Monthly Archives: February 2022

Overnight childcare near me: Child Care Plus – Infant Toddler

Опубликовано: February 18, 2022 в 10:12 am

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Категории: Child

Overnight childcare fills void in 24/7 economy

Kids who go to Yessika Magdaleno’s childcare in Garden Grove know to bring their toothbrushes and a blankets when they get dropped off by their working parents.

They are not coming for daycare. They are spending the night.

Magdaleno, a state-licensed family childcare provider of 16 years, is one of a small number of licensed providers who care for parents with irregular work hours — evening, overnight and early morning shifts.

It was more than a decade ago when Magdaleno started providing night services for children whose parents work in hotels, restaurants and other industries that power through when others are off.

On top of helping out the night owls, Magdaleno assists the early risers. She’s accepted drop-offs as early as 4 a.m. from parents who need to begin picking vegetables at sunrise.

She’s one of the few family childcare providers in Orange County who have offered to take children during non-traditional hours, meaning beyond the approximate 7 a. m. to 6 p.m. time that many other providers and daycare centers typically use.

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In 2005, Magdaleno got her first call asking for night care. It was a single mother who needed a 3 a.m. pick up for her children after finishing her factory shift in Anaheim.

“If they are reaching out to us, it’s because there’s no one to help them,” Magdaleno said.

The Garden Grove childcare provider is no stranger to seeing the tears spout from both the kids and parents who are dropping off for the first time, but she knows that the children being handed off to her come from parents working for the paychecks their families need to live in Orange County, one of the state’s most expensive housing markets.

“It means that their family can have a better way of life,” Magdaleno said. “You sacrifice time with your kids, but you earn a little bit of money to buy them clothes and food.”

As president of the Orange County Child Care Assn., Lee Allton is responsible for receiving the “overflow” calls from families who can’t find care that fit their unpredictable working hours or price range.

You hear in their voice how desperate they are. There’s nowhere else for them to go.

— Sandra Turner, childcare provider in Seal Beach

“There’s just not enough resources out there to help people who cannot afford [care] and do not have the family support, and that’s usually in the lower socioeconomic areas, where they’re doing shift work, factory work, Starbucks, McDonalds, those places,” Allton said.

According to data published by the Cal State Fullerton Center for Demographic Research, more than 1.6 million people were employed in Orange County in November 2016. About 50% of those people worked in professional, business, educational, health and hospitality and other services. Over 2,000 people worked in agriculture and another 28,000 in transportation, warehousing and utilities.

Allton noticed the calls asking for night care began to come in around 15 or 20 years ago, and that she’s only known a few providers who were able to offer the later hours.

Even after Allton makes the referrals for those who call her for night care, she’s seen sources come up short.

“Sometimes, each avenue is a dead end and you’d have the parents in tears,” Allton said, noting that the California Department of Education or Children’s Home Society are among the last-resort options. “You have to care enough to make sure their hope isn’t stripped. Their problems begin the moment you take their hope away.”

Seal Beach family child care provider Mary Testerman offered as many as three nights a week of night care in the past but now only opens during the evening hours for parents’ date nights and other circumstances.

The day shift is every care provider’s “bread and butter,” since more parents work during daylight hours, she said.

“Doing the nights also is just too many hours,” Testerman said, adding that she believes it’s likely the reason why other providers don’t extend their services beyond the daytime.

Her current hours are 7 a. m. to 5:30 p.m. Night hours are often sporadic. Testerman recalls once having her first child of the day dropped off at 6 a.m., then having her last child of that shift picked up at 2 a.m.

Before moving to Los Angeles two months ago, former Seal Beach resident Shari Shanker took her toddler son to Testerman because she and her husband could not afford a nanny.

Shanker works in the music business, and her husband was doing his residency work to become a physician. They both work nights.

“We never heard of at-home daycare, but I’m so glad we did because she’s like Mother Teresa,” Shanker said of Testerman. “I feel better being a working mom so I can provide for my family. It means the world to know that my kid is safe, happy and well-taken care of.”

Sandra Turner, a care provider also in Seal Beach, agrees that extending hours into the evening turns off many providers because the days last so long.

Turner has offered overnight services for 12 years, watching over the children of cops, nurses and social workers.

She’s currently at full capacity for her license, and no families have asked for night hours, but Turner still gets calls from families needing evenings.

“You hear in their voice how desperate they are,” Turner said, adding that she can only refer them to others. “There’s nowhere else for them to go.”

She remembers caring for the child of a single mother who worked nights as a cashier at the Target in Seal Beach. The mother earned a promotion to management after committing to those late shifts, giving her the ability to move herself and her daughter out of a shelter and into an apartment.

“When you see something like that, you know you’re making a difference,” Turner said. “It’s knowing that you’re giving someone a chance to better themselves and giving them that peace of mind that while they’re working their kids will be well fed and taken care of.”

But it’s tough for her to answer the questions her kids ask about why their parents have to work long hours and why they sometimes have to pick them up late.

So Turner soothes them with the words: “Mommies and Daddies always come back.”

[email protected]

Twitter: @AlexandraChan10

baltimore childcare – craigslist

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  • Sacrifice and sleep deprivation: Inside the lives of overnight caregivers

    A new documentary, “Through the Night,” explores the realities of nighttime child care and the families who rely on it.
    Courtesy Long Shot Factory

    “Through the Night”

    David Brancaccio and Rose Conlon Aug 19, 2021

    A new documentary, “Through the Night,” explores the realities of nighttime child care and the families who rely on it.
    Courtesy Long Shot Factory

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    What happens to the children of the workers who power America’s overnight economy — from nurses to transit employees to custodians — when there’s no one home at night to take care of them? For many families, the answer is 24-hour child care facilities like Dee’s Tots Childcare in New Rochelle, New York, which is run by Deloris “Nunu” Hogan and her husband Patrick (“Pop Pop”) out of their home.

    “Sometimes [Deloris] gets to bed at 2 a.m. Sometimes she gets to bed at 4 a.m.” said Loira Limbal, the director and producer of “Through the Night,” a new documentary that follows the daycare and the families who depend on it.

    “Their sleep schedule is a bit all over the place, just like the parents’ work schedules are. And it means that they don’t get enough sleep. Which is part of what I really wanted to highlight: that we’re at a point in the United States where our economy treats sleep as a luxury that only the lucky few can get,” she said.

    Limbal, who is the senior vice president for programs at Firelight Media, a nonprofit supporting documentary filmmakers of color, spoke with Marketplace’s David Brancaccio about the experiences of overnight caregivers and the kinds of conversations she hopes the film will spur. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.

    “Through the Night” details goodnight calls between children and parents at Dee’s Tots Childcare. (Courtesy Long Shot Factory)

    Deloris “Nunu” Hogan:  I go to bed around two o’clock in the morning. Sometimes I go to bed at four. We take turns, and [Patrick] lets me sleep. But sometimes it’s like, maybe we better stop doing this. And then a parent will call on the phone, and they’ll go, “I’m going through this, and I’m going through that, and I lost my mom or I have nobody to watch my baby.” That’ll hit me in my heart, or hit him in his heart.

    David Brancaccio: How does a human being actually pull off this work? It’s just so difficult.

    Loira Limbal: It’s incredibly difficult. And I think the short answer, and really the only answer, is you pull it off at an enormous price. It requires incredible sacrifice.

    Brancaccio: When do Dolores and Patrick Hogan, masters of delivering child care, as we see — when do they sleep?

    Limbal:  Well, they have a very haphazard sleep schedule. You heard Deloris say it in the clip that you played: Sometimes she gets to bed at 2 a.m. Sometimes she gets to bed at 4 a.m. It depends what’s going on; it depends if there was a last-minute change in the shift of one of her parents; if there’s a snowstorm; if there’s traffic. There are so many variables when you are providing this kind of critical care for working families. Their sleep schedule is a bit all over the place, just like the parents’ work schedules are. And it means that they don’t get enough sleep. They really don’t. Which is part of what I really wanted to highlight: that we’re at a point in the United States where our economy treats sleep as a luxury that only the lucky few can get.

    The families who rely on overnight childcare

    “Through the Night” follows Marisol Valencia, a single mother who works three different jobs. (Courtesy Long Shot Factory)

    Brancaccio:  And you also see that with the parents who have the children in the daycare facilities. Some of them are working night shifts, sometimes it’s the swing shift, sometimes it’s multiple jobs.

    Marisol Valencia:  I’m very tired. If I’m not working in one job, I’m working another job. I’m always working and working, just non-stop. I want to have one job so that I can spend time with my kids, have a house — that’s my goal. But it’s very hard with my kids because I don’t get out until like 11 o’clock or 12 o’clock [at night]. If I didn’t to have Nunu, I don’t know what I would do.

    Brancaccio: Ms. Limbal, this is not just a portrait of the economics of a daycare facility. This is also where we are in America with our work lives.

    Limbal: Absolutely. You hear Marisol say that she’s working three jobs when we first meet her. And she’s working those three jobs because none of her employers would agree to give her full-time hours because they didn’t want to have to pay for benefits, health insurance and other things like that. And so she had to patch together three different jobs in order to be able to provide. They live in Westchester County, New York; the cost of living is rather high. And you can imagine the decision to take on a third job, which just meant that her schedule was insane.

    Brancaccio: So there you have a central part of the conundrum: the daycare facility might want to hire on more people so the people who run it can get more sleep; there would be more employees. But that costs money, and that would mean the daycare facility would have to raise the price it charges the parent. But when you meet a parent like Ms. Valencia there, she can’t pay more.

    Limbal: Exactly. It’s a tight rope that working parents, particularly the working poor or the working class, have to walk in the United States to just live. You know, we’re not talking about people wanting to do anything beyond the basics — a roof over your head, food, clothing, education for your children. And somehow we have ended up in a place in the United States where it is this difficult. People are caught between a rock and a hard place. In order to afford care, sometimes they have to take on more work, which then forces them to be away from home longer hours. And so it’s this never-ending cycle that is, in my opinion, very violent and very brutal, and we are not having enough honest conversations about it in the United States.

    How the pandemic impacted caregivers

    Brancaccio: And your filming was before the pandemic, right?

    Limbal: This is before the pandemic.

    Brancaccio: So imagine daycare places trying to recruit workers now, with workers shortages and the prices of getting extra labor in rising.

    Limbal: Right. And also, to take a step back, something like 60% of daycares in the United States closed due to the pandemic. Daycare providers, and specifically home-based daycare providers like Deloris and Patrick, who we meet in the film — they operate on very, very thin margins, which means that they just simply don’t have the bandwidth to withstand even small crises, much less something as catastrophic as the pandemic has been. And so many of those daycares are not coming back. They are not reopening. And the ones that did had to jump through all sorts of hoops in order to keep their doors open. Deloris and Patrick basically ran through their savings and their retirement funds in order to keep the doors open and keep their staff employed, because their staff is like family to them and they didn’t want to lay people off. And so they’ve had to make really tough decisions, themselves. So there’s the people that had to close; there’s the people that stayed open that now are going to have these long-term effects that they may or may not be able to recover from.

    Brancaccio: One of the issues that emerges for me is the sustainability of an enterprise like this. Deloris and Patrick are clearly extraordinary, I would say they are heroic. But that is not something people can do forever and ever, and replacing these two particular people would be very difficult. I mean, I guess the question is: what kind of system is it that depends on heroes being heroic nearly 24 hours a day?

    Limbal: It’s a violent, brutal system, in my opinion. That’s the kind of system that requires — or, rather, demands — that kind of sacrifice from individual people.

    Deloris “Nunu” Hogan: This work is hard. I don’t want to stop doing what I’m doing because I feel like if I lay down, I’m so tired, I might not get back up. I have to keep on moving because I have something to do.

    Limbal:  We are demanding that individual people show up in the world as heroes or as angels; sacrifice themselves, their well-being and their family’s well-being, in order to shoulder a responsibility that, in my opinion, should be a societal responsibility. It is not fair, it is not right and it is not just to ask two individuals, one family, to shoulder this responsibility.

    “I feel like if I lay down, I’m so tired, I might not get back up,” Deloris Hogan says in “Through the Night.” (Courtesy Long Shot Factory)

    “Care becomes this communal project”

    Brancaccio: One of the fun parts of the film, and there are fun parts of the film — besides the charming kids — is watching what pros Nunu and Pop Pop are at delivering the child care. I mean, there is some virtuoso child care going on.

    Limbal:  It’s funny that you say that because we filmed with them during all sorts of hours of the day. Sometimes we were there for very long stretches of time, and I’m talking about early morning, nighttime, summertime, winter, holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, first day of school — all the seasons and different moments of their lives. And I’m a parent myself, I have two young children, and they were in loving daycare facilities. But, I have to say, I don’t think I’d ever seen an environment that functioned as seamlessly. There was this way where there was a rhythm and this sort of multi-directional caregiving. So we are talking about Nunu and Patrick as the caregivers, but the parents also look out for Nunu and Patrick, and they look out for each other’s children. The children look out for each other, and that’s not just the older ones taking care of the younger ones, sometimes the younger ones are taking care of the older ones. There is a real beauty in the way that care becomes this kind of communal project in that space — which I think is indicative of the ways in which low-income folks of color survive in this country. I was raised in a low-income — I grew up in the South Bronx with a working mother; my mother worked nights as well. And these are the networks of care that we have always had to create in order to survive really harsh conditions.

    Brancaccio: Who watched you when she was working late?

    Limbal: A hodgepodge, you know: neighbors, aunts, friends of friends. When my mother was raising me, she didn’t know of anything like Nunu’s service, you know, this is 30-plus years ago. But she also had to start leaving me alone at a really young age. Which was an impossible choice, which many parents, especially essential workers, have had to make in this pandemic. When schools were closed, when daycares were shut, and they had to absolutely show up for work — guess what? You have young kids staying home alone. You have a young kid taking care of an even younger kid. This is what we’re doing to working families and to working people in the United States. And we have been for a really long time, pre-pandemic.

    Correction (Dec. 29, 2021): Dee’s Tots Childcare was incorrectly named in a previous version of this story. The text has been corrected.

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    Overnight childcare??? | Mumsnet

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    Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

    Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

    QueenEagle ·

    08/08/2007 12:05

    I may have to do night shifts and will need someone to sleep in for perhaps 6 nights per month and in the mornings, take one to school then the other on to the playgroup.

    How much should I expect to pay someone to do this? I was thinking of putting an ad in the local college for someone doing a childcare qualification but who would be able to drive.

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    QueenEagle ·

    08/08/2007 19:35

    Not something anybody uses much then?

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    Katymac ·

    08/08/2007 19:39

    I don’t do over night care as a childminder & i don’t really have any idea how much you would pay a babysitter/mothers help?

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    looneytune ·

    09/08/2007 11:49

    I’d do this as a childminder i. e at my house but not sure about other options I’m afraid. I know you can get night nurses but doubt they’d do the school run.

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    MightyMoosh ·

    09/08/2007 11:54

    Atvertising at a college would be good, I know I’d have done it when training, just expect to be grilled by their parents!

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    childmindersE17 ·

    09/08/2007 18:21

    Dear QueenaEagle
    please tell me which area do you live in i might be able to help you as i can drive and i am a registered childminder for day and overnight and i am based in walthamstow e17 ,London

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    edker ·

    09/08/2007 21:46

    in london I guess they charge £6 or £7.
    depends on what service they will offer you and the price goes up or down.

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    utterlyconfused ·

    09/08/2007 21:51

    I was once advised that it’s 12 hours full price (ie what you normally pay for daytime childcare) and then 12 hours half price.

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    nannynick ·

    09/08/2007 23:01

    I may have to do night shifts and will need someone to sleep in for perhaps 6 nights per month and in the mornings, take one to school then the other on to the playgroup.

    I used to do exactly that when I was a student, though family had 4 children, 2 at school, 1 at playgroup plus a baby – so I did handover of baby to parent once they got home from the night shift. I then went to college in time for my first lecture (college didn’t start till about 10 ish).

    I don’t recall how much it used to cost… it was around 15 years ago.

    Before considering how much to pay someone, first find someone interested in doing it. Then discuss with them how much they want for doing it. If you are very lucky you may find more than one person able to do it… and thus have two prices to compare.

    Sorry, that may not be that helpful… wish I could remember better what I did 15 plus years ago!

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    KaySamuels ·

    10/08/2007 09:24

    Ring up the college’s head of school for childcare students, my local college has a vacancy noticeboard on the childcare studies floor, so this may be a good option. Also any students on a childcare course are police checked for their work experience with children. Hope you find someone.

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    MightyMoosh ·

    10/08/2007 12:40

    Dont rely on police checks for students, my first one was after working for several years as no-one bothered to check, I thought I had one.

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    QueenEagle ·

    13/08/2007 20:38

    Yes I had thought about putting an ad in the local college for a someone doing a childcare qualification.

    This is the score:

    Night shift would mean someone coming at around 6 – 7 at night and sleeping in until time to get my 2 and 4 year old up, breakfasted and ready for school. Existing childminder could then pick both up and drop off to school and playgroup and have my 2 year old for rest of day until hubby picks up as usual at 4pm.

    Early shift would mean someone coming in either at 6 in the morning and doing the same as above or staying over so they are already here and don’t have to get up themselves so early.

    I also have a 15 year old, 13 yo and 11 yo but they get themselves sorted and off to school on those mornings when I am on earlies. dh is here for school runs and for the rest of the evenings.

    Problems would be where to sleep someone – they would have to have a put up bed in the lounge probably. I would feed them an evening meal and breakfast and they would obviously have access to the shower etc themselves.

    I live in Bedfordshire btw and there is a very good college near me. I’d anticipate needing someone once or twice per week possibly. I will know more in a bout 3 weeks about my chance of getting the job so can make more concrete enquiries then, but I just wanted to put some feelers out now.

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    yogimum ·

    13/08/2007 21:00

    I work two nights for newborn twins. I get paid £8.50 an hour. I sleep in the nursery with the babies. I am on the south coast so salaries tend to be lower.

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    QueenEagle ·

    19/08/2007 23:36

    Thanks yogimum.

    I have plenty of time to find someone suitable. and willing!

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    woodyrocks ·

    02/09/2007 02:01

    Did you find someone suitable in the end? How did you go about it? I am faced with the same problem myself you see.

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    ljcooper3 ·

    06/10/2007 15:53

    I occassionally do over night childcare. I charge my hourly rate until 11pm then an overnight fee of £30 and start charging my hourly rate when the children wake up.

    Im in London.

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    sbull ·

    23/02/2009 13:18

    Can anyone help me??? My husband is off to Afghanistan in March and I am looking for flexible childcare including nights. I work long 12 hour shifts but only 1 or 2 days per week. Ideally would like a nanny share or similar! I really dont want to give up work for 4 months.

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    dibdab78 ·

    23/02/2009 13:35

    sbull where abouts are you?

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    HSMM ·

    23/02/2009 13:38

    I am registered for overnight care and would charge double time for it. I do not normally do it though. Children stay at my house rather than theirs. I know another childminder who covers police shifts and the children sleep at her house, rather than at home. May be worth trying for a night nanny? Is there such a thing?

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    dibdab78 ·

    23/02/2009 13:41

    woodyrocks where are you based? (if you are still looking for someone that is)

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    PaulaMummyKnowsBest ·

    23/02/2009 16:33

    yes there are night nannies – I’m one but I work mostly with small babies.

    Have you tried gumtree and nannyjob?

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    henrys7thwife ·

    23/02/2009 16:36

    dib woodyrocks was looking ’07, I doubt they will still need someone

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    sbull ·

    24/02/2009 14:13

    I am based in Peterborough, and will have to give up my job for just 4 months as I am at a dead end! Nursing isn’t a very child friendly profession, despite being mainly female. Shame that 15 good years I have given the NHS!!

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    dibdab78 ·

    24/02/2009 14:49

    sbull I do part time nannying and also night-nannying/overnight care. I am 1.5hrs away from you but dont mind travelling that distance as long as theres a contribution made towards my travel costs & time. I also know of another p.time nanny/night nanny. If you would like more details please email me

    [email protected]

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    lindseyfox ·

    24/02/2009 16:36

    Hello sbull I am a childrens nurse and now work as a school nurse community nursing is much more friendly hours.

    I do nanny overnight both as a night nanny for babies and for parents who work nights but peterborough is a little far for me (am in leicestershire).

    def look on gumtree or nanny job as may be someone local to you.

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    Advertisement

    How to Start an Overnight Daycare: A Complete Guide

    Do you have a passion for working with children? Have you ever wondered what parents/guardians without traditional working hours do for childcare? Are you interested in opening and operating your own overnight daycare business?

    How to start an overnight daycare? Here’s a quick overview of the steps you’ll need to take to open your own overnight childcare service:

    1. Conduct market research
    2. Recognize the needs of your customer base
    3. Create a business plan
    4. Research legal requirements in your area
    5. Find a suitable location
    6. Obtain proper licensing
    7. Purchase necessary supplies
    8. Recruit and train employees
    9. Market your newly opened business
    10. Get customers
    11. Have fun and enjoy knowing that you provide a unique yet needed service to many parents and guardians.

    If your passion lies in the care of children and you want to provide security and service to parents/guardians with non-traditional work schedules, this article has been written just for you! Let’s dive right into how you can start your own overnight daycare.

     

    Overnight childcare, also known as overnight daycare, is care provided to children by caregivers during the night and outside of conventional childcare hours. Parents/guardians can keep their children under the supervision of a professional during the evening hours with this type of care. Children are often expected to sleep over at the site or be picked up in the early morning hours.

    Overnight daycare is frequently sought by parents who work irregular hours, such as early morning, evening, or overnight shifts. Traditional childcare facilities typically provide workday hours that are not always suitable for the needs of a family. Jobs in the healthcare, restaurant or hotel industries frequently require employees to work late at night, making it challenging to find care that works with a parent/guardian’s schedule.

    Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get out our favorite blankets, stuffed animals, cutest nightlights, and get rolling on how YOU can open your own overnight childcare center.

     

    Before considering opening an overnight daycare center, you must do extensive market research in your area to make sure that your venture will be a viable one.

    There will be a specific niche of parents/guardians who need overnight childcare. A large portion of the American workforce work non-traditional hours. Healthcare workers, those in the service industry, police officers, and other first-responders are just a few of the jobs that may require overnight shifts.

    When researching your target market, keep an eye out for businesses open past the traditional hours, like hospitals or late-night restaurants. You could take your market research one step further and speak with employees to ask if they require overnight childcare.

    Another lucrative area for research is online. Social media platforms have groups that focus on local topics or issues. These forums will allow you to post your information and gather feedback from a larger sample size.

    Recognize and acknowledge the unique needs of your customer base

    Your overnight daycare center will satisfy a different set of conditions as compared to a traditional daycare facility. At a conventional daycare facility, children are awake, playing, learning, and spending time with one another. However, your main goal will be safety, security, happiness, and productivity with your new overnight facility.

    Your new nighttime childcare facility will need to provide comfort, a relaxing environment, and a place where children can sleep peacefully.

     

    A few of the primary customer needs you should aim to cover with your overnight daycare center are:

    • Peace of mind for both parents/guardians and children: As an owner of a nighttime childcare facility, it will be your responsibility to put both the parent/guardian and child at ease when they enter your center. This can be accomplished by having a quality facility with everything a child will need and positively interacting with all involved parties in a relaxed, reassuring, and compassionate manner.
    • Flexibility and convenience: Compared to a conventional daycare center, where most children will be dropped off around 8 AM and picked back up around 5 PM, your new nighttime childcare facility will have a more comprehensive array of drop-off and pick-up times. Beyond flexible care times, another means to bring in customers would be offering their children transportation services.
    • Unrivaled comfort for the children in your care: It can be a big deal for a child to sleep somewhere other than their own bed. When you add in strangers, you can get yourself in a difficult situation. You obviously won’t have the comfort of loved ones in your facility to help children sleep more easily. Still, you can create an environment where children in your care will love to sleep. One way to achieve this is to provide children with things that are comforting, neat, or simply things not ordinarily found in their homes. Things like:
      • Weighted blankets
      • White noise machines
      • Soothing aromatherapy
      • Comfortable mattresses
      • Room decorations like glow-in-dark stickers or soothing murals
      • Massage pads

     

    After putting in the legwork to research your market and understand the needs of your clientele, it’s time to put pen to paper and create a business plan. Constructing a well-written, robust business plan for your new overnight daycare facility will help you achieve the long-term goals you have for your new venture. A business plan allows you to cover every single detail that will go into building your new business.

    These are the main components found in most business plans:

    • Executive summary
      • Brief overall description of your business
      • Possible problems and solutions
      • Opportunities and how to have a competitive advantage
      • Model your business will follow
    • Description of your company
      • Company name
      • Services provided
      • Where your business will sit in the available market
    • Market Analysis
      • Service area
      • Competing businesses
      • Creating a specialized niche
    • Management and Organization
      • Structure of business
      • Owner(s) (if you will have investors)
      • Employee hierarchy
    • Services
      • Overall service
      • Niche products
      • Selling points that create something unique to your business
    • Sales and Marketing
      • Plan for advertising and marketing
      • Branding
    • Funding
      • How much funding will you need?
      • What type of funding will you be requesting?
    • Financial Projections
      • Total start-up costs
      • Analysis of break-even point
      • 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year projections
      • Loan repayment
    • Additional relevant documents and resources

    You’ll need to do a bit of homework to find out the exact requirements your state has when it comes to an overnight childcare center. The best place to begin your research is with your local Health and Human Services Department or Social Services Department (the agency names vary from state to state).

    These types of departments are responsible for the regulation of childcare centers. They can provide you will all the information you will need to ensure that you are starting your new business venture out on the right foot!

     

    All that legal-eagle homework regarding the regulations and requirements of your state will definitely come in clutch when looking for the best facility to suit your needs. You’ll need to be very specific about the safety and sanitation regulations that you’ll require to become (and stay) legally compliant.

     

    After putting in the legwork to find out about compliance, licensing, and regulation and sorting out a prime location, it’s time to get to work on becoming a legal, operating overnight daycare facility. A few essential things you’ll need to do are:

    1. Register your unique business name with the Secretary of State’s office
    2. File your business’ federal tax identification number with your state and local revenue (tax) offices
    3. Choose how to appropriately register your business (sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, PLC, or corporation)
    4. Obtain a federal employer identification number from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office (gotta be able to legally pay your employees)
    5. Register your federal employer identification number with your state and local agencies
    6. Obtain a business license per the regulations of your state, county, or city
    7. Secure business insurance that will appropriately cover the needs of your business
    8. Obtain the appropriate education, certifications, and licenses specific to overnight childcare in your state, county, or city. One excellent resource for this information is Childcare.net.
    9. Look into joining childcare associations.

    It’s a lot to take in, I know. However, following the rules and taking flight legally gives your fledgling overnight daycare facility the best chance for longevity. Remember, there are places to cut corners and save money, but becoming a legal, licensed business is definitely not one of them!

     

    As I’ve previously mentioned, you’ll need to set the stage for a child to feel secure and comfortable enough in your facility to have a quality, peaceful sleep. In addition to general supplies (like sanitation supplies, hygiene supplies, and general office furniture), you’ll likely need to secure a few things to make your overnight daycare facility the cream of the crop. A few essential items you should plan on purchasing are:

    • Bed frames, mattresses, and box springs
    • Comfortable sheet sets, blankets, and child-sized pillows
    • Nightlights
    • White noise machines
    • Essential oil diffusers
    • Child-sized weighted blankets
    • Room decorations to create a soothing yet fun environment
    • Food and snacks
    • Comforting drinks appropriate for children (rum and cola are NOT child friendly, I don’t care what your Aunt Mae said)
    • Stuffed animals

    Of course, these are just suggestions. You need to ensure that anything and everything you purchase complies with the safety regulations outlined by your state, county, or city. Regardless of how fun or nifty something may seem, safety is the ultimate goal for the children in your care.

