Alenka was a very independent girl. By the age of eight, she could do far more than many adults. Her grandmother had taught her to light the gas stove, make scrambled eggs, and fry cutlets. She could also tidy the house and wash her small clothes by hand. The girl was warm-hearted, always helping otherscheering up the sad, comforting the sick, calming those who yelled. Everyone adored her for her lively spirit and respect for elders. Shed trek to the edge of the village to help an unfamiliar old woman carry groceries home, even though she was small herself, gripping the bag with both hands so it wouldnt drag on the ground. Alenka lived mostly with her grandmother, only heading to the city in winter to attend school. She disliked the city. She loved her mother dearlyher mother was beautiful, slender as a reed, with a gentle voice. Her father was decent when sober, but that was rare. When drunk, hed scream at her mother, beat her. He never touched Alenka, but it pained her to see her mother suffer. Grandma scolded her mother to divorce him, but she just cried, saying she didnt want her daughter to grow up without a father.
During spring break, Alenka was, as usual, at her grandmothers. Snow melted outside, streams ran everywhere, birds chirped. The girl decided to ride her bike:
“Granny, Im going for a bike ride.”
“Its too early, theres ice everywhere.”
“But Ill stick to the road where the ground has thawed.”
“Fine, go aheadyoull run off anyway.”
Alenka planned to ride to the train station, where the paved square, always the first to thaw, was good for cycling. The road was long, but she could cut across a vacant lotthough it was icy. Carefully, she pedaled over the ice. Ahead, she spotted a dark strip of water but couldnt brake in time. One leg and the bike plunged in, while her other leg kept her balanced on the ice. She yanked the bike out and dragged it toward the path. A man burst out of a house near the railroad, having seen her fall through the ice. Hed quickly dressed and rushed to help.
“Mister, dont come closeryoull fall too! Ill manage!” the girl shouted.
The man stayed on the path, watching Alenka inch forward.
“Youre soaked, freezingcome inside, quick!” He scooped her up, carried her home, then fetched her bike.
“Ill warm up a bit and go. Granny wont fussshes used to me.”
“Whats your name, sweetheart? Im Uncle Sasha, and this is my son, Yegorka,” he said as a seven-year-old boy on crutches entered.
“Nice to meet you! Im Alenka. What happened to you, Yegorka?”
“Hes as obedient as you. I told him not to go to the lake, but he did, slipped on the slidenow hes stuck with a broken leg,” Uncle Sasha replied. “Take off your pants, well dry them by the stove.”
He wrapped her in a blanket, sat her at the table, and poured hot tea.
“Do you have cranberries? Theyll help ward off a cold.”
“Who taught you to be so smart?” Uncle Sasha laughed, setting cranberry jam on the table.
“My momshes beautiful and clever. But Dad hits her, and she cries.”
Uncle Sasha changed the subject, turned on cartoons for the kids while her clothes dried. Later, Alenka prepared to leaveGranny was probably worried.
The man walked her home as twilight fell. Yegor asked her to visit againhe got lonely, especially when his dad was at work.
At Alenkas grandmothers gate, Uncle Sasha hesitated.
“So, youre Tanyukhas daughter?”
“Yes, my moms Tatyana Sergeevna.”
“I know. We were classmates. I wont go inbut say hi to her from Sasha Ryabinin.”
Grandma, of course, scolded her. She was used to Alenkas antics, but this was too much. The next morning, her tearful mother arrived. Two days ago, her father had gotten drunk, been hit by a car, and died in the hospital.
“Oh, my poor girl, now youre an orphan!” her mother wailed.
“He never loved me anywaybut I still feel bad for him,” Alenka said.
“Of course he didntyou werent his,” Grandma interjected.
“Mom, she shouldnt know yet,” her mother snapped, but the words were out.
Alenka understood. If that man wasnt her real father, then somewhere out there was one who didnt want to live with them. Maybe she didnt need him.
She finished the school year at Grandmas. The school was nearby, and she knew most classmatesshed spent so much time there. She visited Yegor often; they were now in the same class, though he couldnt attend yet. She brought homework, helped him, then returned his work to school. Uncle Sasha was thrilled his son kept up and wouldnt repeat the year. Yegor even improved his grades. By years end, he could walk again, passed his exams, and moved up.
Grandma wasnt fond of their friendship but didnt stop it. Her mother visited rarely, then suddenly moved to the village for good. Paps relatives had claimed the apartmentit belonged to his brother. In the village, her mother flourished, even looking younger, spending more time with her.
One summer day, Yegor ran to Alenkas house, crying, “Aunt Tanya, hurry! Alenkas drowning!”
Tatyana dashed after him. Alexander was already coming their way, carrying Alenka.
“Dont panic, Tanyushashe just swallowed water. Her foot got caught on a branch,” he said, laying her on the grass.
Alenka coughed, sitting up. Tanya, pale with fear, wept silently.
“Tanyush, she looks just like you!” Sasha said.
“No, like you! Shes yours!” Tanya burst out. “I was already pregnant thenjust didnt tell you. I wanted city life, left with Vasya. But he figured out the timing, knew she wasnt his, started drinking, and wouldnt divorce me.”
“Tanechka! Ive only ever loved you! After you left, I married Lena out of spite. She had Yegor, then ran off. I raised him alone.”
Alenka and Yegor listened, bewildered.
“So,” Alenka said, “we share a fatherthat makes us brother and sister. My moms nice. If she marries our dad, well be a real family. What do you think?”
“Youve felt like a sister forever,” Yegor said. “Will your mom yell at us?”
“Nah, Grandma wont let her.”
