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la_samtyrpre-XFiles, Alex Krycek
"Birthday Boy"
It was winter. Alex loved the winter. Of course, it was always cold in Russia but winter was a special kind of cold. Most importantly of all, winter meant it was time for Alex's birthday.
Alex had been born in Moscow, but the only home he had ever know was in Voskresensk. Mama and Papa did *Important Work* at one of the factories there, but Alex had no idea what that work was. All he knew was when Mama and Papa finally came home, he felt almost sick with relief. Alex's biggest fear was that someday they would be gone and he would never see them again.
Alex's favorite time of the year was winter because that was when he had his birthday. Mama always told him that St. Nicholas had brought him late one night. Since Alex knew he had been born on St. Nicholas' feast day, it must be true. Even though *The Government* frowned on any sort of religious nonsense.
But Alex also knew that birthdays meant presents and a special supper that Mama would fix just for him. Alex was hoping that Papa had been listening to the hints he had just happened to mention in the last few months. Papa must have heard him, even if he claimed he had no idea what to get his big boy. Alex liked that, too. It meant he was growing up fast and that someday he would be able to do exactly what he wanted, just like the rest of the grown-ups.
The important thing to Alex was that his 5th birthday was almost here and he had yet to discover where his present might be hidden. Alex's finest talent was getting into things that little boys shouldn't get into in the first place.
Alex hadn't found anything yet though, and he was beginning to wonder if maybe St. Nicholas was going to bring him a baby brother or a baby sister this year. He'd put in enough requests over the years and it was about time St. Nicholas listened to one of them. Though the saint did have an excellent track record for bringing him other things.
In the meantime, he was busy looking to see if Mama was getting ready to fix his birthday supper. Discretely, of course. He knew Mama wanted to surprise him, but he could not resist peeking in the packages anyway. Besides, Mama had promised him he could help her fix the Stolichny cake this year. After all, he was going to be five years old and he was very good at measuring ingredients and stirring them up, even if he did spill a lot. Everyone knew spills were to be licked up as soon as possible.
So when Mama and Papa arrived at the daycare, Alex knew something was up. Something big. But it couldn't be anything bad, because Mama and Papa were too happy. So that made Alex happy too.
They hurried home, where Papa helped Mama and Alex in the kitchen. Alex couldn't remember ever being quite so happy before and he was so happy he was almost scared. Alex knew that being *too* happy was not necessarily A Good Thing but he wasn't sure why this should be so. But as the kitchen filled with the good cooking smells, Alex soon forgot his worries.
While they waited for the meal to finish cooking, Alex managed to talk his parents into a quick game of cards. They didn't often have a chance to be together like this and Alex secretly hoped that this day would last forever--or at least, that it would last forever right after the meal was finished.
Finally, Mama decided that it was time to set the table. Alex even helped carry some things to the table, a sure sign that he was growing up. The meal was wonderful and Alex ate as if he were starving. Of course, Alex knew it was because his Mama was the best cook in the entire world. At last the remains of the meal were cleared away and the wonderful Stolichny cake was placed in the center of the table. But it appeared there was to be something more as well. Alex felt a shiver of anticipation when he saw Papa get out the good glasses and open a rare bottle of wine that had been placed on ice. Alex knew that this wine was called 'champagne', since Papa had shown him the bottles one afternoon and explained to him that he must never open them without his Papa's permission. Alex had nodded dutifully and promised because he was a good little boy and when a little boy is four (almost five), it is easy to make and keep promises.
Alex watched fascinatedly as Papa filled two glasses with champagne and looked over at Mama, his eyes raised in question. Mama didn't say a word but Alex knew she had answered Papa. Alex wished he understood this secret language of grownups but he was certain that he would someday. Papa reached into the cupboard and removed a third, matching glass and poured a small amount of the pale sparkling liquid in it before he handed it to Alex. Alex had never held one of the good glasses before, not ever, so he tried to make his fingers hold the glass just like his Papa did.
"We have good news, Alexei my love," Mama said. "Very good news."
"Saint Nicholas is going to bring me a baby brother," Alex cried, nearly spilling his glass in his excitement.
"Not this year, Alexei." Papa replied. "And no baby sister either." he said, forestalling Alex's next question. Again he and Mama talked with their eyes before Mama continued."Perhaps next year."
"We are going to live in America, Alexei." Papa said. "All of us, together."
"Ooooh," breathed Alex, his eyes round with excitement. "Where will we live? When will we go?"
"It is still being arranged, Alexei. But very soon. Papa and I have Important Work we must do."
Alex nodded soberly. He didn't like the Important Work--it always made him feel scared, as if Baba Yaga was secretly watching him, waiting to snatch him away and gobble him up. But Papa and Mama both looked happy, so Alex was happy too. Nothing bad could happen on a birthday.
"A toast then, my Alexei. To America." His papa raised his glass and held it toward the center of the table,
"To America." Mama raised her glass, and touched it to Papa's glass. Then they both turned toward, him waiting with a question in their eyes. But just this once Alex understood their question and knew what to do.
"To 'merica," Alex replied stretching his little arm as far as he could. Papa and Mama both touched their glasses to his and he tapped theirs as well.
Papa and Mama both took a long sip from their glasses but when Alex tried a sip, he choked and sputtered at the taste. He looked at them quizzically, wondering why Papa had made him promise never to touch it in the first place. It was awful!
"That's alright, Alexei," Papa told him. "Here, have some nice hot cocoa with your birthday cake."
