A birthday present

The days go by. I worry for my brother but Evgeny does his best to cheer me up. It feels like no time at all when my birthday arrives.

“Happy birthday, Tatyana.” Yeva tells me. “You’ve come a long way.”

“Thank you, Yeva.”

“Are you excited to be getting out of here tomorrow?”

“Absolutely.” I tell her with a smile.

“I’m going to miss you.” She tells me. “Evgeny too, and tell your hunk of a brother that he had better write me a letter as soon as you see him again!”

“I will.”

“And I want a picture of him.”

She begins to walk away.

“Yeva.”

“Yes?”

“I’m okay to engage in activities now, right?”

“Activities?” Yeva smirks, and looks over at Evgeny on the other side of the room. “Yes, that’s what the doctors said. Have fun.”

Yeva walks off, and Evgeny comes over to me.

“There’s the birthday girl!” Evgeny says with a smile.

“Hey!” I greet him, getting up to hug him. “Do you know what I heard today?”

“What is that?”

“I’m ready.” I whisper hungrily in his ear. “You can give me my birthday present tonight.”

“I hope you’re ready for it.” Evgeny flirts. “There’s something else happening today, too.”

“Something else?”

“I received a message earlier.”

“A message?”

“My superiors are sending somebody to come and meet you today.”

“When?” I ask.

“About an hour from now.”

“Oh Evgeny, I’m so excited! Do you know what this means? I must have gotten in!”

“We’ll have wait and find out.”

We do wait. I’m so excited, my impatience building. Finally, Yeva approaches us.

“Tatyana, Evgeny!” She says excitedly.

“What is it, Yeva?”

“There’s a man here to see you, a commissar! Look your best, I think he might be important!”

“We’re coming.” I tell her, and quickly straighten myself. Evgeny and I follow Yeva to the entrance of the bay and walk through the doors.

A commissar stands before us.

“Good afternoon, comrade commissar.” I greet him.

“You must be comrade Kulikova.” He says, and shakes my hand, nodding politely.

“I am, comrade commissar.”

“Comrade Vasilevsky has told many great things about you, and has assured us that you would be a great asset.” The commissar explains. “He has also told us that today is your birthday, is this correct?”

“Yes, comrade commissar.”

“And how old are you today?”

“Twenty, comrade commissar.”

“To be young!” The commissar laughs. “It so happens that I have brought you something today!”

The commissar steps to the side towards an empty gurney and picks up a rifle. I gasp at the sight of it.

“A brand new sniper rifle, with a three and a half times telescopic sight!” He announces, presenting it.

“It’s beautiful.” I tell him, reaching out to touch it and take it from his hands. I’m in love with the red color of the stock.

“Beautiful, indeed! The pride of Soviet engineering!” The commissar tells me. “Consider it a gift from Comrade Stalin himself!”

I open the bolt to peek inside, and it feels a million times smoother than the old, beat up piece of shit I used to have. I look at a few markings on the receiver.

“Where was this rifle made?” I ask.

Evgeny leans over my shoulder. “Tula.” He says. “You can tell by this star.”

“This was made in Tula?” I gasp.

“Yes, comrade, there is a mighty factory there, where thousands of these are made!” The commissar explains. “The very best ones are chosen to be fitted with scopes, and placed in able hands like yours.”

“I know about the armory, comrade commissar, my sister works there!” I tell him. “She could have made this!”

“It is poetic, yes? The mighty Soviet people working together as a big family!”

“Thank you, comrade commissar!”

“You can thank me by putting it to good use!” The commissar assures me. “Besides, you’ll need it where you’re going!”

My eyes light up. “Are you sending me to the new sniper school?” I ask excitedly.

“No.” He says. “I’m sending you across the river.”

My jaw drops, my throat burns. All of the color fades from my face.

The commissar chuckles. “You will have on the job training!”