The Late Child

The story is told from the perspective of Lenya—a late child. A happy family, where the second child had been expected for 16 years. “Early children appear quickly—on their own, like entries in a diary—if you’ve gone to school.” Lyudmila (Lenya’s older sister, an architect) was going on a six-month business trip with her fiancé (Ivan), while her father—the cheerful joker that never loses heart—had a heart attack. Ivan left alone, and then happened what was bound to happen to young people when they were separated. He returned almost married.