Chapter 3: Coming of Age
I didn't celebrate my sixteenth birthday on the actual fourth day of Spring that I was born on, it was pushed two days later to the weekend, this way even my friend from the academy could attend. It was a small affair of Nastya, Ira, Lana, and Mary sitting at the table eating good food and toasting with their 'first' so to speak taste of champagne.
My sister popped in to snap a short video recording on the records orb to send my mom, and thankfully bowed out to give us privacy. After we were properly filled up on food and bubbly, the "mature" versions of Anastasiya (Nastya), Iryna (Ira), Svitlana (Lana), and Maryia (Mary) begun getting ready to go out.
We all had permission to go to the club, but not the bar tonight, despite Lana and Ira yet to have their sixteenth birthdays: since they were spring babies too, we were all allowed to go out today for the first time together. Sadly only till midnight.
It was Mary's firs time as well, since she was usually stuck studying in the academy and didn't have a chance to celebrate her birthday besides lunch with here visiting parents.
Sadly, the weather was a bit chilly, so bulky winter jackets covered our pretty summer dresses, with knee length leather boots completing the miss-mash ensemble my confidence level took a few hits and was slowly declining.
We were all prompt to get inside the club exactly at ten when the club opened. As we walked in through giant double doors, we were left speechless. The huge room was empty, there wasn't even anyone on the stage in front of us, that stage was used for town events and performances. So we assumed that's where equipment should be.
Not even music to dance to! The moment we thought that we got here on the wrong day, wondering why mister Trotsky sold us tickets at the door, the music begun blasting through the boom boxes. Turns out ten is the time Mr. Trotsky gets in and opens the door, and his son sets up his DJ gramophone on the balcony above us across from the stage. When the boom boxes went off suspended a floor above us, all four of gave off a spooked yelp. We kind of had an awkward dance, with just four of us in small circle, in the corner next to the entrance of the dainty old dance hall and then sat in the chairs that were pushed to the side of the room.
We were getting a bit depressed, thinking no one was coming. Turns out people begun coming in around ten thirty-eleven. By eleven o-clock it was getting packed and vibrant with people, I was surprised at how well the pre-war wood floors took all the jumping and stomping of the crowd, must have been reinforced with magic.
A little after eleven the party was pumping, everyone was jumping to the rhythm of songs and having great sweaty time. We took a little break on the chairs next to us where our jackets rested. We were still in the corner, turns out perimeter of the dance hall was prime real estate for seats, breaks, and stuff storage. The dance hall was unheated, and we were all bundled up at the beginning, but by now everyone was losing layers of clothing.
"Who's that handsomness?" Ira asked gawking. I looked at the door located next to our corner, with perfect view of everyone walking in and taking a few minutes deciding which direction to flow into. Turns out it was my turn to know!
"That's Vasya!"
"Vasya?"
"Yeah, Vasiliy lives on my street, we played together as kids. Most of my childhood kid-neighbors are gone now for study or army. I guess he's four years older than me…." I mused. I saw her mesmerized, and I could see why, he was tall, extra tall. And since I know how self-conscious she felt about her height he'd be perfect dance partner for her!
"Give me a second!" and I ran towards him before she could sound a protest.
"Vasya! Vasiliy! You back!!!" I screamed over loud music.
"Yeah, I just got back yesterday he answered with a lazy smile." The youthful fluffiness he had growing up was gone, now he was lean and muscular, with a little sharp edge, army turned him into a fine male specimen.
"Hey, if you're not meeting anyone wanna dance with us? I would live to listen to your army stories!" I asked with a bright smile. He looked at me, considered for a second and said:
"Yeah, why not?"
We headed back to where my friends were. Ira was speechless when I introduced him, almost gawking. We talked a bit during song change breaks, when it wasn't too loud. When Vasya found out that it was my sixteenth birthday celebration, he excused himself for a bit. He came back about ten minutes later, smuggling in a bottle of vine under his jacked and five edible corn cups. So, we toasted in secret to my health again. The strong and bitter cheap vine hit our heads hard, pretty soon we were partying much harder, my feet were screaming in pain from dancing.
I was happy to see Ira loosen up and was merrily chatting up with Vasya, Lana and I were average sized, but next to the two we looked like shorties, with Mary who was half a head shorter than us appearing to be a munchkin. Whatever they were talking about literally went over our heads half the time due to noise and different stratosphere. They looked giddy so it was all good in the end.
Sadly, the midnight arrived all too soon, and four sour-looking Cinderellas had to get ready and go home when the party was at it fun peak. Vasya offered to walk us home, since I lived closest to the club, I was going to be dropped of first, then Mary who lived a street away from me, then Lana, with Ira being the last. I was secretly happy it all worked out so nice in her favor when I said my goodbyes for the night.
Next day I woke up to all muscles being sore, everything was aching, my whole body whined at every move I made, but desire to go dancing pulsed through my veins now.
My sister was a bit taken back about me talking about what should I wear next weekend.
"It doesn't mean you get to go out every weekend now, sixteen is still not an adult!" She said firmly.
"Well, I seem to remember mom talking about how you were following brother to the club when you were just twelve, so sixteen ain't that young." I laughed back. With my sister going red and speechless, my unofficial permission was granted. But I better not stay past midnight, boundaries are meant to be pushed slowly.
Weekly Power Status
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