Who ran into the cafeteria again and stole a loaf of bread?» Lidia Fedorovna scolded as she opened the doors to the children’s room, a strict caretaker feared by all the children. She couldn’t stand when something happened behind her back and she found out about it later. Today, Sasha was just unlucky. The boy had stolen the bread not just for himself but had shared it with other children. However, none of them wanted to be on the wrong side of Lidia Fedorovna’s perpetually bad mood. Sasha had to take the blame for all the boys and was put in the corner for the entire day.
The next day, the caretaker was replaced by the calmer and kinder Maria Igorevna. With her, Sasha didn’t feel humiliated or insulted. She didn’t even scold them if the children took unallocated food from the cafeteria. She knew that every child needed to grow and that eating was essential for life. Moreover, time with Maria Igorevna was interesting. She knew how to keep the orphans engaged and entertained.
When the mean caretaker was on duty, Sasha always looked for a chance to escape from the orphanage. This time, the eleven-year-old boy used his secret escape route, known only to himself. Even the guard, Uncle Vadim, was unaware of it. By moving a couple of boards, Sasha quietly climbed through the fence and escaped to freedom.
It was late autumn outside. The leaves had long fallen, and the snow had not yet started. Nature seemed gloomy. Birds hid away in the warmth. A little boy walked through the park in an unbuttoned jacket. Sasha enjoyed this unusual solitude, imagining himself as an adult. He had long wanted to grow up and leave the walls of the orphanage, where he had to endure strict rules. As he walked between the trees, he enjoyed the sound of rustling leaves and listened to the cawing of crows flying overhead. The sun was covered by grim clouds. Passersby occasionally walked along the paved paths, their gaze downcast. Sasha had time to observe each one. «They probably have their own homes and children… Why would they need me?» he thought sorrowfully to himself. Suddenly, a stranger extended a small package to him.
«Here, this is for you,» said the man. «For me? What is it?» «Cookies. I see you often wander here alone. Where is your family?» asked the stranger. «I… I…» Sasha decided not to reveal where he was from, so he ran in the opposite direction of the park, holding the treat in his hands.
The boy ran a few more meters and noticed an elderly man sitting on a bench, chin resting on the palms of both hands, deep in thought.
«Hello!» greeted the child, approaching the old man. Sasha noticed his sad look and felt a sudden pity for the grandfather.
The boy sat next to him on the bench and began to greedily eat the cookies. «May I have a piece?» the man suddenly asked, reaching out for Sasha’s treat. «Of course, you can! We always share with each other in the orphanage,» the child replied, handing a sweet to the old man’s palm. Then he paused. He had decided not to tell anyone that he was from an orphanage and had inadvertently let it slip! «So, you’re a runaway?» concluded the companion. «And I sit here, unable to understand where I came from… I walked and walked and forgot… That’s how we are, old people.»
Sasha caught his breath. How good it was that the old man didn’t pick on him further! «Do you really not remember anything at all?» the child inquired curiously, and the old man nodded sadly. «It’s a disaster with me… a disaster. No one knows when such misfortune will happen to them… People can’t foresee their future, and for everyone, it ends the same—in old age…»
Sasha blinked rapidly, listening intently to the elderly man. He truly felt sorry for him now! Completely lonely and needed by no one. Sasha at least had his own little bed, a plate, a cup, and a spoon, but this grandfather didn’t even remember where he lived! Could there really be no kind soul in the world to take in this nearly helpless old man? He thought this as he glanced sideways at the elderly man.
«Do you have a phone with you? Maybe it could help,» the boy said maturely.
Digging through his pockets, the man pulled out an old-fashioned mobile phone that had gone out of style and handed it to Sasha. The child pressed a button, and the screen lit up. Unexpectedly, a number appeared.
«They’re calling you!» exclaimed the orphan. «Shall we answer?» The old man nodded. «I think they’ll tell you something quicker,» he said gloomily. Reluctantly, Sasha pressed the green button on the phone and held it to his ear. «Hello!» came a voice from the receiver. «Dad, where did you disappear to? We’ve been looking for you since last night!» «Hello. This isn’t your dad. I found this grandfather in the park. I’m sitting next to him right now,» the boy explained. «Tell me the address!»
