"A Child's Wish" ~ Day One, The 12 Days of Christmas

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Written neatly in Cyrillic on a wrinkled piece of paper, the child Illya Kuryakin wrote a letter to Ded Moroz, with only one request...

Дорогой Дед Мороз, я надеюсь, что вы и ваша внучка хорошо в этом году.Я хотел бы спросить вас о чем-то. Я был хорошим мальчиком, в основном, за исключением лужи грязи и очистки курятник. Я не хочу это для меня на самом деле, это больше для мамы. Пожалуйста, возьмите спапой и Димитрий дом безопасным? Это все, что я хочу на Рождество.

Спасибо,

Илья Николаевич

Dear Grandfather Frost, I hope you and your granddaughter, Snegurochka, are well this year. I would like to ask you for something. I have been a good boy, mostly, except for the mud puddles and cleaning out the chicken coop. I do not want anything for me really, it is for Mama. Please bring Papa and Dimitry home safe? That is all I wish for Christmas.

Thank you,

Illya Nickovich.

The little blond boy folded up the piece of paper, and walking outside into the wind and snow, he let it fly in hopes it would reach Ded Moroz.  He wiped the tears from his eyes, telling himself he was not crying...it was simply the wind as it bit into him.

Shivering; he stepped back into the kitchen in time to see the glaring look of his mother.

“What is wrong with you Illyusha? Do you want to catch your death...it is freezing out there. What was so important that you had to go outside without your hat and coat?”

Illya squirmed as his mother rubbed his arms and back; the friction quickly warming him.

“Ummm, it is a secret Mamouchka. I cannot tell otherwise Ded Moroz might not grant my wish.”

“Oh, ho...a letter to Grandfather Frost then, “ Mama smiled, brushing her fingers through his long blond hair. “All right, I can forgive you just this once, but please Illya do not do it again. If you were to get very sick, there is no money for medicine, and my herbal remedies are not that strong.”

“I will be good Mama, I promise.”

“Come,” she usered the boy into the sitting room and there his Babushka, his baby brothers Misha and Sasha, along with little Katiya were all snuggled up,  staring at the flames in the fireplace.

The room was nice and warm, and the fire crackled and snapped as the wood burned.

Illya lay his head in his mother’s lap, dreaming of Ded Moroz riding in his Troika with the Snow Maiden, carrying bags of gifts for little children. The gift he wanted would not fit in that bag, though being a child, he could still dream of toys and candy. In his dreams he could hear a voice echoing in the snow, singing softly and making him feel safe.

Tanya sang, gently stroking her sons head as she held him close and lulling him to sleep. He was such a brave boy and strong of will...that she knew he would need to get him through the terrible times that were upon them. She prayed that her husband and eldest son would be safe as they fought with the partisans.

Котя, котенька, коток, Котя – серенький хвосток,

Приди, котя, ночевать,Нашу деточку качать,

Уж как я тебе, коту,За работу заплачу –

Дам кусок пирога Да кувшин молока!

(Pussy, little kitty, Kitty - little, grey tail.

Come to us and stay the night, To rock our little baby.

I will pay you, cat, For your job -

I will give you a piece of cake And a jug of milk)

Illya's mother, her long blonde hair falling around her shoulders, leaned forward, kissing her little blond boy on the head.

“I hope that what ever you wish for comes true my son…”

Note: Please excuse any errors in my Russian...

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks, this also relates to his backstory in "Beginnings" where we learn about his family and how he loses them. I have a habit of doing a lot of cross-referencing between my stories.

I thought about what it would have been like being a young Russian during the war. Lots of horrors that beset Kyiv and it's people. No real Christmas for him...too many fears and questions. In a way this is opeing the door to his loss of innocnece as reality sets it. I use quite a few historical references in his backstory.

What would a child of war wish for...his father and brother to come home safe? And Illya being a selfless child wished it not for himself, but for his mama....

Thanks again for reading and commenting!