Don't Cry, My Darling
"Where did you come from, you dirty beggar? Get away!"
The little girl's father picked her up and hurried off.
Before leaving, he kicked me on the back with the muddy sole of his shoe. I lost my balance and fell head-first down the steps.
Warm blood slid out of my nostrils and dripped onto the white snow.
The string on which I wore a lucky charm around my neck broke, and the charm fell to the ground. I crawled over quickly to pick it up, and I gripped it tightly in my hand. Once I found a new string, I would put it back around my neck.