Alenka was a very independent girl. By the age of eight, she could do much more than some adults. Her grandmother had taught her to light the gas stove, make scrambled eggs, and fry cutlets. She could also tidy the house and hand-wash her small clothes. The girl was kind-hearted, always helping otherscheering up the sad, comforting the sick, calming the angry. Everyone adored her for her lively spirit and respect for elders. Shed walk to the edge of the village to help an elderly stranger carry groceries home, even though she was small herself, holding the bag with both hands to keep it from dragging.
Alenka mostly lived with her grandmother, only going to the city in winter for school, which she disliked. She loved her mother deeplyher mom was slender as a reed, with a gentle voice. Her father was decent when sober, but that was rare. Drunk, hed scream at her mother and hit her. Alenka was spared, but seeing her mother suffer broke her heart. Her grandmother scolded her mom to divorce him, but she only cried, saying she didnt want Alenka to grow up fatherless.
During spring break, Alenka was back at her grandmothers. Snow melted outside, streams trickled, and birds chirped. Eager to ride her bike, she said:
Granny, Ill take a quick ride.
Too earlyice everywhere.
But the roads thawed!
Fine, go. Youll sneak off anyway.
She headed for the train station, where the paved square, always quick to thaw, was perfect for biking. The long route tempted her to cut across a vacant lot, but it was icy. Cautiously, she rodethen spotted dark water. Too late. The bike and one leg plunged in; the other kept her on the ice. Struggling, she dragged the bike toward solid ground. A man from a nearby house rushed out, having seen her fall from his window.
Uncle, stay backyoull fall! Ill manage! she shouted.
He watched her crawl across the ice, then scooped her up. Youre soaked! Come inside. He carried her home, fetched her bike, and wrapped her in a blanket.
Im Uncle Sasha. This is my son, Yegorka. A boy on crutches, about seven, peered in.
Im Alenka. What happened, Yegorka?
As stubborn as you, Sasha sighed. Snuck out, slipped on a hillnow a broken leg. He hung her pants by the stove. Tea?
Do you have cranberries? To prevent colds, she asked.
Smart girl! Who taught you that?
Mom. Shes beautiful and clever, but Dad hits her.
Uncle Sasha changed the subject, put on cartoons, and later walked her home at dusk. Yegor begged her to visit againhe was lonely when Dad worked.
Near her grandmothers house, Sasha paused. So, youre Tanyas girl?
Yes, Tatyana Sergeevna.
We were classmates. Give her my regardsSasha Ryabin.
Her grandmother scolded her, though used to her antics. The next morning, her tearful mom arrivedAlenkas father had drunkenly stumbled into traffic and died in the hospital.
Oh, my poor orphan! her mom wept.
He never loved me anyway, Alenka said.
Of course notyou werent his, her grandmother muttered.
Her mom hushed her, but the damage was done. Alenka understood: if her dad wasnt real, her real one was out therebut didnt want them. Fine.
She finished the school year at her grandmothers, befriending classmates, including Yegor once he recovered. She helped with his homework, and his grades soared. Her grandmother disapproved but didnt interfere.
Her mom, visiting rarely, suddenly moved back permanentlyher fathers relatives had claimed his brothers apartment. In the village, she blossomed, spending more time with Alenka.
One summer day, Yegor burst in, crying, Aunt Tanya! Alenkas drowning!
Tanya sprinted after him, meeting Sasha carrying a drenched Alenka. Shes finejust swallowed water. Got stuck on a branch, he said, laying her on the grass.
As Alenka coughed, Tanya sobbed silently.
She looks just like you, Sasha said softly.
Shes *your* daughter! Tanya burst out. I was already pregnant when I left! I wanted city life, went with Vasyabut he figured it out, turned to drink, and refused to divorce me.
Tanya, Ive only loved you! I married Lena in anger after you left. She gave me Yegor and ran.
The kids gaped.
So… were siblings? Alenka said. If Mom and Dad marry, well be a real family. Yegor, okay with that?
Youve always been like a sister. Will your mom scold us?
Nah. Grandma wont let her.
