Could it be that this vicious, beastlike woman his mother is truly evil? Her words, You are my youthful mistake, rang in his ears.
All Alexei knew about himself was that he had been discovered, screaming from hunger and terror, on the doorstep of an infants home. The boys mother must have had a shred of conscience; she wrapped the crying child in a warm blanket, added a goathair scarf, and placed the wailing bundle in a cardboard box, likely to keep him from freezing.
No record existed of the childs name at birth, his origins, or his parents. Only a sizable silver pendant shaped like the letter A clutched in the infants fist remaineda keepsake from his mother.
The pendant was not a massproduced trinket but a unique piece stamped by its jeweler. Investigators tried to use this clue to locate the reckless motherbird and hold her accountable, but the trail went cold. The jeweler who crafted the charm had died in extreme old age, and no entry about the piece appeared in his ledgers.
Thus the child was entered in the orphanage as Alexei Unknown, becoming yet another stateraised child.
His entire childhood unfolded within the orphanage, fully statefunded. He desperately lacked parental love and dreamed only of one day finding a mother and a father.
Something terrible must have happened for my mother to treat me this way. Shell surely come back and take me away, he thought, as did all his fellow orphans.
When he left the institution for the big life, his caretaker placed the pendant around his neck and recounted its backstory.
So my mother wanted me to be found later? the boy asked.
Perhaps! Or maybe you simply yanked the pendant off her neck by accidentlittle kids love to grab things. After all, the charm was held in your fist without a chain, the caretaker guessed.
The state granted Alexei a modest flatsmall but his own. He enrolled in a technical college, graduated, and found work at an auto repair shop.
He met Alvina by chance: they literally collided on the street. First, a tumble sent the fashion magazines she clutched scattering, then Alexei rushed to apologize and help gather the mess, and their foreheads brushed.
The impact caused both of them to shed tears that glittered like sparks. They stood amid the crowd, strangers parting around them, smiling through their tears. In that moment Alexei realized he was falling in love forever.
I must make amends for my fault! May I invite you to coffee? he offered.
Alvina, surprisingly, accepted without hesitation. He seemed endearingly clumsy, almost sisterlike.
You know, Alexei, I feel like Ive known you my whole life! she said after just five minutes.
No way! I feel the same! he replied.
They began dating, their affection so intense that they never missed a call or message. They sensed each others moods. Whenever Alexei was hurt at work, Alvina would immediately call to check on him.
You are me, and I am you. I feel youre my destiny, Alexei told her once, Its a shame I cant introduce you to my parents as my fiancéeI have no family.
But you have me, and Im sure my parents will like you, she replied.
Later, Alvinas mother, Lidia Vasilyevna, burst into the room, clutching her heart.
So youre my orphanage boy? Are you out of your mind? Theyre all violent, unsocialized! she shouted, flinging herself into a leather chair.
Mother, Alexei is a kind, cheerful young man! Not everyone can be painted with the same brush. Why are you like this? Alvina pleaded.
Exactly, dear! Before judging anyone, you must see and talk to them. Bring him over, and well find out what sort of air your orphaned Alexei breathes. Then well decide whether to clutch our hearts or not, intervened his father, Ivan Romanovich, a personnel officer.
Vanya! You dont understand! We raised our daughter to marry someone without lineage, without clan! What if his parents are immoral? the mother wailed.
Then well settle it when we meet him, Ivan replied tersely.
Lidia fell silent, withdrew to her room, and slammed the door loudly.
Ivan gave Alvina a mischievous wink.
Dont worry, dear, well get through this!
Thanks, Dad! she beamed, kissing him on the cheek. So Im inviting Alexei over on Saturday, right?
Of course! I must know who my only daughter is falling for.
On the appointed day, a welldressed Alexei arrived at Alvinas apartment, two bouquets in handone for her, one for the future motherinlawplus a cake.
Alvina, radiant, led him to the kitchen.
Mom, Dad, meet my Alexei! she announced.
Ivan shook Alexeis hand, Lidia accepted the flowers and suddenly turned pallid, as if speech had left her.
Regaining her composure, she invited everyone to the table.
Sorry, I just got a bit flustered, she explained.
