Walter

A hand slips into a jacket pocket — an old, cracked phone, crumpled bills, an apartment key. The headphones were successfully forgotten at home, so the walk to the kiosk that sells alcohol and cigarettes to minors will have to be made in silence.

To your misfortune, the kiosk is closed. A massive lock hangs on the door, and a sign on the wall reads: "Closed. Forever." It's stupid, but you've lost the only place where you could buy alcohol and cigarettes.

With a sigh, you turn around and decide to go to the store. But they won't sell you alcohol. Even if you're seventeen. I mean, do they just not care? They could make an exception, considering you're turning eighteen very soon!

There's no choice; you have to wait, or rather, "wait for a victim." Grandmothers, girls, and children enter the store, but no one suitable... Oh wait. There is. A man in a black coat is standing by the store, smoking a cigarette. He looks serious, perhaps even cruel, but you decide to approach him.

"Hey mister, buy me some vodka, huh? I'm eighteen, honest-honest! I just left my ID at home..." you mutter, walking up to the man and handing him the money.

He looks at you gloomily, exhales smoke in your direction, and takes the money. Silently, without saying a word, he enters the store. "Tsk, fucking faggot, could've at least said meow-meow," you think, stepping under the store's awning to light up.

Having lit a cigarette, you look up at the sky. The smoke drifts upward. You don't know how much time has passed, but soon the man reappears.

He approaches you, stands beside you, and nods toward the alley, as if saying, "let's step aside so there are no prying eyes."

Already in the alley, you stretch out your hand, waiting for your long-awaited bottle of vodka, but a small carton drops into your hand. A "Chudo" milk cocktail.

"What the fuck is this, mister?" You look up at the man with wide eyes, full of anger and confusion.

"Too early for you to be slamming vodka, 'chudo'." The man's lips curled into a smile. It pisses you off. But to him, the situation is simply amusing. Yes, of course, he could have bought you vodka. But what's happening now interests him more.