In the spring of the following year they were given an apartment of their own with two rooms.

During these years a whole generation who had not known the war came into the world and grew up. Ivan was more and more often invited to the school at Borissov just before the national celebration on May 9, Victory Day.

Now they addressed him as "Veteran." This amused him. To him it seemed as if the war had only just ended and he was still that former Guards staff sergeant, recently demobilized.

At the entrance to the school he was met by a young teacher, who greeted him with a radiant smile and led him into the classroom. He followed her in, his medals tinkling on his chest, and thought: "How quickly time passes! The truth is I really am a veteran now. She's young enough to be my daughter and she's a teacher already!"

As he entered the noisy classroom silence fell. The pupils stood up, exchanging glances, whispering and staring at his decorations. They were impressed by the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. A Hero. You don't meet one of those every day!

Then the teacher made some appropriate remarks about the great national celebration, and the twenty million lives sacrificed for the sake of the radiant future of these pupils, distracted as they were by the May sunlight, taking as her text: "No one is forgotten, nothing is forgotten." After that her voice adopted a warmer, less official tone and she addressed Ivan, who was standing somewhat stiffly behind the table: "Honored Ivan Dmitrevich, on your chest shines our country's highest award, the Gold Star of a Hero of the Soviet Union. We should like to hear about the part you played in the war, your achievements in battle, and your heroic contribution to the Victory."

And Ivan cleared his throat and began his story He already knew by heart what he would tell them. Once he had started receiving invitations he had grasped what he had to say so that the class remained attentive for the regulation forty minutes, much to the delight of the young teacher.