Stories of one night

– Well, then it must be so.

– They searched for your diary, Lena. By the way, they showed me your photo, too, – Sergey turned to Pavel. – Soon is April 4 – presidential elections. Yes, yes, Cheburashka can fail.

– Beasts! – Elena sighed and lowered her head. – Sergey, do not tell anyone that I came. Okay?

Pavel understood that they needed to talk and he – to leave them alone. He went outside and got in the car.

– Sergey, I would like to say thank you for everything you have done for me…

– Well, wait, – he tried to hug her.

– Don’t interrupt me, – Elena snapped. – Thank you for what you have done for me. We will never meet again.

Sergey watched her, not looking away. She turned and left. Sergey was left alone. He did not want to run after her, realizing that it was useless. Anyway, he got a lot: five years of her life, joint life with him. And now he was standing in an empty hallway and listened to the sound of her footsteps – of the woman he loved, who was going away forever and who would never return. Once in the car, Elena did not say anything for a long time. Pavel was silent and waited for an order.

– Go, – she said.

– Where to? – Pavel asked.

– Straight.

He started. They drove back to the city. Elena still did not say anything – only told him where to go further. Pavel thought that it did not become easier for her after that visit.

– Take me, for example, – he said cheerfully. – Today I told my boss that he is an asshole!

Lena looked at him in surprise.

– And my mood is wonderful! And you say goodbye in such a sad way! There is in fact a sacred female commandment: “Do not be sad, otherwise your breasts will be bad”.

His joke succeeded. Elena smiled and rejuvenated.

– How so? Did you get sick and tired of him?

– Ah, – Pavel shrugged. – An asshole is an asshole. You just endure it, and then fly over the handle… But in general, it became easier. And after that I went for a walk.

– Oh, I see. And what are you now?

– I’ll find another job.

– Be sure to find it. Everything will be fine.

They were silent for some time.

Soon Pavel started to realize, where they came; the area seemed very familiar to him.

– Novo-Ogaryovo? – He asked.

– Yes, it is. Cheburashka lives here.

– Residence of the President, cool! And is he a loved one?

– Well, – Elena began to gesticulate. – It just happened so, – she added with humor. – We met at a reception in honor of the anniversary of something. We talked

for a long time, then fled from everybody to the balcony, and drank champagne.

Three minutes – and I fell in love. I was looking at him, with my mouth open, and he continued to say something. Then he admitted that it was the same thing with him. I have never loved so, and it came late to me, I was already married. And then he walked me home through the night Moscow. It turned out that in order to see how people live he often walks around the city by himself. We searched the most unusual places of the capital. Still, we have an amazing city. Then we started dating, and Misha appeared – the best man in the whole world. But… he’s married, and then he has another love – politics… Yesterday I was going to tell him to dare to something: whether abandon his wife and politics and stay with me, or…

Elena sighed. Then she grinned.

– You know, I wanted to tell him that he is an asshole! I was so angry. I can’t stay with Sergey, I don’t love him, it all became unbearable… Let’s go?

– Elena Mikhailovna, who will let us in? Maybe you have a right to entry, but not me – of that I’m sure.

– Pasha, don’t be a chicken! It’s Russia. Here, there is a hole in each fence! –

She said cheerfully.

– What, in this too?

Pavel stared at Lena with surprised eyes. She said nothing – just smiled.

Approaching a long white fence, beyond which there was the residence, Lena took off her shoes, threw one of them over the fence, then the second one.

– Follow me! – She commanded. Pavel shook his head, but obeyed.

The guard was interested in flown items, so they climbed through a secret passage and entered the territory of the residence. They found themselves in front of a huge oak tree in the park – and stood there with their legs apart and their hands behind the back.

– Elena Mikhailovna! – Chief of the guard was screaming at her, surrounded by his subordinates. – There, there is a door! And above it, there is a doorbell!

– Boys, –she began playfully, turning to them. – Pavel and I were walking past the residence. I was in a good mood. There was nobody in the street, and I allowed myself a weakness – tossed up a shoe, and it accidentally flew over the fence. So I decided to climb in, but I would not climb in one shoe, like a fool. That’s why I threw the second one.

