Russian Lullaby

Privet

Disclaimer-This may not be historically accurate so don't point out things that haven't happened. Thank you and enjoy!

Privet. I am Svetlana and I live in Soviet Russia, and I'm 14-years-old. 

The year is 1942 and it is a dark time. World War 2. I wish life were normal. We are losing so many men and boys in our military as we pursue the German army. But, I know they all gave and are giving their lives for the motherland. 

I want to do all that I can for my country and I wish I could fight. If I lose my life early I don't want to die in a bombing like so many. I want to die fighting for my country. My father is out fighting and my brother has been captured. So, I'm the 'man' of the house. 

But, there are times where I can be a normal Russian girl. A girl that can do whatever I want like flirt with boys and just hang out.

In my school I'm definitely not the most popular girl in school. I'm fine with that except for one thing. I have the biggest crush on the most popular boy in school, Vladimir Ivanov. I don't know what about him makes him so handsome. Maybe it's layered brown hair, or maybe it's his reddish brown eyes. He always wears a black and red coat that is really nice. I wish I could just be his. 

The most popular girl is Alexandra. She has blond hair that is so much prettier than my brown hair that I always keep in a braid. Her family is rich. And so is Vladimir. They're on the same level. I mean she wears a red dress with small white frills on the neckline and sleeves. Like I said a lot prettier than my light blue dress that I hate to wear.

After school I put my braided hair up under a hat and put some of my brothers clothes on and I pretend that I'm a boy. That is my favorite thing to do. A time I don't have to be myself. I like being a girl. That's why I sometimes flirt. It's just that to do other things I like to do like play sports, I have to dress like a boy and act like one.

"Privet, Svetlana."

That is my best friend Natalya. We've been friends as long as I can remember. Her father is in the military also so we can read their letters home to each other. It's nice. She has dirty blond hair that goes a little past her shoulders. She's more of a flirt then I am, but that's a thing I like about her. She's not afraid to go up to a boy that she likes and starting. That's the exact opposite for me.

"Privet, Natalya. How are you?"

"I'm great! I just saw Alexandra flirting with your one true love-"

"How is that great?", I interrupted her.

"Hold on let me finish. I saw her flirting with him and he turned her down!"

"Ok that's great and all, but I don't have a chance of getting with him."

"Oh I think the odds are in your favor."

The bell of the clock downtown struck 8 times signaling our time to start walking downtown to hang around the shops. It's Saturday so no school yay!

"Let's go, Natalya. I want to go so I can-"

"See the handsome Vladimir"

She always finishes my sentences and I do the same to her, it's a friend thing. We start walking to the market talking as we walk.