Aidana's exercise book

THE TEST IS OVER

I wrote it!!! History, Iradi, maths, law as the extra. I brought TWO pens (thanks to Saltanat eje's advice and to Bekzhan from the internet whose pen died in 2005).

Now we wait for the results in July. I will go to the mosque with grandmother on Friday just in case.

Two weeks

Two weeks to the test. I count: maths (hopeless but improving), history (fine), Iradi (a few more essays), law (for the extra points). Mama gave me the key to the room where nobody goes, with the good desk. Grandmother makes me tea every hour, so I go to the toilet every hour. This is the system.

Also: I bought two pens. Not one. TWO. Saltanat eje's sacred law. Zarina bought three because she is afraid of what is in the middle.

Zarina is 17

We made a surprise for Zarina in the school yard: the whole class with a cake and a song, the song was out of tune. Zarina laughed so much that she had to sit on the steps. She said it was the first time since the February of two years ago that she was surprised by something that was good.

She does not talk much about "before". I don't ask. We eat the cake.

Daniyar again

The tulips again. This year Daniyar gave me three, one for me, one for Zarina and one for "my mother", he said, so I should give it to her. I asked: does your mother know? He went red like the sign on the bazaar.

Mama accepted the tulip. She said Daniyar has a good heart and a very bad handwriting. She's seen his writing in Emil's notebook.

By the lamp

No light for most of the week. We do the homework by the lamp, Emil and I at one table, grandmother with her beads. Mama cooks on the little stove in the kitchen. The school has the cold lessons from nine to twelve.

My uncle's office had light for two hours today, so I am writing this fast. In the dark you hear everything: the street dogs, the wind, grandmother praying. I read my history in a whisper so as not to wake Emil.

I think this is the winter that I will remember most.