    Check out this comprehensive checklist for a daycare infant room!

    So, we’ve covered a few things that are imperative to creating a thriving overnight daycare center. One topic we haven’t discussed yet (which is a bit odd because it is one of the most important) is recruiting and training top-notch employees.

    Finding the right employees is vital in any business (I mean, think about that gas station you no longer frequent because of the rude cashier), but it is imperative to choose the individuals who share your vision and passion for having a successful nighttime childcare facility.

    In a traditional daycare, you need employees that are energetic and engaging. Those individuals who can herd cats, I mean care for children. Whereas the ideal employee for your overnight daycare center will be comforting, calming, compassionate, and willing to devote the time necessary to calm children and aid them in falling asleep.

    After choosing the best of the best, you’ll need to focus on training. A few situations that your new employees need to be educated on and trained for are:

    • A child cannot sleep
    • A homesick child
    • A scared child
    • Defiant children (which is pretty much every kiddo at some point, amirite?)

    Training for these particular (and other) situations can include:

    • Reading age-appropriate storybooks
    • Soothing music
    • Yoga and meditation

    Recruiting, hiring, and training your employees is one of the keys to unlocking a lasting overnight daycare facility.

    Again, (I hate to sound like a broken record, BUT!) be sure to follow all state regulations regarding the number of employees needed in ratio to the children cared for and education/certifications required. Remember, legal eagles fly much more easily than con-artist-crows.

     

    When starting any new business, one sure-fire way to get your name out there is to advertise! There are numerous, inexpensive (and even FREE) means to get customers in your doors before you have the expendable budget to cover marketing services. Utilize social media platforms or partner with daytime facilities to get a buzz going about the services you offer.

    Remember to highlight what makes your facility unique so that you stand out from the crowd.

    The final step in opening an overnight daycare center is simply opening your heart and opening the doors!

    Opening and operating your own overnight daycare center can be pretty daunting. There is no actual blueprint for success, but these tips will help start you off on the right foot. Hopefully, I’ve covered all the bases and have helped you bring your dream of a nighttime childcare facility to reality.

     

    Do employees need to be awake at an overnight daycare center?

    Short answer: YES. Most states have laws and regulations set in place regarding the supervision of children, especially overnight. At a minimum, one staff member must remain awake and on duty to ensure that all children in your care are safe and secure.

    Are the certifications different for a nighttime childcare center from a traditional daycare facility?

    Each state varies in its requirements for overnight daycare centers versus conventional childcare facilities. Most will require additional certification and possibly additional training. Your local office of the Department of Human Health and Services Agency or Social Services Agency can definitely help you line out everything you will need to have a thriving nighttime childcare center.

     

    Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.

    To learn more on how to start your own daycare checkout my startup course and documents here.

    Child Care & Camping | YMCA of Greater Dayton

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    CHILD CARE ENRICHMENT AND DAYCARE SERVICES

    The YMCA is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable daycare for children. In the US, the YMCA is the nation’s largest provider of child care programs, providing family-centered, values-based programs to nurture children’s healthy development. Well-trained staff provide safe, affordable, high-quality care so you can have peace of mind while you work. 

     

    EARLY LEARNING (INFANTS & TODDLERS) 

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    Where do I register?

    Step 1: YMCA Child Care registrations can be found at each site’s web page. Visit our Early Learning, Preschool or School Age Child Care pages to locate the best location for you! The registration links are listed in each individual page.

    Step 2: OR call or visit your local YMCA that is offering this program option during our enrollment hours, 6:30am–6pm, Monday–Friday. Space is limited, registrations will be first come, first serve. Families will complete a childcare packet, sign a letter of understanding and an ODJFS Health Form for each program cycle. Additional ODJFS forms will be needed for children with any special accommodations or medication to be administered. 

    Staff members are partners with parents and other caregivers, working together to help kids grow up healthy, happy and strong. With a focus on safety, health, social growth and academic enhancement, your child will experience a variety of programmatic and activity options to explore and develop their interests and talents. 

    Is child care closed on holidays?

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    • 2 Staff Development Days (Spring and Fall)

    YMCA reserves the right to add holiday closure dates as needed. The YMCA will attempt to communicate at least 2 weeks in advance for any closures.

    How much does YMCA child care cost?

    YMCA Child Care costs can be found at each site’s web page. Visit our Early Learning, Preschool or School Age Child Care pages to locate the best option for you! The prices are listed in each individual page.

    What is the difference between Early Education Care and School Age Care?

    Early Education Care is for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our Early Learning sites work from the Creative Curriculum–an educational component with lesson plans that support each child’s physical, intellectual, emotional, social and language development. The curriculum is integrated with the Ohio Department of Education Early Learning Standards. School Age Care is for children ages 5-12 years. We provide flexible care options for part-time and full-time. Our program allows for activity choice and provides a well-balanced curriculum (Cincy After School Curriculum) that includes homework assistance, learning new skills and healthy play with peers.

    Applying for Ohio Public Funds

    The YMCA accepts publicly funded child care through the State of Ohio.

    The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) helps parent(s) who are working or in school pay for child care through the Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) program. 

    You may be required to pay for part of your child care in the form of a copayment as determined by ODJFS. The amount you pay is based on your gross income and family size.

    Please visit the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services website  for more information or to apply for Child Care Assistance in your county.

    Financial Assistance

    The YMCA of Greater Dayton is a charitable, not-for-profit, health and human services organization committed to helping people reach their full potential in spirit, mind and body.

    Through generous donations from members and your community, the YMCA is proud to offer Our Extra Hands Program. This provides financial assistance to those in need.

    Follow the following steps to apply for our Child Care Scholarships:

    Step 1:  Apply for PFCC  (If you are denied, you can proceed with the YMCA Extra Hands Application. You will need to provide a copy of your denial letter from your county.) If you are approved for PFCC, a YMCA Scholarship would not be applicable. 

    Step 2: Fill out our Extra Hands Application (YMCA Scholarship)

    Step 3: Provide us with 1 Month of Pay Stubs for all adults in your household.

    Step 4: Provide your previous year’s tax filing (Ex. Federal 1040 with W-2’s)

    Step 5: Provide a personal letter (written or typed) to the Scholarship Committee. This letter should explain your current situation and express your need for financial assistance. 

    Once all 5 of these components are provided to the YMCA Child Care Director, the completed Scholarship Application will be reviewed at the Monthly Child Care Scholarship Committee Meeting. Following this meeting, results are mailed to inform you of the status of your application. 

    *YMCA Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

    Holidays

    YMCA reserves the right to add holiday closure dates as needed. The YMCA will attempt to communicate at least 2 weeks in advance for any closures.

    Disclaimer

    The YMCA reserves the right to adjust rates as needed and will communicate any changes necessary in advance.

    Ohio ACE Marketplace

    The YMCA of Greater Dayton is an approved ACE marketplace provider for our Before and After School Care. Parent/Guardian pays for goods/services at time of service. This type of purchase can be reimbursed with OH ACE account funds directly to the parent/guardian via claim submission with an attached receipt in the OH ACE app as long as the parent/guardian has connected their bank account to the app.The YMCA will comply with all audits to confirm payments made line up with funds requested to the parent/guardian.

    CAMPS

    The YMCA of Greater Dayton also provides various camping opportunities for your children to keep them active in the summer! From Day Camp to Overnight Camp at Camp Kern, your kids are guaranteed to have one of their best summer’s ever.

     

    With a focus on friendships, campers spend their days participating in activities they choose, with amazing counselors from all over the world.  Each program is designed with specific age groups in mind, and counselors are trained to not only build campers up, but to encourage and empower them to become more.Take a look at our summer camp offerings below

    The YMCA is an equal opportunity provider

    In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

    Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

    To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

    Mail: 
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

    Fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442

    Email:
    [email protected]

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

    07/25/2022

    Hostels in Moscow from 200 rubles per night

    Very well

    7

    from436 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Peter the First

    Izmailovskoye highway, 73, lit. AND
    , Center of Moscow ~9.6 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 7 reviews

      org/LocationFeatureSpecification”>

    • 600 m
    • 6 km

    The small hotel “Peter the First” is located in the central district of Moscow, not far from the metro station “Partizanskaya”. Guests are offered accommodation in both private and dormitory rooms, each of which has…
    Further

    Good

    6.9

    from469 rubles

    Per room per night

    Fabrika Moscow Hostel

    Bersenevsky per. , 5, building 3, floor 4
    , Center of Moscow ~1.2 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 125 reviews

    • 600 m
    • 2 km

    Hostel Fabrika in Moscow has 2 stars and is located in the historical center of the capital, just a seven-minute walk from the Kremlin. Fabrika Hostel Gallery is not quite a hotel in the usual sense of the word…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.7

    from527rub

    Per room per night

    Hostel 1st Arbat Hotel on Kakovinsky

    Maly Kakovinsky per., 4, building 1, apt. eight
    , Center of Moscow ~1.9km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 19 reviews

    • 300 m
    • 1 km

    Hostel “First Arbat Hostel on Kakovinsky” (1st Arbat Hostel) in Moscow is conveniently located in a quiet Arbat lane, but at the same time close to all the main attractions of the capital. To accommodate…
    Further

    Good

    6.8

    from534 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Gostiny Dvor on Polyanka

    Malaya Yakimanka street, 24, building 1-3
    , Center of Moscow ~1.6 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 4 reviews

    • 100 m
    • 2 km

    In the center of Moscow, not far from the Park of Arts and the Kremlin, there is a modern hostel Gostiny Dvor on Polyanka. Nearby there are public transport stops (tram and metro), making it easy to…
    Further

    Excellent

    8

    from535 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hotel Moscow Ideal

    Choice of our users

    st. Maroseyka, 13 building 3
    , Center of Moscow ~1.4 km

    Hotel on the map

    based on 17 reviews

      org/LocationFeatureSpecification”>

    • 500 m
    • 2 km

    The Moscow Ideal Hotel is located in the historical center of Moscow with its many sights, historical and architectural monuments. To many of them, such as, for example, Red Square …
    Further

    Good

    6.2

    from334 rubles

    Per room per night

    Mary Gold Hotel

    Voznesensky lane, 5
    , Center of Moscow ~900 m

    Hotel on the map

    based on 71 reviews

      org/LocationFeatureSpecification”>

    • 600 m
    • 3 km

    The hospitable Hotel A la Russe is comfortably located almost in the center of Moscow in an old mansion of the late 18th century, not far from the famous Kremlin and the magnificent Red Square. Nearby are also…
    Further

    Very well

    7. 5

    from345 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Napoleon

    Maly Zlatoustinskiy lane, 2, 4th floor
    , Center of Moscow ~1.3 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 122 reviews

    • 400 m
    • 2 km

    Hotel-hostel “Napoleon” is located in the central district of Moscow, not far from the metro station “Lubyanka”. Guests are accommodated in comfortable refurbished air-conditioned rooms. For general use by guests…
    Further

    Perfect

    9.1

    from683 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Sputnik Uyuta

    Novospassky per., 3, building 1
    , Center of Moscow ~3.2 km

    Hostel on the map

    • 600 m
    • 1 km

    Hostel “Sputnik Uyuta” is located near the metro station “Taganskaya”, in the historical center of Moscow. Nearby there are bars, restaurants, cafes and clubs, as well as the necessary shops and shopping centers. Employees…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.5

    from 600 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Comrade

    Choice of our users

    st. Maroseyka, 11, 3rd floor
    , Center of Moscow ~1.3 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 70 reviews

      org/LocationFeatureSpecification”>

    • 400 m
    • 2 km

    In a house built in the 19th century on the street. Maroseyka hostel Comrade. The hostel occupies the third floor of the building and offers multi-bed and double rooms. Four private bathrooms are shared…
    Further

    Very well

    7. 8

    from839 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Versailles on Kutuzovsky

    sq. Victory, d. 1, lit. E
    , Center of Moscow ~6.1 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 9 reviews

    • 300 m
    • 3 km

    Guest house “Versal on Kutuzovsky” (Versal na Kutuzovskom) is a hostel located in an ecologically clean and very beautiful area in the very center of Moscow: on Sparrow Hills and Kutuzovsky Prospekt. ..
    Further

    Excellent

    8.4

    from522 rubles

    Per room per night

    Taganka Hotel and Hostel

    Vorontsovskaya st., 35, lit. B
    , Center of Moscow ~3.5 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 49 reviews

    • 200 m
    • 2 km

    Hostel “Taganka” is located in the very center of Moscow, the center of the capital and its main attractions can be reached by metro without transfers. The hotel rooms are economy class and suitable for people…
    Further

    from873 rubles

    Per room per night

    Just Hostel on Belorusskaya

    1st st. Yamskogo Polya, 10
    , Center of Moscow ~3.6 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 17 reviews

    • 500 m
    • 400 m

    Just a hostel on Belorusskaya with 34 rooms is located within walking distance from the Belorussky railway station, in the center of Moscow. Eliseevsky Shop is 2.3 km from the hostel, while Olimpiyskiy Stadium is 2.3 km away…
    Further

    Very well

    7

    from409 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Central

    Novinsky Blvd., 28/35, building 1, apt. 2
    , Center of Moscow ~1.9km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 4 reviews

    • 500 m
    • 2 km

    For accommodation in the Central hostel multi-bed rooms and separate rooms of the categories “standard”, “suite” are provided. Internet access, a washing machine in the bathroom, a 24-hour…
    Further

    Very well

    7.6

    from646 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Artist on Baumanskaya

    Choice of our users

    Baumanskaya st., 35/1
    , Center of Moscow ~4.5 km

    Hostel on the map

    • 100 m
    • 1 km

    The hostel is located within walking distance from MSTU Baumansky, Baumanskaya metro station, shops, pharmacies, ATMs and cafes. From Baumanskaya station, you can take a direct metro ride to Kursky railway station…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.6

    from2 726 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Capital

    Serafimovicha street, 2, entrance 10
    , Center of Moscow ~900 m

    Hostel on the map

    based on 1 review

    • 500 m
    • 2 km

    A small hostel in the center of Moscow called “Capital” is located just a 15-minute walk from the Kremlin, as well as within walking distance from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and other main attractions. ..
    Further

    Very well

    7.1

    from 601 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Dmitrovka

    Arkhangelsky pereulok, 11/16 building 4, entrance 5, apt. 57, 1st floor, intercom 157
    , Center of Moscow ~1.7 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 6 reviews

    • 400 m
    • 2 km

    Hostel “Dmitrovka” is located in the center of Moscow. It takes just five minutes to walk to the Kremlin and Red Square. Five minutes walk to the nearest metro station (“Chekhovskaya”). Dimitrovka Moscow Hotel…
    Further

    Very well

    7.5

    from452 rubles

    Per room per night

    Open Hostel Bananas

    Pokrovsky Blvd., 8, building 2
    , Center of Moscow ~1.9 km

    Hostel on the map

    • 800 m
    • 900 m

    A small hostel in the center of Moscow “Bananas Hostel” is located just a 15-minute walk from the Kremlin, as well as within walking distance from the main attractions of the Russian capital. Near the hotel are…
    Further

    Good

    6.9

    from2 455 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Shamanka

    Leningradsky prospect, 2
    , Center of Moscow ~3.5 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 14 reviews

    • 300 m
    • 300 m

    Mini-Hotel Shamanka is located in the center of Moscow, a 2-minute walk from Belorussky Train Station and Belorusskaya Metro Station. The number of rooms is represented by 10 rooms of various categories, each of which is equipped with…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.5

    from496 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Europe

    Sadovaya-Triumfalnaya st., 16, building 2
    , Center of Moscow ~2.2 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 7 reviews

    • 400 m
    • 1 km

    A home-style cozy atmosphere awaits its guests in the hostel “Europe”. Mayakovskaya metro station is a 7-minute walk away. For the convenience of guests, the hostel is equipped with a modern kitchen, where you can…
    Further

    Good

    6.2

    from392 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Ves Mir

    Bolshaya Tulskaya st., 54
    , Center of Moscow ~5.4 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 1 review

    • 700 m
    • 3 km

    All The World Hostel is located in the Southern District of Moscow. The aparthotel consists of 8 rooms decorated in a minimalist style and equipped with heating, free…
    Further

    Very well

    7.3

    from528rub

    Per room per night

    Open Hostel Pajamas

    Bolshoi Zlatoustinskiy per., 3, lit. A/2, sq. 45
    , Center of Moscow ~1.3 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 12 reviews

    • 400 m
    • 2 km

    Pizhamas Hotel-Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, in Kitay-gorod. For accommodation guests are offered original rooms with individual design. Wireless high-speed…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.2

    from1 008 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Open Hostel Citrus

    Malaya Bronnaya street, 24, building 4
    , Center of Moscow ~1.7 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 28 reviews

    • 600 m
    • 2 km

    Hostel “Citrus” is located in the center of Moscow, next to the metro stations “Pushkinskaya”, “Tverskaya” and “Chekhovskaya”. It is part of the PS Hostels network and offers rooms for 2 to 4 people. A distinctive feature…
    Further

    Very well

    7.1

    from468rub

    Per room per night

    Hostel Mokba

    st. Maroseyka, d.9/2, building 6
    , Center of Moscow ~1.2 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 5 reviews

    • 400 m
    • 2 km

    Mokba Hotel is a hostel that opened its doors in the center of Moscow. The Mokba Hotel offers its visitors dormitory rooms, furnished in a simple style, a bathroom on the floor, well…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.6

    from529 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Vesna

    Staraya Basmannaya st., 5, building 1
    , Center of Moscow ~2.9 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 14 reviews

    • 600 m
    • 800 m

    The modern, homely hostel Vesna is located in the center of Moscow, a 20-minute walk from Red Square. It offers rooms of various categories with and without sharing; communal kitchen…
    Further

    Very well

    7.4

    from442 rub

    Per room per night

    Hostel Moscow Home

    2nd Neopalimovsky lane, 1/12
    , Center of Moscow ~2.5 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 74 reviews

    • 800 m
    • 1 km

    The Moscow Ideal Hostel is located in the very center of Moscow, close to Park Kultury and Smolenskaya metro stations. Numerous city center attractions are within walking distance…
    Further

    Very well

    7.9

    from614 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Artist on Chistye Prudy

    Arkhangelsky lane, 11/16
    , Center of Moscow ~1.7 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 13 reviews

    • 300 m
    • 2 km

    If you are looking for affordable accommodation near the metro, then the Artist Hostel on Chistye Prudy is for you. The hotel rooms have a cozy atmosphere, as well as towels, bedding. The showers are…
    Further

    from526rub

    Per room per night

    Hostel Panda

    1st Shchipkovsky lane, 18
    , Center of Moscow ~3.4 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 14 reviews

    • 600 m
    • 800 m

    Hotel “Panda” is located in the center of Moscow in close proximity to the University. Plekhanov and Paveletsky railway station. There are several metro stations near the hotel. The hotel is separated from Red Square…
    Further

    Perfect

    9.4

    from433 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Guest House Apartment №7

    Bolshoi Kamenshchiki st., 4, apt. 7
    , Center of Moscow ~2.8 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 25 reviews

    • 100 m
    • 1 km

    Hostel “Guest House Kvartira No. 7″ is located in the center of Moscow, very close to the Taganskaya metro station, a 7-minute walk from the Taganka Theater and a 15-minute metro ride from the Kremlin and Red Square…
    Further

    Very well

    7.8

    from533 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel San Francisco

    Myasnitskaya st., 15, apt. 13
    , Center of Moscow ~1.7 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 18 reviews

    • 300 m
    • 2 km

    San Francisco Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, a 15-minute walk from the Bolshoi Theatre, the Kremlin and Red Square. The distance to Sheremetyevo International Airport is 32 kilometers, to the Leningradsky…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.4

    from743 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel 1st Arbat Hotel on Novinsky

    Novinsky Boulevard, 1/2, apt. 64
    , Center of Moscow ~2 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 18 reviews

    • 400 m
    • 1 km

    Hostel “First Arbat on Novinsky” is a budget accommodation option for those who like to travel and live a busy sightseeing life. Near the hostel is the metro station Smolenskaya. Reseption…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.8

    from432 rub

    Per room per night

    Bear Hostels on Arbatskaya

    Winner of the “Travel.ru Star” contest

    st. Bolshaya Molchanovka, 23, building 2
    , Center of Moscow ~1.5 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 66 reviews

      org/LocationFeatureSpecification”>

    • 700 m
    • 2 km

    Bear Hostel is located in the Arbat district, in the center of Moscow, within walking distance of the Alexander Garden and the Kremlin embankment. Nearby there are shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. The hotel includes…
    Further

    Very well

    7.4

    from503 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Olimp

    Myasnitskaya st. , 21/8, building 5, apt. 21
    , Center of Moscow ~1.8 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 3 reviews

    • 200 m
    • 2 km

    In the center of Moscow there is an economical hostel called “Olimp”, but despite the fact that this economy class hotel has everything you need, and this is Internet access and a dedicated equipped kitchen. On the…
    Further

    Very well

    7.8

    from561 rubles

    Per room per night

    Time at the Red Gate Hostel

    Sadovaya-Spasskaya st., 19, building 1, entrance 1
    , Center of Moscow ~2.7 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 3 reviews

    • 200 m
    • 700 m

    Time at the Red Gate is a hostel located on the Three Stations Square in Moscow. Nearby is the metro station “Red Gate” and Kazansky railway station. To the historical and cultural sites of the city…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.1

    from703 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel A-Hostel at Three Stations

    st. Masha Poryvaeva, 38, entrance 7
    , Center of Moscow ~3.2 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 6 reviews

    • 500 m
    • 400 m

    A-Hostel at Three Stations is an inexpensive hotel located in the area of ​​Leningradsky, Kazansky and Yaroslavsky stations in Moscow. The nearest metro station is Komsomolskaya. Rooms at the A-Hostel are cozy…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.9

    from1 914 rubles

    Per room per night

    Green Mango Hostel

    Novaya Basmannaya st., 25/2, p. 2, apt. fifteen
    , Center of Moscow ~3.5 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 22 reviews

    • 800 m
    • 600 m

    In Moscow, one kilometer from the Bauman Garden is the Green Mango Hostel. The Krasnye Vorota metro station is only 500 meters from the hotel. The way from the hostel to Yaroslavsky, Kazansky and Leningradsky railway stations will take…
    Further

    Very well

    7.3

    from472 rubles

    Per room per night

    Open Hostel ZaZaZoo

    Maly Zlatoustinskiy per., 10, building 3
    , Center of Moscow ~1.4 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 18 reviews

    • 500 m
    • 2 km

    The cozy and hospitable ZaZaZoo hostel is located in the historical center of Moscow. The guests of the hotel really like that next to it are the Bolshoi Theater, the magnificent Kremlin, the ancient district of China …
    Further

    Excellent

    8.9

    from703 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Day and Night

    Luchnikov lane, 7/4, building 6, 3rd floor
    , Center of Moscow ~1.2 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 74 reviews

    • 200 m
    • 2 km

    From Sheremetyevo Airport, it takes an hour to drive to the hostel “Day and Night”, which is located two kilometers from Red Square. Despite the fact that this is the center of Moscow, the hotel is located in a quiet lane…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.5

    from736rub

    Per room per night

    Capital Guest House

    st. Malaya Ordynka, 5/6, bldg. 2-3, apt. 9
    , Center of Moscow ~1.5 km

    Hotel on the map

    based on 29 reviews

    • 100 m
    • 1 km

    Capital Guest House is suitable for economical accommodation in the center of Moscow. Red Square is within walking distance, and Tretyakovskaya metro station is a one-minute walk away. The hotel room stock is…
    Further

    Perfect

    9.3

    from2 900 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Fresh

    st. Sretenka, 26/1, apt. eighteen
    , Center of Moscow ~2.2 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 12 reviews

    • 300 m
    • 1 km

    The cozy mini-hotel Fresh Hostel Sukharevskaya is located in the center of the capital, just a 5-minute walk from the Kremlin. Not far from the hostel are the main sights of Moscow – Red Square, a modern…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.3

    from523 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Oasis

    Strastnoy b-r, 4, building 3, office 27
    , Center of Moscow ~1.4 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 38 reviews

    • 100 m
    • 2 km

    Hotel-hostel “Oasis” is located in the central district of Moscow near the metro stations “Chekhovskaya”, “Pushkinskaya” and “Tverskaya”, surrounded by famous theaters and other cultural sites of the capital. Guests are offered…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.6

    from708rub

    Per room per night

    Guest house 108 Minutes

    Malaya Ordynka street, 5/6, bldg. 2-3
    , Center of Moscow ~1.5 km

    Hotel on the map

    based on 18 reviews

    • 40 m
    • 1 km

    The guest house is located near the Tretyakov Gallery, within walking distance of the Novokuznetskaya metro station and Red Square. Near the hotel there are pharmacies, currency exchange offices, cafes, post office and bank branches…
    Further

    from711 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel on Chistye Prudy

    Bolshoi Kharitonievsky lane, 9, apt. 16
    , Center of Moscow ~2.3 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 3 reviews

    • 400 m
    • 1 km

    The Na Chistye Prudy Hotel-Hostel is located in the central part of Moscow, near the Chistye Prudy and Krasnye Vorota metro stations. The hotel’s rooms feature light colors and classic design…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.3

    from1 984 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Vanilla

    Bolshoi Kozikhinsky lane, 4
    , Center of Moscow ~1.5 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 78 reviews

    • 500 m
    • 2 km

    Hostel “Vanilla” (Vanilla Hostel) in the very center of the capital – for those who like to stay in unusual places. The hotel rooms are decorated in an original style, bright colors and interesting interiors will delight you with their…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.5

    from539rub

    Per room per night

    Seasons Hostel

    st. Bolshaya Ordynka, 13/9
    , Center of Moscow ~1 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 19 reviews

    • 300 m
    • 2 km

    Near the State Tretyakov Gallery of the Tretyakovskaya metro station, in the city of Moscow, there is the Seasons Hotel. Guests of the hotel will be able to get to Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin within 7…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.7

    from730 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Z-Hostel

    Znamenka street, 15
    , Center of Moscow ~700 m

    Hostel on the map

    based on 37 reviews

    • 300 m
    • 2 km

    The hospitable Z-Hostel is located in the center of beautiful Moscow. Nearby are the Kremlin, the famous Red Square, Arbat Street, the legendary Cathedral of Christ the Savior, cafes, metro stations…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.2

    from860 rubles

    Per room per night

    Eesti Airlines Hostel

    st. Tverskaya, 27, building 2, app. 83
    , Center of Moscow ~2.1 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 11 reviews

    • 200 m
    • 1 km

    Opened in the center of the capital, the Eesti Airlines Hotel has rooms for every taste. It is located near the oldest part of Moscow – the Moscow Kremlin. Walk to the nearest metro station “Mayakovskaya”…
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    Excellent

    8.9

    from648 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Fresh on Kuznetsky Most

    Varsonofevsky per., 4, building 1, under. 7
    , Center of Moscow ~1.3 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 4 reviews

    • 200 m
    • 2 km

    A good apart-hotel Fresh Hostel Kuznetsky Most is located in the central part of Moscow. Its excellent location is a 15-minute walk from the main sights of the capital – the Kremlin and the Red…
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    Excellent

    8

    from725 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Megapolis

    st. Novy Arbat, 25, apt. 35
    , Center of Moscow ~2.1 km

    Hostel on the map

    • 500 m
    • 1 km

    Hotel-hostel “Megapolis Hostel” is located in the heart of Moscow. It offers comfortable rooms equipped with air conditioning and heating systems. Bathrooms are shared, each room…
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    Excellent

