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Family Is All That Matters 86 Meanwhile, they had Lyubov's career to worry about. If they did nothing, she would likely be assigned to teach English at a school very far away om Moscow. Luckily Lyubov's supervisor at the institute in Chkalov liked her. Everyone liked her. The supervisor understood that these young people were in love and wanted to be together, if not in Moscow then in Volsk. Lyubov's supervisor petitioned to have Lyubov stay at the Chkalov base to teach English. Even bureaucrats could be moved by young love. The plan was for Lyubov to eventually transfer to teach in Volsk so she could be near Iosif. Lyubov had it all figured out. At that time in Russia, the high school schedule was divided into quarters. The first quarter ran om September to November 7th (the anniversary of the revolution); the second quarter ran om Right: Lyubov and Iosif Volsun on their wedding day, January 25, 1951. The photograph was taken at the registrar's office in Moscow. November 10th to January; the third quarter ran om January to March; and the fourth quarter ran om March to June. She told Iosif that she would apply for a transfer to Volsk. If the transfer was approved, she would be able to come to Volsk aer the third quarter in March. Iosif nodded in agreement. Soon it was January 25th—just 10 days earlier, Iosif and Lyubov had been perfect strangers. It turned out to be a brutally cold day, with a chilling high wind. Iosif was worried that guests would stay away because of the cold. But guests began to arrive at 6 p.m., and soon the hall was filled with laughter and music and dancing. About 80 people made it in all. The rabbi arrived. The huppah, the Jewish wedding canopy, was set up. Iosif stepped on a crystal goblet to remember the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The party went well. The food was plentiful and the drinks flowed. All the guests enjoyed themselves, and at least one man drank too much. Iosif knew many people at the party but there was one guest he did not know, a iend of one of Lyubov's brothers. At one point late in the evening, this man took Iosif aside and said some angry words. "I don't know you," the man slurred. "But if you hurt or insult Lyubov, I have iends in the KGB. Be careful!" Iosif understood that this man was trying to protect Lyubov. Everyone loved Lyubov and wanted only the best for her. But still Iosif could not let the threat go unanswered. "I don't care about your KGB," Iosif shouted to the man. "I saw a lot of KGB in the army. Don't talk to me like that anymore." Iosif 's authority was so strong that the man immediately retreated. He asked Iosif to forgive him and offered his hand in apology. Iosif took it. "He was drunk," Iosif laughed. The guests partied until midnight. The party would have gone on even longer, but the Metro stopped running at 1:00 a.m. It was vital that people did not miss

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