My Granddaughter
It wasnt that the girl irritated herno, but she was off-putting somehow.
Grubby, with messy plaits, a wrinkled school uniform, and a collar and cuffs haphazardly stitched back on. The girl was unkempt, with a withdrawn look.
Raisa Dmitrievna winced. Why had she even remembered that scruffy child? She set aside her beloved éclairwhere was Goshka? Hed promised to come early todayit was the anniversary of Alexander Petrovichs passing
She thought she heard a knock at the door.
«Whos there? Goshka, is that you? Did you forget your keys?»
«Raisa Dmitrievna, you left your keys on the chair.»
«What? What keys?»
Raisa Dmitrievna opened the door and saw that same girl. What on earth?
«Sedova? What keys? How did you know where I live? Are you following me?»
The girl shook her head. She wore a worn-out hat, a shabby coat with a stain on the pocket, old gaiters sagging at the knees, and nearly crumbling shoes.
Only now did Raisa Dmitrievna notice the girls eyesstrikingly blue, framed by thick black lashes.
Shed recently started teaching at this school, Russian language and literature. After retiring from the technical college, shed lasted a year at home before returning to work. Strange girl, this oneshe didnt mix with the others. What was her name? Alice? Alice Sedova, that was it.
«Raisa Dmitrievna, you left your keys on the chair. I called out, but you didnt hear.»
«What keys? Ohthank you. Goodness, I must be getting old,» she said, forcing a laugh.
«Youre not old,» the girl replied earnestly. «You mustve been in a hurry.»
«Thank you Alice.»
«Youre welcome. Goodbye, Raisa Dmitrievna.»
«Goodbye»
Thoughtfully, Raisa Dmitrievna closed the doorthen hesitated. She opened it again and heard soft footsteps. The girl was slowly descending the stairs.
«Alice,» Raisa Dmitrievna called, looking down as the girl glanced up. «How did you know where I live?»
«I live next door. I see you going to and from work. Sometimes I walk behind youtheres a dog on the corner. If I stay close to you, he doesnt growl at me. He smells the cats on meI feed strays in the basement. I call him Rex. Hes homeless.»
«And the address I asked the old ladies on the bench where you lived. Told them you worked at my school. We take the same bus sometimes»
What a strange girl, Raisa Dmitrievna thought. Is she spying on me?
«Would you like some tea?» she asked suddenly, and the girl agreed without hesitation.
Rude, reallyshe ought to have declined.
Raisa Dmitrievna poured the tea.
«Are you hungry?»
The girl shook her head, but Raisa Dmitrievna knew better. Why am I bothering with her?
«You know what? Lets eat together. I hate dining alone, and Goshkamy sonis running late.»
She grew flustered, pulling food from the fridge, feeding the girl. Alice ate neatly but ravenously.
«Thank you,» she said, eyeing the leftover cutlets. «I should go. You cook very well.»
Good griefthe childs so hungry shes complimenting my cooking.
She packed the cutlets, added pasta, and handed Alice a jar of sweets.
«Dont mention it.» But the girl took it anyway.
Later, Raisa scolded herselfthis wasnt professional. Tomorrow, the girl might hug her in front of everyone or blurt thanks for the food.
Goshka arrived the next morning, sheepish.
«What day was yesterday?» she asked sternly.
«Thursday, Mum. Todays Friday.»
«Dont play dumb.»
«Oh, this is serious Im thirty, Mum.»
«Yesterday was your fathers memorial. He didnt deserve this.»
«Mum he wouldnt care if we marked it yesterday or today. Lets do it now. Im off to bedits my day off.»
«Meaning youre sleep-deprived? What were you doing all night?»
«You really want to know?»
In a foul mood, Raisa went to work.
She waited waited for the girl to acknowledge her, but Alice passed by with only a brief greeting.
Cheeky thing.
All day, Raisa tried cornering herwas the girl avoiding her?
She walked home slowly, hoping to spot her. Nothing.
Three days later, nearing her stop, Raisa heard a scream.
Alice.
A huge mutt had seized the girls sleeve, tearing at it, snapping for something in her arms.
«Get away!» Raisa shooed the dog. «Alice, are you hurt?»
The girls frightened eyes made her chest ache.
«He he tried to kill the kitten!» Alice sobbed.
«Its over now. Youre safe. Take it home?»
«No.»
«Most children your age»
Raisa stopped. Strange girl.
«I cant. They wont let me. Ill hide him under the stairs if they dont chase him out again.»
«Who?»
«Them.»
At school, Raisa inquired about Alice. Only the elderly maths teacher, trembling Miss Pelageya Kondratyevna, knew anything.
