore, rozvoniavala kapustnica a psík Dodo krútil chvostom tak urputne, až mu škrípali pazúry po betóne.

When I opened the gate in the yard, cabbage soup was in the air and the dog Dodo wagged his tail so fiercely that his claws scraped on the concrete.

Teta ma objala, strýko len zavrčal, že vraj prichádzam vždy s chladom, no za chvíľu sa usmieval, akoby sme sa videli včera.

Aunt hugged me, Uncle grumbled that I always arrive with the cold, but a moment later he was smiling as if we'd seen each other yesterday.

Kuchyňa bola plná hrnčekov a pary a cez okno, ktoré vŕzgalo, bolo vidieť, ako sa pod snehom prehýba stará slivka, ktorú strýko volá Marienka.

The kitchen was full of mugs and steam, and through the squeaky window you could see the old plum tree sagging under the snow, the one Uncle calls Marienka.

Zatiaľ čo sa na sporáku varili pirohy a teta na plech potierala makovník vajíčkom, rozkladali sme na stole albumy a spomínali, kto je na ktorej fotografii.

While dumplings were cooking on the stove and Aunt was brushing the poppy-seed roll with egg, we spread albums out on the table and reminisced about who is in which photograph.

Dozvedel som sa, že bratranec odchádza na leto do Írska, lebo vraj chce skúsiť, či ho láka more viac než salaš, a všetci prikyvovali, aj keď bolo cítiť obavu.

I learned that my cousin is leaving for Ireland for the summer because he wants to see whether the sea tempts him more than the sheep farm, and everyone nodded, even though you could feel their worry.

Po obede, ktorý bol nedeľný, hoci bola sobota, sme obliekli kabáty a šli na cintorín zapáliť sviečky starým rodičom, aby vedeli, že na nich nezabúdame.

After lunch, which felt like Sunday even though it was Saturday, we put on our coats and went to the cemetery to light candles for our grandparents, so they'd know we don't forget them.

Strýko cestou rozprával, ako kedysi nosili uhlie na chrbtoch, a mne sa zdalo, že z jeho slov stúpa prach, čo sa lepí na ruky i spomienky.

On the way Uncle told how they used to carry coal on their backs, and it seemed to me that dust rose from his words, sticking to hands and memories.

Keď sa zotmelo a v kuchyni zahučal starý rádioprijímač s rozhlasovými novinami, teta mi potichu vložila do batohu krabičku s koláčmi a pohár nakladaných uhoriek.

When it got dark and the old radio hummed with the news, Aunt quietly slipped a box of cakes and a jar of pickles into my backpack.

Sľúbil som, že prídem skôr než padnú prvé jablká, lebo som si uvedomil, že hoci sa doma stále ponáhľam, tu sa čas dá na chvíľu presvedčiť, aby počkal.

I promised to come before the first apples fall, because I realized that although I'm always rushing at home, here time can be persuaded for a moment to wait.

Na stanici som potom stál s taškou, ktorá voňala po maku a klinčekoch, a pristihol sa, že mávam, aj keď už nikto nemával späť.

At the station I stood with a bag that smelled of poppy seeds and cloves, and caught myself waving even when no one was waving back anymore.

Cesta naspäť bola tichá, ale vo vrecku mi hrkotal kľúč od bránky, ktorý mi strýko vtisol do dlane, vraj aby som si nabudúce otvoril sám a bez výhovoriek.

The trip back was quiet, but in my pocket rattled the key to the gate that Uncle pressed into my palm, supposedly so I could let myself in next time with no excuses.