VALERIAS LAST STAND

IN SIXTY-EIGHT YEARS, VALERIA HAS NEVER MINCED HER WORDS. HARRUMPHING THROUGH HER ISOLATED LITTLE VILLAGE DEEP IN THE HUNGARIAN STEPPES, SHE CLUTCHES HER SHOPPING BASKET LIKE A BATTERING RAM AND LEAVES NOTHING UNCRITICISED - FLACCID VEGETABLES AT THE MARKET; IDLE FARMERS CAROUSING IN IBOLYA'S NONSTOP TAVERN; THAT GAUCHE CHIMPANZEE OF A MAYOR AND HIS FLASHY, LEGGY WIFE; PEOPLE WHO WHISTLE. BUT ONE DAY, HER SPINSTER'S HEART IS STRUCK BY AN UNLIKELY ARROW THE VILLAGE POTTER, WITH HIS DECISIVE HANDS AND SOLID GAZE. VALERIA FINDS HERSELF SUDDENLY DRESSING IN FLORALS AND TOUCHING HER HAIR, AND WHAT'S MORE, SMILING AT PEOPLE IN THE STREET. THE POTTER MAKES HER THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VASE SHE HAS EVER SEEN. THE FARMERS BUY A CELEBRATORY ROUND. THE PROBLEM WITH ALL THIS IS THAT IBOLYA (HERSELF AT LEAST FIFTY-EIGHT) HAS BEEN ROMANCING THE POTTER FOR MONTHS AND VOWS TO WIN HIM BACK. AND THEN THERE'S FERENC, THE SUGAR BEET FARMER, RED-HEADED AND MARRIED BUT ALL THE SAME HOPELESSLY IN LOVE WITH IBOLYA