    8.3

    from482 rubles

    Per room per night

    Bear Hostels on Mayakovskaya

    st. Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya, 32, building 1, 4th floor, apartment 9
    , Center of Moscow ~2.1 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 29 reviews

    • 600 m
    • 1 km

    Bear-Hostel on Mayakovskaya is located near the metro station of the same name. This is a new hotel of the Bear Hostels chain. This hotel provides single rooms “At Carlson’s” for those who need to live in a hostel…
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    Excellent

    8.6

    from643 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel San Marco

    Merzlyakovsky per., 15
    , Center of Moscow ~1.2 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 30 reviews

    • 700 m
    • 2 km

    Affordable rest in the immediate vicinity of the legendary Novy Arbat offers the San Marco Hotel. Staying in it, you will be surprised how close any of the most interesting historical objects are located …
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    Excellent

    8.9

    from767rub

    Per room per night

    Hostel Ivan

    Petrovsky per., 1/30, apt. 23
    , Center of Moscow ~1.4 km

    Hostel on the map

    • 200 m
    • 2 km

    iVAN Hostel is an inexpensive type of hotel in the center of Moscow. Guests have access to a shared kitchen equipped with everything needed for self-cooking and eating.
    Bathroom…
    Further

    Very well

    7.5

    from531 rubles

    Per room per night

    Open Hostel Panamas

    Bolshoi Zlatoustinskiy pereulok, 3, lit. A, page 2
    , Center of Moscow ~1.3 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 13 reviews

    • 400 m
    • 2 km

    Hotel-hostel “Panamas” (Panamas) is located in Moscow in Kitay-Gorod, near the metro station “Lubyanka”. Guests will be accommodated in cozy rooms with colorful furniture and unique design. Each room has a wooden…
    Further

    Very well

    7.2

    from654 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Moscow 444

    Maly Afanasevsky per., 1/33, apt. 10, 3rd floor
    , Center of Moscow ~1 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 4 reviews

    • 300 m
    • 2 km

    Moscow 444 Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, next to the Arbatskaya metro station. All the most famous sights (Arbat, Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Pushkin Museum, Kremlin and Gogolevsky Boulevard)…
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    Excellent

    8.4

    from588rub

    Per room per night

    Hostel Artist on Arbatskaya

    Stolovy per., 11, building 2
    , Center of Moscow ~1.5 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 6 reviews

    • 800 m
    • 2 km

    The new ARTIST hostel on Arbatskaya is located in the very center of Moscow, a 15-minute walk from Red Square. Nearby are attractions such as: Vakhtangov Theatre, Stary Arbat…
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    Excellent

    8.7

    from490 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Landmark Arbat

    Starovagankovsky per., 15, entrance 2, 5th floor
    , Center of Moscow ~550 m

    Hostel on the map

    based on 92 reviews

    • 100 m
    • 3 km

    Economy Hotel Landmark Arbat (more correctly called a hostel) is located near Alexander Garden, literally 300 meters from the main sights of the Moscow Kremlin and the Arbat. ..
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    Good

    6.1

    from500 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Dhostel on Sadovaya

    Sadovaya-Triumfalnaya street, 18
    , Center of Moscow ~1.1 km

    Hostel on the map

    • 500 m
    • 2 km

    Dhostel on Sadovaya is located in the center of Moscow, a 5-minute walk from Arbatskaya Metro Station. Guests have access to a shared kitchen for self-catering. Works throughout…
    Further

    Excellent

    8

    from524 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hostel Chocolate

    Degtyarny per., 15, building 1
    , Center of Moscow ~1.9 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 48 reviews

    • 400 m
    • 2 km

    Hostel Chocolate, owned by the Three Penguins hostel chain, is located in the very center of Moscow, not far from Pushkinskaya Square, the Lenkom Theatre, Tverskaya Street and Red Square. Nearby are many…
    Further

    Perfect

    9.3

    from789rub

    Per room per night

    Hostel 3 Penguina on Pyatnitskaya

    Pyatnitskaya st., 20, building 2
    , Center of Moscow ~1.4 km

    Hostel on the map

    based on 30 reviews

    • 100 m
    • 2 km

    Hostel “3 Penguins” is located in the historical place of the city of Moscow. In just 25 minutes you can reach the Red Square and the Kremlin. The hotel is more suitable for unpretentious tourists planning a budget…
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    Good

    6.5

    from441 rubles

    Per room per night

    Hotel VDNH

    st. Kibalchicha, 9
    , Center of Moscow ~7.4 km

    Hotel on the map

    based on 15 reviews

    • 600 m
    • 3 km

    Hotel “VDNKh” is located in the center of Moscow, next to the metro station VDNKh. Guests can reach the Moscow Kremlin in 15 minutes and the Botanical Garden in 10 minutes. Near the hotel are…
    Further

    Excellent

    8.2

    from707rub

    Per room per night

    Moscow Style Hostel

    Tverskaya st., 15, apt. 80
    , Center of Moscow ~1.1 km

    Hostel on the map

    • 300 m
    • 2 km

    The Moscow Style Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, next to the Tverskaya metro station. Many monuments of history, architecture and culture are nearby. Walking, you can quickly reach …
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    The 10 Best Hostels in Saint Petersburg, Russia


    Review Score

    Excellent: 9+
    Very good: 8+
    Good: 7+
    Fairly good: 6+

    Our recommendations
    Lowest price at the beginning
    Number of stars and price
    Rating + number of reviews

    Strawberry Duck St. Petersburg

    Admiralteisky district, St. Petersburg

    Strawberry Duck St. Hostel Petersburg is located in Saint Petersburg, 1.4 km from St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral. It offers air-conditioned rooms and a shared lounge.
    Great place to stay!
    All at the highest level. I was very satisfied with my trip partly thanks to the hostel. They settled me before the scheduled time, because. there was such an opportunity – it was incredibly pleasing, because. didn’t have to wait hours. When leaving, you can leave your things for the day for free – this is true if you leave in the evening.
    The staff is very friendly, everything is clean (cleaning is done every day), the room was quite warm (the air conditioner worked), the kitchen is very large (which is convenient when there are a lot of people – there is enough space for everyone to eat). In addition, there are paper towels in the kitchen – this is very convenient, because. you don’t have to bring your own towel. Good laundry facilities (washers and dryers available). It was just an incredibly pleasant surprise that, in the three weeks of my stay, the bed linen was changed three times without any request – special thanks for that!
    For myself, I did not find any cons, especially in comparison with other places where I have stayed before. Next time just here!
    Thank you Strawberry Duck St. Petersburg!

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    9.1

    Superb

    1,153 reviews

    Check Availability

    Netizen St.

    Petersburg Center

    2 stars

    Admiralteisky district, St. Petersburg

    Netizen Saint Petersburg Center Hotel is located in Saint Petersburg, 500 meters from St. Isaac’s Cathedral and 800 meters from Admiralteyskaya Metro Station.
    The hotel and hostel are very clean and distinguished, and the staff is characterized by a smile, hospitality, assistance and welcome for any question

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    9.1

    Excellent

    1,094 reviews

    Check Availability

    Book Case Hostel

    Tsentralny district, St. Petersburg

    Offering a garden, BookCase Hostel is located in Saint Petersburg, 1.2 km from Anna Akhmatova Museum and 1.3 km from Summer Garden.
    the receptionist was really nice and helpful. She made us feel very welcome. the Hostel is very cute and clean. the location is amazing.

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    9.5

    Excellent

    209 reviews

    Check Availability

    Whisper Hostel

    Tsentralny district, St. Petersburg

    Conveniently set in the Central district of Saint Petersburg, Whisper Hostel is located 1.2 km from Anna Akhmatova Museum, 1.8 km from Faberge Museum and 2 km from State Russian Museum.
    For the first time I meet such a wonderful hostel!
    Quiet, clean, comfortable! All furniture is new, clean toilets and showers. Everything is very pleasant.
    Pleasantly surprised by the arrangement of beds in the room.
    Each bed is in a compartment with its own screen, where you can comfortably settle down from prying eyes.
    The beds are wide, double, you can sit freely in full height. It also has its own lamp and sockets.
    Even staying in a mixed (M+F) room, I did not experience any inconvenience.
    The rooms are bright, spacious, there are wardrobes with a lockable storage system.
    The kitchen is clean, spacious, available – tea, coffee, water. Furniture and utensils are new.
    From the train station just 20 minutes walk – easy to get to!
    The staff is just wonderful. Polite, attentive, you feel at home!
    I recommend!

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    9.1

    Superb

    282 reviews

    Check Availability

    Chickadee Hostel

    Tsentralny district, St. Petersburg

    Chickadee Hostel is set in the Central district of Saint Petersburg, 1.7 km from Anna Akhmatova Museum, 2.2 km from Faberge Museum and 2.9 km from Russian Museum.
    Interior was beautiful.
    staff was very nice

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    9.5

    Excellent

    608 reviews

    Check Availability

    Forever Young Hostel

    Tsentralny district, St. Petersburg

    Offering free WiFi throughout the property, Polosatiy Hostel is located in Saint Petersburg. State Russian Museum is 2.2 km from Polosaty Hostel, while Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is 2.4 km from the property.
    I lived in St. Petersburg in several hostels, in general, I can say that in relation to Moscow, Sochi, the ratings are overestimated everywhere. Somewhere by 1 point, somewhere it’s somehow screwed up, xs how … Subject: I lived here for 1.5 months, I can say for sure that one of the best hostels in the price range in the city. 1. The very center 2. Beautiful view from the window 3. The staff is very nice, always help 3. Laundry is free, once a day, things are washed for everyone at once and hung out by the administrator on the dryer. Comfortable. 4. I am a smoker, you can go out onto the balcony, with a beautiful view and take a puff so pathetically, looking at the beautiful houses, the main road, well, the center, you understand … The beds are comfortable, everything is clean, pleasant, hipster like that) 10 points for attitude , I’ll say right away, I don’t usually give such ratings, my real rating is 9.4 in general if.

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    9.2

    Excellent

    292 reviews

    Check Availability

    Simple Hostel Italy

    Tsentralny district, St. Petersburg

    Featuring free Wi-Fi in all areas, Twin Cities Hostel Melbourne is located in Saint Petersburg, a 5-minute walk from the historic Nevsky Prospekt and a 10-minute walk from the lively Ligovsky…
    Very cooperative staff, excellent, very clear and friendly environment.

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    9.4

    Excellent

    155 reviews

    Check Availability

    Hostel on Nevsky Mishanya

    Popular with guests booking hostels in Saint Petersburg

    8.3
    Very well
    354 hostel reviews

    Popular with guests booking hostels in Saint Petersburg

    7.6
    Good
    944 reviews for this hostel

    Popular with guests booking hostels in Saint Petersburg

    9.0
    Perfect
    82 reviews for this hostel

    Popular with guests booking hostels in Saint Petersburg

    8.1
    Very well
    535 hostel reviews

    Popular with guests booking hostels in Saint Petersburg

    8.1
    Very well
    699 reviews for this hostel

    Popular with guests booking hostels in Saint Petersburg

    8.7
    amazing
    202 hostel reviews

      There are budget options

      Offering a garden, BookCase Hostel is located in Saint Petersburg, 1. 2 km from Anna Akhmatova Museum and 1.3 km from Summer Garden.
      the receptionist was really nice and helpful. She made us feel very welcome.

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      From € 20 per night

      9,5
      Fabulous
      209 reviews

      There are budget options

      Conveniently located in the Admiralteisky district of Saint Petersburg, Forever Young Hostel is located 1.1 km from St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral, 1.7 km from Mariinsky Theater and 2.2 km from St. Isaac’s Cathedral.
      The view from the window is just right in the heart) in the six-bed room there were adequate quiet neighbors, no one…

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      From € 7 per night

      9.6
      Fabulous
      219 reviews

      There are 9 budget options0003

      Offering free WiFi throughout the property, Polosatiy Hostel is located in Saint Petersburg. State Russian Museum is 2.2 km from Polosaty Hostel, while Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is 2. 4 km from the property.
      I lived in St. Petersburg in several hostels, in general, I can say about Moscow, Sochi, everywhere here …

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      From € 10 per night

      9.2
      Perfect
      292 reviews

      There are budget options

      Hostel RaDaR is located in Saint Petersburg, 1.6 km from St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral and 1.9km from the Mariinsky Theatre. It offers a shared lounge, a shared kitchen and free WiFi.
      Everything is new and clean, thanks to Tatyana for her help and responsiveness!

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      From € 11 per night

      9.1
      Perfect
      70 reviews

      There are budget options

      Ideally located in the Primorsky district of Saint Petersburg, Numbers on Komendantsky 53 k3 MKRM is located 9 km from Gazprom Arena, 12 km from Petrovsky Stadium and 13 km from Summer Garden.
      Quick check in, room clean, spacious, lockable.

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      From € 21 per night

      9. 2
      Perfect
      35 reviews

      There are budget options

      The Mrs. Hudson Hotel offers affordable accommodation in a quiet residential area of ​​Nevsky Prospekt, close to St. Petersburg’s nightlife and tourist attractions.
      My most flattering compliments to the receptionist Daniel, who, with great trepidation…

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      From € 9 per night

      8.7
      amazing
      257 reviews

      There are budget options

      Featuring a shared lounge, A+ Hostel is located in Saint Petersburg, 9 km from State Russian Museum and 9 km from Petrovsky Stadium.
      Purity. There is a sterile machine and a dryer

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      8.2
      Very well
      74 reviews

      There are budget options

      Hostel “Do Re Mi” is located in the center of St. Petersburg, on Nevsky Prospekt, a 7-minute walk from the metro station “Alexander Nevsky Square”. You can leave your car free of charge at a private…
      1.Very attentive and helpful staff. 2.

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      From € 9 per night

      8.7
      amazing
      18 reviews

      City center

      Conveniently located in the Admiralteisky district of Saint Petersburg, this hostel is located 600 meters from Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, 1.5 km from Mariinsky Theater and 1.5 km from Winter Palace.

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      From € 36 per night

      9.0
      Perfect
      1 review

      City center

      Featuring a shared lounge and private parking, Musketeers Hostel is located in Saint Petersburg, less than 1 km from Faberge Museum.

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      From € 31 per night

      8.0
      Very well
      2 reviews

      City center

      Conveniently located in the Vasileostrovskiy district of Saint Petersburg, Wars Hostel is set less than 1 km from Petrovsky Stadium, a 15-minute walk from Winter Palace and 1. 3 km from Hermitage Museum.
      Friday staff. good interior painting. Calm atmosphere inside. Convenient common place.

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      From € 7 per night

      7.8
      Good
      231 reviews

      City center

      Hostel Apartmens VOYAGE is set in Saint Petersburg, 2.7 km from Anna Akhmatova Museum and 3.2 km from Faberge Museum. It features a garden and free Wi-Fi.
      Good atmosphere Cozy place, clean, tidy. Friendly staff. I recommend

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      From € 7 per night

      7.7
      Good
      55 reviews

      City center

      Hostel “Old Flat Hostel on Sovetskaya” is located in the center of St. Petersburg, within walking distance from the Vosstaniya Square. It offers free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk.
      The staff is very helpful. They let me in before the check-in time.

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      From € 6 per night

      7.5
      Good
      135 reviews

      City center

      Located in Saint Petersburg, within 2. 2 km of Anna Akhmatova Museum and 2.3 km of Faberge Museum, Hostel in the Center of Petersburg features a shared lounge.
      Very cool staff, the location right in the center is very convenient, close to shops and a lot of things.

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      From € 8 per night

      6.9
      Review score
      48 reviews

      City center

      This hostel is located a 7-minute walk from Moskovsky Train Station in the center of Saint Petersburg.
      Honestly, we were almost never in the room, we just slept and that’s it 🙈 so I can’t write anything bad…

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      From € 6 per night

      6.6
      Review score
      64 reviews

      City center

      Located conveniently in the Tsentralny district of Saint Petersburg, CITY hostel is set 700 meters from Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, less than 1 km from Mayakovskaya Metro Station and a…

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      Forever Young Hostel, Hostel on Nevsky Mishan, and San’-Galli house in Saint Petersburg have received great reviews for the views from their rooms.

    • Many families visiting Saint Petersburg enjoyed staying at BlobHostel, BookCase Hostel and Hostel Duet.

    • These hostels in Saint Petersburg are highly rated by couples: Hostel Duet, Whisper Hostel and BlobHostel.

    • For hostels in St. Petersburg that offer highly-rated breakfasts, try Kino Hostel on Pushkinskaya, Moumidol Hostel, Twin Cities Melbourne.

    • On average, a hostel in St. Petersburg costs €97.31 per night (based on Booking.com prices).

    • Popular hostels in St. Petersburg include Strawberry Duck St. Petersburg, Netizen St. Petersburg Center and Forever Young Hostel.

    90,000 new, tasteless mark

    Durova Natalya – new, tasteless mark

    Category: Club of woolen men

    New

    There is such a school where instead of the roof is a dome, instead framed by a barrier.

    This school is located in the circus, and in order to get into it, you must first become a prep in a class called zero. And here are my pets: Kara the rook, Chichi the monkey and Dadon the dog.

    Today they had a test: they are new in the class.

    Where she came from and how she ended up in the circus is still a mystery to me. Maybe the warm steam from the hatch, mixed with the smell of the circus, lured her?

    The children ran up to me and vied with each other to say:
    – A fox has escaped from your circus.

    – Chanterelle? No, guys, I have everything in its place.

    – You are wrong. Look: she is sleeping under the Christmas tree at the very gate.

    I looked: indeed, a fox. But, of course, not mine, but someone else’s.

    “What happened to her? I thought. “Why doesn’t he bite and calmly walks on hands?”

    She is red-red, with sandy sides and black ears. Steppe fox. “I’ll call her Smokey,” I immediately decided.

    It’s good that the dog Dadon and the monkey Chichi can’t talk, and the rook Kara knows only two human words: “Good morning.” Otherwise, Dymka would certainly have heard the teaser:

    “Red, red, freckled…”

    Introduced her next to Dadon, Chichi, Kara.

    Well, my Kindergarten is going to have a new student!

    The chair, the table, the saucer of milk were all familiar to her.

    She settled down in a closet for the night. Here, among theatrical costumes and posters, she chose a secluded place for herself.

    “The fox did not come from the forest,” I thought.

    Morning has come. The rook Kara was the first to wake up. He spread his wings, collected them and began to clean the feathers, carefully stacking them one by one.

    His morning routine has always fascinated me.

    But today started off in an unusual way. Rook saw Dymka. She looked at him with her amber eyes.

    Carr-carr! he let out a warlike cry.

    Dymka jumped headlong onto the chair where the plaid lay. But suddenly the blanket stirred. An angry monkey face peeked out from under him.

    “What’s the matter? What happened? Who disturbs my peace? Chichi seemed to want to say.

    Waking up, she did not let go of the ends of the plaid from her palms, on which her black, like seeds, marigolds clearly stood out.

    These marigolds used to confuse the rook.

    “Did the clever Chichi stick his favorite food to her fingers?” Kara seemed to think and immediately checked his nails with his beak.

    Marigolds and tail were a constant cause of their strife.

    When Chichi wrapped her tail around the swing, Kara calmly, as if it were a branch, flew up on her tail and swayed. Chichi was angry, calling for help from Dadon. With a loud bark, he rushed to the rescue. And now the monkey wrinkled its lips, squealed, waking up Dadon, who was dozing next to him. He jumped up and barked angrily.

    And suddenly I saw a new one. Smoke, not at a loss, in one second was in the closet, hid, froze. It could easily be mistaken for the torn off collar of my fur coat.

    Chichi screamed like a monkey, falling into hysterics. And immediately Dadon hurried to prove his devotion. Smokey jumped up and, feeling defenseless against strangers, decided to go on the offensive.

    Chichi clung to me, shuddering in fear. Kara prudently sat down on the wardrobe. Who will be braver: Dymka or Dadon? The duel has not yet required intervention. The fox attacked deftly and quickly, driving the dog into different corners. Now crouching, then jumping up, she suddenly hung on Dadon. And the proud hook of the dog’s tail first unbent, and then began to sink lower and lower, and finally tightened up.

    The tucked-in tail – a sign of cowardice – made the fox rush forward once again. Forward! Another throw!

    And then the most unpleasant thing began to seem to me: poor fellow Dadon had been bitten.

    However, there was not a single piece of wool on the floor. And the eyes of the fox are not filled with malice, but with enthusiasm and joy.

    “For Dymka, this is not a fight, but a perky game,” I decided and calmed down.

    Recognizing Dymka as the winner, Dadon settled down on the couch in the corner. At the other end, Smokey lay down, feeling like the mistress of the situation. The acquaintance took place.

    What about school?

    Let’s postpone them until another time. Let’s start today with a change. Chichi and Kara will stay at home. And Dymka and Dadon will go with me for a walk in the circus yard. We need to consolidate their reconciliation.

    So we did. Dymka calmly reacted to the leash, went next to Dadon.

    I looked back at the dressing room window. There was a silhouette of a monkey. Kara was somewhere nearby.

    Suddenly Smoky rushed towards the car parked in the yard. Without letting me come to my senses, she jumped onto the trunk, began to look for something. Bewildered Dadon sat down next to him.

    I felt sad. No, Smoky is not a savage who accidentally got into the city. Here, somewhere nearby, under a warm roof, lives a kind man – the owner of our new one.

    “Who knows, maybe tomorrow her place in the class will be empty?” I thought.

    And Dymka, as if sensing my mood, poked my cheek with her warm nose, and, chasing away doubts, I hurried back to school for the Lesson.

    Tasteless mark

    Almost everything in our school is like in the real one. Judge for yourself, now my students are ready for the lesson: the monkey Chichi is sitting on a chair, the dog Dadon and the fox Dymka are on the floor, and the rook Kara is on the table next to me.

    Hrach Kara is our class leader. He gives a call. Our call, of course, is simple, not electric.

    And today – Dadon is on duty. Frozen at attention, he answers how many students are in the class: “Woof, woof, woof, woof!” Do you understand guys? All four are in place.

    – Great! You started off well. Now tell us, how much is twice two?

    Lai falls silent. A pitiful, pleading expression appears in Dadon’s eyes. He is desperately looking for an answer.

    Sly fox Smoke is right there. She jumped off her chair and ran up to poor old Dadon. Did Dymka want to tell him?

    I pretend not to notice anything. And I myself think: which of my students will cope with the arithmetic task?

    – Kara, can you answer?

    The rook flies up to the abacus, and its dexterous beak, clearly clattering, discards four rings.

    – Well. Kara earned a five – the most delicious mark.

    “Are marks tasty?” – you ask. Do not be surprised, guys, our marks are special: they are colorful and fragrant. For a rook – a bright eye of yolk, for Chichi – an orange slice of orange, for a chanterelle – a silvery fish, for Dadon – a fragrant piece of boiled meat. This is what fives look like. Well, the worst marks, deuces and colas, look, I think you already guessed how: instead of yolk – eggshell, instead of orange – only orange peels, instead of fish – fish oil, instead of meat – bone from yesterday’s dinner.

    How hard Mist is trying! And he will answer for himself, and help those who are lagging behind.

    If careless Dadon were equal to Dymka, he would not be left with a gnawed bone and … without a tail. No, no, his tail is beautiful, fluffy. Moreover, by the tail it is easy to find out what mark he received. If the five – the tail immediately turns into a freshly baked bagel, and if the deuce – the tail disappears.

    Kara rejoices loudly at the yolk and repeats the answer to the whole class: “Kar, kar, kar, kar.” Dymka can’t sit still, but she patiently explains to Dadon.

    I’m watching Chichi. She is bored, and she beats out drum roll on the abacus, not thinking about mathematics at all.

    – Chichi, how much is two times two?

    Instead of counting, Chichi grabs a flower and petal by petal falls out of her fast fingers.

    – Chichi, we’re having a math class, not science class. Don’t guess on the petals. Take the counting sticks and be kind enough to answer: how much is two times two?

    In her tenacious paws, they immediately cease to be a school aid. In front of my eyes, a whole hail of plastic sticks falls on the class, hushed in bewilderment. Everyone is scattered. And Chichi, catching the chair leg with his tail, is watching us with his quick eyes.

    I try to calm everyone down and call them to me. Haze. Chichi is immediately next to me, grabs her glasses and becomes so serious that it is not even clear to me which of us is the teacher. Of course, Chichi teaches pranks with monkey dashing. And I have to continue the lesson.

    “Dimka, show me the answer on the counting sticks,” I say.

    Mist picks up four sticks and hands them to me.

    – Correct. Well done Smokey!

    Dadon is watching us closely.

    – Maybe you learned your lesson too? I ask him.

    “Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!” Dadon barks loudly.

    – That’s it! Two times two is five?

    Dadon wagged his tail in agreement.

    – Alas, Dadon and Chichi, you will have to be punished today. You will get bad grades.

    Today Dadon earned a deuce. He does not like a gnawed bone. But what can you do? Once again I look around at the four of my students, I regret in the depths of my soul the unlucky Dadon and unexpectedly notice for myself: the look of my excellent students – the red-haired Dymka and the black Kara – is not cheerful.

    Now I know: Kara and Dymka were informed of Dadon’s condition, my grief, and they will definitely help him get a tasty mark next time.

    What to do if a bum has settled in your entrance

    see also

    Home for the homeless: Vitka Chesnok, Sibiryak and Princess Tanya

    In cold weather, residents of Novosibirsk often face the fact that homeless people settle in their warm and clean porches. It is always unpleasant, uncomfortable and usually unsafe. What to do if a bum sits under your door, and your philanthropy does not allow you to kick him out into the cold, Novosibirsk News found out.

    If you find a homeless person in your porch who is quite adequate, not drunk and can answer questions, then you can first ask him to leave the porch. Most likely, he will refuse and argue that he has nowhere to go, that his wife kicked him out of the house, there is no work, he is all so unhappy and generally a victim of circumstances.

    Police

    To get rid of an uninvited guest, the police do not need to be called. As the experience of social workers shows, this is useless. The outfit, of course, will come and even turn the homeless out of the entrance, but this is most likely not for long. He will return to a warm and familiar place, and even if not to you, then to a neighboring entrance or house. And everything will go in a circle – the police, expulsion, street, another entrance. There is a risk in the cold, because a person can freeze on the street.

    Photo: Maria Kozlova, nsknews.info

    Rooming houses

    In order not to spoil your karma or take sin on your soul (whichever is more convenient for you), you can try to place a homeless person in a social or charitable rooming house. This is not difficult, since, fortunately, there are such people in Novosibirsk, and quite a few.

    If the homeless person has a passport, this will significantly facilitate the task. If there are no documents, it is also not scary. Many charitable organizations accept wards without documents. Moreover, there are even rehabilitation services that are ready to pick up a person on their own and take him/her in their own transport to a place to spend the night.

    Religious organizations

    In addition to state social hotels and social adaptation centers that help both the homeless and those released from prison, there are many religious organizations in our city that help the homeless, drug addicts and those who simply find themselves in a difficult life situation survive.

    In addition, there are specialized centers for helping women, including pregnant women and young mothers.

    Photo: Mikhail Perikov, nsknews.info

    Contacts of social assistance centers

    Regional Complex Center for Social Adaptation of Citizens. Social hotel (passport required)

    Emergency Center of the Regional Center for Social Adaptation of Citizens, where you can come without documents

    • st. Vladimirovsky descent, 6 phone (383) 304-88-01

    Mother Teresa Orphanage

    • st. Belovezhskaya, 7 in the Kirovsky district of Novosibirsk (stop “Pl. Sibiryakov-Gvardeytsev”), telephone (383) 353-54-39.

