1 It's Not Wrong to Help Others

Sokovia, Novi Grad

February 25, 1998 5:33 PM

Language: Slovak

A young brunette boy holding a paper bag ran ahead to the nearest street corner of their local marketplace. "Come on, Wanda. We're gonna be late."

The girl took a breath, leaning against a wall. "Just slow down, Pietro. Did you even check if we got everything from mom's list?"

"Uh…" He quickly pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. "We needed to get cabbage, potatoes, cheese, garlic, and onions." After looking through the bag for a moment, he cringed. "Oh… we forgot the garlic."

Wanda rolled her eyes. "See. Now we have to turn back."

Sighing, he walked back to his sister. "Sorry. It's just that it's my turn to pick tonight, and Dad is home from work early today."

Wanda pushed off the wall as she continued to walk alongside Pietro. "I know. I know. Still, I don't want Mom to get mad at us if she doesn't have what she needs to make dinner."

"Let's hurry back to Martin's. I know for sure they have what we need."

Ten minutes later, the duo returned to their family friend's stall, waving to the gray-bearded man who was helping out another customer. "Hello, children! What brings you back here?"

"Sorry for bothering you again." Wanda turned to Pietro. "Someone forgot to get the garlic." The boy scratched the back of his head in embarrassment."

Martin waved it off. "No worries. I have some right here." Pulling out fresh bulbs, they made their final exchange for the day. "Now kids, be careful on the way home. It's starting to not be safe at night. The police and the protesters are starting to get antsier than I would like.

The two frowned at the reminder. "That's what our parents said too. Why is that happening?"

Martin stroked his beard. "I don't expect you two to understand until you're older, but let's just say they are disagreeing about what the people are allowed to do." The two kids shrugged at the explanation. "Anyways, stay safe, and tell your mother thanks for the leftover kapustnica."

"We will." With that, the two started their walk home.

Halfway home, the two overheard a commotion a block away. Curious, took a peek and saw a large group of people crowding around one of the police stations. Just as Pietro and Wanda were about to continue home, one of the windows to the station smashed open and exploded in flames. Some had thrown a molotov cocktail.

With that event starting the chain reaction, the protesters charged in with the police retaliating in kind. Bricks were thrown and bullets were fired.

A stray bullet struck the wall right where the twins stood. The only thought on their minds was "RUN!" Immediately, the two bolted from the scene, Pietro taking the lead with Wanda following close behind. They cut through several streets and alleyways in the general direction of their home. Eventually, Pietro came across an unfamiliar crossroad. His head swerve left and right. "Which way do we go?!"

When Wanda caught up to her brother, a strange feeling washed over her, guiding her. She grabbed her brother's arm and pulled him toward the left path. "This way!"

As they continued down the road, the area started to look more familiar to them. "We're almost home," Pietro wheezed.

When the duo ran through another alleyway, Pietro wasn't paying as much attention and caught his foot on something, nearly tripping over. Wanda quickly reached out and steadied him. "Are you okay?"

He shook off the adrenaline. "Yeah. Just lost my balance. What was that anyway?"

The two turned around to find a leg. Their eyes followed up the limb only to widen at the sight. It was a red-headed boy around their age in tattered clothes and dirt.

Wanda froze. "Is he…?"

Pietro shrugged. He slowly approached. "Hey, are you okay?" Not getting an immediate reply, he kicked the boy's leg lightly.

A soft groan escaped from the stranger's lips.

Pietro sighed in relief. "Well, that answers one question." He turned to his sister. "Come on, let's go." He barely took a step before Wanda grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Are you crazy?" She gestured to the injured boy. "We can't just leave him like this?"

He looked at her incredulously. "Yes, we can. All that matters is that we get home safe, and I don't want us to get caught up in that grown-up mess."

"Still, if you were in his place, wouldn't you want someone to at least do the same?"

Pietro didn't answer. He didn't need to.

"... Mom always said it's not wrong to help."

Hearing the yelling in the distance, the brother groaned into his hand before relenting. Fine. We'll bring him home, and maybe Mom and Dad will know what to do with him."

Satisfied, Wanda bent down and grabbed the injured boy's hand. Immediately, an image flashed in her mind, gone as soon as it came. Wanda blinked and shook her head, thinking it was because of the stress.

The twins each took him by the arm and continued the march home.

As soon as they reached their front door, they placed the stranger on the side and knocked on the door. It opened abruptly, meeting a man with a shaved head, their father.

Oleg Maximoff drowned in relief as he grabbed both his children. "My god. I'm so glad you're safe. I head about what happened near the town square."

From behind the man, a brunette woman came up and did the same with a relieved smile. "My babies are okay!"

Wanda hugged them back with equal enthusiasm."Sorry for being late and making you worry."

Pietro did the same. "Yeah. We got the food, but Wanda decided to bring something else home."

Oleg and Iryna Maximoff were confused by the statement until their eyes drifted to the red-headed child passed out on their porch.

Motherly instincts kicked in, Iryna quickie picked up the boy and brought him to the couch.

Oleg gestured his children to go in the house. "Wanda, who is this and why is he here?"

Wanda stared at the floor shyly. "On our way home, we found him like this. It felt wrong if we left him alone with everything going on outside, so I chose to bring him with us."

Her dad sighed at the reasoning. To be fair, he would feel guilty if he walked by and did nothing too.

The girl turned to her mother. "...You always told us to help others."

Their father closed his eyes and rubbed his temples at the building migraine. "Yes, we did, but…"

"But nothing," interrupted Iryna. She looked her daughter in the eye. "You did the right thing, dear. There's nothing to be ashamed about." She went back to get a wet towel to clean up the boy and get him situated. "At the moment, the hospitals wouldn't be safe to travel to on foot."

Oleg decided to let his wife take charge of the situation right now. He would settle things later. "Wash up Wanda, and start cutting the vegetables with your mother. We'll check on him in the morning."

She smiled at his acceptance and walked to the kitchen.

His wife finished up checking the boy and wiping him down. "Thankfully he doesn't seem to be suffering from anything serious. I can't seem to find a scratch on him. Probably just needs some food, water, and a good night's rest. If he wakes up, we can work on getting him back home."

Oleg agreed and sat next to his son, continuing to fold the day's laundry.

Sitting at the table, Pietro looked back at the TV and the occupied couch. "After dinner, can we still watch The Addams Family?"

Iryna laughed at the question. "Well, if you're willing to let the boy take your bed for the night I don't see why not."

Pietro's face scrunched at the decision. The internal debate going between a night in bed versus watching his favorite show went on in his head.

Meanwhile, Wanda looked back at the stranger before continuing to help her mother cook dinner. Despite the brief moment from before, she could vividly remember an endless land full of swords.