New Year’s Eve
Автор: admin, 11 Ноя 2012
It was the eve of the new 1953. The boys talked about how they cut down the fir tree and install in the barracks, and the girls will make glued paper-toys for decoration of the Christmas tree. They, usually, installed a tree in the barrack, where the girls lived. There in the morning, on the 1 of January they celebrated the New Year. This festival was organized by children themselves. They avoid to attend at the school Christmas tree, and the older guys just ignored it, especially when a riot took place, and the populace was divided into two warring camps: the children “of enemies of the people” and their jailers. At the school Christmas tree, Martynov lined them in the usual row and told a boring speech, so the teachers could force only small kids to come there.
There in the morning, on the 1 of January they celebrated the New Year. This festival was organized by children themselves. They avoid to attend at the school Christmas tree, and the older guys just ignored it, especially when a riot took place, and the populace was divided into two warring camps: the children “of enemies of the people” and their jailers. At the school Christmas tree, Martynov lined them in the usual row and told a boring speech, so the teachers could force only small kids to come there.
Their own childish tree was a real feast. There were no adults. Children felt free alone and relaxed. Festive food was scarce. But it was gathered, beforehand, since the summer. It was basically biscuits, caramel, gingerbread, honeycakes, candies, crackers sprinkled with sugar, sometimes pieces of halva, apples. They managed to collect Christmas gifts and saved its thanks to kids who were allowed to receive post parcels from their relatives for good behavior.
As the "Union of self- defense" decided, some of these parcels of non-perishable food have to be kept postponed until the New Year. Then the "Union of self-defense," picked out the “children with parcels” and supervised over them, guarded and checked in order that there would have been no violations and penalties imposed on them, and they would not be deprived of parcels from relatives. These children were protected, and this rule is strictly observed. For every kid in the New Year eve something delicious were hidden in a large homemade paper firecracker. Small kids were very happy and jumping around the trees and forgot for a moment all their grudges and sufferings.
It was the night before the New Year after midnight when Vladimir Obolensky felt a strong cutting pain in the lower abdomen. He tried to endure, hoping the pain subsides, but it is becoming more acute and unbearable. He began to shout, turned pale, there was a shortness of breath. The guys woke up, lights were turned on. In the room slept twelve people.
Red-haired Roma, devoted friend of Volodya, dressed quickly and ran to the midwife - Aunt Dunya. She lived in the orphanage in a small house. Very soon, Roma came back with the anxious old lady. The old woman touched his belly and even more worried. She immediately sent Roma for Yemelyan Ivanovich and asked him to harness his horse to the sleigh as soon as possible and bring the boy to the district hospital. In the meantime, she gave Volodya some powders and sat side by side, holding his hand and comforting him.
Half an hour later a young nimble mare Norka were harnessed to the sleigh, and Volodya was wrapped in a sheepskin coat and carried on the sledge. "My dear fellow, Emelyan Ivanovich - wailed midwife - for God's sake, drive quickly, a little boy seems to have peritonitis,” - And whispered in his ear, so no one could hear: "He could die on the road. Drive a horse better. All my hope on you. God bless you "- and she crossed Volodya.
It was a bright moonlit frosty night. It was nearly twenty degrees. The snow crunched under the runners. "Silence amazing," - thought Volodya. The moon looked at them from the sky and soothed the soul. From Norka steaming. The road was slippery and the horse was running easily and quickly. The district hospital was not close - thirty miles away. Emelyan Ivanovic began to tell something, Volodya listened and listened and dozed off.
The pain is almost gone. Stomach was like a dumb, and Volodya did not feel it on the frosty air. He did not remember how long he was in a sleepy daze, and when he opened his eyes again, he saw above him the heavens and the silver disc of the moon. Now they were driving along the field, and the horse walked slowly and with difficulty. The snow was soft, deep snow piled up.
Somewhere in the distance a dog barked. They saw along the road the small village which stood on the hill - only eight houses. Black leaning walls of houses, haystacks covered with planks and tar-papers. Sleepy dogs barked reluctantly, and they've already passed the village.
Again black silent forest stretched along the road. Trees were covered with snow and seemed asleep forever. They drove for a long time. The horse was tired and went to the small trot step. The road seemed endless to Volodya. No sounds across. And Norka blazes a trail in the loose snow, which reached almost to her belly.
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