My Granddaughter
It wasnt that the girl annoyed herno, but there was something about her that felt…off.
She was scruffy, her hair hastily braided, her school uniform wrinkled, the collar and cuffs haphazardly sewn. The girl looked neglected, as if she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Raisa Dmitrievna frowned. Why had she thought of that untidy child just now? She set aside her beloved éclairwhere was Gosha? Hed promised to come early. Today was the anniversary of Alexander Petrovichs passing…
A knock at the door startled her.
«Whos there? Gosha, is that you? Did you forget your keys?»
«Raisa Dmitrievna, you left your keys on the chair.»
«What? What keys?»
She opened the door and saw…that same girl. Why was she here?
«Sedova? What keys? How did you know where I live? Have you been following me?»
The girl shook her head. Her worn-out hat, shabby coat with a stain on the pocket, and tattered shoes made her look even more pitiful. Only then did Raisa Dmitrievna notice her striking blue eyes, framed by thick black lashes.
Shed recently started teaching Russian literature at the local school after retiring from the technical college. The quiet life hadnt suited her. This strange girlwhat was her name? Alice? Yes, Alice Sedovakept to herself, never mixing with the other children.
«You left your keys on the chair. I called after you, but you didnt hear.»
«What keys? Ohthank you. I must be getting old, I suppose.» She forced a laugh.
«Youre not old,» Alice said earnestly. «You were just in a hurry.»
«Thank you…Alice.»
«Youre welcome. Goodbye, Raisa Dmitrievna.»
«Goodbye…»
Lost in thought, Raisa Dmitrievna closed the door, then hesitated. She opened it again and heard soft footstepsAlice descending the stairs.
«Alice,» she called, looking down at the girl, who gazed up at her. «How did you know where I live?»
«I live next door. I see you walking to work sometimes. Theres a stray dog near the cornerRex, I call himand if I walk close to you, he doesnt growl at me. I feed the cats in the basement, and the smell bothers him. Im not scared, though. As for your address…I asked the old ladies on the bench. I told them you taught at my school.»
A strange girl indeed, Raisa Dmitrievna thought. Was she stalking her?
«Would you like some tea?» she asked impulsively.
Alice nodded eagerlyill-mannered, really. A polite child would have refused.
As Raisa Dmitrievna poured the tea, an idea struck her. «Are you…hungry?»
Alice shook her head, but her eyes betrayed her. Why was she bothering with this child?
«You know what? Lets eat together. I hate eating alone, and Goshamy sonis running late.»
She began pulling food from the fridge, her hands unsteady. Alice ate neatly but hungrily.
«Thank you,» Alice murmured, eyeing the leftovers. «I should go. Your cooking is really good.»
The praise stungthis child was so starved shed compliment *her* cooking?
She packed the remaining food into a container and handed it to Alice.
«You dont have to thank me.» But Alice took it anyway.
After she left, Raisa Dmitrievna scolded herself. This was unprofessional. What if the girl hugged her in front of everyone tomorrow? Or thanked her loudly for the food?
Gosha arrived the next morning, sheepish.
«What day was yesterday?» she demanded.
«Thursday, Mum. Todays Friday.»
«Dont be smart, George.»
«Oho, now its serious. Im a grown man, Mumthirty years old.»
«Yesterday was your fathers anniversary. He didnt deserve to be forgotten.»
«Mum…he wouldnt care if we remembered him yesterday or today. Lets do it today. Im going to bedits my day off.»
«So youre sleep-deprived? What were you doing all night?»
«Do you really want to know?»
In a foul mood, Raisa Dmitrievna went to work.
She waited all day for Alice to approach her, but the girl simply walked past with a polite «Good morning.»
The audacity.
She lingered after work, hoping to run into Alice, but the girl was nowhere to be seen.
Three days later, as she walked home, a scream pierced the air.
Alice.
She rushed toward the sound and saw a large stray dog tearing at the sleeve of Alices worn coat, trying to snatch something from her.
«Get away!» Raisa Dmitrievna shooed the dog off. «Alice, are you hurt?»
The girls frightened eyes made her heart clench.
«He…he wanted to tear the kitten apart,» Alice sobbed.
«Its all right now. Youre safe. Lets get you home.»
«I cant.»
«Most girls your age…»
Raisa Dmitrievna trailed off. Strange child.
«Ill hide him under the stairs if they dont chase him away again.»
«Who?»
«Them.»
At school, she discreetly asked about Alices family. Most shrugged; only the elderly maths teacher, trembling with age, knew anything.
«Not a stable household. The mother and stepfather drink. Or maybe its the grandmother…»
«But how was the child admitted?»
«No idea.»
