Breaking Stalin's Nose

Sasha seeks refuge at Aunt Larisa’s apartment, but they receive him coldly and with fear lest the authorities associate them with a known criminal. His uncle breaks the news that Sasha will never be a Young Pioneer. “Your dad’s an enemy of the people. Don’t you get it? They don’t allow kids of enemies to join the Pioneers” (41). He slams the door and Sasha leaves, knowing his aunt will come to him. When she catches up with him, she gives him money and says they must stay alive for their newborn, they cannot take him in, or they’ll be arrested, too.

This chapter includes an illustration of a long flight of stairs with Sasha at the top before an open doorway, Aunt Larisa and her husband appear behind Sasha’s silhouette.

Sasha beds down in the basement of Aunt Larisa’s building and thinks about the last time his father dropped him off there when he took Sasha’s mother to the hospital. She died, and there was no funeral. Upon Zaichik’s return to retrieve Sasha, Aunt Larisa declares, “You look guilty, not sad” (44). Sasha knows everything will be better the next day at the Young Pioneer ceremony.