no man ever steps twice in the same river

This picture captures their visit to Avtozavodskaya, the place in Moscow her family has moved out from two years before for better living conditions. For Lena two years is one fourth of her life and walking on familiar bank of the Moskva-reka makes her feel that no man ever steps twice in the same river. Dressy coat awkwardly fits small shoulders used to her brother’s hand-me-downs. Papa asks to hold an autumn maple leaf for the picture, making her shyness spike at the responsibility. She candidly attempts to smile…