    The Caritas Center is a Catholic charitable organization that cares for people regardless of their nationality, religion or worldview.

    • St. Savva Kozhevnikova 29/1, phones: (383) 317-65-47, (383) 317-65-65

    “Interregional charitable organization “Your way”

    • phone 8(923) 618-88-88 (they come on a call and pick up a homeless person in their own transport)

    Interregional charitable public organization of social adaptation of citizens “Line of Life”.

    • Social hotel for the homeless, st. Igarskaya, 20, telephone (383) 375-23-00.

    Adaptation center for single mothers “Maternal Convent “Dove””

    • Novosibirsk, 1st per. Parkhomenko, building 1, telephone (383) 355-33-23

    Regional Center for Social Assistance to Families and Children Raduga

    • st. Alexandra Nevsky, 39, telephone: (383) 271-31-17, primary reception service: (383) 204-14-01

    Center for Social Assistance to the Elderly and Disabled “House of Mercy”

    Adaptation center for single mothers “Mother’s Convent “Margarita””

    • st. Kropotkina, 127, telephone (383) 347-83-63

    #Useful city
    #Charity
    #Social security
    #Safety
    #Instruction
    #House in the city

    Sword Boy – Fiction

    Contents

    Next chapter

    • Full text
    • Part one. Riders at the Rosa station
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
    • 7
    • 8
    • 10
    • Part two. Star hour Seryozha Kakhovsky
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
    • 7
    • 8
    • 10 9 9
    • 11
    • 12
    • Part three. Flag-capitals
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
    • 7
    • 8
    • 10
    • 11
    • 12
    • 13
    • 1218
    • 13.
    • 12
    • 13
    • 12
    • 13
    • 12
    • 13 Drummers, march!

    CHILDREN, this book is about a boy who really believed in friendship, honesty and kindness. And he believed that all people should be fair to each other. He also believed in his fairy tale about riders who come to the rescue in very difficult times. He believed so strongly that not fabulous, but real riders in star helmets rushed to his rescue when trouble happened . ..

    When Pioneer magazine published stories about this boy, Seryozha Kakhovsky, letters came to the editorial office. Boys and girls wrote to Seryozha, asked for his address, they really wanted to make friends with him.

    And I had to answer letters.

    The fact is that I did not know such a Seryozha, by the name of Kakhovsky.

    Some of the readers will probably be offended: “So we were deceived!” No guys. It’s just that the books don’t describe everything exactly as it happened in life. After all, the artist, when he paints a picture, does not make it look like a photograph.

    Seryozha Kakhovsky was not there. There was no detachment with the name “Espada”. But all the time when I wrote “The Boy with the Sword”, there were guys next to me who were very similar to Seryozha. Next to me, together with me, he grew up and worked, walked through defeats and rejoiced in victories, the same as the Espada, a pioneer detachment – a detachment of young sailors, cadets and fencers.

    I know for sure: if it weren’t for these guys, there wouldn’t be a Boy with a Sword.

    And therefore I dedicate this book to my best friends:

    sailors, sub-skippers and drummers, navigators and captains,

    flag-captains and flagmen of the Caravel detachment.

    Vladislav Krapivin

    1

    The station had a good name. Very suitable for her. The boy came here early in the morning, and as he walked from the road to the house, his trousers were soaked up to the knees with dew. Because tall grasses stood all around and large water balls trembled on them. Lights lit up in the balloons: raspberry, gold, blue.

    The boy went to the bench, put the suitcase down, threw a worn reddish jacket on it, sat down and began to wait for the train.

    He waited long and patiently.

    The lights in the grass have long gone out, a cloudless July afternoon has come.

    The station house stood among burdocks and tall fescue. It was small, light brown, with white lace cornices. A tin cock gleefully stuck out on a sharp turret. He seemed to be looking out for a train hurrying here from behind the distant forests. But trains rarely appeared: the station was not located on the main road, but on a side branch.

    At the porch, in the front garden, there was a plaster sculpture: a boy and a colt. The low pedestal was hidden in the grass, and one might have thought that the boy with the foal were standing right on the ground. It was as if they were playing in a neighboring meadow and ran into the station for a minute to look at the round clock: isn’t it time for dinner? Perhaps it was not yet time, because they were starting a new game. The boy put his right hand around the colt’s neck and bent slightly, as if he wanted to whisper something in his ear. The foal stood still, but impatience rang in every vein. He seemed to be saying: “I love you and obey you, but let’s stop whispering as soon as possible and let’s go galloping again.

    Or so it seemed to the little passenger. He liked the plaster boy and the foal, somewhat similar to each other – both thin-legged, agile and, of course, cheerful – and he looked at them as comrades. And even a little envious of them. However, they weren’t real.

    The boy on the bench sighed and looked away.

    The door to the house was open. In a small, station hall, an elderly cleaning lady rattled buckets. Behind the house rose a green sunny mound with sparse and very straight birch trees. Behind the birches one could see the roofs and antennae of a dacha village. The pine forest darkened even further. It circled the station on three sides. And in the south, behind the rail line, bright meadows and shrubs went to the river.

    It was hot and quiet (only the buckets rumbled). There was a smell of tar and tar from heated sleepers.

    A gray shaggy dog ​​came from behind the hillock. As big as a goat. He had semi-erect ears, thick paws and a preoccupied muzzle. He poked his head in the door, but saw the cleaning lady and backed away, his tail like a fan between his legs. Slipping away from the door, the dog assumed an independent air and looked around in a businesslike manner. Then he noticed the boy.

    For half a minute they looked at each other with curiosity and a little wariness. Then the dog slowly moved towards the boy and stopped three paces away.

    – What do you want? the boy said. He said not angrily, but with awkwardness, as one speaks with small children when they do not know how to handle them and are afraid to offend.

    The dog waved its tail hesitantly. Once.

    The boy smiled slightly. He clicked the lock of the suitcase and lifted the lid. The dog took another step, hurriedly sat up, bowed his head and blinked quite humanly. The boy took out a newspaper roll with travel supplies. It was two slices of bread, and between them was a cutlet. The dog’s tail whistled and flashed like a propeller, parachute seeds flew up in flocks from fluffy dandelions and settled on the boy’s trousers. He laughed, broke the cutlet and threw half of it to the dog.

    The boy thought that the piece would instantly disappear into the dog’s mouth. But the dog, having received a treat, stopped twirling his tail, lay down and began to chew the cutlet, delicately holding it with his paw. At the same time, he looked at the boy gratefully and cunningly. The boy ate the other half of the cutlet himself.

    Then they shared the bread. It was not as tasty as a cutlet, but the dog willingly chewed the whole piece and looked at the boy expressively: “Is there more?”

    “That’s it,” the boy said.

    The dog pointed to the newspaper with his eyes: “And this?”

    – It’s just paper. See? The boy turned a crumpled sheet of newspaper in front of him.

    The dog was not averse to chewing paper soaked in such a delicious cutlet smell, but the boy did not understand. He crumpled up the newspaper and looked around: where to throw it? It was clean all around. In the grass of the front garden and on the path, the boy did not notice any cigarette butts or scraps of paper. In addition, the angry rattling of the buckets reminded them not to litter at the station. The cleaning lady had already washed the floor inside the house and washed the porch. The boy walked up to the steps.

    – Can you please tell me where to throw the paper?

    The cleaner straightened up and looked down. She pretended to notice the boy only this very moment, although she had been stealthily watching him for a long time. She knew that no good came from boys. There are only trampled flower beds, noise, disorder, and even cigarette butts in the corners. She used to treat these people harshly. But now the habit fought in her with sympathy for an unfamiliar boy – calm, surprisingly clear-eyed, not like the scandalous village boys.

    Finally, she said condescendingly:

    – If you really like order so much, take it over there, around the corner. There is a trash can there.

    He nodded and slowly walked along the path, trodden along the brick foundation. The dog looked disapprovingly at the cleaner and followed the boy. They turned the corner.

    The cleaning lady looked after the boy. “Look what,” she thought with hidden pleasure. – Not a hooligan, nice little boy. Parents, you see, cultural…”

    Then she looked at the bench where the boy had left his things. The jacket slipped off the back and fell into the grass. The woman wiped her hands on the hem, went down the porch and picked up her jacket. Returning from camp, she thought. – Why is he alone? Independent…”

    … Much to the chagrin of the dog, the boy threw a tasty newspaper into a whitewashed wooden box and slammed the lid. The dog sighed and sat down.

    – Why are you sighing? the boy asked. Are you in trouble too?

    The dog wagged his tail. He seemed to say: “Troubles are nonsense. If you want, I’m ready to be cheerful.”

    “You are funny,” said the boy. – Eared, tailed, flea.

    The dog tilted his head to one side. One ear stood up straight, and the other fell completely and closed his eye.

    The boy laughed:

    – Stuffed burdock. What is your name?

    The dog suddenly jumped up and fell on its front paws. He invited to play. His face became silly and mischievous.

    – Will you accidentally eat me? the boy asked.

    The dog shook his head so that his ears clapped: “No way!”

    The boy slapped him on the shaggy scruff of the neck:

    – You’re a blunder! catch up! – and ran across the grass.

    Opening its large pink mouth, the dog rushed after him. He immediately caught up with the boy and tried to grab his leg. The boy stumbled and flew into the resilient thickets of burdock. The dog grabbed onto his leg. He purred happily. But at the same time he squinted with a golden look: “Does it hurt you? Are you hurt?

    – Hey hey! the boy shouted. “Shush with your teeth!” You have no right!

    He shook his leg and jumped up. The dog jumped back and waited, wagging its tail.

    “Look what you are chewing,” the boy said reproachfully. – My foreign pants. They have your portrait on them, and you with your teeth. ..

    He turned his back pocket to the dog. The pocket was decorated with a leather patch with an imprinted head of a sheepdog and the letters “Szagik”. It was the famous Sharik from the Polish film Four Tankers and a Dog. But the shaggy station dog didn’t watch TV serials, and he didn’t care. He again tried on how to grab the boy by the trouser leg.

    – Oh, you are!?

    The boy jumped towards him and wanted to throw him into the grass, but the dog dodged and ran away in zigzags.

    – I’ll catch up! the boy shouted.

    And really caught up, although not immediately. He slapped the dog on the shaggy back:

    – You’re a blunder again! Well, catch it!

    And the dog rushed after him… He understood what the game of “bloopers” is…

    Finally they got tired. The boy sat down on an old sleeper in the shade of a red transformer box that looked like a chapel. The dog stood in front of him, stuck out his tongue and blinked his yellow eyes.

    “You are good,” the boy said. “You’re not a scarecrow at all.” I was kidding.

    The dog breathed approvingly, came close and put his muzzle under the boy’s armpit.

    “Let’s go,” the boy said. “What if someone stole my suitcase from the bench?” Then you and I will follow the trail and catch the criminals. I agree?

    The dog agreed to everything. They went to the station square. The suitcase was in place, the jacket too. And who could take them? There were only three people at the whole station besides the boy: at the back of the house an elderly duty officer was dozing, in a room with a square window a cashier rustled a magazine, and not far from the porch a cleaner was cleaning a copper bell. She stood on a stool and scrubbed the bell with a rag and white powder. The sun was reflected in the polished copper like a large radiant star.

    The boy and the dog approached and the cleaner looked at them unkindly. Now the boy did not seem to her so cultured and well-mannered. He was rumpled and disheveled, gray balls of burdock hung on his shirt and trousers, small leaves and scraps of grass stuck out in matted blond hair.

    “Excuse me,” the boy said. – You don’t know his name? He pulled the dog to him by the neck.

    – That beast? the cleaning lady asked gloomily and disdainfully. – They don’t call him at all. What is his name if he is ownerless? Call as you like. He responds to everything, just to be fed.

    – So he’s nobody?

    – Maybe there was someone, but now you won’t understand. They dragged the kids from somewhere, but no one lets them into the house. Sometime they’ll throw a piece, and that’s all … Some call Polkan, some Bug, some Fantomas.

    “Thank you,” the boy said. He wanted to ask something else, but he didn’t dare.

    The dog was uncomfortable here, next to an angry woman with a heavy rag in her hands. He stepped over with his front paws and looked impatiently at the boy: “Let’s get out of here, huh?”

    “Sorry to interrupt you,” the boy said. “I just wanted to ask if he wasn’t here, would anyone care about him?”

    – But who needs him? All the same, someday they will shoot you for chasing chickens.

    – See why I’m asking… I want to take him home with me if he’s really nobody.

    – Such a lakhudra? the cleaning lady was surprised. – Yes, your mother will drive you both out of the house with a broom!

    The boy said quietly:

    – What are you doing! Nobody gets kicked out. So, can I take it?

    – Yes, take it to your health. Such a treasure…

    “Thank you,” the boy said again and stepped back to his bench.

    2

    Man is arranged in such a way that he definitely needs shelter. If he rides in a carriage, he gets used to his shelf, and it seems to him that this shelf is his little home. If he settles for the night in a forest under a pine tree, he immediately begins to distinguish his pine tree from others: this tree sheltered him, and now it is closer to him, more familiar than the others.

    So is the bench. The boy spent almost half a day on it and got used to it.

    The bench was knocked together from long wooden blocks and painted green. Long painted. The bars cracked, the paint bounced off the wood in sharp dry plates. The boy, while sitting, was slowly chipping them around the place where the word “Alyosha” had been carved. For some reason it seemed to him that Alyosha was called the plaster boy. The boy looked at him, but he was, of course, busy with his colt.

    Sometimes the boy got up to drink water from the tank in the empty waiting room or walk around the station, and then returned to the bench again, under the branches of the yellow acacia – as if he were home. And again he sat: he waited for the long six hours to pass and the train to appear.

    It seemed to him that he had been waiting for a very long time, a whole week. And for a whole week he sees this railway tower in front of him, a tin rooster on the roof, a copper bell and a white enameled plate with a blue inscription “TELEPHONE” (it was immediately clear that it has been hanging here since time immemorial, when trains similar to samovars ran along the local rails ).

    The boy had a habit of reading all the inscriptions backwards out of boredom. But the boy could not read the word “telephone” backwards because of the hard sign. And that made it even more boring.

    So it was until the dog came.

    The dog turned out to be kind and cheerful. And when the boy realized that this no one’s dog had now become his and that he should never part with her, all his past sorrows seemed like nothing to him.

    He led the dog to his bench.

    – We will live together. Understood? You won’t leave me?

    The dog snorted, sneezed and shook his head: either a dandelion seed flew into his nostril, or the boy’s question seemed insulting.

    – Well done, smart girl. But how are you and I going on the train? Wait a minute…

    The boy took a folding knife out of his pocket and unfastened his trouser strap. The belt was long and girdled the slender owner almost twice. The boy cut off the extra end. Then he pierced several holes in the cut off piece, pulled out a ring of copper wire from another pocket, and pulled it through the holes.

    – Come on, let’s head, I’ll try on the collar.

    The dog reacted to the invitation without enthusiasm. But he didn’t argue. He patiently waited for the boy to fasten an incomprehensible thing around his neck.

    “Here you are,” the boy said with pleasure. – Now you are not a tramp, but a completely legal dog. And nothing that you are thin and curly. You will be smooth and beautiful when you grow up. You are not yet an adult, although you are big. You are almost a puppy.

    At the last word the dog put both ears up and blinked.

    “Puppy…” the boy repeated affectionately.

    The dog stepped over with his front paws and vigorously waved his tail.

    The boy laughed:

    – Do you like it? I will call you Shche-Nok. And when you grow up, “Sche” we will discard.

    He pulled out of his suitcase, from under his T-shirts and shirts, old sneakers, pulled the laces out of them. Then he connected the laces with a knot and tied one end to the collar. The leash turned out to be fragile, but after all, it was only needed for show: the dog, by the name of Shche-Nok, did not leave his master even a single step without a leash.

    “Come on,” the boy said.

    They went to the checkout, and the boy politely disturbed a young cashier who was keen on a fashion magazine:

    – Please tell me, do you need to take a ticket for a dog?

    – And how! If it’s thirty-two kopecks to the city.

    The boy winked at the dog with delight: there was enough money. Now both of them will become passengers. A ticket is a document. This is proof that Knock is indeed his dog.

    He took the dog by the collar.

    – Let’s go, comrade passenger.

    And at that moment the boy saw a man by his bench.

    The boy did not want to meet him at all. It was the physical instructor of the camp, Stanislav Andreevich. Of course, he was here for a reason.

    Fizruk has not yet seen the boy. Still, there was no way to hide or run away. The one who is guilty runs away and hides. Or one who is afraid. And the boy knew that he was not guilty, and was not afraid. True, he experienced a dreary feeling: a mixture of dull anxiety and annoyance, but it was not fear at all.

    While holding the dog, the boy slowly approached the bench.

    “Aha…” Stanislav Andreevich said at length. – And then I look: the little things are here, but the owner is not … Well, how? Did you run?

    – I didn’t run.

    – Well … I walked up, that means, – said the fizruk conciliatory.

    – I didn’t walk. I went home, you know.

    – Look at you, go home! Stanislav Andreevich exclaimed almost cheerfully. “All right, friend, stop fooling around. And let’s stomp to the camp, otherwise we won’t be in time for dinner. Don’t be afraid, nothing will happen to you, I can tell you this in confidence.

    The boy was surprised:

    – “Will not”? I’m not afraid that “will be”. I just decided to go home.

    – Offended!

    The boy looked up:

    – What? A person has no right to be offended?

    – Man. .. If everyone takes offense at nonsense and runs away from the camp, what then?

    “First of all, this is not nonsense,” the boy said clearly. “Secondly, I didn’t run away. I said I would leave and left. The boss himself said: “Get out!”

    – And you were delighted! You never know what a person can rashly say! Maybe you want him to ask for your forgiveness?

    The boy thought:

    – No, I don’t want to. Yes, he won’t.

    – Thank God, I guessed. It’s all your own fault, and you’re still getting out.

    – Me? Guilty? The boy was surprised again.

    Stanislav Andreevich sighed and said good-naturedly:

    – All right, lad. Let’s not argue who is to blame. I don’t know about this story in detail. What do I need? To return to camp.

    The boy shook his head:

    – I won’t come back… Now I can’t at all, even if I wanted to. See, I have a dog. Where to put her? After all, they wouldn’t let them into the camp … Knock, lie down! – He pressed the dog on the scruff of the hand, and he reluctantly lay down.

    Fizruk asked with a grin:

    – Where did you pick up this animal?

    – Presented.

    – Well, and a gift … From a mile away you can see that he is a fool and a coward.

    “This is good enough for me,” the boy said with restraint.

    Stanislav Andreevich clicked his tongue. The dog wagged its tail, opened its pink mouth good-naturedly, and looked inquiringly at the boy. He took a step forward, as if he wanted to shield the dog from a stranger.

    “It turns out that you traded the entire camp for a stray dog,” said Stanislav Andreevich.

    The boy was a little confused:

    – Yes, I didn’t change anything… Well, what does your camp have to do with it? He will live without me. The dog won’t live. They gave it to me, so I’m responsible for it.

    – And the team is responsible for you. And the administration,” said the fizruk impressively. “And you have no right to leave the camp.

    – Why?

    – Because there must be order. Let your parents come, write a statement that they want to pick you up, and then – goodbye.

    – How will they arrive? They don’t know…

    – Write to them.

    “Write…” the boy replied mockingly.

    – Come on, – said Stanislav Andreevich sourly. “You imagine a lot about yourself. You think someone wants your letters! If you want, you can send it, I have it. Tikhon Mikhailovich ordered to give. At least put it in the box now, it’s hanging there.

    “Come on,” the boy said quickly.

    Fizruk handed him a crumpled envelope. The boy folded it in half and put it in his pocket.

    – Put it down, put it in a box.

    – Why? the boy said gloomily. – It will go on for two or three days. And I myself will be at home tonight.

    Stanislav Andreevich frowned and said heavily:

    – You won’t be home… in the evening. Stop playing these jokes on me. The director told me to take you to the camp. I’ll deliver, don’t worry.

    – How? the boy asked in surprise. – Am I a parcel or luggage? Well, how will you deliver me if I don’t want to?

    – It’s very simple!

    Stanislav Andreevich stepped towards the bench, grabbed the suitcase and jacket with his left hand, and took the boy by the elbow with his right hand.

    In the first second the boy froze in surprise: never in his life had he experienced the evil power of an adult. The next moment he tensed up to rush with all the resentment and rage! But then I felt: in vain. The fizruk’s fingers – strong, tanned, with white hairs and short nails – embraced the boy’s thin hand with stone strength. And he clearly understood that there was no way out. Now this person will actually take him away, drag him away from here, and no one will intercede. If someone meets along the way, then, of course, he will believe an adult, and not a boy who has a hundred sins: he violated discipline, escaped from the camp, does not listen to his elders …

    “But that’s not true! How dare you! You have no right!” The boy wanted to shout these words, but boiling tears prevented him. Desperate tears were ready to break through instead of words. But at that moment, a short hoarse throaty sound was heard from behind.

    The boy and the fizruk turned around at the same time.

    The dog was no longer lying down. He stood on his legs wide apart. It was a completely unfamiliar dog – with a rearing scruff and eyes of a predator. His upper lip puckered ugly and revealed very white teeth.

    The boy came to his senses first. And in a hasty whisper he said:

    – Let me go, he will rush.

    The fingers seemed to have thawed out: they became soft and slipped from the elbow.

    The boy’s joy was like a warm jolt. He laughed briefly.

    “Nock,” he said. “Nothing, Nok. Calm down, Nok…

    The dog wagged his tail, but as before he kept looking at Stanislav Andreevich, and the hair on the nape did not fall.

    The boy came up and took Nok by the collar.

    Stanislav Andreevich slowly took three steps back. And he said:

    – Mad . .. You need to shoot him like that. And you yourself are a psycho. Well, to hell with you. Here they will write you a characterization in school that you will remember for the rest of your life.

    He took a few more steps back. Then he carefully turned and walked down the path to the highway.

    “Leave my things,” the boy said after him.

    Stanislav Andreevich slowed down his steps, but did not stop. He seemed to be thinking: to give the suitcase or take it to the camp? Maybe then the boy himself will come running?

    The boy remembered his stone fingers, and resentment surged again. But it was no longer a helpless insult. Looking after the departing man, the boy repeated ringingly:

    – Leave your things!

    Stanislav Andreevich stopped, dropped his suitcase and jacket into the grass, and started walking again. Didn’t look back.

    The dog looked at the boy, opened his mouth and breathed shortly.

    “Nock,” the boy said. – It’s his own fault. Right?

    And I thought: “It’s good that I didn’t have time to cry.”

    Then he pulled Nok by the collar and, lowering his head, went to the abandoned things. He walked very slowly. And just as slowly returned. Only a few steps from the bench, he looked up and saw that an unfamiliar man was sitting there.

    The man smiled and said:

    – Good afternoon, Seryozha.

    3

    If he just said “good afternoon”, it would not be surprising. After all, when two people meet at an empty station, it is inconvenient to look at each other in silence. But the stranger called the boy by name. And the boy was alarmed, afraid of a new danger.

    “Hello,” he said tensely.

    Still smiling, the man explained:

    – Well, why are you surprised? I read your personal data on the suitcase. Wow, what is your identification mark.

    Indeed, a paper square with block letters was glued to the side wall of the suitcase: “Seryozha Kakhovsky, 5th detachment.

    “True, I didn’t guess,” Seryozha said with relief. He let go of Nok and began to scrape a piece of paper from the suitcase with his nails. Nok lay down next to the bench and looked inquiringly at the owner.

    Serezha glanced furtively at the stranger. He sat with his long legs bent uncomfortably and leaning back on the bench. He had a suede jacket on his knees, and with his right elbow he held a pot-bellied yellow briefcase. The stranger had a long face with round folds at the mouth, sparse hair and long bald patches. He smiled, showing big smoky teeth.

    “Don Quixote with a briefcase,” Serezha thought. I thought without a laugh. Don Quixote (not this one, but the real one, from a book) he liked. And in this “Don Quixote” he liked the smile, although it could seem ugly and looked like a horse’s smile.

    – Are you returning from the camp? the stranger asked.

    “Yes…” Seryozha sighed. – I’m coming back…

    – Curious. Are you really taking this handsome man from the camp? The man pointed with his chin at Knock.

    – No. I have it here … Well, in general, it was given to me.

    – Oh, I see. Nice dog. The main thing is that the breed is good.

    Seryozha looked at Don Quixote in surprise. He smiled again and repeated:

    – Good. A typical Central Russian mongrel.

    Seryozha said slightly offended:

    – Let it be. I’m purebred and don’t need it. But he is faithful.

    “Don Quixote with a briefcase” stopped smiling.

    “I’m not laughing,” he explained. – Such mongrels are very often smarter than thoroughbred dogs. I know one girl, her completely outbred dog won first place at the regional exhibition. For learning. I wrote about them – about the mistress and about this dog, about Bertha.

    Serezha stopped scraping off the sticker and straightened up. And quietly asked:

    – You are a writer, right?

    – Well, why a writer? I am a journalist. I work in the editorial office … You see, that’s why I’m so curious. As they say, professional quality. ..

    – Ah… – said Seryozha and sighed.

    – Why “a”? the man asked a little jealously. – In the sense that it is clear why I am curious? Or is it a pity that you are not a writer?

    “What is not a writer,” Seryozha said honestly. – Otherwise, I wanted to ask…

    – Y-yes… Or maybe you can ask? I know a thing or two about writing. Or not?

    – No, you can. I just wanted to know…” Seryozha fell silent, moved the suitcase, sat down on it and, looking up at Don Quixote, asked: “Writers just invent a lot of things, right? Especially fantasy or fairy tales. And after all, no one laughs at writers, shouts that they all lied … And if some person … well, not a writer, but simply … If he starts to invent some stories just for fun, he is immediately teased that he is a braggart. Why?

    “Sometimes…” the journalist said slowly. “But there’s probably nothing you can do about it. You just don’t have to pay attention… By the way, writers are also sometimes laughed at. Fools still exist in the world.

    Serezha nodded. I wanted to say something else, turned around… The shaky suitcase overturned under him, and Seryozha flew into the grass.

    He immediately jumped up and laughed.

    “Sit down on the bench,” the journalist said. “Or you’ll crush your luggage and even go crazy with your neck.”

    – I’m not going crazy. I’m already tired of this bench, I’ve been stuck on it since morning.

    – So what? I think it’s very convenient. The back is well made and in general … – The journalist fiddled on the bench, making himself more comfortable.

    Seryozha hurriedly said:

    – Sorry, I forgot to say right away. There, it seems, somewhere a nail sticks out, you can tear your trousers.

    “Don Quixote” got up hastily. He felt the bench under him.

    – Damn… Really sticks out. It would be extremely annoying to tear your pants. I don’t have any others with me.

    – I have a thread with a needle. They would sew it up, – said Seryozha.

    – Thank you, I consoled you… Why don’t you sew up yours? There you have a ripped trouser leg at the bottom.

    – Come on, them! I wanted to take them off altogether, but they won’t fit into a suitcase … I put them on because I had to get through the thorns. Well, I got stuck there.

    – Where did you get through the thorns? Are you leaving the camp?

    Seryozha frowned.

    “Well, I’m sorry,” the journalist said hastily. – This is again a professional habit. I have a business mood. When I’m on a business trip, I ask everyone about everything.

    – So you’re on a business trip? – Seryozha asked again. Because it was embarrassing to be silent.

    “Uh-huh,” “Don Quixote” responded.

    He suddenly looked attentively at Seryozha, wrinkled his forehead, as if deciding something. Then he asked:

    – Can I tell you a little story? Don’t be surprised. You see, I am very interested in what a randomly met person will say about this story. Well, someone like you… May I?

