On the job in the communications room

It’s been about a week or so, and I feel that I’m getting the hang of my new job. It’s a mixture of listening in on the enemy with a radio, translating letters, secretary work, and running petty errands for both Kozlov and Fedorov.

I’m sitting on a stool at the radio, my fingers ready to type out what I hear when the heavy stench of cigar smoke, fish, and vodka overtakes me. I feel a pair of meaty hands rest on my shoulders and gently massage them. A fat belly presses against my back.

“You look very nice in your new uniform, Tatyana.” I hear Fedorov’s gravelly voice say to me.

“Thank you, comrade commissar.” I say nervously, looking down at myself in a greenish brown shirt and knee length skirt, and a pair of high black leather boots. I’m sure that Fedorov arranged to make sure they found me a set that was so form-fitting.

He rubs my shoulders again and looks down at me. I take my headset off and place it in front of me before looking back and up at him.

“Do you have that report that I asked for?” He asks, stroking my bare neck with the back of his greasy fingers.

“Yes, comrade commissar.” I answer, reaching for the papers I had prepared. “Here it is.”

“Very nice.” He says, softly playing with the end of my ponytail. “You’re catching on very quickly. I sure am glad to have you on my staff.”

He moves his hands back to my shoulders and rubs them again. I sit there in discomfort. “I’ll be seeing you very soon, Tatyana.”

He gives me his signature smirk with the cocked eyebrow before he turns and leaves the room. He’s been trying to touch me or get close to me every chance he’s had for the last week, brushing up against me, or putting a hand on my arm or shoulder. This, however, is the boldest that he has been so far. I put my headset back on, turn back to the radio, and worry about where he might want to take this.

I listen for another hour or so, and nothing significant happens. That’s the usual story. Nothing ever happens. This might be the most boring job in existence.

I see a hand holding a paper rest on the desk next to me, and turn to see Kozlov standing over me. He puts his other hand on the small of my back and gently scratches me with his fingers. He looks deeply into my eyes from behind his spectacles.

“Kulikova, I need you to bring this note to the supply room.” He says to me.

“Yes, Lieutenant.” I say to him as I stand up and take the paper from him. “I’ll take it there right away.”

I set the paper down and pick up my garrison cap. I take a second to straighten the red star on the front of it before putting it on my head.

“It looks good on you.” He says awkwardly, motioning to my cap.

I look back at him, expressionless, before taking the paper off the desk.

“Alright.” He says, trying to break the uncomfortable silence. “I have something that I need to get to.”

“I will go now.” I tell him.

He gives me a pat on my upper back and an awkward smile before I turn and leave. I already know where his eyes are as I walk away.