«Troubled family. Mother and stepfather drink, or maybe its the grandmother»
«How was she even enrolled?»
The teacher shrugged.
Later, Raisa followed Alice home. The girl, still in her patched coat, paused at a bench outside her building, pulling out a textbook. Studying outdoors?
At home, Raisa argued with Goshka again. Hed divorced Natasha two years agono children. Now he was drifting. Natasha had been lovelywhy couldnt he make it work?
«Boring,» hed said. Now, no doubt, hed found someone «exciting.»
Needing air, Raisa stepped outside.
«Alice! Wheres that wretched girl?» A slurred voicean unkempt woman, middle-aged but worn, stood by the entrance.
Eyes just like Alices. Mother or grandmother?
«Excuse me»
«What?»
«Are you Alice Sedovas family?»
«Whats it to you? Move along.»
«Im her teacher. Where is she?»
«Home, asleep.» The woman turned away.
«Alice! Its mecome out.»
The girl emerged from the shadows.
«Come home with me.»
«Shell punish me later.»
«She wont dare.»
«If they take her custody away, Ill go to care.»
«Who is she?»
«My grandmother.»
«Wheres your mother?»
«Gone.»
«Left?»
«Four years now.»
«Did she drink?»
«No. We were happy. But she got sick. They gave me to herGrandma and her husband. They get money for me.»
«I see. Come with me. Well sort this.»
«I cant. Theyll take me away.»
«I said well sort it.»
Goshka was home, packing for somewhere. He stared at Alice.
«Whos this?»
«Alice.»
The girl gaped at him.
«You staying the night?» he asked.
«Dunno.»
In the morning, Raisa let the girl sleep in, then fed her breakfast.
«Lets go.»
«Where? To care?»
«The shops.»
Goshka, whod stayed over, studied Alice.
«Whered you find her?»
«My pupil.»
«Oh.»
At the store, Raisa picked clothes she liked. In fresh outfits, the girl glowed.
«What a lovely granddaughter,» the shop assistant said. «She looks just like you.»
Raisa smiledwarmth spread through her.
«Well bin these rags.»
«No!» Alice clutched her old clothes. «Theyll drink and hit me. I shouldnt have come.»
«What do we do?»
«Dunno.»
«Lets get cake?»
«With you?»
«Yesunless youd rather not?»
«Can you bake?»
«Honestly? Not well.»
«Come on. Ill teach you. Mum and I used to bake before she got sick.»
They laughed, baked, drank teauntil Goshka returned, souring the mood.
«I should go,» Alice said.
«Ill walk you.»
«Whats your name?» Goshka asked.
«Alice. I told you,» Raisa snapped.
«Did she send you?»
Alice shook her head.
«Goshka? Whats going on?»
«Mum this is my daughter. Alice.»
«What? Explain this!»
An age-old story.
«Mum, remember Diana Sedova? Alices mother.»
«No.»
«Dianatwo years younger. Lived nearby. Her mum drank. We were involved. I loved her, in a childish way.»
«And Alice?»
«She didnt tell me. I was with Natashayou liked her. Same social circle»
«When did you find out?»
«When I saw her. Shes your double.»
«I didnt believe Diana. Sent her away. But Id never abandon my child, Mum.»
«You did.»
«Because I didnt believe her. Alicedo you know me?»
«Yes. I have your photo. When I brought your keys, I saw the portrait and knew»
«I wont let her go back. Shes staying. Alice, come here. Shes my granddaughter.»
Tests confirmed it. Goshkas girlfriend, Elena, supported him in court.
Raisa held Alices hand, terrified shed be taken.
***
«Dad, can I live with Grandma?»
«What if she says no?»
«She wont. Shes lonely.»
«And me? Im not lonely?»
«Youve got Elena»
Hand in hand, Raisa and Alice walked. She didnt care what anyone saidshed found her happiness.
Goshka grew close to Alice. Things with Elena fizzled out.
«Dad its not because of me?»
«Of course not. Id never trade you. Wish Grandpa could see you.»
At a parent-teacher evening, Goshka met Alices teacher. Now, Alice goes to school with both grandmother and mother.
«Isnt it hard, having your mum and gran as teachers?» friends ask.
«Nah. Its brilliant,» Alice laughs.
«How did I live without her?» Goshka wonders. «Diana, forgive me. Ill never leave our girl.»
Sometimes Alice visits her other grandmothercleans, cooks, scolds her to stop drinking.
The woman weeps, kissing the girls hands.
«My granddaughter, my blood,» she cries, promising to quit.