    – Of course, – said Seryozha. – What is the story about?

    – Yes, a simple matter, in general … We received a letter from the editorial office. from one citizen. A citizen writes about the chairman of the local collective farm “Luch”. He writes that this chairman is such and such, does not get along with people, is conceited, offends his subordinates. Collective farm machines for their personal affairs uses. Pioneers from the camp were not allowed to go to the collective-farm construction site when they wanted to work there as patronage assistance…

    – This is probably about our camp, – Seryozha put in. – There is no other close here.

    – Probably about yours… And the chairman also forced the students to repair the house for his relative. A student construction team is working there, guys are building a new horse yard, and so he sent a whole team from this team to repair a private house … Well, and something else has been written . .. In general, I came to the collective farm to figure it out. The question is serious. And indeed, it seems to be the way it all is, as in the letter. At first glance. And if you dig deeper, then the letter is complete nonsense. Of course, there are people on the collective farm who do not like the chairman: they are loafers and truants. When people go out into the field, they go to their garden or to the bazaar. And about cars – nonsense. As for the pioneers, he did the right thing by not allowing it. There is nothing for the kids to do at this construction site, there are such logs and cinder blocks that the students can hardly manage. And as for the repair of the house, then this is generally a 100% lie. She is not related to him at all, but simply a namesake. Her husband died last year, and he was, by the way, an invalid, a former partisan. He died, did not have time to fix the house. And the students heard this story and decided to help. Their chairman did not force them. That’s it, brother. .. Well, what?

    Seryozha was embarrassed. He was not used to discussing such “adult” questions.

    “So…” he said awkwardly. “So it’s all right. Yes?

    The journalist sighed noisily and smiled happily.

    – That’s good. Well, you’re great, honestly.

    “I… don’t even understand,” Seryozha was confused. – Why am I good? For some reason you are laughing…

    – I’m just happy. You see, I’ve been unlucky this morning. I met two acquaintances one after another (I have a lot of acquaintances here in the district), told them this story, and they … One began to feel sorry for me: they say, I went in vain, there was nothing to write about the feuilleton. And the other began to grind: “We know these chairmen. Although nothing has been confirmed, they are still like that … ”And neither one nor the other was glad that this chairman turned out to be a good person. And you said the most important thing: “Everything is in order.” It’s great that you said that.

    Seryozha thought.

    – Yes… You know what? After all, then it turns out that the person who wrote the letter is bad.

    “Don Quixote” nodded:

    – Correctly noted, Seryozha. It was the only thing that was visible right away. Even when the letter was not checked.

    – Why?

    – Well… it’s noticeable. Evil letter. And signed in a strange way. It seems that there is a surname, but you can’t really make out. On the letter “C”. And the position under the surname is written strange: a senior worker. I did not find this “leading worker” on the collective farm, although I showed the letter to many.

    “He probably just didn’t want to be recognized,” Seryozha guessed.

    “Probably…” the journalist said and thought.

    And Seryozha was sitting on the suitcase, stroking Knock and quietly looking at the journalist. He liked it more and more. And not because he talked to Seryozha like an adult. Many people are able to do this. Seryozha would not have been able to explain in words, but he felt the kindness of a big stranger. It was a restrained kindness, and there was confidence and firmness in it. And when “Don Quixote” smiled like a horse or awkwardly moved his long legs, it was not funny. Because there was power behind the awkwardness. Well, not such strength as, for example, a weightlifter, but strength of character, or something …

    Maybe all this seemed to Seryozha?

    After all, half an hour ago he experienced a meeting with another adult man – strong and unkind. This meeting left a bitter unease. And now Seryozha needed someone kind and smart nearby. The one who understands everything.

    “I wonder what his name is?” Serezha thought. But it was awkward to ask. And suddenly the journalist (it happens so!) met Seryozha’s eyes and said:

    – By the way, my name is Alexei Borisovich … Don’t think that I’m asking for an acquaintance. It’s just embarrassing: I know your name, but you don’t know mine… By the way, you are probably often asked if you are a descendant of the famous Decembrist?

    Serezha smiled.

    – Ask. Well, not often, but sometimes. Only here the Decembrists have nothing to do with it. My grandfather was a red horseman. Dad told me. Grandfather was still quite young then, well, not even an adult. And he had no parents, he was homeless. And the Reds took him to themselves. It was just near Kakhovka, about which the song is. Well, they gave him such a last name, because he didn’t even want to name his real one. He said, since life is new, let the surname be new … He then fought great, even became a commander. Only he died a long time ago, even dad does not remember him well. And there were no photographs left.

    “That’s not the most important thing,” Alexei Borisovich said seriously. – The surname remains. You have a nice surname, Sergey, you can envy … Well, it’s me, don’t think that I envy. My last name is also famous. Ivanov… What are you laughing at? I’m serious.

    “I’m not laughing,” Seryozha said belatedly. – It’s me… by accident. Sorry.

    – You don’t think it’s a famous surname? There are twenty-two of the Ivanov writers alone, I was specifically interested. That’s it…

    “We have Ivanovs in our class,” Seryozha said to smooth over the awkwardness.

    – One Ivanov – what’s that! The Ivanovs live in three apartments in our building. One, by the way, is also Alexei Borisovich. The postman is exhausted, she confuses letters all the time. Once I opened the envelope, I began to read: my fathers, some aunt Vera congratulates me on my silver wedding. I look – a letter to a neighbor. I ran to apologize. Horrible, how embarrassing.

    – Well, that’s nothing, – said Seryozha. – It’s you by chance … Alexei Borisovich! And if some person purposely prints and reads someone else’s letter. To find out something about another… What’s that called? This is very bad? Or… not so much?

    Alexei Borisovich’s face became stern and tense. Did he really think that Seryozha was talking about himself?

    – Here’s the question… You’re not small, Sergey. You probably know yourself. Here, whatever one may say, but it is always called the same – meanness . .. Why are you jumping up?

    – Well, here you are, – Seryozha spoke confusedly. – You see! I told him so!

    – To whom?

    – Tikhon Mikhailovich. The head of the camp…

    4

    At first Seryozha liked the “Change”, although the camp turned out to be not at all what he imagined.

    Earlier, when they said “camp”, it seemed to Seryozha that these were tents and multi-colored houses, crowded between rocks and tall black fir trees. In the evening sky – rare stars and the bright half of the moon. And a warm orange fire at the biggest rock next to the talkative stream.

    It turned out that everything was wrong. There were three longhouses among sparse pine trees, a sanded playground, a flag mast, a high green fence, plywood posters “The sun, air and water are our best friends” and “Pioneer is an example to all the guys.” The grass between the pines was trampled down, only burdocks and nettles grew thickly along the fence.

    But all the same, Seryozha did not regret that he had come. Because on the very first evening a fire was lit on the lawn behind the kitchen, and the leader of the third detachment, Kostya, brought a guitar and sang a song that silenced everyone: the song was about something very familiar, as if someone had overheard Seryozha’s secret.

    Only it was not about Seryozha, but about a little bugler.

    …From bugler Alyoshka Snezhkov
    They took away a golden trumpet.
    They said it was his own fault:
    Slowly in the morning, without asking
    Alyosha got up from the bed,
    Went ashore in the morning dew.
    The signal was carried by its strange
    above the thicket of confused branches,
    Above the spacesized lake fog,
    under the orange flag of dawn …

    8

    and so that the Aleshka does not violate the regime, so that the regime does not break out of the time. They took the pipe from him and locked it in a cupboard. Well, what could Alyosha do? Maybe he even cried, wrapped in a blanket, after lights out, but you still won’t return the pipe. So I fell asleep.

    The bugler is sleeping. What does he dream about?

    Maybe he is dreaming about how the echo of a signal
    Elastically pushed into the warm air
    And beyond the black forest pass
    Distant chimneys woke up …

    in the throat, and he squeezed a pine branch that fell under his arm like a saber handle.

    The horses began to snore in alarm,
    Squadrons turned in an arc –
    And the heavy spears bowed,
    And the banners rose above the ranks.
    In the clear sky – dawn color,
    Golden ridges of clouds.
    As if in a fairy tale, but not in a fairy tale at all
    Detachments fly out onto the field.
    A black scattering of horsemen rushes
    Through the bushes, dressed in mist,
    Through the cold early morning dews
    Under the orange flag of dawn.

    Then there were other songs. But this one was always sung at every fire. And Seryozha was always waiting for her, and joyful alarm began to ring in him in advance. As if a miracle could happen, and the riders from the song were ready to break out into the clearing and stand by the fire: the reflections of fire on the muzzles of the horses, golden sparks on the bridles, stirrups and copper sheath rings. And the faces are not visible in the shadows, only the stars show through on high helmets…

    0003

    – Kostya, who came up with this song?

    “Yes…” Kostya said reluctantly. “One person…” And it looked like he was embarrassed.

    Strange. In fact, Kostya was rarely embarrassed. He was cheerful, tireless, fair. He didn’t drive the guys out of the river ahead of time, dragged October babies on his shoulders and never shouted at the boys, like the leader of Serezha’s detachment with the stupid name Hortensia.

    Hortense often screamed because there was no discipline in the detachment. Everyone wanted to go on a hike, then to the river, then to play football, but no one wanted to hold thematic camps and fulfill the regime. Hydrangea climbed out of the skin to achieve order. But nothing worked out for her, although she tried her best to resemble the senior counselor Evgenia Semyonovna.

    But Kostya didn’t try to be like him. He wore dark glasses and green shorts with a wide command belt.

    Everyone knew that the head of the camp, Tikhon Mikhailovich Sovkov, was dissatisfied with Kostya. The chief thought that it was indecent for an adult to walk in short pants, and the counselor also had no right to wear black glasses, because they separated him from the children. But Kostya continued to walk around in shorts, and his glasses did not separate him from anyone …

    And when Seryozha asked about the song, Kostya was a little confused. And Seryozha did not ask anymore, everything was clear anyway. And Kostya threw the guitar over his shoulder and took Seryozha by the hand.

    – Let’s go, Sergey… Does it matter who came up with the song? The main thing is that they sing…

    And Seryozha felt good, good because Kostya remembers, it turns out, his name, and now they are walking side by side, and Kostya is holding his palm in his palm, and over the camp there is such a warm, quiet evening, and the moon is laughing among the dark pines…

    The moon was not quite round, but very bright. And in the north the yellow dawn did not go out. The moonlight merged with the dawn, and golden dust settled on the pine branches. Nobody wanted to sleep. The guys moved the beds and began to tell different stories. It was not very noisy and very interesting. Many even from other chambers came running. Hortense screamed for order, and then disappeared imperceptibly.

    – Gee … I ran to a date with Stasik, – Vovka Paderin, nicknamed Powder, scoffed.

    Stasik – it was Stanislav Andreevich, a physical education teacher. But no one began to laugh, it was not such a mood. Everyone wanted to sit quietly next to each other and listen.

    The stories were, of course, terrible. Pavlik Maksimov told about the severed hand that two boys found in an old chest, and Valerka Sotnikov about how their flatmate turned out to be a sorceress and flew in a washing machine.

    And then Vitka Soloboev from the first detachment started talking about the Baskervilles’ dog. He only spoke badly, confused everything, lost his way. In addition, Vitka overate at dinner and was now puffing heavily. It became uninteresting to listen to, especially since many guys knew the story about the Baskerville dog better than Vitka. They began to interrupt, correct, make noise. Vitka, tired and offended, fell silent. And everyone started talking about dogs: what breed is better, who had what kind of puppies, how to train …

    Seryozha never had a dog, but he listened with interest all the same.

    Suddenly, when the conversation had already begun to subside, little Dimka Solomin said:

    – I also had a dog. Only I’ve never seen her…

    “Gee,” Powder immediately responded. “She was smaller than a flea, huh?” Mixture of microbe with kabyzdoh.

    Several people giggled readily. But the rest of them made noise: almost everyone wanted to hear about Dimka’s dog.

    And Serezha really wanted to. It’s not even about the dog. He just liked Dimka.

    They met on the very first camp day. Seryozha walked into the pioneer room and saw that a boy of about eight years old was standing right in front of him on the path. Thin, golden-haired, with a battle abrasion on the bridge of his nose. He stands with his legs firmly apart and his palms behind the strap on his pants. The boy’s face was good, with a big smiling mouth and green eyes.

    “And I remember you,” he said and tilted his head to his shoulder. – You studied in the fifth “B”, in our school. Your name is Seryoga.

    – That’s right, – Seryozha was delighted. “Only I… don’t remember your name.” He was ashamed to say that he did not remember this boy at all.

    “My name is Dimka,” he said eagerly. And he went next to Seryozha.

    They probably would have started talking, but then someone shouted from afar: “Dimka! Solomin!” And Dimka galloped off to the call.

    Then he came across many times and always smiled at Seryozha, as if he were an old acquaintance.

    Seryozha has not yet made friends with anyone in the camp. And with Dima too. But he liked Dimka more than anyone, it’s only a pity that he was small …

    Dimka began to tell:

    – I was living with our grandmother then. Not in the city, but in the village. There is a ravine, and around the house. I couldn’t sleep the first night. Because I’m not used to it. In our city at night, a thousand lights are immediately visible in the window, but at my grandmother there are no lights, because the ravine is outside the window. Only the moon. Well, I didn’t sleep, I didn’t sleep, and then the dog started barking. At first I even got angry: why doesn’t it let me sleep? And then I kind of felt sorry for her. She barked so sadly. She must have been chained all the time, night and day. It’s boring after all … My window was open. I came up and let’s whistle. Well, not loudly, but as if calling her. She fell silent. Then she barked like she was asking. Well, I whistled some more. And she again: “Woof, woof.” As if he was answering … That’s how we talked for a long, long time. And then I whistled three times that we were ending the conversation, and went to bed. She, too, barked a little more and fell silent.

    – And then? Seryozha asked.

    – When another night came, we again spoke in the same way. And then more. Every night She already recognized me by the whistle, this dog. And she responded in every way. If I start whistling merrily, she will bark merrily too! And if quietly, sadly, she also barks plaintively like that … In general, we had whole conversations.

    – What was her name? – asked from a far corner.

    – How do I know? Dima was surprised. “I never even saw her. I don’t even know what she is. I was looking for her during the day, but there are vegetable gardens and high fences around the ravine, you can’t get through. And she did not respond to the whistle during the day.

    – What is yours? – puffing offendedly, said Vitka Soloboev. “You don’t even know if she’s red or what. The owner of a dog is the one who gives it food.

    “But she talked to me,” Dimka answered quietly.

    Seryozha said with annoyance:

    – You, Soloboev, do not interfere with the story… Well, then what, Dimka?

    Dimka sighed.

    – Then I had a fight with Vovka Kobasenko, and my lip swelled up. I couldn’t whistle anymore. And she barked, barked. All night long. I just didn’t know what to do. Scream, right? Well, I didn’t know her name. And grandma would have woken up… And the dog kept barking, barking, and suddenly squealing! And she fell silent immediately … Then, when the lip passed, I whistled all night, but she no longer answered.

    Everyone was sympathetically silent.

    “Somebody nailed it,” said Zhenya Skatov, an angry, ugly boy from the first detachment. – There are such bastards. They kill a dog that crush a bug.

    Seryozha did not like Zhenya. But now Zhenya took pity on Dimkin’s dog and immediately seemed likeable to Seryozha.

    In general, everyone around was now good and kind. They sat alternately on their own and other people’s beds, leaning against each other and wrapping themselves in blankets no matter whose. And some guy from another detachment, unfamiliar, but still nice, stumbled up to Seryozha. The moon shone brighter and brighter, and I didn’t feel like sleeping at all, and it was good to be next to each other.

    There were comrades around, and Seryozha decided to give them his fairy tale.

    He said:

    – And I have riders…

    5

    It happened the summer before last. Seryozha asked Aunt Galya for permission to go with the guys out of town, to Sandy Lake. The days were sultry, all the boys were dressed very lightly. After all, no one thought that in the middle of the day an evil wind would fly from behind the edge of the northern forest with scalding cold rain. It was one of those fast-moving cyclones that weather forecasters do not have time to warn about.

    The boys were caught by bad weather when they were on a meadow path, two kilometers from the bus stop. Summer quickly turned into autumn. The sun burrowed into the shaggy clouds and probably trembled there like a wet red puppy. The grasses bent under the springy blows of the jets.

    When Seryozha ran home, he could be squeezed out and hung on a rope along with his pants and T-shirt. Aunt Galya groaned and rushed to heat the water. But the hot bath did not help. And the raspberries didn’t help either. By evening, Seryozha was hoarse, weakened, trembling from chills …

    Angina is not fun, especially during the holidays. You lie and miss. On the first day, Aunt Galya sat with Seryozha, gave hot milk to drink and fed her with pills. And then the temperature subsided, and Aunt Galya began to go to work.

    Father was on a business trip, Marinka was in kindergarten, Natasha, who lived in the same apartment, was in the village with her grandmother. Serezha was even forbidden to stick his nose out onto the street.

    And what was there to do on the street? The wind and rain took their toll. A dull puddle spread under the window, ripples red from clay scattered across it. Branches of mountain ash and yellow acacia swirled in the wind. The red bar in the thermometer, nailed to the eaves behind the window, shrank and stuck out at ten degrees.

    Finally one evening the cold rain stopped and rolled over the distant rooftops. In the west, a sun slit erupted. But the chilly wind still blew in gusts, and the wet bushes shuddered, as small children shudder after long tears.

    Seryozha shuddered too: it was cool by the window. Aunt Galya came and drove him to bed. Seryozha was slightly offended. He lay with his nose to the wall and did not turn around all evening, although it was very important for him to know whether a bright streak was growing outside the window. He lay and looked at the old wallpaper. A small pattern, specks and scratches formed into pictures. It was possible, if you tried, to see strange birds, camels, an old steamer and the lame hut of Baba Yaga. But most clearly visible was the rider.

    The rider was sitting on a thin-legged horse. The horse had an upturned head and a disheveled mane. The rider was wearing a sharp helmet and overcoat. In one hand – a curved sword, in the other – a long spear (Seryozha inflicted this scratch with a wooden saber when he fought with a pillow).

    The eyelashes stuck together and the patterns on the wall began to move. The horse moved its legs, and the rider looked back at Seryozha, as if calling with him.

    Seryozha shook his head, the rider froze. Seryozha glanced furtively out the window. Sunslit was now orange. Along it, as if along a fiery road, small clouds flew, similar to cavalrymen with shaggy cloaks. They seemed to be on the attack against bad weather.

    It was raining during the night. Seryozha woke up with anxiety: will there really be no sun tomorrow? The rider on the wall was not visible at dusk, but Seryozha knew that he was there, and asked in a whisper:

    – Well, drive away these clouds! Well, please…

    It was a gray morning, but the rain stopped. Seryozha padded to the window. The cyclone is gone. Dark clouds rolled back to the south row after row. They were like an army that is retreating, although not yet completely defeated. By noon, the sky began to flicker with blue glimpses, and then a hot sun flew out into a wide gap like a cannonball, and the red column of the thermometer, saluting, soared nine divisions.

    Bright rays hit the wall. All the evening drawings on the wallpaper crumbled from the light, disappeared. And the rider was gone. But he did not crumble, of course: he galloped off to beat the retreating enemy.

    It was difficult for him, this rider, to fight alone. Seryozha sat down at the table and began to prepare the army.

    First, Seryozha drew a cavalryman on cardboard (maybe not very skillfully, but he tried). The rider turned out to be the size of a matchbox. Seryozha cut it out with little aunt Galina’s scissors. Then he circled eleven more on this figure – how much cardboard was enough. And he also cut it out, and then painted it with my father’s colored ink. The result was a squadron of twelve horsemen. With thin pikes made of rice straw from a broom, with shiny sabers made of silver tea wrappers, with stars on their helmets.

    Seryozha lined up riders on the windowsill so that they would race after the fleeing clouds.

    And the clouds, frightened, soon completely left the battlefield. The day became bright, sparkling with blue puddles, and warm. Steam rose from the drying asphalt.

    Try to stay at home in this weather! When Aunt Galya came, Seryozha said that he would die if he did not go out into the street. Aunt Galya sighed and allowed. She only told me to wear rubber boots, long pants and a sweater.

    Only a madman can walk around in such an outfit on a wonderful summer day. Sergei said so. Aunt Galya was offended. Seryozha was also offended. He even wanted to shed a tear (in those days he still threw out such jokes), but it was inconvenient to dissolve nurses in the face of twelve horsemen. Seryozha declared that he would not go for a walk, and began to build an enemy fortress from dominoes on the windowsill. The horsemen took this fortress from a raid. They were as angry as Seryozha.

    However, it didn’t take long to get angry. My father suddenly returned from a trip. It turns out that he was in a hurry to make it to his good friend’s birthday party. Upon learning that Seryozha was unwell, his father was upset. He didn’t want to visit. But Seryozha did not want his father to be upset. He said that he wasn’t sick a bit anymore, and that let dad and Aunt Galya go, otherwise Uncle Volodya would wait and be offended. Just let them take Marinka with them, otherwise she will pester all evening so that Seryozha reads books to her. And he has a lot to do.

    And so he was left alone that evening.

    …First of all, he opened the window. Walking is not allowed, well, okay! And no one forbade him to sit in an open window.

    The evening came warm and slightly damp. A pile of yellow cloud rose above the rooftops. The street was quiet, deserted, only sparrows roamed in the bushes. Seryozha began to fall asleep. Maybe he hasn’t fully recovered yet, or maybe he just got tired during the day. He lay down on the bed and looked out the window. The riders were still on the windowsill. They seemed to be racing across the evening sky towards a yellow cloud.

    Seryozha fell asleep.

    He woke up from a blow as loud as a shot. It was the wind that slammed the window.

    A thunderstorm was unfolding over the city, which replaced a cold cyclone. It was a warm thunderstorm with blue flashes and rolling good-natured thunder.

    Seryozha ran to the window. And I saw that there were no riders on the windowsill. The wind, before slamming the doors, picked up the cardboard cavalrymen and carried them away to no one knows where.

    Of course, Seryozha was offended. And lonely. Dad and Aunt Galya had not yet returned, although it was late and dark, the riders rushed off and left him. Seryozha’s eyes stung. He didn’t look at the storm. He lay down again and nuzzled his nose into the pillow.

    …And then he dreamed, or imagined, that the door was flung open with a soft push. And from the threshold to the bed there sounded firm steps with a metallic chime.

    He opened his eyes and turned on his back.

    The light grew in the room, as if the bulbs in the chandelier were slowly gaining strength by themselves.

    Not far from Serezha’s bed stood a man in a sharp helmet and an overcoat to the heels. He wore tight yellow straps with a star buckle, a brown holster and a long sword in a black sheath with a copper tip. Tiny raindrops glistened on the overcoat. The man looked at Seryozha wearily, but kindly. Then he extended his hand to Seryozha and said:

    “Don’t be angry… We didn’t have time to warn you. We rode away because an important military task was waiting for us.”

    Seryozha hurriedly put his hand into the Horseman’s large hand and got up.

    Whether it was a dream, or an invention, but Seryozha remembers everything clearly and clearly. As he stood in front of the Rider, grabbed his leather belt and pressed against his overcoat. The cloth turned out to be damp and prickly when Seryozha touched it with his bare elbows and knees. The belt smelled like a new briefcase, and the yellow buckle smelled like sour copper. The rider was tall, and Seryozha reached the buckle only with his chin. He stood there, clutching the belt and lifting his chin, and looked at the wonderful guest.

    “Are you coming back?” Seryozha asked.

    The rider said seriously:

    “If need be. We can’t hang out on the windowsill all our lives. We have many more fights. But if you have a bad time, you call. We’ll come running.”

    “How to call?” Seryozha asked in a whisper, because he wanted to cry. Not from bitterness, not from resentment, but on the contrary – as if from a favorite song, when something good is remembered.

    The rider smiled.

    “How to call… Well, stand up stronger, bend your elbows, clench your fists, as if you were holding reins in one hand and a saber in the other. And command quietly, to yourself: “Squadron-oh-he! To me!” And we will immediately be right there … Maybe no one will notice us, we can be invisible. But you must know that we are near.”

    “I will…” Seryozha whispered.

    The rider held a heavy hand on his shoulder, turned and went out the door, jingling his spurs. Horses neighed softly outside the window, and thunder rolled over the horizon. Seryozha lay down again…

    Through his sleep he heard how Papa and Aunt Galya came, how Marinka was whimpering, it was high time for her to sleep.

    Then Aunt Galya came into the room and groaned:

    – Father, I fell asleep, didn’t even turn off the light. And do not undress.

    She began to unbutton Seryozha’s shirt, and he pretended that he couldn’t wake up. Only stealthily, with one eye, glanced at the floor: if there were any marks from boots. But the tracks have already dried up. And only Serezha’s shoulder still seemed to feel the weight of a strong friendly palm ….

    No, Seryozha has never called horsemen for help in his life. Because real enemies have not yet met.

    But he knows: if you call, they will rush.

    That’s for sure…

    Seryozha had hardly finished speaking when Hortense appeared. This time she screamed in earnest, dispersed everyone to their beds and chambers. So Seryozha did not find out if the children liked his fairy tale. He only remembered that they listened to him attentively, silently.

    If only he knew how it would end!

    6

    The head of the camp called Powder, Vitka Soloboev and Gutya “my musketeers”. They have been going to the camp for several years in a row. They knew every pebble, every path and gap in the fence. They knew all the rules. When and to whom they can be violated, and when and to whom to follow them. “Musketeers” were not elected to the pioneer leadership. But they already went to the main ones. When you need to drive boats from a neighboring village, go to the village for sour cream, or prepare wood for a fire in the forest and carry it on a horse, who will you send? The supply manager Uncle Vasya will not be torn into ten pieces. After all, you can’t send Svetka Maltseva, the chairman of the council of the squad, on such matters, even though she is a commander. And there is little hope for any other activists: they only know how to glue scrapbooks.

    And when the little squad raises a ruckus at a quiet hour and starts a pillow fight, the council of the squad is of little use, and the maidens-counselors, too. You will never find Stanislav Andreevich, but with Kostya, the relationship with the boss is so-so. “Musketeers” are always right there.

    Well, if they bathe one more time, when they are watching the order on the river, or they pull on the back of the head of the violator of discipline, the trouble is not great. But my heart is calm.

    Chief among the “musketeers” was Gutya. Whether this was his name, or a nickname, Seryozha did not know. The girls from the senior Guta detachment sighed. He was handsome: swarthy, dark-haired, slender. Always in an ironed pioneer form, as from the picture. And very polite. With everyone. Even with those boys whom he was going to punch on the forehead for misconduct.

    However, Gutya rarely used his hands. For this there were Powder and Vitka.

    Powder was Gutin’s friend, although he didn’t look like Gutya in the slightest. Thin, long, in trousers with blisters on the knees, in a loose shirt, ungainly. He had a thin neck, a round head and yellow tufts of hair. They stuck out, and Powder looked like a sunflower.

    Powder knew how to pretend to be a fool. As he says his “gee” and makes a dumber joke, it will immediately seem as if he is underdeveloped. But it will seem to those who do not know Powder.

    And Vitka Soloboev went to Guti and Pudra as adjutants. And there was nothing special about him, except for rosy cheeks and appetite.

    This year Zhenya Skatov joined the Musketeers. Such a gloomy, taciturn boy. They elected him to the council of the detachment, because, they say, he studied well at school, but Zhenya did not deal with detachment affairs, but all the time walked with the “musketeers”.

    …Seryozha met these four when he saw Kostya off and returned to the camp.

    Kostya left. He could not stay: a telegram came from the city that Kostya’s mother was ill. Hard. No one knew about Kostin’s departure and the telegram, except for the counselors.

