[ WP ] Your grandparents always playfully bickered in their native language . To surprised them , you took lessons , but now you understand what they 're really saying ...

I guess this had been a long time coming. For four years, I had taken on a minor in Russian. Now, in an effort to surprise and connect with them, I was visiting my grandparents. They lived up north, and the last time my family had visited them, I must have seventeen. They'd always had this air about them, seeming so mysterious and jaded, but I figured if I reached out like this, maybe I could learn something about our past. 
 
 Pulling into their driveway, I saw them sitting on the porch, enjoying the afternoon Sun. I parked the rental car and as I got out the car, my grandfather called out, `` I see you did not get lost.'' I smiled, `` Almost missed that last turn, but I'm here! How are you?'' My grandmother stood up and replied, `` We carry on just fine, but we are old and quite boring. You are young, and must be full of stories. Come and inside and I'll make tea.'' 
 
 We entered the kitchen, and I sat down at the kitchen table before a phone rang. My grandfather slipped an old flip phone out of his pocket and looked at the number. His face grew stern as he opened it to accept the call. `` ( Russian ) Yes?... Now's not a good time... My grandson is visiting me... Would you like to include him in the next operation?... I did n't think so. We've been working under the noses of these idiots for 60 years now, let's not blow our cover because you ca n't wait another couple days to properly plan this... Wet work.'' He looked to me. `` ( English ) Sorry, an old friend of mine in Russia passed away today. I'll be done in a minute.''
