room 3.10 (long)

I had promised the girls in room 3.10 a doll each...после завтра (the day after tomorrow, in this case, Saturday). So, I set out early (well, early for vacation and early for Russia...about 10 a.m.) last Friday to find more dolls--4 baby dolls and 2 girl dolls. I went to Ashan, the French supermarket where I'd had success before. Unfortunately, the shelves were still pretty empty after new years. I did find one doll.

But, (you knew that was too easy, didn't you?) Ashan is a cash-only store. I had little cash with me. I had planned to use the Citibank ATM (no fees) elsewhere in Mega to get some cash. On this day, NONE of the ATM's in the mall were working. None.

So, I checked the two toy stores (Banana Mama and Children's World) that are in Mega, thinking I could find something there. Guess what. Not only were the ATM's off, the card swipers weren't working either. When I asked why, I was told they couldn't explain it to me. When I asked when they would be working--after lunch? this evening? I was told maybe.

I headed back home and stopped at a few toy stores on the way. No success. I decided I might try to find the other Mega and try the Ashan there. (One Mega is in the north of the city and one is in the south. It won't surprise my friends to hear I don't know which is the one in the north and which is the one in the south.) On the way, I changed my plan. I stopped at Karousel (think Wal-mart--cheaper than my Target-substitute of Okey but with lots of stuff). The dolls were okay, but...not as nice as the ones I'd already given.

I remembered that a new "Children" store had opened upstairs. I thought they'd be too expensive, but decided to give it a shot. I found...four of the SAME baby dolls I'd given the other girls all wearing different clothes (perfect!) for not much more than I'd paid at Ashan. And, after sorting through inappropriately-attired girl dolls (what's with that?), found two who were the same size as the baby dolls and had childlike faces and clothes. Score!

On Saturday, I set out on my own for the children's home. I found it with only one wrong turn and two stops for reassurance that I really was on the right road (one via mobile to V and one at the mashrutka depot. That dispatcher-lady did not want to open her little window for me! I just stood and stared until she slid it and "Da?-ed" me. I greeted her very politely and asked for help. I asked where the village was and she then happily told me it was not far--only 15 km.).

When I arrived, I called M and told her I was here. She came out to meet me, told me the dolls were beautiful and thanked me for coming. We went up to room 3.10. I was behind her but could see the girls' faces (especially N's) light up at the mention of my name and dolls. I don't think I'll ever forget it. They hopped up from the table where they were having tea and clustered around. Each got to choose her doll. M had to go, but I was invited to stay and have tea with the girls.

That was the best, the happiest hour and a half I've spent in months. We all sat down around the table. We talked. The girls told me their names and ages. They told me who the sisters were in the room. Slowly and surreptitiously they reached for their dolls and started to undo the packaging. Tea was soon forgotten as they told me about their dolls. They all knew what the dolls' names were. (The youngest had named hers Sasha, but an older girl's scowl forced her to change it. I hope she's still calling her doll Sasha, as she'd originally wanted, and not Sofia.) One of the dolls was sleeping. One was in the stroller. We took pictures of the girls with their dolls. K made a list of all the girls with their dolls' names.

Their caretaker was so pleased to watch them play. She is obviously very fond of them. I told her, "Little girls need dolls." "Yes," she said. "Need."

At their caretakers suggestion they showed me their photo albums and told me about the pictures inside. Most pictures were recent. They showed the children on various trips to St. P and Moscow. They all cuddled close and looked and looked. Ka had two books to show me. She, it seems, is a singer and dancer. (She is the Ka from the last post who didn't get to visit her grandparents this holiday. The youngest girl in the room is her sister.) N gently showed me all her pictures, proud of the French braids she had when the Buckner group visited last summer. I wish I'd stopped right then and braided her hair. I didn't know how long I had and others were waiting to show me their books...but if I could go back I'd tell her it isn't hard and French braid her hair for her. Maybe next time. Her older sister, K, told me the name of every single person in every single picture.

After looking at the photos, they helped me to deliver the ±100 stuffed animals I'd brought. I'd told a friend here that these children had no toys of their own. I'd told her how M had said that they thought it was so important for the children to have something that belonged to them and not to the group. I told her how the used toys our school had donated last year were saved and handed out on special occasions--the last day of school, for example. This friend started washing stuffed animals from her house. (She has four children and had been wanting to donate some of the extras they've accumulated before they ship out.) And she gave me enough for each child to have his own stuffed animal--with some leftover for me to take to other orphanages.

I'd told M (through V on the phone) that my friend hoped that the children could have them right away and that they wouldn't be saved for something special. She agreed. The girls came with me to my car to get them. They were VERY impressed that I had a car. They were more impressed, and quite incredulous, when they found out I came alone; that I drove. One girl kept questioning me about whether I drove, if I had the proper documents and where those documents were.

We handed out the stuffed animals (I'd gotten permission to bring them on my last visit. I've heard from some people that stuffed animals are considered unhygienic and not allowed. M and V were both puzzled by this--even thinking we had a translation problem. The stuffed animals were welcomed.) to all who wanted them. The girls had a great time being able to be the ones doing the giving. One of the girls, L, found a large horse and claimed it for herself. She was delighted with it! We decided her baby could ride on it. One older boy, M, chose a giant moose and proudly danced around with it. He was recently in the paper to say he is available for adoption. V says he is the only child who has ever asked her to bring him books. He has run away from the orphanage, but now is back and is hoping for a family.

Then, it was time to go. The girls walked me down to the door and hugged and kissed me goodbye. K hugged me so long. It was hard to leave. They walked out in their slippers and waved me off.

I've asked V to make arrangements for me to sponsor this group. She says she will. I want to bring them birthday presents this year and visit if I'm allowed. This is a very, very special group of girls.