“When E.S. turning her back to the class, facing the board (towards the prince - in front, towards the forest - back), it immediately became clear whether Vanya Bayanov was in class today. While the teacher wrote the topic in sweeping chalk letters on the green board, the class went wild (if Vanya was there) or sat quietly and devotedly drilled into E.S.’s back. glances (if Vanya was not there). Even the teacher felt scared on such days - it seemed that there was no one behind her, that the forest, the princesses and princes had disappeared. And she writes the topic in an empty classroom, it is unclear for what purpose she writes chalk letters - each the size of her own palm...”