– Kostya! – Chief of the guard shouted to his subordinate, who stood at a distance. – Come here, you should hear this.

The young man approached.

– That’s what I love you for, Elena Mikhailovna. Every time you penetrate here you come up with a new explanation, and you have never repeated yourself in your explanations!

– I thought Cheburashka was not alone, – Lena explained guiltily.

Chief of the guard sighed and said:

– Victoria Eduardovna is absent. She will not return soon.

– Your hand, Pavel, – Elena approached Pavel. He silently handed her an elbow. She took Pavel’s arm and, watched by the six guards, they went to the two-story house at the end of the square. Other guards opened the door for them. Pavel

and Lena entered the house and mounted the stairs to the second floor. There, at the door, they stopped.

– Pasha, I can’t face him!

She became worried, as a person worries before an important conversation in life.

– Well, come on! We got through such things here! – Pavel became indignant.

She hesitated.

– Listen. You start first: introduce yourself and so on, and I… I’ll hide here and then I’ll go out from behind a corner.

– Well, what… – Pavel rebelled. But seeing how hard it all was for her, he gave in. Meanwhile, someone was going to the door and, seeing a familiar silhouette, Elena hid around the corner.

– Hello, Anatoliy Mikhailovich.

– Hello, Pavel Nikolayevich.

– Do you know my name?

Pavel did not expect it. Inside, he realized that there was a guard and other informants, but he was pleased that a person of such high rank called him by name.

– But you did not come alone, – the owner of the house began delicately.

– No. She said to tell you that she sees your relationship differently, that they should be built on a different basis, on the basis of mutual understanding.

– I just feel as if at a meeting. Where is she? Is she alive?

– Yes, yes, everything is fine. She asked me to tell you that…

– That you are an asshole! That’s what I wanted to tell you, – she came from behind a cover, placing hands on the belt.

– Pasha, go take a walk!

Pavel went one stairwell down and out into the street.

– Come in, – Anatoliy Mikhailovich suggested to Elena.

She entered and remained standing at the door.

– Tolya, listen to me, do not interrupt, I have to go… I have a lot to say to you.

– I read that you were dead, almost went crazy.

She paused. He kept silence, too, looking at her, afraid to touch, to get closer.

– You know, I dream that you will live in a huge mansion in a village. When someone calls at the door, you will appear in your chestnut gown, busily tightening the belt, and ask: “What do you want?” And I will live with you, we will have many children, and the oldest one, Misha, will look after everything… It will be my best role. Thank you for everything that I have experienced… Yes, – she changed the tone.

– They searched for my diary at Sergey’s. Elections are soon, and then…

– Yes, I know what’s then. We are already engaged in it.

– You can abandon your search, here it is.

She handed him a small book.

– I will not keep anything anymore. Let it remain with you. As a souvenir.

She went out and closed the door quietly.

– Did it become easier?

Pavel waited for Lena in the car. She drooped even more and stared out the window. He did not wait for an answer and started the car.

– I will never return here. There will be nothing more… Let’s go, – she whispered in a sad tone.

– Where to?

– There is one trash – Alexander Pletnyov.

Pavel looked at her with surprise. “So, a real asshole”.

– Drank so much blood from me. There is such a colleague of yours. I just do not know where he lives.

– I know, – Pavel said.

– What, seriously? – Elena raised an eyebrow in surprise.

– We work together.

– So, that is your rag?! – She said at an elevated tone.

– Not mine, – he tried to pacify her edifyingly.

– I’m sorry, Pasha.

– Then to his home. You know, all these publications are not painless. Sergey rolled such scenes that… And how can I explain him? He sees what is written, there is a harmless photo enclosed, but you can turn upside down everything. And Misha heard it all. And for a child’s mind it’s very dangerous. Very!

– And what do you want?

– I want to stuff his face. Just so. I’ve never done it before, but I’ll try. I think I will succeed.

– What is an action plan?

– We’ll see.

Circumstances were such that Pavel hid near Pletnyov’s door, and Elena called the door, pulled a strap of her dress and ruffled her hair. A lavender fitting dress, luxurious thighs in flesh-colored stockings, high heels… Pavel could imagine what picture Pletnyov will see. Her eyes changed. It seemed to him that she begins to play a role. A victim? A prostitute? A sexual stranger ringing the doorbell? Pavel did not know yet. But he could argue that it was not Elena Yarskaya near him, but a completely different woman.

