About the book: 2015 / Rita met him in a village club. He came there with friends, just dropped in for a minute because he had nothing to do. The girl came up to ask for a cigarette. I addressed everyone at once, but Igor handed me the pack. And he asked if it was too early for her to poison herself with nicotine. This is how an acquaintance began. After half an hour of unnecessary chatter, Igor suggested taking a walk. Rita did not refuse. She was very pleased with the company of a guy who was much older, and also a newcomer. In the village everyone knew her as Ritka the tramp. And no one took her seriously. They left the club. It was getting dark. The stars were shining joyfully in the sky. Like fireflies. The guy's hand rested confidently on her shoulders. It became as good as it had never been in my life. Street after street, alley after alley, we found ourselves outside the outskirts. The patterned leaves of the rowan tree rustled insinuatingly under the light breeze. The rowan berries, filling with ripeness, swayed heavily. August.