– Taxi, – waving her hand, Nadia ran up to the car.
“Yandex-taxi” was written on a car painted under the brand, and, apparently, at the moment it was standing alone waiting for a passenger. Nadia was very assertive by nature, but with a sense of humor. Her red curls stuck out awkwardly from her hood. She gave her address to the taxi driver, quickly got into the car and closed the door behind her. The car let out a roar of brakes and disappeared from sight.
The next day I was preparing for the New Year. Last night, together with Nadia, we decided to share the responsibilities of preparing a festive dinner. I had a few salads and a baked festive goose stuffed with apples. And Nadia was supposed to bring dessert, French-style meat, a couple more salads and champagne. I spent the whole day in the kitchen, and in the evening, out of impotence, I fell on the sofa and fell asleep. When the doorbell rang, I realized that I didn’t have time to do half of the things.
– Here you go, Sonya, a taxi is waiting for us, and you’re not packed yet. Quickly put on jeans with some kind of jacket and hit the road. I didn’t come alone,” Nadia drawled cheerfully, and I realized that she was drunk.
She went to the table and put some prepared dishes with food and a cake with huge roses, which she brought from home.
– Where did you get so drunk? I asked in surprise, zipping up my jacket.
– We congratulated each other with a neighbor! At first she came to visit me, then I went to her, and then she came to me again,” Nadia replied and burst out loudly with her bright and infectious laughter.
I was getting ready quickly, like a soldier on alert. And after a couple of minutes we went outside.
When we got closer to the taxi, I saw a huge female figure, she occupied most of the cabin.
– Hello, Happy New Year! I said, opening the door and getting into the back seat.
– Hi, my name is Sofa, – said a large, obese woman in a low voice. I’ve heard a lot about you, Vlada. You probably already realized that I’m Nadia’s neighbor.
– I think it will be more fun together, – I muttered to myself and turned away, looking out the window at the kids who were running around in the yard, pretending to be riders on horses. It was unclear to me why Nadia took her with her.
– And I also thought that the three of us would be much more interesting, – Nadia said cheerfully, reading my thoughts.
When we reached Sokolniki Park, the Sofa opened the door in the car, caught on something with its foot and rolled out like a bun, right on the sidewalk. Nadia managed to catch her before she was completely sprawled out in the snow, and so they went to the park in an embrace. I just noticed the package in Nadia’s hands.
– What’s in the bag? I asked.
“Oh, and this is fuel for warming,” Nadia said cheerfully.
Soon we entered Sokolniki Park. The Christmas tree was huge and glowed with multicolored lights. The floodlights illuminated all sides of the park, it lay beautifully on the snow, on the Christmas tree, cutting further into the horizon, taking the rays far to the stars.
A lot of people gathered around. And we moved closer and closer into the crowd, and more and more dances with children formed around us, their happy faces were everywhere. A man with an accordion sang nearby, he danced, calling on everyone to sing along with him. Suddenly, two men dressed in the uniform of paratroopers fell at our feet from the crowd, the third, the largest and very tall man, scooped up two in an armful, having gathered a hand full of snow, and began to rub their cheeks with cold to bring them to their senses.
– What are you guys, you haven’t spent the old year yet, and you’re no longer in good condition. Stand straight and listen to your commander! – he commanded.
The men obediently tried to straighten their chests and draw in their bellies. And then they noticed us.
– Girls, Happy New Year!
– Boys, and you! Nadia answered cheerfully.
– And let’s spend the old year together with us in a warm company, – one of the paratroopers suggested. – I’m Sanya, the most important one in our position and rank is Yura, and next to me – he pointed to a friend who was barely standing next to him – Roma.
– I… I… Roma,” said a middle – aged man, stammering and barely moving his tongue, he was the drunkest of the three.
We also called our names together and took out a bottle of champagne from the bag. We fiddled a little with the bottle stopper, and here is the victory, she loudly banged to our applause. Nadia poured champagne for everyone in a plastic cup.
– I propose a toast! – she said cheerfully.
Everyone froze in anticipation. Even the paratroopers obeyed Nadia.
– For us, the beautiful, and for you, the infidels…
– Well, Nadenka, you offend, all three of us are not married, – said Sanya. “I suggest we get to know each other better,” and he held out his hand to Nadia.
– I have a toast too. We spend the old year so that all the bad things go away with it, and only all the good and good things remain in the New Year,” Yura said, looking at me affectionately.
We all joined together under the clinking of disposable cups.
Time runs fast in its own way, the years fly by unnoticed. One year is replaced by another, and a series of years takes childhood, youth, youth is replaced by maturity. All people have a New Year in different ways. Some are sitting at home with their family and quietly celebrating the holiday at home, while others are in large companies having fun and dancing. And no one will ever tell you how to meet him correctly.
– Now everyone look carefully over there, – Nadezhda stretched out her hand forward, where she was pointing, the skating rink was visible through the trees.
– It’s cool, we’ll celebrate the New Year standing on the ice. Let’s see who’s wearing what? Sasha said, laughing.
– And you, Sasha, I strongly do not recommend going out on the ice at all. You don’t even stand well on the ground,” I said, looking at him ironically.
Sasha gave me a positive nod in response and remained obediently standing in place.
The rental was a small house and stood in the thick of trees not far from the skating rink. Putting on my skates, I boldly stood on the ice and quickly slid across it. Yura also knew how to skate, and we drove several laps together. Nadia also rode on the ice with us. Having rolled enough, we went to the park. Sofa, Roma and Sasha did not even approach the skating rink, but were all the time at the Christmas tree, cheerfully looking at us.
As we got closer, the Sofa took another bottle out of the bag. Cotton – and champagne is spilled. Sasha brought us all together, and we organized a small circle and began to sing softly:
– Under the wing of the plane, the green sea of taiga is singing about something…
Suddenly an unfamiliar figure of a man squeezed into our circle, and he said in a commanding voice:
– Drinking alcoholic beverages in a public place, Article 20.20 of the Code of the Russian Federation “On Administrative Violations” states that…
– Who will you be? Yura asked.
– Andrey Yuryevich, major of the Police Department of the Department of Internal Affairs in the Western District of Moscow, I can also show documents, – the man said, frowning, holding out a red certificate.
– Yurievich, and I’m also Yura, the New Year is today! Let’s