During dinner she asked, Alexei, that pendant of yours looks uniquenot a massproduced item.
Its the only memory of my mother. When they found me on the orphanage doorstep, I held it tightly in my fist.
Lidia said nothing for the rest of the evening, pushing around a plate of peas without eating. Ivan, meanwhile, found a common ground with his prospective soninlaw: football, skiing, fishing.
What a wonderful young man! he said as Alexei left.
What a wonderful one? No upbringing, no manners, rude Lidia shouted suddenly, hysterically.
Lida, whats wrong? Have you gone mad? What did he do to you? Ivan asked, bewildered.
Lidia, unyielding, turned to her daughter and declared, You must break it off with himimmediately!
She retreated to her room, refusing to explain further.
What to do? What to do? panic raced through her mind. How could these two meet under this vast sky on this vast earth? She lifted tearfilled eyes to an old photograph hidden behind the glass doors of a bookshelf.
In the blackandwhite picture a younger version of herself stared back, smugly, wearing on a delicate necklace the same pendant she had seen on Alexei that day.
So I didnt lose it then! That little scoundrel must have snatched it! she thought.
She slipped the photo into her pocket. I cant let Ivan and Alvina see it now! I must devise a plan.
She stayed awake all night. The only sensible idea she could conjure was to ask Alexei to leave town forever.
Darling, forgive me; I acted wrongly yesterday. Id like to apologize to Alexei too. Can you give me his phone number? she whispered to Alvina, who, unsuspecting, gladly wrote down her boyfriends number and left home in a good mood.
Alone, Lidia dialed Alexei.
Alexei, hello! Could you come over in about an hour? she asked.
Sure, Ill be there, he replied.
An hour later he stood on Alvinas doorstep like a startled hare. Lidia, opening the door, looked ill and tearstained.
We need to talk, she said briefly and led him to the bedroom.
Alexei, you must break up with Alvina. This is my secret. Swear now that neither my daughter nor my husband will ever learn of this, she demanded.
Alright, I swear! Alexei, stunned, sat on the sofa, his legs trembling with a bad premonition.
Alexei, Alvinashes your sister! Lidia declared, placing before him a photo of herself wearing the pendant.
Mother? Alexei asked, eyes welling. And my father?
Lidia shook her head. No, Ivan Romanovich isnt your father. I was with Vanya; then he entered a military school. I was young and reckless, and things got tangled with your father When I realized I was pregnant, he left me. I told Vanya nothing. As my belly grew, I moved to another city, to my grandmother. I claimed the baby was stillborn and dumped you at the orphanage, then returned home. A few months later Ivan came, we married.
And me, mother? Alexei sobbed.
Youre just a youthful mistake, understand? You have no right to ruin what Ive painstakingly built! You arrived uninvited, and now you show up when no one expected you! Leave! Hide! Let my family be at peace!
Alexei stood, speechless.
Could this cruel, beastlike woman truly be his mother? the thought echoed.
Her words, You are my youthful mistake, rang in his ears.
With a heavy sigh, Alexei rose.
Goodbye, Lidia Vasilyevna! Ill keep your secret forever, he said.
Ill tell everything to my father! a voice called.
Startled, Alexei and Lidia froze as Alvina appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes blazing with anger.
I always thought you were a good person, motherwhat a disgrace! A true disgrace! she shouted.
Forgive me, sister! Alexei whispered, lowering his gaze to hide his tears. He fled, feeling as if he would burst like a popped balloon, wanting to dissolve into nothing.
A few days later Alexei went to the military enlistment office and signed up for a hotzone unit.
Ivan and Alvina came to see him off. Ivan gave Alexei a firm, brotherly hug.
Hold on, son! Know that we, with Alina, are your family. Well be waiting for you, so come back!
Alvina embraced her brother and whispered, Come back, brother, we love you.
Warmth filled Alexeis heart. Though motherless, he now had a father and a sister. He regretted loving Alvina more than his sister.
Lidia was left alone. Ivan divorced her, saying he couldnt tolerate such a horrific act.
She continued to blame Alexei for everything, accusing him of always appearing at the wrong time.
End
Could this fierce, trapped-animal of a woman really be his mother? Her words echoed in his ears: ‘You were my youthful mistake.’
