This book of short stories and miniatures by Vladimir Stepan strengthens his reputation as one of the best domestic masters of short prose. Laconic, transparent texts, in which there is not a single superfluous word, are made between artistic documentary and autofiction. At first glance, they belong to the tradition of pure realism, but upon careful reading it is easy to see that the author reveals in his heroes the eternal soul of the Belarusian people.