This story was told by Anna Selezneva, a resident of Pskov, it happened when Anya was seventeen years old. The girl and her fiance came to the village to visit Anya's grandmother. Anton was an amateur fisherman and had high hopes for the local river, dreamed of a big catch.
… On the first morning they got up at dawn and went to the river. Everything was wonderful that day: clean air, pristine silence, the unique beauty of nature stunning for a city dweller. They seemed to be in a fairy tale …
Finally Anton chose a fishing spot and abandoned his tackle. Anya walked along the shore, admired the wonderful landscape, and when the sun began to bake, she went to swim. She had not felt so good for a long time, and it seemed that this river, and the sky above it, trees and grass - everything around radiates unthinkable, transcendental happiness …
- Anyut, where are you? Go here! - Anton's cry came out so unexpectedly that she shuddered.
- Look what I caught! The guy said cheerfully. - For the hook, you know, caught. This is a gift for you from the river …
Anton had a brooch in his palm, which he pulled out with his donkey. The decoration, darkened by water, was apparently silver. Anya examined the find with interest.
“We need to clean it up,” Anton said in a businesslike manner. - We'll clean it, and it will be as good as new.
- And I like it more, - said Anya thoughtfully. - As if it is old. I'll just clean the fastener …
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Anton again became interested in fishing, and the girl sat down in the shade not far from him and, looking at the brooch, tried to imagine a village beauty who could have owned the jewelry … Gradually, a whole romantic story developed in her head, in which a silver brooch played an important role … And then Anya dozed off imperceptibly.
In the evening he and Anton went for a walk. Anya put on a beautiful dress and pinned the brooch she found to it.
- Well, how? - she asked the groom.
- Exclusive! - Anton approved.
Somehow it happened by itself that they were at the river. In the dark, she was completely different - mysterious and alert, as if frozen in the gloomy shores …
And then the fog came from somewhere. A thick veil seemed to fall from the sky at once and fenced off Anya from Anton, in general from everything … It was so unexpected that the girl was frightened.
- Anton! She shouted in a voice that was not her own, someone else's. - Where are you?
There was no sound in the thick silence. Anya did not dare to shout anymore. She was afraid to go, because she did not see the road, and she was afraid to stay put - in this cold and sticky fog that had come from nowhere. She stood with her arms wrapped around herself and sobbed softly with fear.
Suddenly the cloudy veil parted slightly - just enough so that Anya saw the girl in front of her and was even more frightened. The girl was all wet, as if she had just come out of the river, and so pale that her face seemed like a mask. And just like a mask, it was motionless and expressed suffering. The child stretched out his thin hands to Anna and said plaintively:
- Give it back, please, give it back!.. You are so beautiful, smart … And I, and mine … Please, give it back!..
Anya screamed shrilly and ran, not knowing where she was. She fully regained consciousness only in her grandmother's house. Soon Anton appeared, hoarse because he had long and loudly called Anya.
Returning the brooch to its rightful owner
Frightened and still trembling, the girl spoke of her strange meeting. The grandmother darkened her face and crossed herself.
- Do you know something? Anya asked her quickly. - Bah, what do you know? Who was that?
- We lived here alone once, - the grandmother answered with a sigh, - the family lived alone. This little girl and her parents. Parents of alcoholics were … the very last. Everyone in the house was drunk, there was nothing to eat, nothing to wear … This little girl was downtrodden, in rags, hungry forever … The neighbors were slowly feeding. And then the boys began to tease her … That's where, tell me, so much anger in children ?! In general, someone gave her this brooch. It is clear that not parents, but someone else's. Well, you never know … And she, poor fool, take it and attach it to your rags!.. And went out into the street. Apparently, she so wanted to show that she could have something worthwhile!..
The grandmother broke down and cried. Anya had tears in her eyes too.
- Well, then what? - Anton asked gloomily.
- And then these little animals saw a brooch on the girl and let's scoff … They surrounded her and everyone says something nasty to her face. She really wanted to run - they wouldn't let her. And one took it and tore off the brooch. And rushed to the river. Everything followed him, and she, poor girl, runs with all her might and shouts: "Give it back, give it back, please!.." Well, he swung and threw him away into the water. And she followed … She could not swim …
… Anya did not sleep all that night. Sometimes she started crying, and then Anton woke up and tried to calm her down.
Early in the morning they came to the river again. Anya did not begin to unfasten the brooch, she decided to return it to the girl along with the dress. The river accepted the gift and quietly carried it to the depths.
At night, Anya dreamed of a girl. The stranger's dress was too big for her, but the girl clearly liked it. She seemed pleased and even happy and smiled gratefully at Ana. “May you be good … there,” the girl whispered barely audibly without waking up.