June 3rd, 1990

Pavel: Niki, I don't want to do any of this homework.

Nikita: Brother, papa will be mad if we skip our homework...

Pavel: Mrs. Ivanov gave us three pages this time...

Nikita: I know, I know, but it's not that hard to do.

Pavel: When we get home, can you help me practice?

Nikita: Sure, but then we have to do the work.

Pavel: Do you think mama was serious about the beaches?

Nikita: The vacation?

Pavel: Yeah, she said we would go to Venezuela, remember?

Nikita: Yeah, she said it was one of the prettiest places on Earth!

Pavel: Let's remind her when we get home.

 

*Continue walking home from school.*

 

Pavel: Niki, I wonder how hot it is in Venezuela.

Nikita: I think it's like summer here, but all the time.

Pavel: No winter, that's weird...

 

*Continue walking.*

 

Pavel: Mama! Guess what!?

Nikita: Mama? Papa? Where are they?

Pavel: Niki, look... all the chairs are broken...

 

At the time I had no idea what was going on... I was just as surprised as my brother...

So, naturally, I just called out for my mom and dad... as did my brother.

 

Pavel: Where are they, Niki?

Nikita: Mama? Papa? Where are they?

What should we do?

Pavel: Niki, should we call police to be safe?

Nikita: The phone isn't working, Pavel.

Pavel: Let's wait until they come back.

Nikita: It doesn't feel right, why is our stuff broken?

Pavel: Maybe Mama and Papa got into a fight.

Nikita: Yeah, I guess.

Pavel: Who broke the phone?

 

My seven-year-old mind couldn't come to this conclusion... but the real reason the phone didn't work is because someone cut the phone line.

 

Nikita: Maybe when they fought, they broken the phone.

Pavel: Okay, let's wait a couple hours, and I bet Mama will be back.

Nikita: Yeah, you wanted to practice your fighting skills, right?

Pavel: Yeah, I need to work on my kick.

Nikita: Okay, then we can finish our schoolwork.