Marina sat on the windowsill, pondering the imminent end of school and an uncertain future. The options seemed elusive: there was no point in studying anywhere, and dreaming of sudden wealth was meaningless. Her father was drinking himself into oblivion, and her mother barely made ends meet on a disability pension by taking on extra cleaning jobs. That money was scarcely enough to survive, and whenever her mother picked up a small glass, Marina was overcome with anger even greater than what she felt toward her father.
Of course, the girl felt sorry for her parents. Everything had collapsed with the onset of perestroika. Her father—a master of his craft—had been fired from the factory for his principles, as he refused to look the other way at misconduct. Her mother lost her job when the factory was abruptly closed without paying wages. Life, which had once been dull, was sinking deeper into darkness with each passing year.
Marina hadn’t seen anything new in years. Her parents didn’t fit into the new realities, unlike her classmates—the children of fortunate entrepreneurs.
«What’s with the sulking?» the voice of her classmate Valerka interrupted her thoughts. He was the only one in the class who didn’t judge people by the thickness of their wallets.
«I’m just waiting for homeroom,» she replied, curving the corner of her lips. «Maybe they’ll talk about graduation.»
He sat down beside her, playfully winking: «Then I’ll wait with you. Otherwise, I’d have run home.»
«Aren’t you curious?» Marina wondered. «This is the only celebration in life!»
«I’d rather get my diploma and forget about this institution forever,» Valerka said, gesturing toward the classrooms. «Can’t you see? This isn’t a school anymore—it’s a branch of hell.»
«You’re exaggerating!» she laughed. «We’re still kids. There’s no need to take everything so seriously. Chill out!»
Valerka smiled. He had long been fond of Marina, subtly passing her notebooks or buns in the cafeteria.
«Then the first dance at graduation is mine,» he suddenly declared.
«All the dances are yours!» she laughed.
A teacher entered the classroom, followed by the students. Marina held her breath as she listened to the plan for the celebration—it exceeded all expectations. But when the roles were assigned, her name was never mentioned.
«Maria Semyonovna, what am I supposed to do?» she asked timidly.
The teacher snorted, giving her a once-over from head to toe: «Why should you participate? People chip in for expensive outfits, and you don’t belong here. You’ll receive your diploma early.»
The class erupted in laughter. Marina ran into the corridor, covering her ears. Valerka followed her.
«Sevastyanov!» the teacher bellowed. «You’re a medalist! There’s a special program just for you!»
He turned at the doorway: «Stick your program…» His gesture left no doubt about how the sentence would have continued.
Maria Semyonovna turned pale. Valerka’s father—the main sponsor of the evening—had threatened to withhold teachers’ bonuses if his son didn’t show up.
«Come back!» she squealed.
In response, the door slammed.
«How did you find me?» Marina asked in surprise when Valerka settled beside her on a bench by the stadium.
He remained silent until she broke the quiet: «I’m leaving. I’ll pick up my diploma and vanish. I’ll find a job, maybe even one through distance learning…»
«Will you take me with you?» he interjected.
«Why would you need me?» she widened her eyes. «You already have everything!»
At home, she found her parents engaged in their usual pastime—drinking cheap port wine.
«Join us, Marishka!» her inebriated mother called, shaking her head.
«Aren’t you tired?» the girl snapped as she clutched the door frame. «Drowning your sorrows in a bottle, waiting for death?»
«What?» her father exclaimed, dropping a stack. «Did you think you could act smart? Half the country lives like this!»
«And why aren’t you in the second half?» Marina shouted. «They won’t let me into graduation! To them, I’m nothing but a bum!»
She dashed into her room, grabbed her tattered bag… and burst into tears. Nearby, her father quietly sank onto the bed.
«You’re right,» he whispered, staring at the wall. «I’m a weakling. Run away from here.»
A worn-out wad of rubles was placed into her palm: «I saved this when things were really bad. It should be enough for a while.»
As he left, he called over his shoulder: «Hey, old lady! Why aren’t you pouring any drink?»
The dawn express whisked Marina away from the places she had known since childhood. On the eve, the girl visited the headmistress, having fabricated a story about a suddenly ill relative to obtain a document. The director, as if shedding a heavy burden, handed over the treasured folder and even murmured a wish for a safe journey.
