"Grandma, why are you crying?" asked her Matilda, "you were a pioneer?"
"No, Matilda, I'm even was not a member of the Komsomol because I don't have a worker-peasant origin."
"Who did you work for before the war?"
"Before the war I was a Secretary and typing."
"And during the war?"
"During the war I worked at a sugar factory here in Leningrad. Night, when I was not on shift, he exploded," said Grandma Tonya and stopped crying.
"Is fascists blew it up?
"No, the powdered sugar exploded, which rose dust in the shops. Ventilation didn't work."
"Does powdered sugar explode?"
"Yes, Matilda, any powder can explosive."
"Will you tell me more about the war?"
"Yes, of course, but first you have to do your homework and learn all the lessons. You know, you need to learn one lesson in advance, and when the teacher will explain a new topic, you will be all clear and you have questions that you can ask the teacher."
Trouble never comes alone.
It was the fifth year of Perestroika. Matilda was already 17 years old, and she has already passed the school final exams. In the middle of summer her grandmother passed away. Matilda was alone and in the tears. But it did not last long. A week later a UAZ police officer drove up to her house. They were employees of the Children's room of the police and representatives of Social Security. Matilda has been showed some orders and said to collect her things and documents. She, like a minor, was to be sent to the orphanage. The apartment was locked with a key in the presence of the district police officer, and he escorted Matilda to the police car. Matilda took with her a school bag and old grandmother's photos. In the backpack was passport, a school's and a birth's certificate. After some time, UAZ drove up to the building, enclosed by a fence made of brick columns and wrought-iron lattice. The gate was opened by the watchman Vasily Petrovich. He was the watchman of this orphanage and was on duty this day after three days of rest. UAZ without stopping drove up to the entrance of the building. Matilda was taken to the teacher’s lounge and handed over to director. Then, representatives of the law signed some documents with the director and left. Matilda did not understand what was happening.
"So, girl," said the Director, "where are your passport and birth certificate?"