Chapter Three

Morning finally came with a hearty shake.

„Get up, sleepy head!" Anya said, smiling. „It's Thursday, market day!"

Ivan sat bolt upright. „Are we going to sell eggs and milk as usual?"

„Yes, and something else too," Anya exclaimed. „I've been knitting some sweaters from that wool Mariya gave me. They are good enough to sell, don't you think?"

Anya spread her bundle out on Ivan's bed. Three white sweaters lay in a row on Ivan's bed.

„They're a little baggy I know, but they'll sell," Anya added hopefully. „It's still cold, and people need this sort of thing."

Ivan nodded. „They are made well," he said. „You'll sell all three of them for sure."

Anya smiled. „Do you want to come?"

All at once, Ivan remembered Oleg.

„N-no, really I feel a little sick," he replied. „Like a cold. I don't want it to get worse."

„Really," Anya questioned. „Well, it's no wonder, seeing as you were out in the cold all day yesterday," she added, trying to sound stern. „Alright then, but stay in bed or by the fire."

„Thank you, sister," Ivan said. He knew Anya had no way of knowing about Oleg, but all the same he felt as if the wooden box were leaping about below him, screaming out its location for all of Russia to hear.

„Now get dressed and come down for breakfast, let's not be lazy," she advised. „Davai!"

After breakfast Ivan watched as Anya, wrapped in her omnipresent red shawl and thickest coat, carrying baby Natalia in her arms, stepped out of the house. Andriy the Baker always loaded the three of them into his wagon on market days, as they didn't have one of their own. He was a kindly man who pitied the three children, having to scrape around to make ends meet. He helped Anya onto the wagon and plonked her eggs, milk and sweaters next to her.

„Don't leave the house, Ivan," she called out, as the bay mare attached to the baker's wagon began plodding along the dusty road. „And stay safe!"

„Don't worry!" Ivan called after her, although he doubted that she could hear him.

As soon as the baker's wagon disappeared down the path, Ivan fished around under his bed for the wooden chest. He opened it and took Oleg out.

„Good morning, Master Oleg," Ivan solemnly greeted him. „And how have you slept?"

Oleg crawled one inch and curled up on Ivan's index finger.

„Are you mad, Oleg?" Ivan asked aloud.

Oleg refused to move, so Ivan shook his finger a little so Oleg fell onto Ivan's bed. Ivan thought a little.

„Ah, you must be hungry!" Ivan exclaimed. „See, I've already eaten breakfast, but you have not, little friend..."

Ivan left Oleg on the blanket and looked through the loft window. His friend, Vasily was carrying a bucket of water from the stream.

„Oy, Vasily!" Ivan yelled.

Vasily looked up toward the source of the voice.

„What do caterpillars eat?" he called.

Vasily looked startled. „Why?" he asked.

„I can't tell you now," Ivan readily responded. „Come on, tell me!"

„You're not planning more mischief are you Ivan?" the blasted goody-two-shoes worriedly replied. „Why didn't you just ask your sister?"

„She hates caterpillars," Ivan explained. „And no, I'm not planning mischief. I need it for a friend."

„Really?" Vasily suspiciously questioned.

Ivan nodded vigourously.

„Well, why do you think she hates caterpillars?" the idiot retorted.

Ivan was getting impatient. „Oh I don't know," he snapped. „Would you just answer me if you know, or if you don't at least stop pretending you do! What are you trying to do, look smart?"

Vasily snorted. „If I weren't smart, why would you ask me?" his voice softened a little. „Look Ivan, I've got to bring this to my mamma. After that, I'll come over to your place and see for myself, alright? Can I come over?"

„Yes, Anya didn't say I couldn't see anyone," Ivan eagerly responded. „She's at the market with Andriy the Baker now, I'm alone."

„Oh, alright then, I'll come," said the boy. He began sprinting over in the direction of his house, when suddenly he stopped. „Wait, Ivan, one more thing!"

„What?"

„If you're home alone, like you told me, who's this 'friend' who asked you what caterpillars eat? Are you lying to me?"

Ivan shut the window on him.

„So, who's this friend of yours?" Vasily questioned excitedly. „Can I see him?"

Ivan blushed. „Umm...well..."

„I KNEW it!" Vasily exclaimed. „Your friend doesn't even exist! You were lying!"

„I don't lie," Ivan replied, struggling desperately to keep his cool. „I can show him to you – if you swear to keep your mouth shut about it. And..." Ivan looked uncomfortable, „please don't laugh?"

„I don't laugh," Vasily zealously urged. „I promise. Show me now!"

„Well, alright," the reluctant Ivan consented. He dug under his bed for the wooden chest.

„You keep your friend under your bed?" Vasily exclaimed. Ivan ignored him.

„Here," Ivan said in a tiny, embarrassed voice. Vasily peered in at the caterpillar.

„Ah, your friend is a caterpillar?" the boy asked. „Ah, now I see what you meant when you said that you needed it for a friend."

„You're not laughing?" Ivan incredulously said.

„Didn't I say I wouldn't?" Vasily replied. „And it's nothing funny. I once had a pet mouse in the attic, but mother found it and it wasn't pretty."

Really? Vasily the angel, the pride of his parents, once went against his mother's wishes?

Ivan cringed. „I can see how that would be," he said.

Da, it didn't end well...so yes, caterpillars eat your sister's vegetables. That's why she hates them."

„He can have mine," Ivan replied, pulling a face. „Do they also eat leaves and grass and things like that?"

„Yes, I think so."

„Well that's good. Easy to find."

„Hey, Ivan?"

„Yes?"

„Why a caterpillar?" Vasily exclaimed. „They are such common, lowly creatures! I mean, a snail, maybe. A beetle, a butterfly..."

„Because..." Ivan paused undecidedly, unsure how to respond. „Because when most people get a pet, someone smaller and weaker than they, someone to nurture and love, they know that they need this kind of love in their lives...so they find someone whom they can give their love to, or who can return it. But Oleg obviously needed me...because I didn't find him, he found me."