    Seryozha found out by accident. He finished breakfast before anyone else and sneaked out of the dining room: he always felt embarrassed to yell together with others, in chorus: “Thank you everyone!” He jumped out onto the porch and saw that Kostya was walking towards the camp gate with a raincoat on his arm and with a suitcase.

    Seryozha’s heart beat unpleasantly. He caught up with Kostya.

    – Are you leaving?

    “I have to,” Kostya replied. And briefly spoke about the telegram.

    Seryozha silently walked beside him. What can you say? Then he asked:

    – Why don’t the guys see you off?

    – I didn’t tell anyone. And so heartbreaking. And then forty people – forty partings. The girls are still crying.

    “Not only girls,” Serezha thought. And he asked:

    – May I see you? I won’t shed a tear.

    – Let’s go, Sergey, – said Kostya.

    Seryozha took his cloak from him and they walked towards the station. Through the forest, through the meadow. Silently.

    When the station house rose among the grasses, Kostya stopped:

    – Come back, Sergey, otherwise they will lose you. Thanks. Let the guys not be offended, I will write to them.

    “And I will always remember the song,” Serezha wanted to say, but he kept silent. He stood and looked after Kostya. He didn’t even say goodbye. “Goodbye” means “see you later”. And where should they meet if Seryozha doesn’t even know Kostina’s address. I hesitated to ask. What addresses are there if a person has misfortune.

    “Musketeers” met him at the very gate.

    – Very nice. Another unauthorized person,” Gutya said lazily. Who gave permission to leave the camp?

    Seryozha was sad. He was not up to the “musketeers”. Seryozha did not even think that there were four of them, and he was alone. He just said:

    – What do you care?

    – Wow… – Powder and Soloboev were indignant at the same time and wanted to grab Seryozha.

    Gutya held them back with a movement of his palm.

    “Here’s the deal,” he said kindly. – Let me bring to your attention that the director ordered everyone who sticks his nose out of the camp to be sent to the guardhouse and kept there until clarified.

    – Where to send? Serezha was surprised.

    – To the pioneer room. Under lock. Under arrest. Until he comes and sorts it out.

    – Gee! Don’t be afraid, you won’t get bored,” Powder interrupted. – There are already three Gavriks sitting, having fun.

    – Well, go and have fun with them, – Seryozha said gloomily.

    “You talk,” Zhenya Skatov threatened. – Go better. The director gave us an order.

    For some reason, everyone called the head of the camp director.

    “The order is for show to fools,” said Seryozha. He didn’t care, because Kostya had left. “Let him sit under arrest himself, if he wants to. This is not a cadet corps.

    – Get it! Gutya said.

    Powder and Vitka pressed Seryozha against the fence. They wanted to take it by force. And he suddenly became so insulting and such anger surged through him! The fists clenched themselves.

    “Okay, let go,” Gutya suddenly ordered. – The child is ready to burst into tears. Mom will start calling.

    Powder became stubborn:

    – Nope… Let him tell a fairy tale, then let him. It’s that storyteller. He told us all night about some riders brains. Wow, fun!

    Apparently, Powder decided to avenge Vitka, whom the guys didn’t want to listen to the night before.

    And Vitka himself was delighted:

    – Exactly! He was talking as if he commanded a horse division! You, Gutya, have not heard, you do not know. As if, as he whistles, everyone is falling around without memory.

    Shame and rage shot up in Seryozha! He revealed the secret to them, entrusted the fairy tale, and they!

    – Let me go! he shouted with such anger that the “musketeers” recoiled.

    – What happened? came the voice of the head of the camp. Sovkov approached imperceptibly.

    – It’s okay, Tikhon Mikhailovich. The unauthorized person is nervous,” Gutya explained. – Outside the camp he walked, and now he is kicking.

    Sovkov turned to Seryozha.

    – Who allowed you to leave the camp?

    Looking at the ground, Seryozha said:

    – I saw Kostya off. He gave me permission.

    – You should have asked me… Okay, go ahead.

    Seryozha pushed the silent Zhenya out of the way with his shoulder and stepped into the gate. But anger and resentment suddenly rose again in him. He turned around:

    – And they… better not touch me! I’m not going to dance to their violin!

    Seryozha expected indignation and threats in response. But

    the “musketeers” were silent, and Tikhon Mikhailovich

    said almost affectionately:

    – Go, go. They won’t be touched. I will talk.

    They really didn’t touch Seryozha. But on the same day, he saw on his pillow a piece of paper with a caricature: a bow-legged horseman was sitting on a belly horse and holding on to the tail.

    The next day after Seryozha every now and then the kids taught by the “musketeers” neighed loudly. By evening, Dimka apparently figured out something and put things in order among the October brethren: the neighing stopped. But before supper Hortense came up to Seryozha and, flapping her dyed eyelashes, spoke:0003

    – Listen, Kakhovsky, we have a fire tomorrow. Could you tell the whole squad your story?

    – What fairy tale?

    – The one everyone is talking about. About some magicians, talking camels, horses…

    “You yourself are a talking camel,” thought Seryozha. And he asked:

    – Who told you about this fairy tale?

    – Paderin and Soloboev. And what?

    “Tell them they are idiots,” Seryozha said clearly.

    – And you are a brute! They ask you nicely, but you…

    It was that evening that Seryozha wrote a letter home. I wrote and threw it into a plywood mailbox near the pioneer room.

    And the next day, at the evening line – like a bolt from the blue!

    However, at first the line went as usual: reports, results, thanks to the kitchen attendants. Then the director took over. It was also familiar: he often performed on the lines.

    This time he was talking about those who arbitrarily leave the camp for the forest, for the river, for the fields. Short, roundish, energetic, he stood at the mast with the flag and, at every word, sharply jerked his index finger pointing down – as if he was pressing buttons or clumsily typing on a large typewriter.

    The director’s words were familiar and boring:

    – Separate ugly cases have turned into a system… The administration will be forced… There are measures that will force violators…

    Then he rested and spoke in a simpler way:

    – Well, what are you missing? The territory is landscaped, all sorts of attractions. Tired of order? So after all, this order is not to spite you, but to avoid accidents. You should all jump, and we, adults, answer. Do you understand? From-ve-cha-eat! You have no conscience, that’s what. Disgraceful, and then complain to your parents. Come, they say, take away from here, otherwise it’s like in prison …

    – Who is complaining? – mockingly asked from the ranks.

    – Yes, there are some… “Daddy, come, otherwise everything is bad. You can’t go fishing, you can’t swim …” Can you drown, I ask?

    At first Seryozha felt the same as during the skirmish with the “musketeers”, when they mocked his fairy tale. And then he became sad and very lonely. And fearing nothing, he asked:

    – Are you talking about my letter?

    – And what? the director replied. “Maybe I’m not telling the truth?

    – So you read it?!

    – Maybe you want to say that I’m lying? I can read the letter on the ruler.

    And then, in the tense silence of the detachments, in the clear evening silence, when leaves and flags do not wave, every single person heard Serezha’s words:

    – But this is meanness!

    “You see, Alexey Borisovich, I didn’t mean to be rude at all,” said Seryozha. – Well, not at all. So it happened. There was just no other word. And he shouted, of course: “Hooligan, how dare you! If you don’t like our rules, get out of the camp! May your spirit not be here!” Well, I said “okay” and left. I left the line and wanted to go straight to the station, but it was already late, it was dusk.

    “And scary,” Alexei Borisovich said good-naturedly.

    – Well… yes. Not because it’s evening, I’m not afraid of the dark. They would just ask at the station: where are you going alone at night? In general, I spent the night and left in the morning. It’s good that the suitcase was not in the warehouse, but under the bed: I just took it from the warehouse to change my shirt…

    – Nobody knew that you were leaving?

    – I told Dimka to warn everyone. I left early, at dawn…

    …At dawn, he woke up, as if on a signal. In the window, behind the black pines, ragged clouds rose pink. Seryozha quietly dressed, grabbed his suitcase and jacket, pushed back the gauze curtain on the window, and jumped onto the sand.

    He carefully walked along the entire body to the outermost window. By this window, in the ward of the sixth detachment, Dimka slept.

    The window sashes were thrown open. It can be seen that the morning chill pestered Dimka, and he wrapped himself in a blanket up to the very top of his head. Only the back of his head with wheaten disheveled hair stuck out.

    “Dim,” Seryozha called and lay down on his stomach on the windowsill.

    Dimka did not move, only the hairs on the back of his head seemed to be alert, like small antennae.

    – Dima…

    Dimka threw back the covers and sat up. Blinked. And attentively, as if he had not slept, he looked at Seryozha.

    – I’m leaving. I’m leaving home. You tell the counselor… and everyone who needs it.

    – Are you leaving for good? Dimka asked in a whisper.

    – Forever. What to do now?

    “That’s right,” Dimka said seriously. – It’s just a pity … Kostya left, you too.

    – What to do now? Serezha said again.

    – I understand…

    – I’ll write you a letter, – Seryozha promised.

    Dimka stretched his big lips in a smile.

    – You write long so that you can read for a long time. Okay? .. – And then he frowned. – No, you don’t have to. This letter will probably also be printed. Well, them …

    – I’ll seal it so that no one will open it, – Seryozha promised. – Well, you lie down. Sleep, it’s still early.

    Dimka nodded, but continued to sit.

    – Sleep, Dim… Go to bed.

    Dimka lay down on his back, but continued to stare at Seryozha with all his eyes. Seryozha pulled the blanket over him up to his chin.

    – Well, I’m off.

    A short biting anger at the director, at his “musketeers”, at everyone who had to leave the camp, burned Seryozha. He abruptly pushed himself off the window sill and strode over to the fence. He still managed to notice that Dimka had sat down again and was looking after him. But he didn’t look back. Because I still had to leave. He didn’t even think about staying.

    The camp slept in such a deep sleep that no one could be feared. But all the same, Seryozha did not go to the gate: the watchman could have woken up. Prove then that he does not run away, but simply leaves, because … In general, it is difficult for a watchman to prove anything.

    Seryozha made his way through the thorns to the fence. The gray burdock heads stuck to the trousers, a sharp twig tore the trouser leg. Seryozha moved a board in the fence, and a gap opened up. A path ran away from her…

    7

    – Yes. You made porridge, – said Alexei Borisovich. “And you know what, Sergei? You will be accused of desertion. They will say that it was not necessary to leave the camp, but to prove your case, since you are sure that you are right.

    – Who’s to say?

    – Yes, anyone. Guys. Or the same head of the camp.

    Seryozha shook his head slowly:

    – I am not a deserter. I didn’t leave out of cowardice. It just became disgusting. And there is no one to prove it. Some laugh, others don’t care. After all, they know that you can’t read other people’s letters, but they are silent … And Tikhon Mikhailovich too … Well, what can I prove to him? He thinks that you can do whatever you want with the guys!

    “Now he probably doesn’t think so anymore,” Alexei Borisovich remarked.

    Seryozha cautiously raised his eyes to him.

    – Don’t you… think I’m a deserter?

    “No,” said Alexei Borisovich, and for some reason frowned.

    Then he asked:

    – And why did this letter make this Tikhon Mikhailovich so angry? What did you write there?

    – Nothing special! Here look! He pulled a crumpled envelope from his pocket.

    – Wait, Seryozha. And where did you get it from? Did the boss bring him back?

    – The Fizruk gave me… Well… he caught up with me and tried to persuade me to come back.

    – Understood. Is this the citizen you were talking to when I approached the station?

    – The same one…

    – So… So, can I read the letter?

    – Please read.

    Aleksei Borisovich took out a large brownish sheet with a large square from the envelope. And he looked at Seryozha in surprise.

    – Where did you get such paper?

    – Yes, there are as many as you want in the camp. These are such office books, we made detachment diaries from them. And what?

    – Yes, that’s interesting…

    And he began to read.

    Seryozha moved closer and also began to reread familiar lines.

    Hello, dad,

    Aunt Galya and Marinka!

    I’m fine. Health is good. Once I twisted my leg on football, but it has already passed. We recently went camping with tents. Only they did not spend the night, because the counselor was afraid of a thunderstorm. There will also be a war game. But you know, dad, to be honest, I don’t like it here. At first I liked it, because there was one good counselor and there were fires. But he left. Now it’s boring. I wanted to make friends with the guys, but so far it doesn’t work out. I once told a fairy tale to make it more interesting. And now they’re laughing. You know, dad, it would be better if you came for me. It would be better if you and Natasha and I went fishing, otherwise we are all just getting ready and going. And it doesn’t work to be together. And here you can’t even go fishing. They don’t let one person stick their nose into the river, and when there is a whole crowd, then there’s no time for fishing. You don’t even bathe properly, because as soon as you climb in and they are already ordered back.

    Don’t think I’m complaining. If necessary, I will live the entire shift. But you asked me to write honestly, so I write honestly. It would be better if you came for me. Do you know why it’s bad? Because every day is the same! And if it’s bad, then why?

    But if you can’t, don’t come.

    Aunt Galya, can I change my Polish pants for a tricolor flashlight? They are big for me anyway and fall off, but for the boy who has a flashlight, they are just right.

    Let Marinka not climb into my box without permission, otherwise I have caps and a sharp compass with needles there.

    Goodbye.

    Your Serezha.

    The letter was written on an open sheet torn from an account book. One half of the sheet was left blank.

    – May I take this paper? Alexey Borisovich asked. “Nothing is written here.

    – Take it, of course!.. But why?

    – Yes, it will come in handy. You can play sea battle, the cells are suitable here. There is still plenty of time before the train. Can you play sea battle?

    Seryozha smiled indulgently.

    – Well, great! – Alexei Borisovich carefully tore off the sheet, and gave the letter to Seryozha.

    “And you…” Seryozha said hesitantly. – You just read it. What do you think is in it … this?

    – Nothing like that.

    Seryozha slipped the letter into an envelope, and the envelope into the pocket of his spacious trousers. Aleksei Borisovich glanced briefly and asked:

    – Didn’t have time to change your pants for a flashlight?

    “I didn’t have time,” Seryozha sighed. – Yes, Aunt Galya probably would not have allowed it.

    – And Aunt Galya… who is she? Your aunt?

    Seryozha simply said:

    – She is my father’s wife. My mother has died.

    Sorry, brother. I overdid it with my curiosity.

    “Well, what’s the big deal,” Seryozha replied calmly. – Of course, it is not clear: dad and aunt Galya … – And suddenly he asked: – Have you been to Siberia?

    – Was.

    – Mom died in Siberia. I went on a business trip to geologists and caught a cold. A quick cold. The doctor arrived by helicopter, but it was too late… Alexei Borisovich! Seryozha looked as if he was asking for something. – That was six years ago. Maybe you met your mother?

    Alexei Borisovich shook his head.

    – No, baby. I do not want to deceive you, I have not met. I would remember that name.

    – And my mother has a different surname – Laskina.

    – No, Seryozha. I don’t know… Siberia is huge. Where was it?

    – Where is the oil. near Surgut.

    – I have been to those parts. Do you remember everyone? Maybe we’ve met sometime.

    Almost in a whisper, Seryozha said:

    – I have a card. Do you want me to show you?

    – Show me, of course.

    From the breast pocket of his jacket Seryozha took out a notebook and took out a photograph. It was the size of a pocket mirror.

    Alexey Borisovich put the picture on his palm. He looked for half a minute and shook his head again:

    – No, Seryozha. I would remember … Your mother is beautiful. And quite young.

    Seryozha nodded:

    – Twenty-four years old. I remember her well, although I was only five years old.

    – And the card is always with you?

    – Always.

    He inserted the photo between the pages and put the notebook in his pocket.

    Naval battle is a simple game, but it also requires skill. Aleksey Borisovich had already suffered a complete defeat once and was now a little nervous.

    – I don’t understand how you manage? According to the theory of probability, our chances should be approximately equal … Listen, didn’t you peep?

    – Yes, honest pioneer! It’s just that I have a special way… De-one…

    – Ah, here’s a way for you! Missed! Zhe-seven.

    – Past. E-three.

    – Ugh, damn! Lost the gunboat. Hit again… What are you, Seryozha?

    And Seryozha immediately had no time for gunboats. He saw how the camp gas stopped on the road. And Tikhon Mikhailovich Sovkov himself walked from the car to the station along the overgrown path.

    – Well, – Seryozha said wistfully. The director has arrived.

    Alexei Borisovich looked around quickly.

    “Look at you,” he said incomprehensibly.

    Seryozha sat squinting and pursing his lips.

    “Now everything will start again,” he said in a whisper.

    “M-yes…” Alexei Borisovich responded vaguely.

    Seryozha thought that he would intercede, but he “m-yes”.

    Seryozha said sharply:

    – I won’t go to the camp anyway.

    – Look. This is your business after all.

    – I won’t go! Seryozha repeated.

    Alexei Borisovich suddenly smiled.

    – Well, if you don’t go, then why be nervous? Let’s play on. Let’s see what will happen.

    And this is what happened.

    The head of the camp came up and stopped, looking at Seryozha expectantly.

    “V-one,” Seryozha said in a tense voice.

    – Perhaps, Kakhovsky, will you pay attention to me? Tikhon Mikhailovich asked.

    “I converted,” said Seryozha. “V-four, Alexei Borisovich.

    – Would you at least say hello? the director asked.

    – Hello … Mimo, Alexei Borisovich. V-six…

    “I got in trouble,” Alexei Borisovich said with regret. – In a submarine. You’re good at it.

    – I have a way. Groping with fire…

    “Citizen, I think I’m talking to a boy,” Comrade Sovkov said with dignity. – I would ask you not to interfere.

    Alexei Borisovich raised his kind greenish eyes to him.

    – Am I in the way? God with you. It seemed to me that the boy himself … er … did not communicate with you very willingly.

    – This boy escaped from the camp! the director said indignantly. – Do you know that?

    Hearing the word “ran away”, Seryozha moved his shoulder, but said nothing.

    “Seryozha told me, so to speak, the situation,” Alexei Borisovich replied. – In general terms. True, not exactly like you. He said that he did not run away, but left the camp. According to your order. It seems that you did not agree on the secrecy of correspondence? By the way, protected by law.

    – What does the law have to do with it? Are you threatening me?

    – Well, what are you, comrade head of the camp! Alexey Borisovich exclaimed with mild reproach. – Well, what am I threatening you, judge for yourself? Do I look like a person who can threaten?

    – Then why are you interfering? Actually, who are you?

    – Yes, I don’t interfere. Sorry, I’m answering your questions. Who am i? Serezhin is a fellow traveler, we are waiting together for the train to arrive … But in general, Tikhon Mikhailovich, I thought that you had not forgotten me yet. We once sorted out one difficult issue with unloading vegetables from wagons. Remember? To tell the truth, I did not think that after this story you would take the post of head of the pioneer camp. Moreover, children are somewhat different from vegetables.

    Seryozha noticed out of the corner of his eye that during this speech Tikhon Mikhailovich began to blink frequently and his face turned pink. And in a sour voice the director said:

    – Ah, it’s you… comrade correspondent. I should have guessed. You have an amazing ability to appear where it is not necessary.

    – Well, you see, here we have very different points of view. When you think that it is not necessary, I just think that it is necessary.

    Tikhon Mikhailovich began to breathe heavily and began to feel his pockets, as if he were looking for cigarettes.

    “But he’s afraid of something,” Seryozha thought with pleasure.

    “Don’t worry, Comrade Sovkov,” Alexei Borisovich chuckled. – I met Seryozha by chance. I am in these parts by another letter. You see, some citizen – either Sapogov or Sachkov – wrote about the chairman of the local collective farm. As if this chairman is a real crook. Not a long letter, but… expressive. By the way, it is written on the same paper as Serezhino. Good paper. Where did you get it for the camp, Tikhon Mikhailovich?

    Sovkov took two steps back and raised his chin.

    – I would ask you… Who gave you the right to hint and label me? I didn’t write any letters. I have a great relationship with the chairman.

    – Well, that’s great! Moreover, the letter was not confirmed.

    – I don’t understand why you’re telling me about all this.

    – Yes, just like that. I share my worries. Thought you were interested. Considering your love for other people’s letters …

    – I would ask you not to have such conversations in front of children.

    – I’m sorry. But the “children”…” he glanced at Seryozha, “they know about it anyway.

    “Let’s finish the conversation,” Sovkov said with restrained resentment. “I am doing my duty. The child voluntarily left the camp, and I must take him back. Why are you preventing me?

    – Me? Obstruct? – Alexei Borisovich even moved away from Seryozha. – Excuse me, how do I interfere? Well, take it away, please. He caught Serezhin’s bewildered look and smiled in response with his eyes. – Only, Tikhon Mikhailovich … I don’t understand how you will do it. Persuasion, it seems to me, will not help. And you probably won’t use more decisive methods. Moreover, a person is not a calf, you can’t drag it on a rope …

    “I’m not going to use any methods,” Sovkov said, looking at the dozing Nok. – I’ll just invite a policeman to help.

    “Well, Tikhon Mikhailovich,” Alexei Borisovich said reproachfully. – You are confusing. This is not the camp where they bring with the police. In addition, I know for sure that there is not a single policeman within a radius of six kilometers, because the district police officer, Comrade Pavlov, is now in Dmitrovka.

    The head of the camp stopped paying attention to Alexei Borisovich. He turned his whole body to Seryozha, bent slightly and began to speak insistently and at the same time good-naturedly:0003

    – Well, Kakhovsky. We need to finish this story, you yourself understand. Come on, dear comrade, let’s forget all these sad events, get in the car and go to the camp. Things are waiting for us.

    – Sorry, Tikhon Mikhailovich, I won’t go. I told you,” Seryozha said quietly but firmly. He did not look at Sovkov. He looked at a piece of paper with a painted squadron and thought with impatient annoyance: “When will he finally leave?”

    – We saw him! – already without any good nature exclaimed Sovkov. He “said”! Figure! Do you think you are the best? Why do you hate us all?

    – Whom? Serezha was surprised.

    – The whole camp!

    – I didn’t hate anyone. I just don’t like camp!

    – If you don’t like it now, you’ll like it later.

    “No,” Seryozha said quietly. – All the same, it won’t be good anymore … And even a dog. Where will she live there?

    – What does the dog have to do with it? I didn’t come for the dog, but for you. I can’t take all the stray dogs to camp.

    – He is not a stray, but mine. I still wouldn’t be able to leave him. Since he is mine, I am responsible for him.

    – And I’m responsible for you! Do you understand? For you! And I have no right to let you leave the camp.

    Seryozha shrugged his shoulders in annoyance.

    – You won’t let me go. I’m leaving myself.

    – Exactly – by myself! Arbitrarily! Do you think this will suit you? Don’t think baby. We will notify the parents and the school. About all your tricks. And how he set the dog on Stanislav Andreevich! For such deeds, you know what? .. To the colony!

    – I didn’t incite! He grabbed me, and Nok growled!

    – You will tell these tales later. Not here and not to me. Stanislav Andreevich will not lie, the dog rushed after him.

    “I beg your pardon,” Alexei Borisovich intervened, “but your Stanislav Andreevich is somewhat… exaggerating, so to speak. I was just approaching the station and witnessed this scene. The dog behaved quite intelligently . .. unlike Stanislav Andreevich.

    Sovkov turned sharply to him.

    – I don’t understand what you want? So that I let him go home alone? I wonder what you would do in my place?

    “If I were you,” Alexei Borisovich said with a hard grin, “I would remember that no one has the right to read other people’s letters. I would also remember that children also have a sense of their own dignity, which no one is allowed to insult, and even publicly. And that every person has the right to break off relations with those who offended him … Perhaps this should not be said “in front of children.” It may not be pedagogical. I beg your pardon… But I could advise you this: since the boy categorically refused to live in the camp, you need to appoint an escort for him – let them take him home. It’s strange that it didn’t occur to you.

    – If every boy starts running from the camp, I won’t have enough people to see me off. I have counselors, not guides.

    – Well, if all the boys start running around, then something is wrong in the camp . .. And don’t worry about the guide for Seryozha, I can take on this role, since it happened so.

    – I don’t understand why you need him not to return to the camp after all. What do you want?

    “Yes, I don’t want anything,” Alexei Borisovich grinned again. “I was just thinking of doing you a favor, seeing the boy off.

    – I know your services. Excuse me, they are bearish… Kakhovsky, I’m asking for the last time, will you go to the camp?

    Seryozha sighed and silently shook his head.

    – Well, fine. So let’s write it down. And about you, comrade correspondent, I will write to the editor. About your behaviour. Keep in mind.

    – I’ll keep that in mind. Just sign legibly…

    Sovkov turned abruptly and walked towards the car, waving his arms wide. Nok raised his ears and looked after him.

    Car door slammed. The Gazik jumped up and covered the highway with dust.

    Seryozha said with relief:

    – That seems to be it.

    – Let’s hope. .. Although I must say that Tikhon Mikhailovich Sovkov is a stubborn person.

    – You know him, don’t you?

    – We met. He was not always the head of the camp.

    – You said… about vegetables. Was he a crook? He stole vegetables, didn’t he?

    Alexei Borisovich laughed.

    – No, Seryozha, don’t make it up. He didn’t steal anything. All this is much more complicated … He was cunning in order to get an extra bonus, and because of this, the business suffered. The cars were idle, the schedule was disrupted. Yes, well, him … Are you depressed?

    – I am not discouraged. Everything is fine.

    – Shall we continue then? The fight isn’t over yet.

    “Not finished,” Seryozha sighed.

    8

    The train time has finally come. Three more passengers appeared at the station: an old man with a white beard and fluff around a shiny bald head, a ruddy-faced old woman with a basket in which someone quacked and moved, and a tiny but frisky girl in a red kerchief with white peas.

    “Like from a fairy tale,” Seryozha said. – Grandfather, grandmother and granddaughter Masha.

    A green train jumped out from behind the forest. An old man on duty appeared on the porch in a red cap and with folded flags – red and yellow.

    – We waited, – said Alexei Borisovich and got up from the bench.

    The train hissed and stopped.

    Doors opened only in two carriages. It can be seen that no one was going to get off at this station, and two doors were enough for five passengers to board. So, probably, the conductors decided.

    Grandfather, grandmother and granddaughter trotted to the next car.

    “Let’s go to the other one,” Seryozha said hastily. “They’ll clog the entrance now, and we won’t make it in time.”

    He picked up the suitcase, pulled Nock’s leash and hopped along the carriages. Aleksei Borisovich overtook him and strode ahead. He was the first to jump on the bandwagon and shouted:

    – Come on Noka!

    Reached out to grab the collar.

    A young guide with a round, impregnable face appeared behind her.

    – Citizen, where are you going with the dog?

    Alexei Borisovich looked around.

    – How to where? In the wagon, of course.

    – You can’t get into the car. What are you, small? Don’t know the rules?

    – We have a ticket! Seryozha called from below.

    – Nothing to do with the ticket. There is no muzzle!

    “What are you doing, girl,” said Alexei Borisovich ingratiatingly. – Well, why does he need a muzzle? It’s still just a puppy.

    – But it doesn’t concern us whether it’s a puppy or not. Muzzles are obligatory for everyone… Citizen, whom did I tell! Don’t you dare drag the dog in, I won’t let you in.

    – Well, what should we do? Alexey Borisovich pleaded. – Don’t leave the dog! Do you have a heart?

    – The heart has nothing to do with it either. If the controller goes through the cars, he will not care about my heart. I’m losing my prize because of you.

    – Yes, as long as the controller goes, we’ll figure out some kind of muzzle!

    – Think about it first, and then get on the train… Get off the bandwagon, citizen. Do you hear the departure? Or leave the dog.