Immediately after the official ceremony, Valerka vanished without a trace. The staff didn’t even try to look for the young man. Why? His father had generously financed the celebration and the teachers’ gifts, and everything else was lost in a haze of insignificance.
Decades later. The school corridors were being prepared for the traditional graduation evening.
Maria Semyonovna had slightly filled out in her uniform, yet she retained the charm of an elegant woman of her age. The attention from the new shop teacher, whose gallant gestures brightened the mundane days, was particularly delightful. Her marital status didn’t hinder her flirtation—her marriage to a perpetually grumbling husband had long become a mere formality.
«Is everything ready? It seems to have turned out well. And most importantly—with minimal fuss. Valerka’s father, as always, took care of all the expenses,» the headmistress nodded approvingly.
«You’re lucky to have such a benefactor. By the way, where is Valery himself now?»
The teacher shrugged: «There’s no exact information. Rumors circulated about him living abroad and getting married, but who really knows. The rest are mostly local. Even that one… what’s her name… Solovyova hinted. I bumped into her at the supermarket—barely recognized her.»
«And will she come?»
«You won’t believe it! That lady gave me a look like a moneylender demanding repayment, and silently walked away. Thank goodness we can do without scandalous characters.»
The graduates remaining in the village gradually gathered on the porch. Svetlana, the top beauty of the class, stood out with an unhealthy pallor.
«Dear, are you feeling unwell?» the teacher asked with concern.
With a crooked smile, the girl replied: «For now, yes, but after the first toast I’ll definitely come to life.»
Maria Semyonovna recoiled from the alcoholic aroma, glancing in bewilderment at her former students. Pavel, once a lively informant, stood aside, emaciated and marked by grim tattoos. Natasha was loudly complaining about her three children and her drinking husband.
«No one has really succeeded, but everyone has changed beyond recognition,» the woman sighed.
The sound of an engine interrupted the musings. A premium-class foreign car came to a stop by the entrance.
«It seems our medalist has graced us with his presence!» the headmistress brightened as she descended the steps.
Valerka gallantly helped his companion out. A murmur ran through the crowd: «Isn’t that Margo! The owner of a cosmetics empire, the face of all urban advertisements!»
«Valerka’s wife?»
«Wait a minute… Margo… Could it be?»
The couple approached. Maria Semyonovna scrutinized the features of the businesswoman. An aristocratic bearing, an expensive wardrobe—a striking contrast to everyone around.
«Hello, Maria Semyonovna,» came a familiar tone.
The teacher gave an exaggerated smile toward Valerka: «Glad to see you, dear! Would you introduce me to the lady?»
«I’m surprised an introduction is necessary. Don’t you recognize her?»
The woman smiled coldly: «Greetings again. I won’t say that the meeting fills me with delight, but your presence is indispensable for the ambience.»
«Solovyova…» the headmistress blurted out. A heavy silence fell.
«Has she really changed that much? Or are you judging by labels rather than substance?»
The teacher babbled: «Oh no, not at all! It’s just that back then… the sponsor insisted on the perfection of the event.»
She fell silent, recalling Valerka’s presence. He raised an eyebrow ironically: «Excuse me, but I’m financing tonight’s event. And the company of certain persons is unwelcome to me.»
The couple walked past the stunned headmistress. The crowd trailed after them, leaving her alone with her humiliation.
«What a mess… How did you deserve such treatment?» the newly arrived shop teacher suggested, offering a bottle of wine for a «situation analysis.»
Marina had been waiting for this triumph for years, yet the joy turned out to be nothing but ash on her lips.
«I feel so dirty,» she confessed to Valerka.
«Shall we bring her back to the table?»
«She probably won’t agree, but we’ll try.»
No further persuasion was needed. The remorseful teacher wept on Margo’s shoulder, and Margo, nodding, felt her anger give way to relief. In the final moment, she resisted the temptation to behave like a sore loser.
The evening was a success. Valerka finally invited the most beautiful graduate to dance—even if it was decades later. The orchestra played an old waltz, blending the past and the present into one swirling motion.
