The following is historical fiction. None of the characters are real. The events portrayed could have happened and many like them did.
*
In the spring of 1939, Nikolai Rostov's parents called upon Anna Fedorova's parents. Anna was sent to her room while the older adults talked.
"Do you think the next Five-Year Plan will include an expansion of the factory," Pyotr Rostov asked.
"They'll have to expand it if they increase our quota like they did last time," Anatole Federov replied.
After some more meaningless small talk, Pyotr Rostov got to the point. "My Nikolai would like to marry your Anna."
Anatole Federov needed to consider this offer carefully. He and Natalya had been married over ten years when Anna was conceived. The unexpected joy had delighted them both even though no brother or sister was ever added to the family. Anna was very special to them and marriage was not to be taken lightly. Nevertheless, the Federovs were no longer young. Anatole was in his mid fifties and Natalya was past fifty.
Nikolai was a twenty-two year old clerk in the same factory Pyotr and Anatole worked. The same one where nineteen-year-old Anna had started working after leaving school last year. Nikolai had already been promoted once. When the old manager of his section had retired, he had made suggestions about reorganizing some of the work and improving the accuracy of the clerks. If he joined the Party, he would be promoted again, without doubt. Natalya carried on with more conversation while Anatole thought about the offer. Finally, the Federovs agreed.
After the Rostovs left, Anna was summoned from her room and told of the agreement. She was ecstatic. She was in love with Niki. She had felt that he was close to asking for her hand and she had given him every encouragement, even letting him put his hand inside her camisole the last two times they had necked. The last time he had tried to run his hand under her skirt, but she had stopped him. Instead, she had let him feel between her legs on top of her skirt.
The next morning, Sunday, her mother sent her to the store to get a chicken for supper. The Rostovs would be back that night with Nikolai and the two families would celebrate with good food and plenty of vodka.
Anna was so happy. Nothing could go wrong that day. As she was walking along, she came to a group of little kids playing football in the street. Anna jumped in the middle of the game laughing as she kicked the ball away from them. She saw a little three-year old girl standing to one side of the street. Suddenly she heard a clatter and looked around. A horse and milk wagon was careening wildly down the street with a man chasing the wagon.
Anna saw immediately that the runaway would trample the little girl. She lunged toward her hoping to grab the girl out of the way before the tyke was struck. She knew if she weren't fast enough she might be trampled, too. She grabbed the little one and leaped to the sidewalk. As she did, she felt her skirt brush against the wheel of the flying wagon.
The little girl started to cry from fright. Anna started to shake from the adrenalin that rushed through her. People ran towards the pair from all directions.
"Did you see how she pulled the girl out of the way," said one.
"You risked your own life," said another.
Soon it was all over the neighborhood. Anna was praised for her courage. She was amazed at the fuss. How could she have not grabbed the girl out of the way? The little one was so innocent. Anna loved children and now with her pending marriage, she would have some of her own.
***
Niki and Anna settled on a July wedding date. In late May Anna went shopping for a wedding dress. She was looking for a nice dress, but of course, had to weigh the style against the use she could get later. She finally selected a white one that buttoned up under her chin.
"Really, you could at least have a little fashion in your wedding." Anna jerked her head up from looking in the mirror to see who was talking.
"Elena!" she exclaimed.
The brunette returned her greeting. "Anna, I heard you were getting married to Niki Rostov. Is that true?"
Anna regarded the other girl. Elena Biebler had been in her class last year. As the daughter of a high party official, she hadn't had to get a job. Instead she'd gone off to the University in Kiev. Anna had heard she'd returned for the summer, but she hadn't run into her before now. "Yes, we're getting married on 10 July," Anna bubbled.
"Well, you need something more stylish than that." She moved closer to Anna. "Something that shows Niki what he's going to get that night." The taller girl had moved very close to Anna now. When she reached up and quickly squeezed one of Anna's bounteous breasts, no one else in the store could see.
"Elena, quit that!" Anna jumped back, giggling at the gesture and blushing at the thought of Niki grabbing her.
"Here, let me help you find a dress that at least brings fashion up to the 1930's; none of your provincial ideas and peasant modesty for that day. Isn't that right, Helene," Elena said to the shop girl. "We can't let Anna be a provincial peasant on her wedding day, can we?"
Anna turned crimson as the shop girl, Helene, looked pityingly at her. It was true, Anna thought. Elena had always been the fashionable one in their class. The boys had hung around her even if she was very slender. Slender was not the word Anna used most of the time. Elena was downright skinny. If she turned sideways you could hardly tell her from a boy. From the back you could see her narrow hips and almost flat rear. Sideways, it wasn't much better. She probably wore a padded bra to achieve what little effect she did. There was something about her personality though. She could manipulate the males, females too. Just like all the other Jews, her mother had said more than once. However, Anna had always thought the manipulation was more sexual. Elena had an air of the female predator that hunted when she wanted. "Try this one on." Elena thrust a cream-white dress at her.
Anna went to the changing room. The color looked good against her skin. The collar was slightly scooped and the bodice fit closely, thrusting up her bust line. She went out to show Elena.
Elena agreed. "That does look good on you. Let's try another one. Go back and get out of that one and I'll bring you another."
Anna had just pulled the first dress over her head and was standing in bra and panties when she heard a knock on the door. She unlocked it and thrust her arm and head out to get the next dress. Instead, Elena pushed right on into the small area.
"This is the one." Elena pushed a dress at her.
Anna was surprised. She and Elena had been nude together before when changing for gym or swimming, but this was different. Anna began to take the dress off the hanger.
"Wait a second," Elena commanded. Anna froze.
