Where time meets truth. Argo Järve

and ate all of the pies right there. Rinsed his mouth with lemonade and then stepped out of the bus station. It was completely dark outside, and the weather had gotten even worse. The rain was hitting the face; the cold autumn wind was swirling the leaves on the empty streets. Hans looked at the time with a sad face and decided to go behind dad’s door once more. He ran across the street, and soon enough was in a familiar neighbourhood, and then he reached the house. He rang the bell and waited. The only thing he could hear in the silence was his beating heart. It almost felt like it was about to pop out. He rang the bell once more impatiently and listened. Everything was still dead silent, and no lights got turned on in the corridor. Hans was helpless. Dad was not home. He took a look at the time and decided to go to Balti station5 – maybe a train will leave there soon and he’ll be able to be in warm for at least a few hours. Asking for directions from time to time, he finally reached the train station. Unfortunately for him, no trains were departing. The last train, headed to Viljandi,6 had already left about a half an hour ago. There were barely any people on the streets. It was so quiet and empty at the station. He just sat down on an empty bench and stayed there. Suddenly he saw someone’s shadow and shining boots in front of him. “Citizen, what are you doing here?” he was suddenly spoken to. The young man raised his head and saw a man wearing a uniform. Hans couldn’t come up with anything else to say but: “I, I … missed the train and don’t know where to go now.” The officer looked at him and wanted to know, where he’s from, where he’s been and if he had any documents. Luckily he had. The officer took a close look at it and said: “Come with me, I’ll show you where you can spend the night. There are people like you here very often.” There was a police station in the same building which was connected to the waiting lobby. The boy was guided to a seat, and they let him wait there. “The doors will be locked soon, and nobody will get in or out anymore, in the morning, you’re going to have to leave.” Hans was left alone. It was definitely better here, then lying on the street, he thought to himself and got into a comfortable position. Took a sip of lemonade, took a deep breath and fell asleep. Soon enough he was in a deep sleep. In the morning he woke up fright because there were loud rumble and cursing in the station. The station was right behind the wall, and you could tell by the voices, that they had taken in a drunk man, who was trying to put up a fight to the officers. He heard a few dull bumps and then it sounded like something was being dragged along the floor, a loud door slam and then silence once again. The man got probably introduced to the baton, Hans giggled. He took a look at the time and got up. It was already the break of dawn. A couple of passengers left the platform. The first trains were about to leave. Boy sneaked silently on the street and ran behind the corner. Lit the last cigarette and did it as fast as he could. He wasn’t a real smoker before, but now it was like a cherry on a pie. Hans looked around and took a quick leak into the bush. There was only a stray dog, who was sniffing in the bushes. Hans looked at Toompea,7 which was above in the distance and started walking up towards it. Some people were already on the streets, and more came with each minute. Sunday. The day ought to become very sunny, at least that’s what the earlier signs referred to. It wasn’t that warm anymore, but still beautiful. Hans thought that it would be amazing if it were summer and warm all the time. His rattling stomach distracted him, however, and he didn’t have a cigarette to light anymore. He spent about half an hour in the old town and then headed towards the city centre. This wasn’t his first time here, so he knew a couple of places. His destination was the Viru hotel that he could see in the distance. From there he could go back to the bus station and also to his dad’s apartment. He also knew, that there was a booth opened 24/7 near the Viru hotel, from where you could buy food and cigarettes. Fried dumplings and hot tea were absolutely delightful. He cheerfully walking along the streets, jumped over puddles and played football with a rock. Hans didn’t even care anymore whether his dad was at home or not. He was already happy that he got into the dorm. There he could live as he found best fit for himself. When he got to the door, he rang the bell and waited. “Who is this?” asked someone from inside.

      1

      USSR – The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, also known unofficially as Russia, was a socialist state in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991.

      2

      Lenin – Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known by the alias Lenin, was a Russian communist revolutionary, politician, and political theorist.

      3

      Žiguli beer – is a notable brand of Soviet (Russian) beer. The original brewery was founded in Samara in 1881 by Austrian entrepreneu

1

USSR – The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, also known unofficially as Russia, was a socialist state in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991.

2

Lenin – Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known by the alias Lenin, was a Russian communist revolutionary, politician, and political theorist.

3

Žiguli beer – is a notable brand of Soviet (Russian) beer. The original brewery was founded in Samara in 1881 by Austrian entrepreneur Alfred von Vacano. The original brand was named “Viennese Beer” (as in beer from Vienna), but, according to legend, in 1934 it was renamed “Zhigulevskoye Beer” to get rid of its “bourgeois” name. During the Soviet era, at times it was virtually the only beer brand you could find anywhere in the country. At the peak of its popularity it was made in more than 700 breweries around the country, and it practically became a generic name for beer.

4

Tallinn – Tallinn, Estonia’s capital on the Baltic Sea, is the country’s cultural hub. It retains its walled, cobblestoned Old Town, home to cafes and shops, as well as Kiek in de Kök, a 15th-century defensive tower. Its Gothic Town Hall, built in the 13th century and with a 64m-high tower, sits in historic Tallinn’s main square. St. Nicholas Church is a 13th-century landmark exhibiting ecclesiastical art.

5

Viljandi – Viljandi is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 17,473 in 2013. It is the capital of Viljandi County. The town was first mentioned in 1283, upon being granted its town charter by Wilhelm von Endorpe.

6

Balti Station – Baltic Station is also the main railway station in Tallinn, Estonia. All local commuter, long distance and international trains depart from the station.

7

Toompea – Toompea (from German: Domberg, “Cathedral Hill”) is a limestone hill in the central part of the city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The hill is an oblong tableland, which measures about 400 by 250 metres, has an area of 7 hectares (17 acres) and is about 20–30 metres higher than the surrounding areas. In folklore the hill is known as the tumulus mound over the grave of Kalev, erected in his memory by his grieving wife.

5

Viljandi – Viljandi is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 17,473 in 2013. It is the capital of Viljandi County. The town was first mentioned in 1283, upon being granted its town charter by Wilhelm von Endorpe.

6

Balti Station – Baltic Station is also the main railway station in Tallinn, Estonia. All local commuter, long distance and international trains depart from the station.

7

Toompea – Toompea (from German: Domberg, “Cathedral Hill”) is a limestone hill in the central part of the city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The hill is an oblong tableland, which measures about 400 by 250 metres, has an area of 7 hectares (17 acres) and is about 20–30 metres higher than the surrounding areas. In folklore the hill is known as the tumulus mound over the grave of Kalev, erected in his memory by his grieving wife.