My Fairy-Tale Side Job

Nothing foreshadowed trouble. Although the Christmas tree ornament in the shape of a red ball gave an opaque hint at where it would be best not to go, I was so worn out that, in an unconscious state, I failed to catch the warning sign and flew off into the strange family of Santa Claus. Along the way I found a side job, love, the meaning of life—and… солянка pickled soup (rassolnik).