THE SUMMER FROCK

By Stepan Dadaskinov

One day my friend Kolya , a friend from my student group, said to me, "It's my sister's birthday today. Come to the party tonight!".

I accepted his invitation with pleasure. We arranged to meet at the entrance of the "NEVSKY" metro.

I came from Siberia, Yakutat, to Leningrad to study at the University several months ago. I had been on friendly terms with Kolya recently. He seemed to be quiet and modest, but whenever I asked him about anything, he became animated and talkative. I liked him and he was growing on me.

After my classes at the University I went to the student hostel and thought about my friend’s sister. I had never seen her before and had been trying to imagine her appearance.

He said "My sister’s birthday.

"Is she his elder or younger sister?" I wondered.

In the Yakut language we use different nouns when we speak about elder and younger sisters, but in the Russian language they use only one noun - ‘sister’. If she is his younger sister, then I saw her once, I suppose. Two days ago I saw Kolya with a young attractive girl in the cinema. She was beautiful! Maybe, that girl was his younger sister. If it’s so, "I am lucky!" I thought.

After having a snack at the hostel canteen I put on my suit and hurried to the nearest department store to buy a present for Kolya’s sister. I wanted to present her with something marvelous. I bought a bottle of perfume called "SPRING". Going to the metro "NEVSKY" I saw people coming out of one store with bunches of flowers. It dawned upon me to buy a bunch of flowers. I bought it there. I had it wrapped up with a sheet of paper. Outside I carefully opened the upper part of the cover and noticed that one flower was inclined to one side. I saw the face of the young girl who was with Kolya at the cinema in my mind eye…

The inclined flower head reminded me of the girl’s head who was thinking about something.

"About love, of course!" -  I thought.

I was walking slowly, guessing, dreaming like a ship slowly moving along the sea and it seemed to me that I was bearing in my arms not a bunch of flowers but that nice girl - Kolya’s sister!

Kolya came to the "NEVSKY" metro at the arranged time and we got on the train and rode away.

We went out of the metro and walked to the big apartment house. It was an old building. I noticed that the house had been repaired after the bombing during the war. Kolya and I went up to the second floor and my friend pressed the electric bell beside one of the doors. An elderly woman with hair turning gray opened the door. Kolya introduced me to his mother.

The hostess talked to me while laying the table. It was common that people living in the European part of Russia were interested in Siberian life, climate, weather and the way of life of Siberian people. Kolya’s mother wanted to know everything about our short and hot summer and long and frosty winter. She said that she was not sure that young people brought up in European part of Russia could bear the severe Siberian climate.

"Whom does she mean? Her son or daughter? Is she trying to let me know that her daughter would never go to Siberia? Maybe they discussed this issue not long ago. Does she want to say that if I marry her daughter she wouldn’t let her go with me to Siberia?" I thought.

I was carried away by this thought, I was all attention. I was ready to tell her that my severe native land’s wind and frost were dear to my heart. Kolya said:

"Mother, young people can bear everything!" and gave me a warm glance, as if he guessed my thoughts.

I was excited and breathless with joy, "Yes, yes, they mean me and Kolya’s sister. And our future married life! It’s clear that they had talked about that before my visit! Kolya is on my side! But his mother like all other mothers is worried by a possible future choice of her daughter. I understand mother’s heart," I thought. I sat quiet.

"And where is Kolya’s sister? May be she went to invite her girl friends, "I thought. I stopped watching the entrance door.

"If she comes in right now, what shall I do? How should I congratulate her? What should I say to her?" I thought looking at the bunch of flowers and touching with my palm the bottle of perfume in my pocket.

All of a sudden I heard a young girl break into laughter, a peal of merriment outside the door of the flat.

"It’s she!" I thought trembling with joy. My heart was beating heavily and I felt my face redden. I gave a deep sigh.

But the door was not opened. I heard the light steps going upstairs. Another girl!

I got calm and continued the train of my thoughts: "The girl who went up stairs may be wearing a nice summer frock. Can such girls bear the severe frost of Siberia? Hardly ever..." I felt sorry that I didn't manage to see that girl in a nice summer frock... Her summer frock must be nice! Nice! And if the girl who was with Kolya in the cinema is his sister, her summer frock must be marvelous! I am sure of that!"

"Well, it’s time we sat down at the table. Please, sit down and help yourselves," said Kolya’s mother calmly. Kolya began carefully filling the glasses with champagne. There were only three of us at the table but Kolya’s mother prepared the table for four persons. There were four glasses full of champagne.

"It’s our Zinya’s birthday today," said Kolya’s mother. We drank champagne in silence.

"Why don’t we wait for Kolya’s sister? Her glass is full of champagne" I thought puzzled. I was in embarrassment. Kolya looked at me and his mother as if he realized my bewilderment.

He stood up and invited me to his sister’s room. I followed him. In the room there was a nice summer frock hanging in the corner of the room covered with white curtain lace. On the dress there was a picture of a young girl hanging on the lace.

"During the blockade. " I heard Kolya’s sad voice.

I stood speechless. I lost my tongue. I couldn’t move my legs. A minute later I went out of the room and returned with the bunch of flowers and put it together with the bottle of perfume next to the summer frock. I stared at the label of the bottle of perfume. The word "SPRING" was written on it.

"Spring. Youth. And a young girl in a nice summer frock, in high heeled shoes. Could she bear the severe climate of Siberia? Yes, she could. Youth can bear everything! But for the war, she would enjoy life; wear high heeled shoes and a nice summer frock."

The flowers printed on the dress began to move and soon they turned into a flower-covered field. My tears were rolling down my cheeks.

I turned my face aside to conceal my tears.

Translated by Mikhail Fomin