hapter 7
“How tired I am of listening to you,” Kira thought, standing in the living room and watching her flushed stepfather. His face always turned burgundy when he drank a little white.
Kira’s stepfather, Arkady Semyonovich Bronsky, could not be called a drunken alcoholic. He rarely drank. But he belonged to the type of people who lose their human appearance, just sniffing alcohol. Not like Kira’s father. He died nine years ago, but Kira forever kept in her heart the image of a beautiful, stately, and most importantly, kind parent.
Arkady has never been attractive. Medium height, with a heavy belly, frog–like thin lips and caustic close–set eyes. When Kira saw him
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for the first time, the choice of mother seemed to her extremely unsuccessful. What she did
not hesitate to tell. Kira still remembered the
expression on Arkady’s face when he heard criticism from an eleven–year–old thin girl.
However, when her mother was alive, Kira got along well with her stepfather. The first year after her death, and she died when Kira was sixteen, Arkady also behaved quite tolerably. Even bought groceries and paid utility bills. This allowed Kira not to touch the money left by her mother. She gradually put off Kira for her studies for several years, which Arkady, mean by nature, did not suspect. Kira spent the inherited three hundred thousand rubles very economically, only occasionally allowing herself to buy inexpensive clothes and shoes. I tried to save at least a small part of the money for a
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rainy day. At the age of seventeen, she went to
work as a waitress in a cafe near her home. She worked there until that time until she got a job as a junior assistant at Polaris.
A year ago, Elvira appeared in Arkady’s life. Kira didn’t like her either. Elvira turned out to be a greedy, imperious and quick–tempered woman. In addition, she skillfully knew how to keep Arkady under his heel. She dreamed of only one thing – to marry Kira’s stepfather and get the three–room apartment in which he lived into unlimited possession. She did not need a stepdaughter at all, especially considering that this stepdaughter had some rights to the apartment.
Fortunately, Arkady was in no hurry to take Elvira to the registry office. But Kira understood
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that this event was not far off. The stronger their relationship became, the more difficult it was for her. Kira felt calm in the house only when Arkady set off for the next flight. He worked as a truck driver and was often away for days or even weeks.
For the last couple of weeks, there were no orders, so my stepfather was furious and diligently took out his anger on Kira:
– Bought yogurt again! It would be better if she saved money, but gave it to Elvira for the household! he raged.
“Actually, we have been eating separately for a long time,” she tried to reason with her stepfather.
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– You would better remember how much I fed you, watered, dressed you! There is no return, “Arkady continued to yell.
“I have been feeding and dressing myself for a long time,” Kira retorted.
– Girls at your age already help their parents with might and main, they bring home a salary. And you, pigalina, got a job in an incomprehensible place, and you also hide your income! It would be better if she remained a waitress, at least she brought food home!
Thank you, I already ran with a tray. You are not required to feed. Not invalids,” Kira hissed angrily.
“You’re not rude to me here, otherwise you’ll
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fly out of the house alive!” Arkady continued to advance.
This apartment was bought by my father! I have every right to live here!
When the stepfather was in such a state, it was better to just leave, but the unloved stepdaughter was terribly tired of swallowing insults and hiding in the corners.
Kira dreamed of the time when she could get rid of the hated society. Unfortunately, this is not expected in the foreseeable future. Arkady would rather eat his own worn–out hat than agree to an apartment exchange. And the salary she now received was barely enough for food and basic necessities, not to mention the ability to rent other housing. In the future, you will still
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have to buy a bunch of different supplies for study, but that’s later.
In the last six months, Kira failed to enroll in the coveted interior design courses at KIID (College of Fine Art and Design). The college was very expensive, but famous for its good teaching staff. They gave fundamental knowledge, and there was also the possibility of an evening form of education, which suited her perfectly.
Kira understood that she could not pull up full–time education at the university, because then she would not be able to work, but she had to eat something, dress, live somehow. There was no one to help her. Correspondence education was valued many times less.
The competition for budget places at KIID was
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incredibly huge, even though they recruited students twice a year: in July and December. Kira tried to enter KIID twice already, both times unsuccessfully. The admissions office advised her to try her luck in the next semester, which she was going to do. Worst case, go somewhere else.
–
You have no rights! Arkady finally broke up. “Just dare to say something against me!”
“I’ll sue you!” Let’s see then who has rights and who does not! Kira hissed and, without waiting for an answer, rushed to her room.
I quickly left things in my bag, took a laptop and retreated. Vicious curses followed her.
She went far. In the same entrance, one floor
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above, lived Kira’s beloved friend, Alexandra Kovaleva. Sasha lived in the same three–room apartment together with her mother. Kira often ran into the light.
– I’m glad you’re home! She smiled and hugged her friend.
As long as Kira could remember herself, Sasha was always there. They have been friends since kindergarten. Sasha didn’t look like a friend at all. She always cut her brown hair under a square, wore glasses and did not differ in a slender figure. Most of all, Sasha was interested in makeup and… economics. Kira still couldn’t figure out how these two items could coexist together. But she loved it when Sasha did her makeup.
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– I see you with a bag. Stepfather is raging again? – Sasha noticed, letting her friend into the apartment.
– Not that word. I went through all my favorite topics, “Kira answered and walked into the kitchen. – Can I stay with you today?
– No problem, curly! – so Sasha called Kira. Mom was baking a cake just before leaving. We will drink tea.
Has Aunt Anya left again? Kira asked.
– It is more often not present than it is lately. You know.
Sasha turned on the electric kettle and began to cut the ruddy apple pie.
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By the way, are you going to a corporate party? Sasha asked. – Like said, he today.
“Yeah,” Kira sighed tiredly.
– What are you sad about? It’s great. You will have fun, you will communicate with people, – Sasha encouraged her friend, laying out the treat on plates. – Not all the same, you have to work and endlessly prepare for admission. Did you take the dress?
“Got it,” Kira smiled. – The red one.
