The last year turned out to be the most challenging for Nina during her entire time at school. Previously, some students still thought about studying, but in the senior class, it seemed everyone forgot why they were there. Relationships were forming around her, and future plans, money, and clothes were being discussed. Nina felt as though she was left out; her future didn’t seem bright.
Despite being a good student, her family had no money. She always wore hand-me-downs. Nina wondered if she had ever owned a new dress? She barely remembered that everything was new when she first started school. How long ago that was, back when her father was different, and her mother…
Nina had never really interacted much with her classmates, or rather, they with her. But this year, she felt like a true outcast. They seemed like adults, yet the mocking at her expense was becoming more frequent. And today, it went too far.
The day started as usual. Everyone settled down, first lesson. Nina hated being the center of attention, so she asked:
“Galina Andreevna, may I answer from here?”
Immediately, someone commented:
“Novikova is scared that at the board everyone will see how many patches are on her dress.”
“No, she’s afraid the dress won’t withstand the pressure and will just fall apart.”
Both the girls and boys tried to mock her. The class laughed, and Galina Andreevna couldn’t calm them down.
“Novikova, how will you go to the graduation? It’s not like we have stores selling fence-side fashion.”
Nina grabbed her bag and bolted from the classroom. She heard Galina Andreevna shouting:
“Svetlova, be quiet! Novikova, come back!”
But who would listen to her if everyone already considered themselves grown-ups and wise?
At home, everything was as usual. Her father was already asleep, clearly having drunk a lot. He was sprawled across the sofa, couldn’t even tuck in his legs, and reeked of booze. The kitchen was a mess, mainly with extinguished cigarettes, several empty bottles, and the table covered in something sticky.
Nina flung open the window, a fresh breeze blew in. April this year was quite warm, but it was still early spring. For almost an hour, Nina cleaned, scrubbed, and tidied up after her father’s revelry, all the while thinking that things could have been different if her mother were alive.
Nina knew her dad loved her mom dearly. Probably that’s why he couldn’t cope with the loss. For 10 years, he’d been scraping by with odd jobs and spent most of his money on drinking.
At first, it wasn’t so noticeable. He went to work and only drank when Nina was asleep. Then, he began drinking in the evenings, even when Nina could see. And then, it became harder for him to find time for work. He would repeat:
“It’s okay, Ninochka, dad’s last time, and then we’ll live well.”
But that “well” never came. Nina cried, begged her father to stop, waited for him to tire of alcohol, but nothing changed, everything only got worse.
Nina heard a rustle and suddenly turned around. Her father stood in the kitchen doorway. Her heart clenched. At 45, he looked 60, or even 70.
“Daughter, why are you home so early?”
And then it overwhelmed her. She started speaking softly, then yelled:
“Early?! I have nothing to do with normal people at school, do you understand?”
Nina threw her jacket on a chair and rushed past her stunned father. In the hallway, a loud slam of the door echoed. He heavily sat down on a chair and muttered:
“Well, do you feel better now?”
“What happened?” — Next to Nina stood a woman who had worked in the pharmacy located right in their building for many years. Everyone knew Inna Romanovna.
“No, everything is fine with dad,” Nina replied, “if you don’t mind, I’ll just sit here quietly.” “No problem was ever solved by silence.” Stuttering and sniffling, Nina told her everything that had happened today.
“We need to go to the principal. What is this? Who gave them the right?” Inna Romanovna suggested.
Nina shook her head:
“That won’t help. Tell me, Inna Romanovna, do you know where I can find a job so I don’t have to quit school and see my father as little as possible?”
“For a job? You’re a bit young. Although, if it’s unofficial… Here’s what, come to me tomorrow after lunch, I’ll try to help.”
Nina wiped her tears and smiled:
“Thank you so much, I’ll definitely come.”
So, Nina got a job at the hospital, where there was a severe shortage of night orderlies.
She didn’t plan to tell anyone where she worked, but in the journal, she signed that she would come to the graduation. Of course, the mockery started immediately, but Nina tried to ignore it. Those who laughed at her would have their outfits bought by their parents. She had no one to buy hers, so she would buy it herself.
Nina wanted to shut everyone up, she didn’t know why, but she certainly knew she was no worse than anyone else, and even better than some.
Yes, she had no money, but she could earn enough for one evening.
“Novikova, they say hobos rummaged through the dump and found you an outfit. Is it true or not?” Svetlova couldn’t calm down.
Beside her were always those who looked up to her. Svetlova had long been called the queen of the class, and no one doubted that this reputation would stay with her forever.
Nina silently looked at her textbook. The main thing — do not respond, and then, maybe, Svetlova will lose interest and leave her alone. But that was not the case.
“Nina, maybe you’ll come with a date? Is there someone of the right age at the dump?”
Nina couldn’t take it anymore:
“Suitable for you?”
Laughter erupted around. Svetlova blushed with anger:
“Exactly, dug up the dress from the trash, and now you feel more confident. What, Novikova, too weak to become the prom queen?”
Nina stood up, smirked:
“You’re used to playing by your own rules. It might have been a contest otherwise.”
Nina left, and Svetlova stood with her mouth open.
“Did you see that?”
