"Pasha is different than all other living creatures by his inexhaustible optimism. He always feels good. He is a mighty, squarely-built guy. Wears glasses. Strong glasses. He reads a lot. Well, he studies in the institute. Senior grade. Has been studying for twelve years already. He needs to improve himself somehow. So he is improving. Self-improving. Even though he is an area foreman, guys never miss a chance to tease him. Once, he got into the welder's iron cabin. Wanted to doze off there. Guys waited for him to fall deeply asleep, pasted paper on his glass lenses and then banged the cabin...

December 4, 1957 is the day I was born. My father said: "It would be better if he died." He hated red-headed. During the war in their village were Nazis. Most of them were redheaded. Six months later I almost bit off my tongue, when I fell off the porch. "Would be better if you did"- my mother said later. I probably talked a lot. The scar is still preserved. I didn't go to kindergarten, I was brought up on the street. It was fun. Perhaps that is why I do not go in the general line. First time I quit smoke four days before school. Then like everyone else: school, college, army Staff sergeant....