Summary

The first story in Table for Two, “The Line,” begins in the final days of Tsarist Russia, where a young couple, Pushkin and Irina, live on a homestead in the country together. Following the rise of Communism, Irina becomes increasingly passionate about the Communist Party, and implores Pushkin to move with her to Moscow. Though Irina quickly takes a liking to her work in Moscow with the Communist Party, Pushkin struggles to make himself useful, failing in a number of endeavors before eventually becoming unemployed. Exasperated, Irina instructs Pushkin to spend the days waiting in the long supply lines in order to purchase the couple the things they need in order to survive. However, the big-hearted Pushkin immediately realizes that he would be better off assisting others by standing in line for them, a selfless gesture that just...