On the Wings of Hope : Prose

- No, for me it was not quick. They were interesting for me. Totally thanks to him, - and his mother pointed to him with a hand.

- Oh, that must be Pa … Pavel, right? And I remember him being a tiny child… - Hello, Pavlik, - said this woman and, having stretched his hand, added, - give aunt a hand!

He looked at his mother. She was smiling as if saying – “well, sonny, greet this aunt”. Then he transferred his look to the unfamiliar woman and slightly given her his hand. When she has taken his small palm into her own, as if some sort of cold and at the same time burning wave passed through it. He fitfully, sharply and awkwardly drawn his hand aside.

- Just look at how unsociably are we! – the unfamiliar woman frowned eyebrows and pursed her lips. – Well, fine, if you don’t want to greet me well – have it your way. At least I have no such problems, - she added slightly more silently. – Listen, Lenysya. I stopped here in one hotel for about five days. I could call on you somehow – let’s talk with each other, after all we haven’t met for quite a while, old friends, that sort of things, - the stranger woman smiled. Well, how’s that?

His mother reflected for a while.

- All right, - she answered about five seconds after. – I will gladly meet with you. Come tonight – I write down my street address to you.

Then there were digging in bags, searches for pieces of paper, specifications of address. He listened no more. When after ten more minutes his mother finally said goodbye to that woman, she approached him, winked and told – “Today aunt Olya will come to us. Be the clear head and behave well”, - and mother kissed him on a forehead.

He shuddered, when he heard it. He shuddered from the very thought that he must stand near this woman again, to sustain her sight full of hostility, and even greet and say goodbye to her again! Perhaps, he couldn’t explain precisely even to yourself of what exactly he disliked in that woman, - but already at the thought of her he was filled with disgust.

- I don’t want her to come to us, - he whispered.

- You don’t want? What does it mean that you don’t want? No, we cannot refuse her. Sonny, I haven’t seen her for much time, and she is my former classmate. I cannot refuse her offer!

- I don’t want, don’t want, don’t want it! She is a bad woman, I don’t want her to come!

- Stop it! Cease these idle talks immediately! Now we will come back home and I shall cook meal and then we will be awaiting her. And no but’s to me!

The child began crying. He began crying when his mother pulled him by hand and led home, giving no chance not to obey her desire. The feeling of extremely abandoness and forlornness overwhelmed him – as though the entire world together with his mother in a flash of time turned away from him.

They were going and going back home. For all road long he has been imagining himself how that woman continuously drills him with her gaze, and he desired to burst out crying even more strongly. When this painful and unceasingly long way has finally come to an end, and he entered their house, - he ran into his room, rushed on a bed and having closed himself from disappointment by a pillow and concealed himself in a blanket, went silent.

He vaguely remembered what was going on after. It seems, mother has finally found him in his shelter. It seems, she forced him to put on some awkward ironed suit. It seems, they have been waiting for the guest then. This expectation appeared painful – and when he saw before him the face of this woman with a fake smile on it, when he was forced to feel this ice-burning touch once more – he almost started crying again. Then his mother for long has been chatting with that woman. He didn’t listen to them – he was allowed to sit alone in the room (oh, how he was glad of that!). Only occasionally scraps of words and phrases reached him.

… hi! Here I am …

… ite?

… yep. This is my business suite. So, how do I look like in that?

… my, … what’s that?

… don’t look at a bracelet! Better look at these earrings…

… yes …

… yes, come in.

… oh, such close space … How … live like that?!

… how can. Not … ch.

… yes …

… faugh, away! Have gathered … ur creatures! I am having allergy on a wool!

Then conversation, apparently, became totally silent, so he could hear nothing. Besides, he didn’t listen too attentively – only loud sounds from time to time reached his ears.

… and?

… so what?

… oh really?

… and how are you?

… still the same?

… oh, never mind … what of you?

Like that it has been going for about an hour more. Then all went silent for some reason – and fifteen minutes later amazed voice of his mother loudly shouted …

- What have you done?!

… abandoned. Not a big deal or damage! Besides he … not … uired.

… child … left?! In … maternity home?

… have told – he was not required for me. But this … bastard survived … even … usage … pills! To go to do … abort … with friends … not. And …use … I … left him … there … some compassionate woman … take care … him.

… how … could you?! He … live … an!