    Alexey Borisovich looked at Seryozha.

    – No, – Seryozha said in a whisper and grabbed Nok by the neck.

    Alexei Borisovich cursed and jumped to the ground. The conductor carefully closed the door. The car clanged and went, increasing speed.

    – Fu-you, how stupid it turned out. A young bureaucrat… And you won’t find fault, after all, he follows the instructions, – Alexei Borisovich said after the carriage.

    Seryozha was very ashamed. Well, how did he not realize that he needed a muzzle! And Alexey Borisovich stayed because of him …

    “You should have gone,” Seryozha said. “It’s my fault, I should have been sitting here. And now you’re stuck because of me.

    “Well, brother, what nonsense are you talking about,” Alexei Borisovich said displeasedly.

    Seryozha paused guiltily and asked:

    – What should I do now?

    – Well, what to do… First, a muzzle. Then we’ll play sea battle again. In an hour and a half, as far as I remember, there should still be a train … Only now I want to eat. BUT? What a station, there is nowhere to even buy a sandwich that fills up. Just start chewing on the belt. Do you have leather?

    Seryozha smiled still guiltily.

    – Leather. You just can’t chew it. What then is the muzzle made of?

    – Maybe we can take a muzzle strap from my device? I have a camera in my briefcase. It’s a pity, of course, but … your pants will fall off if you take off your belt.

    – No, you don’t need the apparatus! – even Seryozha was frightened. – Yes, let them fall down, I have others. And I’ll carry these under my arm, since they won’t fit in a suitcase.

    “Let’s try to stuff it into my briefcase,” Aleksey Borisovich decided.

    They returned to the bench. Aleksei Borisovich took Seryozha’s belt, coil of wire and knife. He said he had never made muzzles in his life and wanted to try. He called Nok and began to measure his muzzle. Nok shook his head and twitched his ears. He even tried to sneak away, but Alexei Borisovich grabbed him by the collar.

    – Stand still, you homeless child… There is no culture in you, no upbringing. Here we put on a muzzle, you will immediately feel what discipline is.

    Seryozha changed his clothes, instead of trousers he put on blue shorts from the pioneer uniform, and at the same time changed his shirt, which he wrinkled and smeared while fiddling with Nok. In short pants and a white T-shirt, he became thinner and seemed taller. And he looked a little like that boy with the foal. Especially when he approached Nok and took him by the neck. True, Nok did not at all look like a graceful colt.

    “Let him go, let him run,” said Alexei Borisovich. “Maybe he’ll find something to eat for himself.”

    Seryozha let go. Nok walked away, but did not look for anything, but sat down and looked reproachfully at Seryozha: “Oh, you, the owner. You took it, but you don’t feed it.”

    An old man in a red cap came up, on duty at the station. He asked with interest:

    – Why didn’t you, citizen passengers, leave? Did you like it, you see, with us?

    – Yes, that’s how it happened. Because of this passenger. Alexey Borisovich nodded at Knock.

    He sat three steps away and scratched himself with such force that the wind flew from him.

    “They didn’t let me in without a muzzle,” Seryozha explained.

    “There is such a rule,” the old man said sympathetically. – And in general, how lucky. Who do you run into. When they let you in, and when they don’t… And now, I think, for you, citizens, the most correct way out is to walk to the highway and catch a ride to the city. Unless, of course, you are not located to spend the night.

    – Why should we spend the night? Alexei Borisovich was alarmed. – And the train?

    – And what kind of train are you, my dear? Today there will be no more trains in that direction.

    – Why not? What about sixteen twenty-nine? I rode it last week.

    – Uh, what are you talking about! Did you go on Saturday or Sunday? That’s for sure. There is a train on weekends. Additional, it means to carry summer residents. And today there is none.

    “Well, it’s okay…” said Alexei Borisovich, looking plaintively at Seryozha. – All, brother, one to one.

    “All because of me,” Seryozha said in a broken voice.

    “No, Sergey, you stop talking,” Alexei Borisovich immediately perked up. – What are you, in fact, immediately lower your nose … Let’s think. So, like this: we should not go to the highway. Little hope. Trucks will not take us, the traffic police warms them up for this. And no one will let us, such a company, into a passenger car.

    – Maybe on foot? Serezha suggested timidly.

    – Sixty miles! Yes, on a hungry belly … No, brother, this is not that kind of romance.

    “That’s right,” the duty officer put in the word. – On foot – this is not the style. So the best thing for you is to go to the village, to the dining room, and stay overnight. If there is no place, then I can arrange you at my place, since it happened so. Look, in general … – He sighed and wandered to the house.

    “Thank you,” Seryozha and Alexei Borisovich said after him.

    Then Alexey Borisovich stood up resolutely.

    – It’s not good for us to spend the night, Sergey. I have to be at home tonight. Yes, and you should not hang out here in vain … There is one way. Grab your suitcase and let’s go. Only quickly!

    He stuffed Knock’s nearly finished muzzle into his pocket, took his briefcase and jacket, and, without another word, walked somewhere through the bushes, across the ditch, straight into the field.

    – Knock, follow me! – Seryozha shouted. He grabbed his suitcase and rushed to catch up with Alexei Borisovich.

    9

    They walked in single file along the path, which now and then was lost in the grass. Behind him, absentmindedly turning his head, Nok minced. Yellow butterflies flew under his nose, and Nok clicked his mouth.

    Alexei Borisovich walked ahead. He turned around and explained as he walked:

    – On the river, a kilometer and a half from here, a barge is laid up. Sometimes boats moor to it. If someone passes by, we will signal. Maybe we’ll be lucky. The boat, of course, is not an express, but at dusk we will probably get to the city … Well, if we are not lucky – well, we will consider that we have another adventure.

    The word is an amazing thing. If you say “failure”, your heart becomes sour. And if you say “adventure”, then immediately more fun. Seryozha caught up with Alexei Borisovich and walked alongside – not along the path, but straight through the grass.

    The grasses were blooming. High, sometimes at the very Seryozha’s shoulders, long rose-lilac candles of Ivan-tea swayed. The snapdragons turned yellow in a tangle of leaves – funny flowers, similar to puppy muzzles. The heads of small white inflorescences, which few people know the names of, were striking on Seryozha’s elbows.

    The travelers imperceptibly crossed a flat hillock, and when Seryozha looked back, he no longer saw the station. Only the turret with the rooster stuck out among the grass.

    Occasionally open lawns with dark red clover heads. Bumblebees hung in motionless shaggy balls above the clover. A very large brown peacock butterfly flew by slowly.

    Nok could not stand it, barked and gave chase.

    “He behaves disrespectfully,” Alexei Borisovich said with a smile.

    And Seryozha watched Nok with concern: the dog wouldn’t have eaten such a pretty butterfly.

    Didn’t gobble it up, didn’t catch up. And, blinking guiltily, he returned to the owner.

    “If you start pirating, we’ll put on a muzzle,” Seryozha promised.

    Nok snorted foolishly and shook his head. Blades of grass stuck to the muzzle.

    – Look, Alexey Borisovich, he ate grass! They say if a dog eats grass, it means it will rain.

    – No, hardly. He’s just hungry. I myself am ready to chew plantain. And there should be no rain, the sky is so good.

    Yellowish-white piles of clouds have frozen in the sky, which never cover the sun and do not threaten with bad weather. There was no wind at all. The warm air was thick with the smell of meadows. The sun baked his shoulders.

    – We’ll come to the river – it will be possible to swim, – Seryozha said dreamily.

    The river was not yet visible. She lay flush with the low banks. Dark stripes of coastal bushes and tall grasses blocked the water. Only occasionally did a bluish-glassy gleam break through the greenery in the distance.

    But then the bushes approached, parted. Blue water with reflected clouds immediately opened up before the travelers. Nok rushed to the sandy strip, stepped into the water with his front paws and began to lap with such zeal that his insides gurgled.

    – Alexey Borisovich, I’ll take a dip, can I? – Seryozha hurried. – Me and Nok. For a minute.

    “Wait a minute, buddy,” Alexei Borisovich said quickly. He looked along the shore. – Hold on. We seem to be more fortunate than I expected. Went. You see?

    A hundred meters away, a barge was standing on the shallows, and a large boat with a white deckhouse and a thin mast was stuck on its side.

    – Let’s push, – said Alexei Borisovich, and they “pressed”.

    Nok ran after them – along the very edge of the water with a splash and splash.

    – Exactly, – Alexey Borisovich said, puffing, when the white letters on the stern became visible – “Azimuth”. Well, how cool, honestly!

    They climbed a thin gangway onto the barge. It smelled of damp wood planking, dry deck boards, and tar. Nok slowly stepped over and squealed: the heated boards burned his paws.

    “Don’t go barefoot,” Alexei Borisovich said briefly.

    Nok was offended and went into the shadow of the high stern hatch.

    The boat was lower than the barge. Alexei Borisovich leaned over the side and called:

    – Hey, on the cruiser!

    A broad-faced, freckled guy got out of the cabin. And he smiled.

    – Volodya! exclaimed Alexei Borisovich. – Well, I’m glad! Hello… Seryozha, this is Captain Volodya. Last spring, he took me off a desert island where I ended up due to the intrigues of local poachers. I was faithfully playing the role of Robinson there for almost a day.

    “Yes, even now, it seems to me, Comrade Ivanov, like Robinson,” Volodya said, laughing. – At least I can argue that you are looking for transport to the city. Only you are not alone Robinson now, but happy Friday. Yeah?

    – Guessed. About transport. And about Friday – you’re in vain. Sergey and I are equal fellow travelers.

    – Yes, I’m not talking about that … I remembered Friday, because today is just Friday.

    – Well, well, you are confusing again, my captain. Today is Thursday.

    “That’s where I don’t confuse, Comrade Ivanov,” Volodya became stubborn. I’m standing here just because it’s Friday. Vitka, this is our new mechanic, took tickets to the circus for seven in the evening on Friday, and we won’t be in time for seven. We took spare parts to the base, in Reshetnikovo, and there we were manned. So he ran to call the city, his girlfriend, so as not to worry. There is a water station nearby, and there is a telephone on it …

    – Damn it, – said Alexei Borisovich. – How can I? Is it Friday? Sergey, why were you silent?

    – Well, Alexei Borisovich, you didn’t ask what day it was. Does it have to be Thursday?

    – Yes, that’s the point. I ordered correspondence in the student troop so that the guys wrote about their work. Tomorrow they should bring it to the editorial office. We agreed that it would be tomorrow. And the editorial office does not work on Saturday … Ah, brothers, I have become an old pepper pot. Sclerosis.

    “What are you talking about, Comrade Ivanov,” Volodya consoled condescendingly. You don’t have sclerosis. It’s you, excuse me, just such a character. Remember, when I filmed you from the island, you left your bag there. I had to turn back … And here’s what I’ll advise you. Now you go to the water tapping and call the collective farm on the phone, explain how and what.

    – Will you wait?

    – What to expect? It’s close, three hundred paces. Go down the shore, there is a wooden house and a brick booth. You’ll see… Ah, there’s Vitka coming! Wait, does the phone work?

    “It’s working,” muttered the gloomy, lanky Vitka. – I’d rather not work. You know what things she said to me…

    – Well, nothing. Maybe we’ll still make it. At least for the second part. Only now a comrade correspondent goes to the collective farm and calls, and we immediately turn it on to the fullest.

    “I’m running,” Alexei Borisovich hurried.

    “Don’t be in a hurry, comrade,” Vitka said in a dull voice, “I personally, at least, have nowhere to hurry. Since she said not to show herself, that means three days, no less.

    “Yes…” Alexei Borisovich drawled sympathetically. “Well, I’ll hurry anyway. You, Seryozha, wait, I’ll be in a moment. It seems that our adventures are ending. .. Hey, Sergey, what’s the matter with you?

    And Seryozha stood with his hands down and his whole appearance as if saying:

    “Well, what should I do if I am so useless, unfortunate, unhappy and stupid?”

    – What happened, Seryozha?

    “I forgot my trousers,” he said in a whisper. – Remain on the bench. They hang on the back. And a jacket.

    – Ugh… Come on, Sergey. Do you really need them? The jacket is old, and the pants … They are great for you. And torn as well. Unless the brand is interesting…

    – Yes, not a brand… The letter was left in the pocket. Someone will find it and read it.

    – Annoying. Well, in general, what is special about him, in this letter? Let them read.

    – And there is a card in the pocket. Mommy, – Seryozha said quite quietly.

    – Hmm…

    And Alexey Borisovich said nothing more. What do you say?

    Seryozha was also silent. He clearly imagined other people’s curious fingers turning out pockets, shaking out copper coins, feeling for and unfolding a letter . .. And then they take out a notebook, rustle the sheets. A picture falls on the bench. After all, no one knows that this is his, Seryozha, mother. This is a mother for him, and for others – just an unfamiliar, strange woman. And they will throw an unnecessary card into the grass…

    Seryozha leaned over the side of the barge.

    “Comrade captain,” he said to Volodya in a ringing voice. – I run very fast. It’s possible, huh? I’m running. It’s not far from here!

    – What happened? Comrade Ivanov? Volodya got worried. – Why is the boy upset?

    “Some property was forgotten at the station,” Alexei Borisovich explained guiltily. – Well, no luck as ordered.

    – Yes, let the kid run away, – said Vitka, the minder. – This is a trifling matter: three kilometers there and back, no more. Will be back in half an hour. And now we can wait, what really …

    “Let’s wait,” Volodya decided.

    – Press, Sergey, – said Alexei Borisovich. – Will you take the dog?

    – No, hold it, please. Alone, I’m faster…

    To tell the truth, he was afraid that all of a sudden the village guys would appear at the station and lay claim to Nok. It’s better not to risk it.

    He jumped onto the gangplank, onto the shore and rushed off so that the grass whistled at his feet.

    Alexei Borisovich held the alarmed dog by the collar and said to Volodya:

    – Nice boy… This morning I didn’t know that he existed in the world. And now it’s like we’ve walked a thousand miles together.

    – Boys – they are such a people. You become attached to them,” agreed Volodya. – Last summer, I worked as a counselor in the camp for two shifts, from the district committee of the Komsomol. And then he refused. Because as they start to go home, it’s as if you are ripping off from the heart.

    Alexei Borisovich nodded and turned away. His eyes hurt: before that, he looked after Seryozha, and he ran away towards the sun. In order to rest his eyes from the brilliance, Alexei Borisovich began to look at the northern coast. There were meadows, colorful houses, a blue forest on the horizon, and in front of it – a curly birch forest. A camp was hiding behind that forest, where the chief was Sovkov Tikhon Mikhailovich.

    A greyish-blue jeep jumped out of the forest and dusted on the way to the bridge.

    “However…” said Alexei Borisovich. – Volodya! Do you have binoculars?

    10

    Even from a distance, from a hillock, Seryozha saw that the trousers and jacket were still hanging on the back of the bench. It remains to run a little, jump over an overgrown ditch, slip through a bush – and here is a bench.

    He jumped over the ditch. But when there were bushes in front of him, four people came out of the ambush.

    They were, of course, enemies. Gutya, Vitka Soloboev, Zhenya Skatov and Powder.

    “Gee…” Powder said. – You said you left. He didn’t even leave at all. Yeah.

    “Hello,” Gutya said mockingly. He was, as always, handsome and neat, even the folds on his shorts were ironed. The other three were disheveled and sweaty, but Gutya didn’t even mess up his hair. He twirled a dandelion with a fluffy head in his fingers and smiled.

    Seryozha made a mistake. He should immediately shied away behind the ditch, and there they would still see who runs faster. But he decided to slip through the line of enemies, grab things from the bench, and then rush to the river.

    Didn’t have time. Immediately six sticky palms seized him by his bare elbows, by his hands. Seryozha rushed, of course, but it was of little use. Three of them held him, and each was stronger than Seryozha.

    “Don’t twitch, take care of your strength,” Gutya said. “It’s still four kilometers to stomp to the camp, and you probably didn’t have dinner, poor thing.

    – Well, why bother?! – desperately shouted Seryozha. – What did I do to you?

    “Because of you, they don’t let us into the river and into the forest,” Vitka Soloboev explained to him over his shoulder. He breathed directly into Seryozha’s ear, and he smelled of pear compote.

    – What do I have to do with it?

    – And they say that if you let go, then everyone will start to scatter, like you. You are very smart. Himself – to the hut, and we have to sit in the wards because of you?

    “You are all lying,” Seryozha said with conviction. The director sent you.

    “Okay, it’s none of your business,” said Gutya. He was the only one who did not hold Seryozha. Walked in front of him. Waving a dandelion. And in his other hand he had a small roll of newspaper.

    “I won’t go to the camp anyway,” Seryozha said with conviction.

    “We’ll drag you by the ears,” promised Gutya.

    “Oh, why didn’t I take Nok?” Serezha thought. And he said:

    – You will overstrain.

    – We’ll manage.

    – You have no right. I have no things, they were left on the shore.

    – And the dog? Zhenya Skatov asked.

    – Also on the beach! – Seryozha answered and caught himself: “I shouldn’t have spoken. If they thought that Nok was close, maybe they would be scared…”

    “That’s good,” Zhenya was delighted. – Give, Gutya, sausage, I’ll eat it instead of a dog. Otherwise, Soloboev will gobble up anyway, they didn’t give him supplements today …

    “Fool,” Gutya said and threw the bundle into the bushes. – Do you know what’s in this sausage?

    “I don’t know,” Zhenya replied in confusion. “I also wanted to take a bite in the kitchen. And what?

    “Fool,” Gutya said again.

    “Did they put a needle in? Serezha thought. “Nok doesn’t know yet that you can’t take from strangers. No, it’s good that he’s there.”

    And he said:

    – Flayers.

    “You’ll get fucked for flayers,” promised Gutya. – In the camp. Okay, let’s go.

    Seryozha rushed again.

    – I won’t go! There are people waiting for me! Boat!

    “Gee, admiral,” Powder said. – Look, guys, the boat is waiting for him…

    The others started to chuckle.

    “Don’t worry, baby,” Gutya said. “They will send a personal plane for you to the camp.

    “You will answer for this,” Seryozha promised. – I have a suitcase. If you don’t have anything for me, you will still answer for things.

    Doubt flashed across Guty’s face. But then Powder intervened:

    – Why do we need your suitcase? They didn’t tell us anything about him. Maybe you threw it somewhere or hid it, and we are obliged to look for it? It’s not a suitcase for us, but they ordered you to be dragged to the camp.

    – Aha! – Seryozha shouted. – They ordered! I told you!

    “Okay, shut up,” Gutya muttered.

    “You are gendarmes, that’s who,” said Seryozha with seething fury and fearlessness. – Exactly! Field gendarmerie.

    “Well, you…” Gutya said slowly and poked Seryozha on the lips with a fluffy dandelion head. And with a flying stalk he lashed him on the nose. – For the gendarmes you will receive a special one, in the first category.

    Serezha shook his head and spat out the sticky seeds.

    “It’s all the same gendarmes,” he said. – Who are you? Good people, right?

    – Okay, get him guys! – commanded Gutya.

    Serezha was rushed forward. He braced himself on his heels, but the leather soles of his sandals slipped on the grass. Seryozha tried to cling to a bush, but only scratched his ankle in vain.

    Well, why is a person so arranged? And he is not afraid, and he does not feel much pain, but only anger, and he does not want to cry at all, and the tears themselves boil somewhere in the depths and threaten to break through. They were not very close yet, these tears, but Seryozha already felt them.

    Breaking free, he said through clenched lips:

    – You’re trying in vain. Well, drag it to the camp, and then what? They’re coming for me anyway. Alexey Borisovich will come. And a dog.

    “Indeed,” he thought, “after all, Alexei Borisovich will not leave. It will still search. But how will he know where I am? And when will he get to the camp?”

    Gutya gloatingly explained:

    – Let them look. With a dog. There, a separate room has been prepared for you in the isolation room. You will sit until mom and dad are called. And then on the ruler with a knee under … Well, in general, of course.

    “They can take off their tie,” Soloboev added, puffing.

    “No,” Gutya said sadly. – They won’t film it. Hortense said that it was impossible to expel pioneers in the camp. And that would be easy.

    “If they lock me up, they may not tell Alexei Borisovich that I am in the camp. What then?” Serezha thought. And he rushed so furiously that they almost let him go. Vitka Soloboev said, breathing compote:

    – Well, I don’t agree. Four kilometers to shove it. The car probably left, and we work hard. I am not a horse.

    “He will run by himself,” Powder said suddenly. – You just hold him for a minute, I’ll wait…

    He let go of Seryozha (and Vitka and Zhenya clung to him even tighter) and ran to the overgrown ditch. The boys were waiting. Seryozha saw how Powder pulled the cuff of his shirt over his palm and pulled out a long, almost meter-long stalk of nettle with dark green narrow leaves.

    “Bastards, four against one,” said Seryozha and was even surprised that he was not afraid at all. And the tears no longer threatened him. There was a cold, calm anger in him, that’s all.

    And Powder smiled with his big sly mouth, waved the nettle and slowly approached.

    – Well, will you run? he asked.

    – Animal, – said Seryozha. Just try and hit.

    Powder swung hard and lashed him above his knees. Seryozha bit his lip, but did not move.

    – Fools. You burn me with fire, I will not obey you anyway.

    “You’ll get it,” Powder drawled and lashed again.

    Unexpectedly, either from a book about scouts, or from somewhere else, Seryozha remembered the words: “If you hit the enemy under the knee with a heel, you can immediately disable him …” And he without a swing, briefly, fucked the sandal Powder on the leg .

    Powder gasped and sat down. He clasped his knee with his free hand. However, the nettle was not released. His eyes narrowed, and he hissed:

    “Well, you’re about to dance…” and waved.

    “Come on, stop it,” Zhenya Skatov said suddenly and let Seryozha go.

    It was very unexpected, and Seryozha missed the moment. He would have rushed out of Vitka’s paws – and he would have been free. But he missed, and in the next moment Gutya grabbed his hand.

    – What are you doing? Gutya asked Zhenya.

    “Nothing,” Zhenya said gloomily. – Torturing a person. What did he swing? Zhenya nodded at Powder. – He would like that.

    – Gee, but the nettle does not take me. I can jump into it without pants. On a bet, – said Powder.

    – What a blockhead, – Zhenya snapped. – All of you … They also wanted to kill the dog. What does she have to do with it?

    – Are you sorry? Gutya said with annoyance. “She would eat your legs.”

    – Why should I eat them? If I had known, I wouldn’t have contacted you… Wait, I’ll tell you in the camp how you tortured him…

    He suddenly turned around, climbed through the bushes and walked towards the road.

    “A traitor,” Powder said, still holding on to his knee.

    “It will be worse for him,” said Gutya.

    “It will be worse for you,” Seryozha promised. – You still remember…

    – Oh, it’s scary. He will call his mother now, – Vitka Soloboev giggled.

    Seryozha tensed his shoulders and clenched his fists – his fists were free. And Powder, looking at him, suddenly said:

    – Nope. He won’t call his mother. He will call his horsemen chichas … Myun-havusen. Well, call your riders! – And, twisting his mouth, he mockingly bleated: – Escadro-oh-he! ..

    Oh, if only there were horsemen! Everything that he has, Seryozha would give for it! I would give half my life for a momentary miracle, for angry horsemen to rush now for protection and revenge. So that Gutya, and Vitka, and the vile Powder tremble and turn white with horror before an incomprehensible and unexpected force. If!

    And stronger than pain, stronger than resentment and anger, a burning wave arose in him longing for a miracle that could not be.

    After all, only very young children believe in fairy tales to the end …

    Only very young children believe in miracles. Moreover, old, much older people say that miracles do happen. Rarely, rarely, but they do happen. But Seryozha was not a small child. And he was not an old experienced person either. He was just a boy and knew for sure: there are no miracles in the world.

    And he was astonished and shuddered almost as much as his enemies, when, in a blaze of red manes and with a muffled thunder of horseshoes, five cavalrymen flew into the clearing and stood in a semicircle.

    And the most important rider – swarthy, white-toothed, in a green shirt and a canvas Budyonovka with a cloth blue star – said quietly: Only in the harness of the horse did the copper rings jingle.

    * * *

    The motorboat rumbled and drove long waves across the glassy water. The water and sky were clear despite the late hour. And the shores were wrapped in twilight.

    Bulk carriers and tugboats rolled smoothly towards us, flashing colored lights. The radio played on them.

    Ahead, where the sunset clouds did not go out, the city rose: chimneys, roofs, towers and patterned towers. There, too, the lights flickered, and there were more and more of them.

    – In half an hour we will moor, – said Alexei Borisovich. If there are no more adventures. If we do not land on the reefs, pirates will not attack and a typhoon will not fly.

    He and Seryozha stood at the bow at the railing. Sergei was silent. He didn’t respond to the joke. He looked ahead and remained silent.

    – Sergey, – said Alexei Borisovich. “You scare me, honestly. You seemed to have taken water in your mouth for an hour. What happened to you?

    Serezha turned his face towards him. The sunset flashed in his eyes with orange cheerful lights.

    “I remember,” Seryozha said. – Do not laugh, Alexei Borisovich, okay? I remember. How they arrived! And they say there are no miracles.

    Alexei Borisovich took him by the shoulder. On Seryozha’s shoulder, under the collarbone, a hot vein often beat.

    “Miracles do happen,” Alexei Borisovich said cautiously. “Actually, what is a miracle?” A few rare cases that coincided with each other … Let’s say I open my briefcase and say: “One, two, three! Drop a meteorite here!” Will it fall?

    “No,” Serezha said confidently.

    – What if? After all, they still fall to Earth. And if it so coincides, that the boat will be at the site of this fall? And my portfolio too?

    Seryozha laughed.

    Alexey Borisovich said:

    – It happened so. It was necessary that I looked at the shore and saw the “jeep”, which suddenly stopped at the bridge and dropped the guys off. It was necessary to have a phone nearby. And it was necessary that the commander of the detachment, Volodya Malakhov, entered the board of the collective farm at that moment. They just wanted to go to Dmitrovka, and the horses were saddled … So a miracle happened. These, brother, are such guys that they will not refuse to create an extra miracle.

    – Why do they have uniforms?

    – All student groups are now sewing their own uniforms. Each his own. Didn’t you see? And these guys are with horses all the time, so they started Budyonovka, who managed. Nice shape?

    – Of course.

    Seryozha closed his eyes and again, as in a movie, he saw rushing bushes, upturned horse heads, a rearing bay stallion on the edge of a clearing, sharp helmets with blue cavalry stars…

    And then strong arms, a hard saddle. Grass flying under the hooves.

    “Don’t thrro-ooh!”

    Seryozha laughed, clutching the handrail.

    – How are they… Like an attack! Even I didn’t understand. And those who caught me! They, probably, go stunned even now … No, it’s still a miracle, Alexei Borisovich.

    – Maybe… But, you see, Seryozha, such miracles happen once in a lifetime. Not more often. And don’t rely on them.

    “I understand,” Seryozha said quietly. – So what? One is enough for me for the rest of my life.

    – To you… And to others?

    – Others?

    – Yes. But what about … You are now happy, even calm. And someone at this moment is calling for help. Do you think the riders are in a hurry to go there too?

    – What should I do?

    – Be a rider yourself. Not necessarily on a horse and in a hat with a star, that’s not the point.

    “I understand,” Seryozha said again.

    The city began along the banks: with colored neon signs on shops, with bright flashes of electric welding, with yellow square windows. With quiet music loudspeakers. The motor is quieter. Nok could be heard snoring like a child on a rolled-up tarpaulin after having eaten two ship suppers.

    “Almost arrived,” Alexey Borisovich noted.

    Seryozha said:

    – The riders must also have a hard time.

