This book was not written by me. Rather, the texts are not mine, my only edition.
My mother was the director of the 5th school in the city of Kharkov, and then - the 4th. schools. The 5th school, or, as it was called "our fifth", left a mark on several generations. But this is a separate story that requires a separate book. I finished the 4th school. And when the school turned 50 years old, we decided to write about the school, to look at the school through the eyes of all fifty generations of pupils and schoolchildren.
And, of course, this is the memory of my mother, of the world in which she lived, of the world of school.

Where is the border when a simple bad deed develops into meanness? Can meanness be justified by poverty, despair? Is it possible to respond to meanness with meanness?
I wish they thought about that. That's why I wrote this story.

One of the stories from the series "Gray" stories. Every person develops during his life. It is natural for every person to grow in soul, develop his mind, his abilities, strive for something. Be able to dream and not be afraid. Fight for your dream. After all, while we are alive, a lot can be changed. And all the limitations are only in our head. And the more we realize ourselves and the world around us, the more we understand that we ourselves are enough, that it is we ourselves, and not judgmental opinion shapes our life. The bolder are our dreams, which already grow into planning, and then into action. And the brighter, fuller our life. Unfortunately, some people are afraid to even dream. Their dreams are small, come down, mostly , to material and everyday problems. But, like all dreams, they come true. But life can be much brighter, richer,. And while we are alive, there are no hopeless situations, there is a fear to go beyond some of the framework you made, to go from the cage you put yourself in. I hope so Having finished this story, someone will draw an analogy with a part of their life and take steps to change it. And, of course, everyone will succeed.

Everyone has their own memories of childhood. But still, each generation that was born in one country has many v common memories. This story will be understood by those who were born in the Soviet Union. And for others, perhaps it will be just someone else's experience.

Those who were born during the Soviet Union, in a regime of total deficit, remember well how they saved things. For example, the beautiful dishes were "for guests". Every day they themselves ate from plates, on which there could be thorns. A beautiful dress was worn "for the occasion." And there were 2-3 cases a year. Many remained "for later". But we live now ...