Since Mama was from the near Moscow region, a train ride to Moscow was always a pleasant journey for her. Of course she took me with her. I still remember how they coupled a steam locomotive to the train! Ah, those times! In the evening we boarded the train, and in the morning we approached Moscow. And when I saw the MGU building, I already waited excitedly for the meeting with Grandfather.
Lean, sinewy, bald (he shaved his head with a captured German straight razor). He called it “dangerous.” Very sharp indeed! And before every shave he “stropped” it on a wide military leather belt. Of shirts he recognised only dark sateen kosovorotkas, a black cap or a ushanka, a quilted jacket. Quilted jackets are probably a Soviet invention. A very necessary thing.
And Mama, stepping off the train, looked wonderful! She knew how to sew and specially for the trip to Moscow sewed herself clothes. And she did not forget me. Everything on me was pretty! Happy minutes of meeting! … Mama planned to run around the shops: GUM, TSUM, Detsky Mir (goods were always better in Moscow), go to a museum, to the theatre, see her girlfriends.
But it turned out that, arriving in the family home, Grandmother harnessed her to housework, while she herself worked at the factory and was also a public activist. And Mama managed, perhaps, a couple of trips into Moscow and also to fill the orders of the neighbours in the barracks. In short, to please everyone.
I remember she brought vobla from Moscow in big string-bags — at that time there were no polyethylene bags. Vobla is a well-dried river fish, about 20 cm. Perhaps the reader knows another name — taranka… The same thing. Now this fish is sold one at a time by small traders. And then they sold it “by weight,” that is they weighed it, so people carried it out in huge string-bags. And Mama too “supplied” the whole barracks, without making any profit. Nothing but trouble! Neighbours also ordered her to bring things for the children. She carried it all out diligently. But not everyone was satisfied….