So Alex did, and that was the happiest birthday he ever had.
"Birthday Boy"
It was winter. Alex loved the winter. Of course, it was always cold in Russia but winter was a special kind of cold. Most importantly of all, winter meant it was time for Alex's birthday.
Alex had been born in Moscow, but the only home he had ever know was in Voskresensk. Mama and Papa did *Important Work* at one of the factories there, but Alex had no idea what that work was. All he knew was when Mama and Papa finally came home, he felt almost sick with relief. Alex's biggest fear was that someday they would be gone and he would never see them again.
Alex's favorite time of the year was winter because that was when he had his birthday. Mama always told him that St. Nicholas had brought him late one night. Since Alex knew he had been born on St. Nicholas' feast day, it must be true. Even though *The Government* frowned on any sort of religious nonsense.
But Alex also knew that birthdays meant presents and a special supper that Mama would fix just for him. Alex was hoping that Papa had been listening to the hints he had just happened to mention in the last few months. Papa must have heard him, even if he claimed he had no idea what to get his big boy. Alex liked that, too. It meant he was growing up fast and that someday he would be able to do exactly what he wanted, just like the rest of the grown-ups.
The important thing to Alex was that his 5th birthday was almost here and he had yet to discover where his present might be hidden. Alex's finest talent was getting into things that little boys shouldn't get into in the first place.
Alex hadn't found anything yet though, and he was beginning to wonder if maybe St. Nicholas was going to bring him a baby brother or a baby sister this year. He'd put in enough requests over the years and it was about time St. Nicholas listened to one of them. Though the saint did have an excellent track record for bringing him other things.
In the meantime, he was busy looking to see if Mama was getting ready to fix his birthday supper. Discretely, of course. He knew Mama wanted to surprise him, but he could not resist peeking in the packages anyway. Besides, Mama had promised him he could help her fix the Stolichny cake this year. After all, he was going to be five years old and he was very good at measuring ingredients and stirring them up, even if he did spill a lot. Everyone knew spills were to be licked up as soon as possible.
So when Mama and Papa arrived at the daycare, Alex knew something was up. Something big. But it couldn't be anything bad, because Mama and Papa were too happy. So that made Alex happy too.
They hurried home, where Papa helped Mama and Alex in the kitchen. Alex couldn't remember ever being quite so happy before and he was so happy he was almost scared. Alex knew that being *too* happy was not necessarily A Good Thing but he wasn't sure why this should be so. But as the kitchen filled with the good cooking smells, Alex soon forgot his worries.
While they waited for the meal to finish cooking, Alex managed to talk his parents into a quick game of cards. They didn't often have a chance to be together like this and Alex secretly hoped that this day would last forever--or at least, that it would last forever right after the meal was finished.
Finally, Mama decided that it was time to set the table. Alex even helped carry some things to the table, a sure sign that he was growing up. The meal was wonderful and Alex ate as if he were starving. Of course, Alex knew it was because his Mama was the best cook in the entire world. At last the remains of the meal were cleared away and the wonderful Stolichny cake was placed in the center of the table. But it appeared there was to be something more as well. Alex felt a shiver of anticipation when he saw Papa get out the good glasses and open a rare bottle of wine that had been placed on ice. Alex knew that this wine was called 'champagne', since Papa had shown him the bottles one afternoon and explained to him that he must never open them without his Papa's permission. Alex had nodded dutifully and promised because he was a good little boy and when a little boy is four (almost five), it is easy to make and keep promises.
Alex watched fascinatedly as Papa filled two glasses with champagne and looked over at Mama, his eyes raised in question. Mama didn't say a word but Alex knew she had answered Papa. Alex wished he understood this secret language of grownups but he was certain that he would someday. Papa reached into the cupboard and removed a third, matching glass and poured a small amount of the pale sparkling liquid in it before he handed it to Alex. Alex had never held one of the good glasses before, not ever, so he tried to make his fingers hold the glass just like his Papa did.
"We have good news, Alexei my love," Mama said. "Very good news."
"Saint Nicholas is going to bring me a baby brother," Alex cried, nearly spilling his glass in his excitement.
"Not this year, Alexei." Papa replied. "And no baby sister either." he said, forestalling Alex's next question. Again he and Mama talked with their eyes before Mama continued."Perhaps next year."
"We are going to live in America, Alexei." Papa said. "All of us, together."
"Ooooh," breathed Alex, his eyes round with excitement. "Where will we live? When will we go?"
"It is still being arranged, Alexei. But very soon. Papa and I have Important Work we must do."
Alex nodded soberly. He didn't like the Important Work--it always made him feel scared, as if Baba Yaga was secretly watching him, waiting to snatch him away and gobble him up. But Papa and Mama both looked happy, so Alex was happy too. Nothing bad could happen on a birthday.
"A toast then, my Alexei. To America." His papa raised his glass and held it toward the center of the table,
"To America." Mama raised her glass, and touched it to Papa's glass. Then they both turned toward, him waiting with a question in their eyes. But just this once Alex understood their question and knew what to do.
"To 'merica," Alex replied stretching his little arm as far as he could. Papa and Mama both touched their glasses to his and he tapped theirs as well.
Papa and Mama both took a long sip from their glasses but when Alex tried a sip, he choked and sputtered at the taste. He looked at them quizzically, wondering why Papa had made him promise never to touch it in the first place. It was awful!
"That's alright, Alexei," Papa told him. "Here, have some nice hot cocoa with your birthday cake."
So Alex did, and that was the happiest birthday he ever had.
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