The White Guard
From the album “Illustrations by Sergei Chepik”
Nai—washed by the satisfied and talkative caretakers, Nai—clean, in a tunic without epaulettes, Nai with a crown on his forehead under three lights, and, most importantly, Nai with a yard of colorful St. George's ribbon, personally placed by Nikolka under his shirt on his cold, sticky chest. The old mother turned her trembling head from the three lights toward Nikolka and said to him, "My son. Thank you."