Later, she followed Alice home. The girl stopped near her building, sat on a bench, and pulled out a textbook. Studying outside?
That evening, she argued with George again. Hed divorced two years agono children, just restless wandering. Natasha had been a good match, but hed claimed she was «boring.» Now hed found someone more «interesting.»
Needing air, Raisa Dmitrievna stepped outside.
«Alicia! Wheres that wretched girl?» A slurred voice echoed from the building.
An unkempt womanmiddle-aged, with eyes eerily like Alicesstood by the entrance.
«Excuse me…»
«What dyou want?»
«Are you Alice Sedovas mother?»
«Piss off.»
«Im her teacher. Where is she?»
«Home. Asleep.» The woman turned away.
«Alice!» Raisa Dmitrievna called into the dark. «Come out, dont be afraid.»
The girl emerged from the shadows.
«Come home with me.»
«Shell punish me.»
«She wont dare.»
«If they take her custody away, Ill go into care.»
«Who is she to you?»
«My grandmother.»
«Wheres your mother?»
«Gone.»
«Gone where?»
«Four years now.»
«Did she…drink too?»
«No. We were happy. But she got sick. I have no one else. They sent me to live with hermy grandmother and her husband. They get money for me.»
«Right. Youre coming with me. Well sort this out.»
George was home when they arrived, packing for a trip. He stared at Alice.
«Whos this?»
«Alice.»
The girl studied him with wide eyes.
«You staying the night?» he asked.
«I…dont know.»
The next morning, Raisa Dmitrievna let Alice sleep in, then fed her breakfast.
«Lets go.»
«Where? To the childrens home?»
«To the shops.»
George, bleary-eyed, watched them leave.
«Whered you find her?»
«My student.»
«Oh.»
At the shops, Raisa Dmitrievna picked out new clothes. Dressed in fresh attire, Alice looked like a different child.
«What a lovely granddaughter,» the shop assistant remarked. «She looks just like you.»
Raisa Dmitrievna smiled, warmth flooding her chest.
«Throw those old things away.»
«No!» Alice clutched her ragged coat. «Theyll sell them for drinkand beat me for losing them.»
«What do we do, then?»
«I dont know.»
«Lets…go for cake?»
«With you?»
«Yes. Unless youd rather not?»
«Can you bake?»
«Me? Well, I…»
«Come on. Ill teach you. Mum and I used to bake before she got sick.»
They laughed as they baked, drank tea, andfor the first time in yearsRaisa Dmitrievna felt happy. Then George returned.
God help her, she resented his early arrival.
«I should go,» Alice said.
«Ill walk you.»
«Whats your name?» George asked, studying the girl.
«Alice. I told you, George,» Raisa Dmitrievna snapped.
«Did *she* send you?»
Alice shook her head.
«George? Whats going on? Do you know each other?»
«Remember Diana Sedova? Shes Alices mother.»
«No.»
«Dianashe lived two doors down. We were…young. I loved her. Then I met Natasha, and you liked her, so…»
«And Alice?»
«She never told me about the baby. By the time I found out…»
«When *did* you find out?»
«When I saw her. She looks just like *you*.»
He sighed. «I didnt believe Diana. I thought she was lying. But Id never abandon a child.»
«You did.»
«Because I didnt *know*.» He turned to Alice. «You recognised me?»
«Yes. I saw your photo when I brought the keys.»
«I wont let her go back there. Do you hear me? Shes *mine*.» He held out his arms. «Alice, come here.»
DNA tests confirmed it. Georges girlfriend, Elena, stood by him in court.
Raisa Dmitrievna clung to Alices hand, terrified shed be taken away.
«Dad, can I live with Grandma?» Alice asked later.
«What if she says no?»
«She wont. She gets lonely.»
«And me? I dont get lonely?»
«You have Elena.»
Now, walking hand in hand with her granddaughter, Raisa Dmitrievna didnt care who judged her. Shed found happiness.
George grew close to Alice, though he and Elena eventually parted ways.
«Was it because of me?» Alice asked.
«No. Id never trade you for anyone. I just wish Grandpa couldve met you.»
At a parents’ evening, George met Alices form teacher. Now Alice goes to school with both her grandmother *and* her stepmother.
«Isnt it weird having your grandma and mum as teachers?» her friends ask.
«Nah. Its cool,» Alice laughs.
George often wonders how he lived so long without her. «Diana, forgive me. Ill never abandon our girl.»
Sometimes Alice visits her other grandmothercleans, cooks, scolds her to stop drinking.
The old woman weeps, kissing Alices hands.
«My granddaughter, my own flesh and blood,» she cries, swearing shell quit…one day.
