—— We Were Young ——93Dear Mum!
Don’t be surprised that I am not writing myself. It’s
deliberate!
I’m back on a training course again. I’m living in
Leningrad. I sleep in barracks, on a real bed, just like
in peacetime!
How long I’ll be here, I don’t know yet. Possibly a
month. I’ll find out in the next few days and write.
I’ve got to know a nice girl here. We’ve become
friends. She’s called Tina, and her full name is Melitina
Nikolaevna. I would like to show her our town of
Tambov after the war. Maybe she’ll like it? She’s already
promised.
‘What’s this you’re making up, Yevgeni? I’m not writing any
more! There’s not a word of truth in the letter. How can you do
that? And what is it you’re saying I’ve already promised you?’
‘I can and I have to write like that right now, Tina! You’ve no
idea what my mother’s like. She’ll walk all the way to Leningrad
if she finds out that I’m wounded. Why upset her? Let her have a
peaceful life; it’s not easy for her as it is. So, shall we carry on?’
‘Go on, then.. .’
Well, Mum, that’s enough for today. We’ll write more
often now: both on my own and together with Tina.
Write to her address. She works in the hospital next
door.
The whole hospital loved Tina. And it was impossible not to
love her. I loved her too... But, knowing about her fiancé, I did not
confess my love. I jokingly called her my little sister, would not let
anyone upset her, and did not upset her myself.
Later, when I had recovered and returned to the regiment,
Tina and I often corresponded. And whenever I happened to
be in Leningrad on army business, I found time to call in at the
Monastery of Saint Alexander Nevsky and visit Tina and her