Intro. At the end of December, Kirill invited the girl to go with him to Anthracite, a small mining town where his parents lived.
"I understand that it’s not a resort," he smiled, "but for me this is the most dear place on earth." I want you to meet mom and dad. And I celebrated the New Year where I grew up.
She did not agree immediately: she was embarrassed by the responsibility of meeting her parents for the first time, and even in their house. But the warmth in Kirill’s voice, his stories about childhood, about the old house with carved frames and the apple orchard convinced her.
The journey took almost a day: a train, then a minibus all the way to the town. In the carriage, Kirill held her hand the entire time and told her what lay ahead:
- Mom will most likely cook enough to feed a company of soldiers. Dad will smile shyly and keep asking if you are comfortable. And grandma... oh, grandma will immediately call you to help make dumplings. This is our tradition.
She laughed, but inside she was still worried.
Belsky's house stood on a quiet street, surrounded by old maples. Food