Russian Chocolates:
The pen hovered over the flimsy piece of paper with a few words written in rushed cursive. Kaliningrad read and reread the letter meant for Germany. Sighing, she sat the pen down, removed her hat and sat it on the desk. There was no use, this letter, just like the other's wouldn't make it so far as the edge of Lithuania. Russia made sure of it, not directly, but every letter mailed was always returned almost in two days time. It was clear that he didn't want her to have contact with anyone outside of the Soviet Bloc. She had no say so, not even in the mail distrusted throughout her oblast.
A walk would do her good. Grunting, the personified oblast stood up, finger combing her hair before putting it into a messy braid. It was too hot for hats this day. A solider stood at the entrance to her office to which she nodded a greeting after he gave her a formal salute. Down the hall, two more waited by the stairs, saluting their leader as she continued toward the front door. Kaliningrad was aware of the footsteps that fell inline behind her own but tried her best to ignore the 'subtle' escort. It had been like that for the past two weeks, personnel were assigned to 'oversee' her safe though she knew it was a way for Ivan to keep eyes on here without being in Kaliningrad.
"Thank you," she said to the foot solider that opened the door for her to go outside. Several flags were flown in front of the house that sat amidst the administrative center. One was the bright red flag of the Soviet Union, positioned between the official red, yellow and blue flag of Kaliningrad oblast and the flag displaying it's coat of arms. Faintly in the distance, she could make out the eye sore of a building, the unfinished House of Soviets. The sun was out with no clouds to block its rays. Kaliningrad paused on the sidewalk at the sound of whispers and giggles. Feet shuffled from behind, not like that of soldiers boots stomping to their own rhythm on the pavement but, little rushed steps that made her turn around. Two girls were running up to her, at which she signaled the officers to move so that they could get through.
"Ms. Koni!" One girl, who Kaliningrad assumed to be the eldest, waved and pulled her little sister along until they were face. "We, we…"
Kaliningrad chuckled and knelt to their level. "Breath first, then talk, I have no where to go so take your time."
Yet the girl nodded vigorously, smiling and glancing at her sister who was also trying to catch her breath. The youngest started to dig into her jacket pocket, releasing her sister's hand in the process. One of the soldiers took a step closer but Kaliningrad gave him a look to stay put. She fished around a little more before pulling out a small package of Russian chocolates.
"We bought this for you," the little girl said, turning and point to a woman standing in the distance, "With our mom."
"Oh," Kaliningrad took it with grace, "Thank you very much. But I think," she unwrapped it, breaking two generous pieces of the candy and handing it off to them. "It would taste better if we share." At which the two little ones giggling as all three of them bit into their share.
Kaliningrad stood, watching as they scurried back to their waiting mother. A smile graced her face when they waved her off, the eldest taking hold of their mother's hand and the youngest holding her sisters hand. So carefree and gentle, those girls knew nothing of war, the difference between civilian and solider, Königsberg and Kaliningrad. They knew home, they knew her, they were the future of this great city, the ones that would keep her alive. She glanced at the package of Russian chocolate, fingers glossing over the royal blue wrapping and Russian characters.
"They love Russia," she mumbled, answering the question Lithuania had asked, though he was nowhere to be seen, "And they love me because I am Russia..." Kaliningrad looked again, watching as their figures faded into the crowd of other Russian citizens. For her, it was both beautiful and tragic.
A/N: Ahhhhh, we love you for more than that Koni! Well, I do anyway. You're so brave! lol
-CeCe
