Обещенное эссе "The First Meeting"

­­­We were sitting in the waiting room of the maternity hospital in Murmansk: my Dad, Granny and I. I was almost eight, but I knew that the moment that would change my life was coming. It was the day when we would take my Mom and new little sister home.

 I wanted to have a sister since I could remember myself. I was asking my parents for many years. Each time they told me about all the disadvantages of having a sibling, like crying, screaming and sleepless nights for first several months; then sharing everything: toys, room, and even parents' love. I was continuing to ask, until they realized that I really wanted one.

Three years before my parents played a very bad joke with me. Once, they came back from the vacation, my Mom told me,

“We bought you a sister!”

I could not believe it!

“Where, Mom? Where can you buy a child? Is it possible?!” I yelled.

I was five, and I had never wondered where children come from. This way sounded weird, even to five year old me. Although, who cared, where they had got me a sister, when they finally did it!

“Go and look at her first, questions will be after,” was the answer.

“Where? Where she is?” My heart was beating so quickly, I almost could not breathe.

“In the car, go there.”

I ran to the car as fast as I could, thinking it strange that they left a baby in the car. I approached the car, opened the door. There was nobody. There was nothing except a big purple box. My parents came closer to me.

”Open, open it!”

I opened the box. There was a big doll, as big as a real child. It was dressed in everything red: the bonnet, knickers and tiny socks. Her eyes were like two big sapphires and lips like rose bud. It was so pretty… but! I didn’t expect a doll! My eyes filled with tears as I looked at my parents. They were so happy, so satisfied.

“How could you?” I demanded. “How could you fool me that way?”

Their smiles disappeared.

“What are you talking about, dear?” they asked.

 “You promised me a real sister, not a fake!”

I started crying. They did not know how badly they had hurt my feelings that day.

Now, I was sitting at the maternity hospital. Finally, all my dreams were going to become true! It was the first time when I could see my real sister, touch her, carry her, kiss her. My imagination was drawing a picture of our distant future: how we would go together to school, how I would help her with her homework, how we would share our secrets.

I couldn’t wait any more,

“How long can they keep in captivity my Mom and my… sister?!” I asked my Dad impatiently.

“You have to wait,” he said. “They will not come earlier if you ask me about that again and again”.

I looked at my father again: at his frown and clenched hands, and understood, that he was thinking about that too.

Clock hand seemed to move so slowly. “When, when will I see my sister?”

I looked at my Granny: she was the only one who seemed to be calm and patient. It was her third granddaughter's birth, so my Grandma knew how to stay mild. She was preparing a comforter, and other cute little things to dress the baby. 

Suddenly, everybody froze. We could hear steps in the hall!

I started fidgeting nervously. My Dad stood up and took a huge bouquet of white lilies, Mom’s favorite flowers. He was so tense, but tears of happiness were on his eyes.

The door opened and Mom came in. We all rushed to her, kissing and hugging. She was followed by the nurse, who was carrying a white little roll.  My Dad carefully took that roll and lowered himself, to the level of my eyes.
“Come and meet your sister”, he said to me.

I held my breath as looked inside the roll. Tiny little eyes opened and stared at me. I felt goose bumps on my skin. It was our first meeting. I could not believe that she is real. Was she as beautiful as my doll? Of course not! At four days old her skin had a strange dark pink color, her nose was almost yellow, and she hardly had hairs; but for me she could not be better! I smiled and said to her:

“Hi! I am your elder sister. Now we will always be together - you and me!”