Interview.

I'm not going anywhere! "The squarest state," my foot... it's all nonsense. They have square heads, the Americans... I just can't get the hang of their English, no matter what, so what now? I know: the consul was supposed to ask the most elementary questions, but apparently, I got a difficult one... And anyway, I was still sleepy at that embassy. Fine, let it go, it's not a big deal. I won't have to take exams early – I'll prepare properly... Or wait, no, I won't – I'll leave everything to the last moment, as always. Just like now, with the interview at the consulate... And there's no point in making excuses, it's my own fault... Sigh... At least Mom will be happy; she keeps sighing that it will be hard for her without me in the summer. Of course it will be hard. And I'll be skateboarding with my friends. Every single day! All in all, it's all pros! Damn, why does it hurt so much?!

Yeah, everyone back on the bus, we're leaving, I hear. It's disgusting to see how happy everyone is... It hurts like hell! Well, nothing, grit your teeth, clench your fists, get a grip, and get on the bus, it's a bit cold for mid-April. That's it, in my seat. Outside the window, it's gray, cloudy. Maybe it's different there... I shove the job offer into my briefcase. And it almost worked! They found me such a good job, as a waiter in a cafe, and in the evenings – a bartender in a club. But who even needs Kansas? The squarest state... it's all nonsense! But there's sun there... and not just in the sky... the people there are different... they smile at everyone, acquaintances, strangers – it doesn't matter. Everyone says it's hypocrisy and fakeness... So what? Maybe there's little sincerity in this habit, but if you answer their greeting with the eternal "How are you today?" five times a day, saying that everything is super, you'll slowly start to believe it yourself, even if everything is bad. Such a little mood booster, no need to go to a psychoanalyst! I could definitely use one right now.

Let's go... Where's the player... yeah. Need to turn it up louder – I'll get distracted. What are they saying? Congratulating us, probably, what good boys and girls we all are! Ha! I hope they don't call out the names of those who didn't pass. No, thank God! Home, home quickly and sleep!

Home.

• Don't be upset, okay, please? Will it really be bad for us two here? Have we ever been bored before? – that's Mom. She made my favorite solyanka. I'm devouring it just to talk less. She's calming me down, she's worried. Of course, it's not bad. I just want something new, bright, independent! What can I say: "typical youthful maximalism." All the symptoms are there: the desire to say: here I am, one of a kind, I can do anything!, to prove that I will achieve success on my own, that I don't need help, multiplied by head-in-the-clouds dreaming and throwing lightning bolts. Now I've come down from the clouds to earth. It hurts.
• Everything is fine, Mom. I'm not going to that interview.
  Yes, there will be another interview in May, a second chance, so to speak. I don't need any more chances. It's not meant to be, that's all. Maybe I'm a fatalist? )
• By the way, you got a letter while you were in Moscow. I put it on the table.
  A letter, that's news! Who even writes letters nowadays?! Wouldn't it be easier to send a message on VK or ICQ? I would have called back on Skype if it was urgent. We would have discussed everything in a moment. And the letter, when was it even sent... A few weeks ago, probably... Outdated information. Nothing interesting.
• Do you know who it's from? – I ask lazily. Probably just another advertisement...
• There's only your name and our address on the envelope.
  Exactly, an advertisement... Boredom.
• Okay, Mom. I'm going for a walk.
  I take my skateboard and leave the house. Wind in my hair. Music at full volume. Time slipping through my fingers. I ride along the embankment, down the avenue to the square... It's already getting dark. Time to go back, tomorrow is the first lecture, and I can't be late. Need to get some sleep.

Morning.

Letter. The letter on the table. Won't let me sleep. And why did I even read it? This can't be. It's a mistake. It's the wrong address... or the wrong recipient. It's not for me. It just can't be for me. I should have thrown it away. 4 a.m. When is it time to get up. For the first lecture. Just yesterday it seemed monstrously early. And now I can't wait. So be it, I'll go to the first lecture. It's English. I will listen. I will try to speak. I promise. I can learn it... it's not Japanese, after all! At least I'll brush up a bit so I don't get lost in America. Or, first of all, to pass the interview to get to this America... To find her. And for his sake too. For the sake of the one who wrote this letter. I already love him.

