literature

To Leningrad!

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ocha-to-keki's avatar
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Literature Text

A tiny, angry squeal rang through the Braginski household. "I'll get it!" Both parents yelled the phrase at the same time, and it was a race for (daughter's name)'s comfort. Ivan picked her up and cradled her into his arms. "Shh, shh. Papa's here." The young Russian general gently bounced his 4-month daughter in his arms. She happily gurgled and reached up towards his face. "Da, it's Papa!" (First name) stepped into the room.
"I have her bottle, if she gets cranky."
Ivan smiled. "I think she'll be alright." The baby yawned. (F/n) laughed and gently lifted (d/n) from her husband's arms.
"Time for night-night!" She went to put down the tired baby. When she came back, she cuddled into Ivan's shoulder.
"Someone else needs a nap!" She smiled tiredly.
"I'm just glad you haven't been sent to the front line yet." He gently kissed her forehead.
"Me too. Now, it's time to sleep."

The next day, (f/n) was feeding (d/n) her lunch. She was being extremely fussy about it and would not have a single bite. She got very fed up with her mother and started to scream. "(D/n)! Stop that!" (F/n) picked her daughter up and started to pat her back. She then heard the familiar sound of footsteps coming up to her door. She opened it before her visitor could even knock. "Why, hello, Mr. Postman!" The Brown-haired postman gave the young woman and her baby a radiant smile.
"Hello, Ms. Braginski. Your daughter seems to be doing well." (D/n)'s porridge-covered face stretched into a chubby smile. She let out a few coos. He reached into his bag. "You don't have much mail today, miss. Only a telegram for your husband." She took it thankfully.
"Thank you, sir. I'm excited to read it. Maybe the army will have promoted him!" The postman tipped his hat.
"I sure do hope so. Have a very nice day!" She waved. "Goodbye!"

As she always did when she got telegrams from the military, she waited until Russia got home to open it. When he finally walked in the door, they curled up on the couch together and read it. Russia opened the telegraph as (f/n) bounced (d/n). Usually, he read the telegram out loud in a silly voice, but today he just read through it a few times. "Not again…" he whispered.
"What?" (F/n) gently took the telegram. "Oh… we had just settled ourselves here nicely."
"I'm sorry." (F/n) gave him a hug. "It's okay. You've been restationed before. I'm positive we'll find a home just as nice as this one here." Ivan stood up.
"You're right! And just imagine living in Leningrad! Won't it be such a thrill for our little family?"
"It will!

With a small load on their backs, Ivan and (f/n) clambered into the military truck. They had entrusted the rest of their belongings, including their little house, to Ivan's two sisters.  It was a long ride.(d/n) was being fussy, and was starting to annoy the other soldiers in the truck. Finally they arrived at the train station. They unloaded themselves, and the driver of the truck handed them each a ticket.
"Good luck," he said. When the train arrived at the station, the family found a small bunk area just their size.
Ivan laid his daughter down on one of the bunks and sat down on another, sighing.
"I'm tired too." (F/n) patted his back. Within minutes both were fast asleep.

Morning came, and when (f/n) looked out the window, she saw Leningrad unfolding before her eyes. She shook her husband awake. "Would you look at that! It's quite majestic, don't you think?" He rubbed his eyes. "Yes, sunflower, it is." A gargle came from the bunk next to them.
"(D/n)! So you're awake too, huh?" She was quickly clothed and fed before they disembarked. After the train station, they walked a long way to the military headquarters, where they would be given further instruction. There, they were assigned a small apartment, near to where other soldiers lived. They unpacked their few belongings, and Russia left to start his work day.

(F/n) looked around her new home. It was dull and empty. The walls were made of cement, and there was nothing except a small table, (d/n)'s crib, and (f/n) and Russia's bed. "It looks a little desolate…" she thought to herself. Throughout the rest of the day, she tried to make the apartment look a little cosier, periodically asking her supervisor questions like: "Can I paint the walls?" Or "Can I clean the kitchen?" She managed to make it look prettier for when an exhausted Russia came home. He put his hat down on the table. "You okay?" (F/n) hugged him. He sighed.
"I'm fine, sunflower. I didn't get promoted."
"That's okay."
"If anything, I'm getting paid a lot less than when we lived by Moscow. I don't know if it'll be enough."
"We will make it, don't worry."

During the next few months, the tiny family had a harder time. They barely managed to scrape through paying taxes and the rent, while being able to eat. (F/n) hadn't bought a single article of clothing since she had arrived, and every night (d/n) cried because she didn't have enough to eat. The two parents gave up their meals for her periodically, but sometimes they couldn't pass. They had to sell all of their furniture. At night, they all cuddled together in blankets for warmth. In August, (f/n) looked at her taxes, and she gasped. They didn't have nearly enough money to pay the rent. She went to the manager. He told her that she had to pay this month's rent or she would have to move out. Slowly, she trudged back to her desolate apartment. Russia was already there. Judging by the look on his face, she could tell that he knew. "We have to move." The next day, they packed their few belongings and left.

There was nowhere to go. They found a small doorway that could fit all of them at night. During the day, they just wandered around looking for food or warmth. For two weeks they remained this way. Russia was scraping up what he could from his low-paying job, and (f/n) took anything she could find. (D/n) was gradually getting bonier. They couldn't stay like this for much longer.  One day, Russia came back from his work, running. Out of breath, he picked up (f/n) and twirled her around in the air. "They've decided they no longer have any use for me here," explained Ivan. "So, that means…"
(F/n) couldn't believe her ears. "Moscow?" She asked.
Ivan nodded fervently. They both started to laugh and cry at the same time. Ivan picked up his daughter.
"(D/n), we're going home!" They had never been happier.
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AfraidToBeHappy's avatar
This is so beautiful. <3 I love the ending :,D