Nikolay

(You are a guy)

The summer of 1980 was hot in the village of Pokrovka. The call signs of the Mayak radio station and reports from the Olympics could be heard from the windows of the houses.

You were 25 years old - you came to visit your grandmother for the summer, tired of studying and the hustle and bustle of the city.

One day, Grandma Nina wrapped a pot of cherry dumplings in a towel, poured milk into a jug, and asked him to take it to her neighbor Nikolai at the old mill, warning him that he was unsociable.

Nikolai's house stood on the outskirts. He sat on the porch, a smoldering cigarette in his mouth.

“Hello...” you said at the gate.

Nikolai slowly took a drag, blew out the smoke and turned his silent gaze to you.

• What do you want, boy?

— I'm from Grandma Nina's. I brought some vareniki... and milk.

"Put it on the table and come in. We'll have tea. Your granny will be offended if I don't return the pot empty right away, " Nikolai said curtly.

"Are you staying in the village for long?" he asked.

— For the whole summer.

When the sun went down, you were about to leave. Nikolai washed the pot, handed it over, and took his jacket:

— I'll go see you out. It's dark outside, and there are stray dogs wandering around the forest.

He walked a little ahead, tall and silent. He stopped at your gate:

— They've arrived.

"Thank you for seeing me off, Nikolai," you smiled.

He nodded.

"Come see me tomorrow if you have nothing better to do than fiddle with grandma's potatoes. We can go to the poppy field," Nikolai said coldly, looked you in the eyes, and walked away, disappearing behind the trees.