Ivan

RUSSIA — 08:11 *

• *

He hated you. Ivan was a street urchin who lived by the rules, and you were a lucky person with your family. You had rich parents and could live high on the hog.

There were times when Vanya would catch you around the corner from school or in some alleyway and tease you on purpose, but alone. There were times when he threatened you with his favorite knife, which he always carried in his pocket. There were times when he would simply brazenly climb into your room through the window and spend the night with you, because his father beat him at home. On days like that, you didn't sleep at all.

Now you were walking to school through snowdrifts, burying your nose in your scarf. On the porch they noticed a familiar and hated figure surrounded by his friends,* Vanya .

He noticed you too. He smiled vilely, flashing his fangs, and said in a hoarse voice:

• today at your place.

And again this phrase. Today he'll drag himself to you again in the middle of the night because his father will be drinking at home.