In a confusion of feelings, Vasily Karpovich, a completely non-drinker, approached the cupboard, thoughtfully looked at the bottles of selected alcoholic beverages lined up, as if at a parade, among the crystal and porcelain festive dishes - the guests in the house were mostly far from the sobriety that he preached for himself, but the owner himself, who respected other people’s traditions, did not impose it on others. He took out Posolskaya vodka, Yubileiny cognac from the Caucasus, wine with a foreign label, and put it all on a large polished table in the hall intended for ceremonial meals. Why, I didn’t know myself - after all, it seemed a little early to start celebrating the New Year, there was still one and a half working days ahead... - but I wanted to do just that.