A STORY OF OBLIGATION IN OGRE, LATVIA
Kūrmāja, the house, at 32 Brīvības Street in Ogre was the social hub of the small town. Here the local newspaper had its offices, next to the café on the lower floor. Above the rooms comprised a boarding house. In the evenings the high circles of society gathered for refreshment and gossip and occasionally a social event. Tonight was such an event. Ogre had finally been granted official status as a town. The collection of buildings and streets gathered at the confluence of the Daugava and Ogre rivers had grown steadily over recent years, since the start of the twentieth century. It was no rival to Riga, the capital, not even close, but the local elite were immensely proud of their small community.
On this particular evening in the café, the local architect Šervinskis stood next to Mayor Pētersons, who was waxing lyrical about his successful efforts to have the town’s status upgraded to the select group of dignitaries who surrounded him. Each interrupted Pētersons at various points to make oleaginous remarks and congratulatory compliments. The Mayor revelled in his success and his toadyish company.
‘Of course, we shall need to build a new town hall worthy of our new status, Šervinskis,’ Pētersons winked at Šervinskis. Šervinskis had designed the very building in which they stood, and many others in the surrounding streets. He smiled and tipped his head in reply to the Mayor’s implied compliment of his talents.
‘And the new church building will have to be upscaled somewhat,’ pitched in Reverend Balodis, referring to the recently started project further down the street.
‘Naturally,’ Mayor Pētersons agreed. ‘This opens up a whole new era for us gentlemen, one of prosperity and opportunity.’
Across the room, the wives stood in their own circle. While the elder ladies gossiped, the younger women looked dully around the room. Šervinskis saw Olga standing on her own to the side of the main group. She wore her auburn hair tied in a loose bun, strands falling over her bare shoulders. Her voluminous gown hid the curves and contours of the body he knew so well beneath. As he stared she caught his eye, as he hoped she would.
‘Excuse me gentlemen,’ Šervinskis announced to the group, offering no explanation for his departure. He crossed the room and exited through a side door that led to the upper floors. No one paid him any attention. Mayor Pētersons continued his expostulating as a waiter arrived with a fresh tray of champagne glasses.
Olga waited a minute before slipping out the same door unnoticed. She found Šervinskis in their usual room. In the dark they embraced.
‘Your husband is at his most obsequious tonight,’ he told Olga.
‘Can we please not talk about him,’ she kissed Šervinskis on the mouth. ‘We cannot be absent too long,’ she warned when they finally broke away from each other.
‘He is so self-obsessed he will not notice our absence. And even if he did, he would not dare believe that something untoward was occurring between us.’
‘Or perhaps not even care,’ Olga agreed.
‘He wants me to design our new town hall.’
‘Oh you must,’ Olga’s hands wandered across his body, loosening his clothes and feeling the warm skin underneath. ‘It is an obligation. You will have to visit regularly to keep him apprised of your plans.’
‘Naturally,’ Šervinskis agreed between deep breaths. ‘Just as I was obligated to do so when building his current home, the new school and the mayoral and council offices.’
Written as part of The A to Z Challenge 2018. Click HERE for more details of the challenge.
Each day in April we will visit a different town or city in the European Union, whose name will begin with the letter of the day – today it’s a Ogre, Latvia – for a story based on a theme also corresponding to the same letter.
Over the course of the month and 26 stories, we will visit all 28 member countries to complete a farewell tour before Britain leaves the political union next year, touching on the history, politics, culture and people at the heart of Europe.
For a full list of stories and places visited, visit here: THE A TO Z CHALLENGE 2018.
73 responses to “O IS FOR OGRE, LATVIA”
Oh my goodness! Now that’s taking a chance!
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It seems the mayor is too busy to notice… 😉
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Great escape for Olga from the self-obsessed husband. I do hope she is strong enough to face the consequences, should Pētersons awake to a certain news about a unwelcome clandestine relationship.
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P.S. I really liked the way you have portrayed their adventurous relationship.
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Thanks Moon 🙂
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I’m not sure she will be all that concerned if he does find out, perhaps it would be the push she needed to get out of the marriage. Thanks Moon.
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About time he designed somewhere with a secret room for their clandestine meetings!
A-Z of My Friend Rosey!
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That would be far too convenient, wouldn’t it?
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It would take away some of the fun!
