Allochka had a rough day today. Her sales are getting worse, and soon the local gang will come to collect. It's hard to act tough for a girl like her. She is young, four years away from thirty, her girlish sensitivity preserved miraculously intact in spite of her circumstances. Regardless, a bitter life demands a bitter drink, so she heads for the club. She can see its bright lights from around the corner. This night's special, she knows it.She opens the door, pays for her
ticket and enters the hall. At the bar she orders the usual, whiskey on the
rocks, and takes a sip.
As the first buzz subsides she feels someone's eyes on her. It's not a lustful look, it's something else. She glances around and sees a man sitting not too far away. He is unkempt, his beard is
grizzly, his face is burrowed with wrinkles. He almost looks like a thug, almost. There's something warm about him she can't put her finger on, a weird sense of familiarity. He quickly turns away.
She sits closer.
Hey.
He raises his eyebrows and stares down. He looks at her without moving his head.
Yeah?
You wanted something?
He turns his head.
You look like someone I knew.
Who?
My wife.
Allochka leans forward, somewhat interested.
And what is her name?
Natasha.
Allochka's face lights up with curiousity.
My mother's name is also Natasha.
...And your face is just like hers.
She wanted to know more.
Tell me about her,
The man furtively glances around, making sure no one is listening.
To be frank, I don't know where to start. Both of us were from the same village and we loved each other very much. We married immediately after we graduated. Everything seemed perfect, but I destroyed it.
He looks at Allochka. She listens intently. He painted himself into the corner. But he's too drunk too care, and the girl seems gentle. He sighs and takes a swig.
...I love fishing you know? Must be my favourite pastime. And, uh, one day I went fishing, just like usual. My wife was alone at home. And you know how we men go fishing, right? I had a drink, and then some more, and then I realized - I forgot to take my bait! I came back home, and as I was stumbling around the porch, I heard my wife talking with somebody. It was weird, she was alone, right? So I listened in. A stranger was declaring his love for my wife. The next thing I heard, he was telling her to run away with him and leave me behind. I was confused. I was angry. I took an axe. I opened the door and rushed in. I swung the axe and heard a thump. My wife was screaming, and everything was like in a haze. I looked down to see the face of the man I killed. It was my friend. I don't remember much else.
The man grows silent for a moment. Then continues.
I surrendered myself to authorities, I came clean. The sentence was 20 years of prison.
Allochka is taken aback, but she is somewhat understanding.
And what about your wife?
She was under great shock, she was hospitalised, not sure for how long. I was denied correspondence. I was thinking about her the entire time I was in jail... ...her and our child.
He gazes in the distance.
I want to know whose baby it was, I want to know where he or she is now.
This story tugged on her heartstrings. She tells him about her life, about her money problems, about the stresses of being a saleswoman, and he shows compassion.
What is your name, by the way?
Grisha. And yours?
Alla.
The two continue talking for the entire night and leave the club as good friends, perhaps kindred spirits. He comes up to a black car with opaque windows, waves goodbye and gets into the passenger seat. Allochka goes home.
A week goes by. She is packing her goods, small housewares, clothing pins, pots and cutlery into a bag, when she hears a knock on her table.
Have you forgot about your debt? I hope you haven't.
She looks up and sees three bulky men in sportswear. She knows they don't take delayed payments, but tries to bargain anyway.
Just one more week, I'm only a few hundred rubles short, you may take a part of the sum right now.
Her speech is cut short by a loud bang on the table with a fist.
Listen here, you know our policy, you don't have the money, you're kicked out. Come over here!
One of the thugs grabs her by her arm and drags her out of her stall, she screams and tries to fight him off, all in vain. As she thrashes around she sees their car, black against the light grey of the sky and of the ground. Suddenly, its windows lower. She sees Grisha. Grisha sees her. His expression quickly turns to one of shock. He opens the door, yelling for the man to stop. The man obeys, somewhat confused.
What is it, boss?
You leave her alone! She'll pay up later.
He runs up to Alla. Everyone is watching. He silently draws a small piece of paper and a pencil out of his pocket, quickly scribbles something on it and puts it into her hand.
That's the time you have left. You must have money by that moment.
He turns around, calls his men, and starts walking towards the car. Alla is scared, she unfolds the crumpled piece of paper given to her. The note reads:
Meet me at the club this evening.
She raises her eyes from the paper to look at Grisha. He gives her a quick concerned glance before disappearing behind the window.
Hours later, she is rushing to the club. She is glad to see him alone at the table. Grisha looks disappointed. She sits down. There are no drinks on the table.
Why didn't you just tell me earlier? You could've saved us both a lot of trouble.
Alla feels guilty, as if she is being scolded by her father.
I can pay for you, I've got the money. I... this is awkward. I wish I could give you special treatment, or at least a discount but the guys won't understand. I can only pay for you for so long.
I can pay just fine, it's just that... my mother.
Grisha frowns.
Your mother? What's wrong with her?
She is... She needs care. She is constantly at her hospital. I have to pay for her as well.
After a brief moment of silence she continues.
I wanted to visit her today. Could you give me a lift?
They leave the club and go outside. The same black car is parked outside. This time Grisha is driving. Alla sits at the backseats, giving him directions. He takes many turns, plaques with street names and bedraggled parks run past them. Finally, the car stops. As they leave the car, a small, grey, tiled building stands in front of them
Mind if I go with you?
Sure.
Drab concrete floors and white walls of a narrow corridor make Grisha feel uneasy. They go door after door without entering any, when Alla stops and gently pushes one of them open.
Inside, on a plain wooden bed, lies a woman covered with a big blanket. She is around Grisha's age, her stare is somewhat vacant.
Grisha stays in the corridor, Alla goes in and sits beside her. They talk. The woman talks rather awkwardly and quietly, she makes pauses, repeats same words. Grisha finds her voice hauntingly familiar. He carefully slips in, and as he moves closer towards the bed, he stops dead in his tracks.
Natasha!..
He wants to say it louder, but he can't, he can only whisper. Shocked, he lurches forward. The woman slowly raises her eyes from Alla and finally notices him. As she looks into his face, her expression changes, she becomes pale, as if she sees a ghost. Her terrified eyes run all over Grisha's massive figure. She opens her mouth slightly, but nothing else. Grisha falls to his knees and grabs onto the edge of the bed. He has a lump in his throat, tears are slowly welling up in his eyes. Alla sits on the chair, confused, the realization of it all gradually dawning on her.
I thought I had no one I could call family. I thought I destroyed it all.
Grisha wipes away the tears with his sleeve.
This time I will make it right.
Allochka gets down onto the floor, giving Grisha a warm embrace. The light of sunset fills the room.