– Who’s there? – Pletnyov opened the door without looking. – You? – He stood in the doorway, staring at Elena’s charms.

– You always wanted me, right? – She said, pulling a button on his shirt.

– You?! But you are dead. I saw it in the Internet! – He backed away.

– Well, come on, while I’m still warm.

– Well, that’s enough!

She entered the apartment and closed the door. He leaned against the wall, standing in his jeans, plaid shirt and torn slippers, frozen, unable to take his eyes off her. Elena came quite close. The tips of her hair touched his face. He enjoyed the line of her lips, they were getting closer and closer. He could feel her every breath, her breasts rising, her cold fingers touching his body. She undid one button at a time. He began to breathe deeply. His eyes were closed in pleasure… And then she hit him in the groin.

– This one is because I’m a whore and slept with everyone!

The second blow.

– This one is for tantrums at my home after your articles!

Another blow.

– This one is for the fact that I lost a role in the States because of my allegedly tarnished reputation. And remember, pathetic scribbler, if you write anything from my diary, I’ll be back!

She went out and slammed the door.

– Let’s go! – She ran down the stairs.

– What happened?

– I’ve done what I wanted to. Come on, until he called the police.

Soon they raced along the highway.

– Elena Mikhailovna, I’m still a man. Somehow it’s not “comme il faut” that you left me behind the door and went to stuff his face! I was worried, by the way!

Where are we going? – He asked in one breath.

– House of the Actor… Pasha, no offense, I had to do it myself.

– It was so funny to look at you when you shouted “let’s go”.

She laughed, too, imagining how it looked with her – an intelligent woman.

– Introduction in the House of the Actor? Ah, yes, – Pavel began with irony. –

We’ll see. Your favorite method!

– Um, um, – Lena answered.

The famous building held a regular meeting on something in the name of something. As soon as she came in, there was a storm of applause. She took the floor and spoke without any notes for about forty minutes. All this time Pavel listened calmly leaning against the wall. Everybody applauded standing, including all those envious – both men and women.

– There is one place left, Pasha. Misha is the best man in the whole world. I promised him something.

Along the way, they stopped at a supermarket and bought a huge construction set. Misha lived with Lena’s mother in a private house in the suburb. When they arrived, they saw no light in the windows. Only in one window there was light: a reading lamp was turned on. We were greeted by an elderly woman, of about seventy, in a flannel white scarf and dark blue dress.

– Pasha, let me introduce my mom.

– Maria Sergeyevna, – the woman said, and asked in the same breath: – Well, my girl, why are you so late? – An old lady came up and hugged Elena, invited them into the house.

– Misha? – Lena asked in a whisper, knowing that her son was probably already asleep.

– Sleeping, – the grandmother smiled. – Come on, go look at him. He’s an angel, looks like Cheburashka, like his father.

Elena smiled. She went into the bedroom to see her son. He wrapped himself in a blanket. A sweet expression on his face told her that his dreams were nice. She sat on the bed and ran a hand through his hair. She sat for a while, admiring the best man in the world, then got up and went to the kitchen to her mother.

– Mum…

– Well, why are you standing? Come here, have some tea with the old lady.

She leaned against the doorway and stared at her mother.

– My girl, I don’t like your look, as if you are saying goodbye. It’s not good.

– Mommy, sweetheart, well, if I need to go, what shall I do?

She came closer. The mother hugged her, kissed her on the forehead like in the childhood. For a moment she became warm and calm from her mother’s hug.

– It’s time, Mom, – she stood up. – You’re the best in the whole world.

Her eyes changed. She became sad, hopelessness appeared on her face. The old woman walked her to the door. She went out and closed the gate quietly. Pavel was waiting for her at the car. The sky was starry, beautiful. There, outside the city, it seemed closer, with brighter stars. Pavel stood admiring the warmth of a spring night, with his hands on the car. At the sound of her footsteps he turned.

– That’s all, Pasha, thank you. I’ll do myself now.

– What do you mean “yourself”? I’ll give you a lift.

He was surprised. She looked intently at him… and said: