"Tell me, Watari does he speak English?"
"As far as I know L, no he doesn't "
"Hmmm", the dark haired man nibbled on a strawberry, deep in thought. "That'll make fitting in at the orphanage difficult. Can't we send him to the Wammys house in Moscow?"
The older man reached into his brief-case and pulled out a file. He slid it across the table.
"He has the highest I.Q out of all the ages seven to thirteen". The younger man flicked through he file "For an eight year old ? That is impressive."
"So you understand? " "Yes Watari, when does he arrive?" "In two days".
"Вам будет хорошо в детском доме-английски,Михаил?"
"Да, я буду."
The woman bent her knees so that she was at eye level with the boy. "Ты очень удачливее,это Школи в англия Создаст для вас лучшей жизни. Ты понимаешь ?"
"Да, Я понимаю"
She knew the plane had started to board. No putting off now.
"до свидания, Михаил" Why was she upset ? He was going to England. He'd get much better schooling than he'd ever get in Minsk. But she'd helped raise so many of those orphaned children. She'd miss him.
"до свидания" He smiled at her. Don't cry, she told herself.
So she smiled back. She didn't say anything, just nodded her head towards the departure gate. He smiled again, turned, and left without looking back.
She didn't cry. After all, it was for the better.
Mikhail looked out of the plane window, and as he saw the Minsk buildings fade to countryside, he waved his hand and wondered about England.
"Вам будет хорошо в детском доме-английски,Михаил?" – You will be good at the English orphanage, Mikheal?
Да, я буду. – Yes, I will.
Ты очень удачливее,это Школи в англия Создаст для вас лучшей жизни. Ты понимаешь? – You're very lucky, the English school will give you a better life. You understand ?
Да, Я понимаю – Yes, I understand
до свидания, Михаил – Goodbye