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Ah, good thinking Keith. You weren’t an architect in a former life were you?! 😉
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Haha! That’s one way of continuing your affair while keeping the cuckolded husband occupied. All it takes is a lot of public money. Fun story, Iain. And great name for a town.
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It is a great name, once I had found it, it had to be my ‘O’ entry. Thanks Varad.
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Ogre and Olga? Lovely pairing! I now have to go and look up oleaginous.
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Can you tell I was looking at different ‘O’ words while writing this?! 😉
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Well people who are self-absorbed to the point of narcissism definitely do not deserve spouses to whom they can’t pay any attention. If a man pays little attention to his wife he deserves this and more.
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A town full of flawed characters. Thanks Jai
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You made me smile with this one.
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The architect is good at planning the rendezvous as well!
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He is very thorough and organised 🙂
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OO … taking a chance huh?
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It seems like they are well practised at it 😉
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Yess 😉
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A new designing challenge for Servinskis!
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Got to keep busy! 🙂
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Ooh, very sexy indeed! I had a dear, dear friend I met at work many years ago who was Latvian. He sounded just like Dracula 😉
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I hope he didn’t act just like Dracula! 🙂
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Uh-oh. Seems everyone has their own agenda!
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Aren’t all small towns like this? 🙂
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extra marital right under husband’s nose. Probably thats what excites them more than anything
i love the town’s name btw.
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Thank you, great name isn’t it! 🙂
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Uh oh. You know at some point he will find out…
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Of course he will, then it will get interesting…
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So is it a chapter one or a chapter in the middle??
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Oh, just the beginning I think!
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Perfect!
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Good man Servinskis , always on top of things 😉
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In all ways 😉
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Wow!
https://katseaholm.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/o-is-for-observation/
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In a good way I hope 🙂
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I agree with Kat – Wow!
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Thanks Emily 🙂
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Now see, this one I think you ended a bit early.
I want a confrontation. But that might say more about my current mood than the story!
@IsaLeeWolf
A Bit to Read
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Oh dear, I hope your mood improves! 🙂
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I guess hubby prefers business to pleasure.
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I suspect she prefers it that way too.
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Ah, find love where you can get it. Great story!
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Especially in small communities! Thank you.
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I’m not sure Šervinskis will be designing too many more buildings if Mayor Pētersons finds out about his affair. Weekends In Maine
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No, it could be career ending!
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Ooo!! Things be gettin’ risqué!!
Great fun!
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🙂 Thanks Laura
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I can see this ending badly. Maybe I have read too many books.
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I think you’re probably right!
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Ha ha ha, ‘Always mix business with pleasure’ is their motto.
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It seems to be their main preoccupation!
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As clandestine as it gets. You story oozes a certain nail biting climax. Wonder where this will lead too? Sequel huh Iain?
Natasha
natashamusing
April Anecdotes
Painted Not Tainted
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Maybe worth revisiting them to see what happens next! Thanks Natasha.
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Steamy story Iain. Enjoyed it very much. Thank you:)
P is for Paradise in Plain Sight
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You’re very welcome, thanks for reading 🙂
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Wow! So there actually a town named Ogre. And a very scandalous place full of intrigue I see. Nice one.
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Thank you – I’m sure the real town is nowhere near as scandalous…!
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Great name, no wonder it got inked in straightaway. As to the story, a nice change of pace to everything so far 🙂
A-Zing this year at:
FictionCanBeFun
Normally found at:
DebsDespatches
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Thanks Debs, a bit of a romantic scandal to break up the history 🙂
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Classic case of mixing business with pleasure – looks like this affair has been going on for a long while…
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Oh yeah, and no sign of slowing down.
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Risky. I wonder how much of the behaviour is the draw of taking high risks, craving that high of not getting caught…? Interesting?
https://writingiscommunication.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/oubliette-the-space-between-bookstore-presented-by-a-to-z-100-word-stories/
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I’m sure that is all part of the thrill!
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A a very risky triangle – that’s what makes it all the more exciting.
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A little bit of risk can liven up small town life 🙂
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I wonder if his designs are as risky as his behaviour. 🙂 Love the language you use in this – oleaginous is such a great word.
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Thank you, I like the idea that he is a risk taker in all aspects of his life 🙂
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Ogre? Did stories of Ogres evolve in that region?
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I couldn’t find any connection, or which came first!!
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