A round of applause filled the hall. Olia’s heart swelled. She caught sight of her mother in the crowd, tears glistening on Elena’s cheeks. Misha clapped enthusiastically, his paper crane now perched on his lap.
Olia’s cheeks flushed. “I love drawing,” she whispered, “but I don’t know if I’m ready for such a big city.” olia young russian teen
“Do you think I’ll ever go back?” she asked Nikolai, her voice soft. A round of applause filled the hall
When the day finally arrived, the village gathered at the modest train station. The old steam locomotive hissed and puffed, a relic of a bygone era, but its iron wheels promised a swift trip to Moscow. Olia clutched her small suitcase, which was filled with clothes, a few cherished books, and a thin, worn sketchbook that her grandmother had given her. Misha clapped enthusiastically, his paper crane now perched