They married young—Sergey was twenty-three, Tatyana twenty-one. That’s tradition in the village: after your army service, it’s time to start a family. Sergey already had a sturdy house, inherited from his parents, built on a tall foundation with beautifully carved window frames. He worked at the sawmill and earned good money. Tatyana got a job … Read more
“You’re not going anywhere on vacation, we’re having a family gathering!” Igor planted himself in the bedroom doorway, hands on his hips. His hefty frame just about blocked the entire exit to the hallway. “Mom and Oksana are already on their way, coming to stay with us for a whole week.” I carefully folded my … Read more
“Zoya, I just need two hours, I swear—just two! I have to take documents to the MFC for mom’s disability paperwork, and they only accept by appointment. My appointment is Thursday at eleven. I can’t leave mom alone after her IV, she gets dizzy. Please, just stay with her a bit. Just sit with her … Read more
Two suitcases were standing in the hallway. One was black, huge, and on wheels. The other was pink, smaller, with an airline sticker on the side. Olga stopped in the doorway, keys in hand. The inspection at the factory was postponed until Monday, so she was let off at three o’clock. She had planned to … Read more
“Borya, did you know for a while that Denis would be coming over with all his stuff today?” Larisa hadn’t even taken off her coat. She stood in the hallway, one hand gripping her bag strap over her shoulder, the other pointing at the two big duffel bags placed beside the shoe rack. Denis stood … Read more
“The workers have taken out the cement bags, just a little bit left,” Anatoly called out from the hallway. He angrily pulled on his left shoe. “Vitka asked if we could come over by nine. She needs the whitewash scrubbed off the walls, the kitchen tiles cleaned, and the windows washed.” You know, after her … Read more
“Here you go, dear. This is for you.” My mother-in-law placed a glossy brochure on the table and slid it toward me with two fingers, just like a teacher sliding a bad report card over. The cover read: “Medical College. Correspondence Department. Junior Medical Staff.” A girl in a blue cap smiled from the cover. … Read more
On Sunday, Sergey asked me to cancel the delivery of a washing machine for my mom. He said we couldn’t afford it until payday. An hour later, I came back from shopping and overheard him in the kitchen negotiating a down payment for yet another Gazelle van with his brother. He sounded so sure of … Read more
“A suitcase for Tamara Gennadyevna? Yes, that’s right. Please sign here.” Daria absentmindedly signed her name on the courier’s terminal screen and only then noticed the huge dark blue suitcase the man had already rolled into the hallway. “Is there anything else?” “Just this.” The courier left, the elevator door closed, and Daria stood for … Read more
I was giving my son to his father. Not just for the weekend, not for a holiday – for good. There was no paperwork involved, nothing to sign. There isn’t even a form for giving up your child – something like that just doesn’t exist. I simply packed a bag. “Olya, are you done in … Read more