About a week before graduation, the hospital became hectic.
They brought in a five-year-old boy who had fallen off his scooter and suffered a head injury. He was with his nanny, who only exacerbated the situation by constantly calling someone and apologizing. The night was ordinary, and only the on-duty doctor remained.
“Nina, calm down this hysterical woman!” The doctor continued yelling into the phone. “Understand, I can’t keep him with me, I have an adult department… No, it’s not dangerous, but it’s better if a pediatric surgeon examines him.”
He hung up the phone, bewildered:
“Please, do something so this woman finally calms down.”
Nina nodded with a smile and led the nanny to the hall, where she offered her tea, and the woman was able to explain calmly:
“You see, Igor, the boy’s father is a wonderful person, although young. He’s a successful businessman. It turned out that he had a child when he was only 19. The girl didn’t want the baby, but Igor is raising his son himself. When Igor turned 20, the child’s mother began trying to take the son away. She doesn’t need the child, she needs Igor’s money. She follows his every step, has already written several statements that Igor doesn’t spend time with the child, that it’s dangerous and wrong. And if she finds out about this…”
“You didn’t tell the father?” Nina asked in surprise.
“I’m afraid. Igor can be very strict,” the nanny replied.
Nina resolutely extended her hand:
“Let me try to explain everything to him.”
The conversation was difficult. As soon as Igor understood what had happened, he immediately began shouting that he would imprison everyone. Nina had to raise her voice:
“Can you calm down and listen to me? Nothing terrible happened. All children fall. It’s just that your son got very scared, and it’s your fault and your nanny’s, who is in a panic because she’s afraid of you. You’re behaving like a tyrant!”
There was silence on the other end of the phone, then Igor calmly said:
“Can I ask you to take them somewhere to your place, so they’re not in the hospital, and don’t appear at home with bandages on their heads? I’ll pay well. I’ll be there by lunch, send me the address via SMS.”
Nina wanted to say that they couldn’t come to her place, but Igor had already hung up. She relayed the conversation to the nanny, who nodded:
“Yes, in this situation, it would be best to leave here.”
“But at my place… My dad might be drunk,” Nina said.
The nanny frowned:
“Going to a hotel is dangerous, someone we know might see us…”
Half an hour later, she was opening the door to the apartment, not understanding why she was doing all this. To endure another disgrace?
Her father was not asleep. Nina was surprised to see the apartment sparkling clean, and there was a smell of food.
“Ninochka, you have guests? Wonderful! I cooked so much, we couldn’t eat it all in a week.”
The evening felt wrong, unusual. Nina hadn’t felt so strangely in a long time, when you want to believe and are afraid…
“Ninok.” — Her father called Nina into the kitchen. — “I must ask for your forgiveness. I’m so ashamed. I don’t even know what to say. Here, take this, buy something for your graduation. I went to my old job, negotiated, and told everything without secrets. I start work tomorrow, and these guys gave you some money for sweets.”
No, she couldn’t describe how happy she was. Even happier when Polina, Vanya’s nanny, sent her to a salon, helped her choose a dress, and taught her to dance the waltz.
Igor… Nina tried not to think about him, as it caused tension. He turned out not to be a monster, but a person with a strict character, authoritative, yet fair. She tried to get him out of her mind.
The taxi driver looked surprised in the mirror:
“What the hell? Miss, are you being followed?”
Nina looked back, and a shiver ran through her. Igor’s car was following them, and behind it — his security. He had hired guards immediately after the start of the legal proceedings.
The teacher sternly looked at Svetlova, resembling a model from a glossy magazine.
“Are we waiting for Novikova soon?” — a snide comment sounded.
Galina Andreevna shook her head:
“I never thought I’d say this, but I really hope, Svetlova, that someone finally puts you in your place.” — Galina Andreevna squinted, then her face lit up with a smile. — “Well, your crown will definitely fall off. Even sooner than I expected.”
Svetlova was silent, watching as Igor Lebedev, the dream of all girls in town, helped Novikova out of the car. She was in a stunning dress, perhaps not as expensive as Svetlova’s, but it definitely looked better. And her hairstyle and makeup…
Svetlova noticed that everyone was crowding around Ninka, and no one stood next to her. She tore off her graduation ribbon and ran to the gates — she definitely didn’t want to be at such a graduation.
Igor had fun with everyone. In the midst of the evening, they went outside to cool off. Adjusting the prom queen’s crown on Nina’s head, he said:
“Nin, I feel like I’ve returned to my school years. It turns out this is so nice.”
She smiled:
“Yes, I don’t want this to end.”
He gently asked:
“Why? There’s so much interesting ahead.”
Nina shook her head:
“I don’t think it’s about me.”
“You’re wrong, Nin.”
Three years passed. Nina flitted about the wedding salon, choosing a dress. They agreed that she would study at the institute for at least 3 years so there wouldn’t be a desire to quit. Igor had told her that. Her favorite men settled on a couch as experts: Vanya, dad, and the future husband.
“Tell me, what style are you interested in?” — a consultant approached her.
Nina looked up. Svetlova… So many thoughts raced through both of their minds. Nina, smiling, asked:
“Any dresses from the dumpster? Well, if not, then we’ll go to another salon.