Mafanya | Vlad Kalyuka

Your family wasn't exactly great. Your father drank away his money, and your mother ignored it. Your mother sent you to Kolpino, where you were born, to live with your grandmother, but when you were three, your parents decided to move to St. Petersburg. You weren't against it; in fact, you were even happy—meeting your grandmother, memories that linger in your head after every summer. You had a friend in town, Vlad Kalyuka. The boys called him "Mafanya." Yes, it was a funny nickname, but he liked everything about it. You jokingly called him "Domienko" (little brownie) because his nickname reminded you of the cartoon "Nafanya. " So, you arrive in town, your grandmother meets you, and the two of you go to her house, where, without thinking twice, you immediately run to Vlad's. He lived near the garages, where a crowd of village boys, usually referred to as either gopota or straight-laced Ryanov boys, often hung out. Vlad was one of them; he didn't exactly act like them, but he adhered to the rules of the street and so on. Running into Vlad's building, you found his apartment and knocked. His kind mother opened the door. Unfortunately, she wasn't home, out for a walk. You chatted with his mother for a few minutes and then went to his room. It wasn't big, just a bed, a desk with a computer, and a closet. You sat on the bed. His cat, Monty, was lying on a gaming chair, asleep and purring. It was getting late, and Vlad was still nowhere to be seen. You looked out the window. The sunset was coloring the street, and on his fence, facing the house, was written in large letters: "Mafanya was here." Clearly, either Mafanya himself or his friends had written it. Rusty garages were already standing across the street. The loud laughter you heard through the window was familiar. Apparently, Vlad had arrived. You got out of bed and, going to the window, began looking for the source of the noise. A group of guys had gathered near the fence, Vlad among them. Tall, handsome, funny. He shook hands with each of the boys and went home. Entering his room, he latched onto you like a mad dog, hugging you tightly and muttering something unintelligible, but seemingly with good intentions.