The Dogs of Winter Read Free Page B

age. Even better. And those big brown eyes will grab the ladies every time.”
    He wore the coat of a policeman. True, it was torn and filthy. It had no buttons. And his pants and shoes did not look like policeman pants and shoes. Still, my mother always told me the militsiya ’s job is to help.
    â€œI’m lost,” I said. “And I’m hungry.”
    He squinted through the smoke. “So?”
    â€œI need to find my mother. She’s worried about me.”
    He spat something dirty onto the ground. “What do I look like, a policeman?”
    â€œYes, you do. My mother always told me to ask a policeman for help if I got lost. So I am asking you.” I gave him my best smile.
    The girl named Yula howled. “Rudy, militsiya !”
    The others took up her chant. “Rudy, militsiya ! Rudy, militsiya !”
    I turned to Tanya. “Please,” I said. “Take me to your home. Your mother will understand.”
    She nestled in close to Rudy’s side. He draped one arm across her shoulders. With the other, he swept his arm wide, taking in the soaring arches, the grimy pillars, and the dirty, tattered children. Some followed passengers off the train, begging, while others were asleep on the cold, hard floor, their arms outstretched, palms up, begging even in sleep.
    â€œDo you see any mothers here?” he asked. “Do you?”
    I looked from Rudy’s cruel gray eyes, to Tanya. She leaned her head on Rudy’s shoulder, her eyes filled with pity. “We have no mothers, Mish. This is our home.”

“Here’s what we’re going to do,” Tanya said, leading me up the long stairs to the world above the underground. “We’re going to say you’re my little brother. My sick little brother. And we need money to buy you medicine.”
    I frowned. “That’s a lie. I’m not your little brother. My mother told me to always tell the truth.”
    Tanya sighed. “Haven’t you ever played pretend, Mish?”
    I nodded, although I had never played pretend with anyone else.
    â€œSo that’s what we’re doing. We’re pretending we’re brother and sister and you’re sick. I bet you’re real good at pretending to be sick.”
    I clutched my stomach and moaned.
    â€œGood! Good!” she said, clapping her hands. “Now let’s hear you cough.”
    I hacked and spat. “Like that?” I asked.
    She hugged me to her. “Just like that,” she said.
    â€œAnd if I’m really good at pretending, will you help me find my mother?”
    She mussed my hair. “Sure, Mishka.”
    So there on the streets of The City, on a cold fall day, Iperformed. I clutched and moaned and coughed and spat. I squeezed tears from my eyes while Tanya grasped at the people, all the people hurrying by. “Please help us,” she’d say, plucking at a coat sleeve, a string bag. “My little brother is sick! We need money for medicine.”
    Most dropped coins in her outstretched hand without bothering to stop. Soon the coins clink clinked in her coat pocket.
    One man shoved a bill in her hand and said, “Get him a coat, for God’s sake.”
    One woman gave us both a yellow balloon with a ribbon on it.
    No one asked where our mother was.
    By afternoon, I was too hungry to play pretend. “We have plenty of money now to eat whatever we want,” I said.
    Tanya jingled the coins in her pocket. “We don’t use money for food , silly,” she said. “We use it to make us happy.”
    â€œFood will make me very happy,” I pointed out.
    â€œWe steal food,” she said. “It’s easy enough.”
    My mouth dropped open. I stepped back, shaking my head. “I can’t steal. Stealing is wrong.”
    â€œWho says?” Tanya shrugged.
    â€œMy mother says.”
    Her eyes blazed. She slapped the side of my face. “Wake up, Mish. Do you see your