And what if it's a prank? A stupid joke?! What kind of imagination must one have! Sick, probably... Even if it's a prank, it won't get any worse. I wish it were 6 already. First lecture and that's it. And run to sign up for courses at CMO. They say native speakers hold classes there. If even native speakers don't help, then I don't know!.. No, everything will definitely work out. I have to do this.

Finally, the alarm clock!

Letter.

Hi, Daddy!!! You don't know me yet... And you won't for another ten years, but I love you even as such an "ignoramus." You're the one who taught me that word. You're my great translator and linguist, and I'm proud of you! Someday, I'll know as many languages as you do, I promise! You know, you're so funny! I can literally see you frowning and shaking your head! You're about 20 now, right? I saw you in a photo in such wide jeans and a loose t-shirt with the sign of either a politician or someone else. I remembered – his name is Batman. I don't really understand who that is yet, but I know he's as strong as you. You beat me at cyber-ball all the time! But I forgive you. I'm still faster on the moto-horses, and there's nothing you can do about it!

I love you very much, Daddy. And I love Mom too. Yesterday you told me that 20 years ago you had a very bad day. Probably one of those when you lock yourself in your office and listen to that terrible music-poetry... I remembered – hip-hop! You and Mom had some tastes! Quiet horror. So, you said that only my letter could cheer you up, in which I would tell you how we live... how we are all happy together! The main thing is to check it in the spell checker later, otherwise you'll be ashamed of my mistakes. My languages just get a little mixed up in my head, you know? You probably had that too! You know, English and German are fine, but what to do with Russian conjugations? I have no idea! That's exactly why you insisted that I write in Russian – extra practice of knowledge, you say. And how do you and Mom speak it so easily?!

Daddy, I have good news for you! Tomorrow I'm going to Japan for the first time under the new CMO school program. You must remember it, you and Mom flew to America together on it. And now we live here. We have the best state! Because it's the squarest! I love geometry. It's a pity we've already finished the whole course. You always told me that you recognized Mom right away on the plane and swapped seats with some boy to sit next to her. I've seen many of your photos. The 2009 album is my favorite. You look very funny there, honestly. You're all tanned, and Mommy has such amazing shining green eyes! That's why I couldn't wait to fly to another country myself and find many new friends there. Na Li, who I'll be staying with, says that everything will work out for me. She just left. I completely forgot, you didn't have phones where a projection of the person you're talking to comes to visit. You can even give her tea. I think that's much better than your prehistoric phones! (even mobile ones. They aren't mobile at all, by the way, I think they're just hulks!) Well, okay, I won't reveal all the secrets to you, otherwise it won't be interesting later, right?

We went to the movies today. The main character even let me steer his yacht, and you participated in a real shootout! Great!

Today we spent the whole day packing my backpack for the trip with Mom, only the most necessary equipment and a folding wardrobe. I promise I'll bring you some gift and take many "live photos." They are, you know, sort of three-dimensional, and you can capture much more in the frame. Only the sound sometimes glitches... But don't think I'm complaining, not at all.

Mom says I shouldn't get too carried away with all sorts of technical novelties... She's conservative, she even cooks herself, although we gave her a bunch of things for the kitchen. But it's really tastier that way! She says the main thing is not what changes, but what remains through the years. I don't understand, Dad, what remains? Almost every day scientists invent something new. Isn't development the main thing? Look: now any point on Earth is available for travel. In a matter of minutes, or, in extreme cases, hours, you're in a new place. There are no borders, they're just for show. CMO works with the government and introduces new laws about the friendship of all peoples. That's the most important thing, I think.

Well, also that I love you very much and will miss you in Japan! Although I'll be stopping by for Mom's pastries every evening! I promise!

Airplane.

He was right. My son was right. Here she is – the girl with amazingly bright eyes and a shy smile! And she's going to the same state! Maybe I really am a fatalist! ))

I'll definitely have to explain to him... later, that the main thing, as it is, will remain communication, true friendship, mutual love, which no technical gimmicks can replace. And it all starts with a simple smile.

• Hi, my name is Lera.
• And I'm Vova, can I sit next to you?
• Of course!
  We take off from the ground. Towards the sky. The sun. The squarest state. A new home. We are flying towards happiness.

I clench the letter in my pocket, close my eyes, and smile.

CMO, thank you for giving so many smiles. I'm sure you will continue to give them for many more years – that certainly won't change!!!

P.S. Everything as always – at the last moment! ;)