Sasha gave the address of the park. After ending the call, he quickly said goodbye to the old man and ran back to the orphanage. The last thing he needed was to be punished by Lidia Fedorovna, whose mood was always foul.
«Little one, wait! San’ka!» the old man called after him, but the boy decided not to look back. «Thank you for the cookies!»
Returning to the orphanage, the boy hurriedly opened the doors and froze. Lidia Fedorovna stood in the doorway, looking very intimidating. «So, you’ve come back? How many times must I tell you: you can’t leave here on your own!» she cursed and, grabbing the child by the ear, dragged him down the stairs. «It hurts!» Sasha cried. «Where are you taking me?» «Worthless child!» the caretaker continued to scold. The child heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. «Sit here, you little brat,» the angry fury said loudly, throwing the boy into the corner of the room. «You’ll have plenty of time to think!»
Sasha looked around. It was very dark here. A dim light from somewhere above let the boy know: he was in solitary confinement. He began to bang on the doors and scream, but no one heard him. He eventually fell asleep by the doors. Tearful and unwanted. He dreamed. He and his father were walking through the city. His father was explaining something to him, and Sasha absorbed his words like a sponge. Being next to his dad felt so good, peaceful, and joyful…
A luxurious large car pulled up to the building of the orphanage.
«Oh, who is this coming to us?» exclaimed the nanny, looking out the window. «Lidia Fedorovna, there are some people outside.»
The caretaker also looked out the window and said: «I’m going to meet them. Clearly, the guests who’ve arrived are no ordinary visitors.» «Hello!» she said in a polite tone, opening the door for a man and a woman. «We’ve come to see you about a matter. May we come in?»
Lidia Fedorovna stretched into an unusual smile, one that only appeared on holidays, and led the guests inside. «We would like to see the boy. His name is Sasha. He’s 11 years old. He often runs away,» the man explained briefly. «Ah, Sasha?» exclaimed Lidia, then immediately frowned. «Is something wrong with him?» the guest asked worriedly. «No, it’s all as usual. Just…» «Then take us to him,» another guest suggested. «We would like to talk to him about an important matter.»
Reluctantly, the caretaker turned towards the staircase leading to the basement. «Are you saying Sasha is downstairs?!» the man exclaimed, following Lidia Fedorovna. «Yes, circumstances have led to this,» the caretaker muttered confusedly.
Finally, they reached an iron door. «Well, he’s in here,» the woman said, unlocking and opening the door. The guests gasped, seeing a child huddled in the corner of a four-walled room. «Sasha?» the man gaped. Then he turned to Lidia Fedorovna and said: «What are you allowing here? Why did you lock the boy in solitary confinement? Who gave you the right? This is illegal!» «He is to blame himself. He shouldn’t have run away from the orphanage!» «You know what? You’ll be the one running from this orphanage soon, looking for a new job!» the guest barked at her, then turned to the child: «Sasha, we’ve come for you.» «For me?» the boy said uncertainly. «Don’t be afraid of us,» the man continued, taking his hand. «Let’s go upstairs. I’ll explain everything.»
Later, Sasha learned that his unexpectedly arrived savior and his wife didn’t have children, and they had come to the orphanage specifically for him. «Thank you for feeding the grandfather in the park! That’s my father,» the man thanked the child. «If it weren’t for you, who knows how long he could have lasted or what kind of people he might have encountered. There are plenty of villains around these days.»
Sasha looked at his future parents, and it seemed to him like a continuation of his dream about a dad. He even pinched himself. Could it really be true, and was he soon to head to a new family?
… Lidia Fedorovna was fired that same day. The director promised her she would hustle, and she would no longer be accepted for a caretaker position.
Time passed. Sasha proudly walked out from where he had spent almost all his childhood years. He walked hand in hand with his new dad, who resembled the father from his dream. For the boy, a new life was starting, nothing like life in the orphanage. And finally, he would never again meet the malicious, irritable Lidia Fedorovna, who at that moment, under someone else’s supervision, was diligently mopping floors in another institution…