    – Of course. And were you scared?

    – Not a little bit. I just remembered. Last year, one guy in our yard wanted to hang a cat. Said she was a wanderer. And she was not even a vagrant, but simply lost her way. The guys and I pulled out and ran away. And then all the neighbors scolded us. They said: it is not supposed to argue with adults.

    – Well… Of course not. But do you always know what is due and what is not? I guess by all the rules I was supposed to send you to the camp, and not to raise the alarm of the cavalry. But you were waiting for the horsemen…

    – You say that others are waiting too.

    – Yes.

    – How do you know? How will the rider hear his name?

    “Study,” replied Alexei Borisovich. – Listen. Look.

    The boat turned off the engine and by inertia approached the pier. There, under a bright light bulb, sat a little fisher boy.

    – Hey kid, take care of your feet! shouted Vitya the minder, who had jumped onto the deck.

    The boy jumped up and threw up a long fishing rod.

    It became quite quiet, only the water gurgled along the side.

    In this silence Seryozha said in a low voice:

    – I will try.

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    Employee review on companies: Glassdoor Jobsuche | Finden Sie Ihren Traumjob

    Опубликовано: February 17, 2022 в 10:12 am

    Автор:

    Категории: Miscellaneous

    11 Sites Where You Can Find Employee Reviews – Zippia

    A job review site is a place where people go to review their jobs and, most importantly, the company they work for. These company review sites should actually be a big part of your job search, especially if you’re looking for a career or a job you’ll stay with for a long time.

    If you’re really interested in finding a great job that will make you feel professionally satisfied, give you the income you want, and won’t be a chore, then checking a job review site is one big step when it comes to your due diligence.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Job review sites can help you learn about potential employers from the point of view of the employees who work there.

    • Sites where you can read employee reviews include Glassdoor, Jobcase, Comparably, and more.

    • When using job review sites, it’s important to remember to take everything with a grain of salt as the reviews can be objective – if possible, it’s best to read multiple reviews on different sites.

    10 Job Review Websites

    These are ten of the most common and most popular company review sites. It’s best to stick with the known websites because they’re where people are most likely to comment on their job experiences.

    1. Glassdoor. Probably the best-known website for employee job reviews, this is a must when it comes to a successful job hunt.

      Glassdoor has been in the business for a long time, and they have such a nice aggregate of information that they can cull it to give you even more insight and even list the pros and cons of working for different companies.

    2. Fairygodboss. This is a review site that’s dedicated to the female perspective. The goal is to help women find jobs where they’re treated fairly, paid comparably, and where they’ll truly love their jobs.

      That said, while the company most definitely has a focus on females, it’s a great resource for anyone. You don’t have to be a woman to want to work in an environment where all people are treated and paid fairly.

    3. Vault. Vault not only looks at employee reviews but it asks interns to review their internships, and it also looks to gather academic reviews. This can be an excellent resource for people who are looking to get a foot in a dream company and work their way through school, internships, and a professional career.

      If you can plan that far in advance and you’re laser set on your goals, this is definitely a website to reference and to start to make your presence known. It’s important to note that vault relies pretty heavily on their research into the companies they feature, not just employees.

    4. Kununu. This company was founded in Austria in 2007, and it’s considered the Glassdoor of Germany. But it has expanded, so it’s not just for Germany anymore. They’ve integrated their reviews into the company profiles on another job site and helps you determine if that’s a company you’d like to work for.

      One thing they do that’s a bit different from other job rating companies is they rate the coworkers. This is clearly a pretty big benefit and can be an important part of your job satisfaction. It can also change if a “bad apple” moves on to another job or a different position, but it’s something to consider.

    5. CareerBliss. The bliss score is determined by answers to questions about job satisfaction, employee happiness, and salary. They do have a job board, so you can see available jobs, but their biggest benefit to the user is the job review board which is entirely propelled by user-generated content.

      That means a company cannot control what’s being said about it, and they can’t buy a new review. The reviews come from employees.

    6. Jobcase. Jobcase is a social media platform that focuses on users in the United States. There are discussion boards, company reviews, user profiles, job listings, and more.

      This site can be what you make of it. If you’re looking at several different sites, then it definitely needs to be on your radar because you can ask questions and get responses from people working in the company.

      You can also get very key information if you have any specific queries or concerns. It also gives you current and relevant information, that is, if you can find a current employee who’s willing to speak to you.

    7. Blind. This is an anonymous website that encourages professionals to discuss their workplace environment, share advice, and give some feedback. They promote transparency and hope that by doing this, there can be some productive changes in workplace environments.

      It’s a worldwide organization, so it has some benefits when you’re looking at global trends, but it can also be a little harder to find the specific information you want.

    8. Comparably. Comparably is known for providing a detailed breakdown of a company’s culture, compensation, and employee satisfaction. It’s definitely one to check out if you’re serious about a company or if you’re comparing a few of them and want to end up in the best position.

    9. The Job Crowd. This is a website designed for users in the U.K., so if you’re not in that market right now, it’s not going to be a big benefit, but it does provide a lot of information. It doesn’t hurt to look at the conditions of jobs like yours in other countries.

      It gives you a better picture of the overall environment of many professional jobs, and since we are a world economy, this knowledge can be critical.

    10. InHerSight. This is another anonymous job review site that is specifically focused on women in the workplace. They look at the opportunity, schedule and flexibility, enrichment opportunities, family importance, and company culture.

      There are places where employees can not just rate the company, but they can also comment. They also go beyond just catering for women and let you filter ratings by your career level, race, sexual orientation, and parental status.

    Why Check a Job Review Site

    It’s important to understand that this part of your job search is for you. The employer really doesn’t care if you take that extra step and look at what their employees think of them. In fact, some employers would probably rather you didn’t do that at all.

    Your primary goal in checking a company review is to learn what people who work in the company think of them. What their real work atmosphere is like and how their employees feel.

    You’ll be hearing a lot of great things from HR, the hiring manager, and recruiters about the company, but isn’t it the opinion of the actual workers that matters most?

    One thing to remember when reading reviews is that you need to take them with a grain of salt; that is, you should look for an overall impression and not just one person’s sour grapes.

    Think about reviewers. Often, they say something when they’re unhappy or dissatisfied. Not all reviewers are going into a review to let people know about a good or even just a mediocre experience.

    Some review sites don’t rely so heavily on employee reviews; instead, they do their own checks to see how a company stacks up against the competition. This can be really helpful, but remember, these are not company insiders, so they don’t have all the information that an employee would share, which means that the following list of job review sites is great for your job hunt.

    Tips for Using Company Review Boards

    If you’re going to use a company review board as a part of your job search, these four tips can help you make the most of it.

    • Use more than one. Don’t simply rely on one job review site to provide information. This is too one-sided, and it can be swayed by a handful of very vocal employees. It’s best to use several different sites and then weigh each one.

    • Don’t take reviews as gospel. You know that your experience in life is different from everyone else’s. Even the exact same thing can be different for you than it is for another person.

      It’s good to get a heads up and know what to look for or weigh the information, but it’s not good to use information from strangers solely as your deciding factor.

    • Pay attention to trends. If you hear from a few job boards that the vacation sucks, then take this information with you into the interview.

      Ask what their vacation is, start negotiating with that area if it’s important to you. And this obviously doesn’t just apply to vacations, use any trend data you find to help you negotiate and make an informed decision.

    • Be careful about your posts. It seems right that if you use the information from a job review site that you should also contribute. And this is probably true, but you need to also protect your professional reputation.

      Make sure you are using an anonymous site, be fair and not emotional when posting reviews, remember this is not a time to call out individuals and report on positives and negatives equally.

    How useful was this post?

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    Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

    6 Tips for Writing an Effective Performance Review

    Employee performance reviews are important for every business, but their effectiveness depends on how they are conducted. They can empower your employees to reach new heights – or they could drive them away from your company.

    A great review helps your employees identify growth opportunities and potential areas of improvement without damaging employee-manager relations, but writing a strong review isn’t easy. Managers often don’t receive enough guidance on what an effective and comprehensive review looks like.

    Compounding the problem, small businesses frequently struggle with limited resources. For a company with 1,000 employees to conduct accurate and helpful performance reviews, a full-time HR staff of 14 is ideal. Even a company with 100 employees needs a full-time individual who compiles performance data from managers, who should spend an average of three hours on each employee review.

    What is an employee performance review?

    An employee performance review, also known as a performance evaluation or performance appraisal, is a formal assessment of an employee’s work in a given time period. In an employee performance review, managers evaluate that individual’s overall performance, identify their strengths and weaknesses, offer feedback, and help them set goals.

    Employees typically have the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback with their manager as well. They may also fill out a self-evaluation as part of the performance review process.

    While performance evaluations have traditionally been annual reviews, more companies are moving toward quarterly, monthly or even weekly feedback. Some organizations have fully eliminated the formal performance review process, replacing it with regular, casual one-on-one check-ins with management.

    Regardless of how frequently or in what manner your company conducts performance reviews, these meetings should benefit employees and managers alike. Workers gain a better understanding of what they are doing well and where they can improve, and they can ask questions or provide feedback to their managers. In turn, managers have the opportunity to communicate expectations with their team, identify their highest performers, correct issues before they escalate, and increase engagement and motivation.

    What to include in an employee performance review

    Regardless of industry, most employee reviews include an assessment of these skills:

    • Communication
    • Collaboration and teamwork
    • Problem-solving
    • Quality and accuracy of work
    • Attendance, punctuality and reliability
    • The ability to accomplish goals and meet deadlines

    A review should also include any company-specific or position-specific competencies, as well as the employee’s accomplishments and contributions to their role or organization.

    After addressing the key areas of assessment, you’ll need to evaluate and weigh each to get a picture of the employee’s overall performance. How you format and organize this information is up to you and your company’s needs. Some organizations use a grading system of A through F, numerical scoring or percentages, or written descriptions (e.g., “most of the time,” “some of the time”). Whichever system you use, ensure it is objective and easy to understand.

    Once you finish the grading process, set up a time to discuss your findings with each employee. It can be helpful to have a written copy of the evaluation to reference and keep your meeting on track. Be sure to deliver transparent feedback, with examples where appropriate, and allot enough time for the employee to ask questions or deliver feedback.

    How performance management software can help

    To reduce the financial burden on your small business, you might consider integrating performance management software into your annual review process. Companies such as Insperity, Namely and ADP Workforce Now are HR platforms that help small and midsize businesses provide effective employee feedback.

    A quality performance management system delivers real-time reports and enhances collaboration between employees and managers. The platform helps you complete the process and stores the results for later review. But even with such a program, you still need to know what to say and how to say it if you want your review process to result in greater employee engagement and retention.

    1. Provide regular, informal feedback.

    While performance reviews typically happen once or twice a year, feedback should not be limited to those short review periods. You should offer consistent assessments throughout the year so there aren’t any surprises come review time.

    “Don’t catch your people off guard in a performance review,” said Erika Rasure, assistant professor of business and financial services at Maryville University. “This should not be the first time that they are hearing from you that they are not performing as expected. Be clear in writing [and] sending calendar invites, and setting expectations and the tone for the meetings.

    You should also take constant notes on employee performance – especially when no performance reviews are on the horizon.

    “Employees deserve a robust assessment of their work for the entire period being covered,” said Gary Schneeberger, founder and president of ROAR. “Far too many performance reviews are based only on what the manager can remember from the last few weeks before the evaluations are due to HR. Managers have to be intentional about taking and filing notes.”

    Don’t neglect your top performers. Suppose you’re only addressing issues or focusing on the employees who aren’t performing as well as others. In that case, you’re missing an opportunity to express gratitude to those who shape your company’s innovation, creativity, and culture. Though they may not need as much guidance as other employees, these individuals could lose their passion or motivation if they are not occasionally recognized.

    “Highly valuable employees who do their job and do it well are often not the priority of concern in performance review cycles, resulting in missed opportunities to communicate how much the organization values the drive and the results of the top performers,” said Rasure. “An unexpected ‘keep up the great work’ email [or] a quick phone call or text sends a consistent signal to your employee that you are paying attention and value what they do.”

    2. Be honest.

    No worker is perfect, and there will always be room for improvement. Decide what is worth addressing, and don’t hesitate to bring it up. If you know an issue is affecting your team, tiptoeing around the subject won’t get you anywhere.

    James R. Bailey, professor of leadership at the George Washington University School of Business, encourages being honest with workers, but not brutally. Deliver feedback in a way that you would want to receive it. The discussion is unavoidable, so choose an appropriate approach and stick with it.

    “If someone is a poor performer and you don’t squarely address it, know that everyone else in the office knows that the person is a poor performer, and [employees] will brand you as weak or cowardly for not addressing the situation,” Bailey said.

    Managers should also demonstrate and expect clarity, said Leon Rbibo, president of Laguna Pearl. “There needs to be crystal-clear clarity on both sides of the table, both in what the manager expects from the employee moving forward and in what the employee needs from the manager.”

    Without clarity, Rbibo said, nothing you discuss during the evaluation will help the situation, and you’ll find yourself discussing the same topics at the next performance review. So be clear, be honest, and remember that nothing will change if it is not addressed.

    3. Do it face to face.

    The written review should be a brief but direct overview of discussion points, making for a more nuanced face-to-face conversation. You might want to schedule a meeting in a coffee shop or out-of-office location to provide a comfortable atmosphere. If you’re reviewing remote workers, schedule a video chat so you’re still having a live conversation. This approach leaves room for discussion and feedback on their end and prevents miscommunication.

    “The only way to deliver performance reviews is face to face, with ample time to present and process, listen and respond,” said Bailey. “It’s just too important to relegate to email or telephone. Doing so would send a signal that you didn’t care enough about the subject even to take the time to meet.”

    After outlining any shortcomings or mistakes, discuss resolutions to those problems, and push employees to comment on the issues you raised.

    4. Use tangible, pertinent examples.

    When discussing areas for improvement or things an employee has done well, make sure you have clear examples to reference. (This is why it’s important to take notes over a long period of time.)

    “If you’ve got nothing to refer to, then you’re speaking anecdotally,” said Rbibo. “This prevents clarity and understanding. If an employee is falling behind in certain key performance areas, point to one or two specific examples, and address how you’d like those handled differently in the future.”

    Having examples proves to the employee that you are paying attention and adds credit to your expectations.

    5. End on a positive note.

    Don’t leave the review without mutual understanding and respect; don’t let any employee feel like they’re in the dark going forward.

    “Use the review process as an opportunity to set attainable goals specific to addressing the expectations the employee isn’t meeting, but which also makes the employee feel like they have a clear, reasonable plan of action that can get them back on track,” said Rasure.

    Encouraging your employees and expressing your appreciation boosts a primarily good review or lifts your employee’s spirits after a somewhat negative evaluation. Positive reinforcement and constructive feedback can go a long way in giving workers the confidence and drive they need to perform better.

    6. Choose your words with care.

    Pay close attention to how you phrase your evaluations. Meaningful and action-oriented words have a far greater impact than more standard phrases such as “good” or “satisfactory”.

    Here are five words and expressions that will help you effectively highlight an employee’s contributions, based on James E. Neal’s Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals (Neal Publications, 2009).

    • Achievement: Incorporate this into a phrase, such as “achieves optimal levels of performance with/for … “
    • Communication skills: Phrases like “effectively communicates expectations” or “excels in facilitating group discussions” go a long way with an employee.
    • Creativity: Appreciating employees’ creative side can make for happier, more motivated staff. In a performance evaluation, try phrases like “seeks creative alternatives,” followed by specific examples and results.
    • Improvement: Employees like hearing that they are improving and that it’s being noticed. “Continues to grow and improve” and “is continuously planning for improvement” are two constructive phrases to use in a performance review.
    • Management ability: Leadership skills and the ability to manage others are key to employee success. Phrases such as “provides support during periods of organizational change” carry weight with your employee.

    Richard Grote, author of How to Be Good at Performance Appraisals (Harvard Business Review Press, 2011), said that instead of using terms like “good” or “excellent” in a review, employers should opt for more measurement-oriented language. In an interview with Hcareers, Grote noted that action words like “excels,” “exhibits,” “demonstrates,” “grasps,” “generates,” “manages,” “possesses,” “communicates,” “monitors,” “directs” and “achieves” are more meaningful.

    How to implement performance management software

    Mastering your language and approach are your first steps. The true cost of performance reviews to your organization is the time managers and HR staff spend gathering and writing the material that serves as the foundation for each review. That’s where performance management software can help.

    Depending on your HR requirements, you can incorporate an open API system or outsource the entire process to a third party. Companies like Namely offer an open API platform that allows you to customize the software to fit the size and scope of your HR requirements.

    This type of system allows managers and HR staff to set and monitor goals and to create custom reviews. It automatically solicits responses from managers, employees and peers for the review cycle. It also creates a process for an employee-centered review known as a “360 review.” Employees can use the custom-built API platform to self-serve many of their HR needs, saving your team hours each week.

    Another cost-saving system is a professional employer organization (PEO) like Insperity or ADP Workforce Now. Ideal for small and midsize companies looking to reduce their HR expenditures, this option allows you to outsource performance reviews and other HR tasks through a co-employment arrangement – a contractual agreement where the provider assumes responsibility for assigned tasks.

    Using the PEO company’s apps, managers and employees have real-time access to payroll, time and benefits. PEOs also provide a full range of professional HR benefits, including compliance with the latest employment regulations.

    Good and bad real-life performance reviews

    Good: Responsibility as a coach

    Schneeberger remembered an intern who refused to accept her review because the ratings were not all “exceeds standards.”

    “Her reason for the protest was that she tried really hard,” he said. Knowing her boyfriend was a basketball player, Schneeberger asked the intern if his working hard at every practice automatically meant he should start, and she was quiet.

    “I pointed out that my job was the same as his coach – to help her get better so she could figuratively get off the bench and into the game as she embarked on her career. I needed to teach her how to get better – and I couldn’t do that if she was already perfect.”

    Bad: Lunchtime evaluation

    Sergei Brovkin, founder and principal of Collectiver, recalled a manager who held very informal, unhelpful evaluations. “[He] would do it once a year, during his lunch, while working on emails. That was one of the reasons I left the company.”

    Bad: False positivity

    Mike Cox, president of Cox Innovations, spoke of a time when he was serving as an HR leader and had a colleague come to him with the decision to terminate an employee. Upon reviewing the employee’s performance evaluations, Cox could not see any evidence of poor performance or mistakes.

    “I was told that the employee was performing poorly at the time of the review but was considered very important to an ongoing project, so [they were given] an inaccurately positive review to avoid demotivating [the employee during] a critical period in the project.”

    Cox advised against terminating the employee until a fair evaluation was given. The employee was terminated anyway and wound up suing for wrongful termination, leading to a costly settlement for the business.

    Performance review examples and templates

    The entire performance review process can be difficult for managers and employees, especially when they don’t have an established framework to guide the conversation. A review template is necessary to ensure successful interactions throughout your organization.

    If you’re struggling to write a template for companywide use, consider these four performance review templates to get you started:

    • Smartsheet: Annual employee review template
    • Workforce: Three-month performance review
    • GroSum: Quarterly performance review
    • SHRM: Self-performance review

    Sammi Caramela and Kiely Kuligowski contributed to the reporting and writing in this article. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

    Job Reviews | Monster.com


    Which employers should you really be targeting? The answer becomes much clearer with a little insider info from those already in the know.

    Job reviews give you an insider’s point of view.

    Reading job reviews is a must for all job seekers. No matter how expertly crafted a job description is, there are bound to be some very important details left out. What are the hours like? (No, seriously.) What would your annual pay increase be? (No, seriously.) What’s the work-life balance like? (You get the idea.)

    I can tell you from my 15-plus years as a recruiter that a big gripe among job seekers is the lack of transparent information about companies and jobs they are considering applying to. So it’s no surprise to learn that job seekers seriously struggle with misleading information, according to a survey published by kununu, a global leader in employer transparency. Nearly one in four respondents have been intentionally misled during a job interview, and three in 10 said it’s difficult to receive honest, here’s-what-it’s-like-on-the-job facts. Worse, nearly one in five made a decision to accept a job they later regretted.

    How can you avoid this kind of misfortune? Go to the source—employees who have been there, done that. In the age of consumer-review sites, including Monster’s Company Profile page, it’s no surprise to discover that over half of potential hires said they would trust a company’s current employees for an accurate and honest review of the company itself. That’s higher than the number of people who would trust either the company’s HR team or website. 

    If you use consumer-review sites to help you decide on what restaurant to try next or what movie is worth the ticket price, you should be doing the same with potential employers. After all, these are the people you’ll spend the majority of your waking hours with.

    Want to know how to make the most out of the rich, useful information available for free? Read on!

    Start with the big number

    The first number you see on a job-rating site is likely to be the company’s overall rating. To figure out what it means, you’ll need to put it into context by comparing its rating with those of its competitors. How’s the one you’re considering doing in relation to its peers? This nugget of information can be helpful in your decision-making process, and may help you discover other potential employers. As you evaluate various profiles, have a look at their job openings, as well as jobs that the site recommends to you—you might discover some interesting opportunities to pursue.

    Dig deeper into the insider info

    The main rating is important, but it is just the tip of the company-rating iceberg.

    You really get to be a fly on the wall at a prospective company by reading individual job reviews, which include the comments of current and former employees. There are basic numerical ratings for things like compensation and benefits, but the juiciest (and potentially most valuable) details are in the sections where reviewers sound off on what they like and dislike about a company, as well as suggestions for improvement.

    Some reviewers share exactly what they think, no holds barred. Here’s an example: “Pathetic management! NO consideration for top performers! Just a ‘good ole boy network’…” And another: “A great environment and people to work with.” Home in on what is said about a company’s stance on leadership, culture, equality, career development, and social awareness, as well as the working conditions, as these are the critical characteristics that will help you determine whether or not a job will align with what works for you.

    Go as deep as you can into profiles—if the company you’re searching has more than one location, click on the location you’re pursuing. Look at the employees’ titles—someone in a leadership position will likely have a different perspective than someone who’s in another role. Identify more closely with the titles you’re pursuing.

    Use job reviews as interview fodder

    As you interview, start asking questions and making comments about things you noticed on company-review sites. Be specific. It not only shows you did your due diligence, it also demonstrates you’re truly curious about the company. State something like, “I noticed on kununu there was a low rating for leadership. With all due respect, I was just curious how that’s being addressed?”

    If a company you’re pursuing is truly transparent with its current employees, they should be as honest as possible with prospective ones, too. And if the interviewer doesn’t respond positively to your question and disregards the feedback of the company’s employees, this is a huge red flag indicating you should look elsewhere. Plus, interviewers should already be aware of what’s being said online, even anonymously. And if they’re not, that also says something about devaluing their employees’ voices.

    You can also make comments during the interview to let the interviewer know you’ve done your homework and have your eyes on them—a strategy I have always highly recommended, as this proves to employers that you are on top of your game. You could say, “I noticed that your company’s compensation and benefits was very highly ranked on Monster. Sounds like everyone’s pleased with that!” Think of it as name-dropping, only with employer insight instead.

    Look at it this way—employers are doing their diligence on you. They’re perusing your social media profiles and calling references. They don’t want to make a bad hiring decision because that costs them a lot of money, time and effort.

    You absolutely must do the same on your end. Do as much groundwork as you can to be well-informed about your next potential employer. Base your questions on information you gleaned from the company’s reviews and take it from there to probe further. Ultimately, your goal is to make stronger, better-informed decisions of which employers to not only pursue but also work for.

    And hey, don’t forget to pay it forward and rate your current and recent past companies. Your experiences may help someone else make a critical decision—and you can influence who does or doesn’t end up joining you at the next department happy hour.

    Choosing a company is one of the biggest decisions you’ll face, so you want to be as informed as possible. Could you use some more help beyond job reviews? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can get career advice and job search tips sent directly to you inbox to keep you on the cutting edge.  

    Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi has more than 15 years of experience in corporate recruiting and HR and is the author of Big Career in the Big City. Follow her on Twitter at @vickisalemi

    5 Great Company Review Sites for Prospective Employees

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    These sites reveal the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

    This article originally appeared on InHerSight.com, a website where women rate the female friendliness of their employers and get matched to companies that fit their needs.

    It’s no secret that companies aren’t always completely transparent with prospective employees during the recruiting process. Sure, you know that you’ll be analyzing industry data reports or crafting pithy article headlines, but does your interviewer tell you how the boss really treats their employees or how equal the opportunities are for men and women seeking to rise in the ranks? Doubtful.

    Fear not — that’s where company review sites come in handy. In the golden age of third-party review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor, it comes as no surprise that prospective employees often turn to review sites for deeper insider info on a company and its culture. These crowdsourced reviews from both current and former employees can help you gain more insight into the work-life balance, management’s attitude, and the company’s stance on equality. Just like how companies may scope out your social media accounts to make sure you’re a fit, you should do the equivalent and scope them out on company review sites.

    Image source: Getty Images.

    There’s a dizzying amount of information on the internet, which can make it hard to distinguish which sites to trust. Every site has its pros and cons, and we’ve compiled a list of five great, trustworthy company review sites that excel in different categories for you to peruse before you accept your next job.

    1. Glassdoor: Best employee narratives

    Glassdoor is one of the most well-known company review sites — it has everything from salary reports to interview questions to pictures of the offices. Out of all the perks, the best part of Glassdoor are the comprehensive company reviews. Of all the company review sites, Glassdoor has the most in-depth and insightful reviews from employees. This is the site where you’ll find the most personal information, like how an employee was treated after a family member passed away or how well the salary actually pays the bills.

    2. Indeed: Best coverage

    With 72 million company ratings (compared to 40 million on Glassdoor) and 9.8 jobs added per second globally, Indeed has positioned itself as the largest job site. Similar to Glassdoor, it has salary reports and photos, but it also has a Q&A section where prospective employees can ask questions of current or former employees — and with reviews in 63 countries, you’re likely to get a quality answer. So if you’re looking for a site with extensive range or job searching internationally, Indeed is your destination.

    3. Kununu: Best well-rounded information

    Kununu’s mission is to spread transparency through company reviews and data — in every aspect. In addition to the standard sections regarding the company’s environment, career development, etc., Kununu goes the extra step to include categories you might not think about, like workplace safety, parking accessibility, environmental friendliness, desirable office location, and how challenging the work is.

    4. Comparably: Best comparison functionality

    Comparably is the perfect embodiment of its name — it allows users to slice and filter company data from every perspective and compare it to other companies. The site gives an overall company culture score that’s derived from employee ratings and reviews in different categories like leadership, diversity, and compensation. You can see a breakdown of the data and view culture scores by department, how different departments rank the CEO, and more. You can also see how the overall company culture score stacks up to other similar-sized companies in the United States, similar-sized companies in its area, and its industry competitors.

    5. InHerSight: Best female-friendly perspective

    InHerSight seeks to promote gender-diverse workplaces by helping women find female-friendly companies. The site focuses on 15 key metrics that matter most to working women, like flexible work hours, maternity and adoptive leave, management opportunities for women, and more. Women can anonymously rate their employers based on these metrics and also have the opportunity to get matched with companies that align with their interests. These female-centric metrics allow InHerSight to hold a unique position in the company review sphere.

    The Motley Fool is an investor in InHerSight, and an officer of its affiliate, Motley Fool Venture Partners, sits on its board.

    The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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    Employee Performance Reviews: Explanation & Examples

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    If you’re planning to implement performance reviews for the first time, want to overhaul your company’s approach or just need a reference guide, here’s everything you need to know to create a foolproof system. Plus, we’ve included some performance review sample questions you can start using today.

    What is a performance review for employees?

    A performance review is a formal regulated assessment mechanism in which managers and other key stakeholders evaluate an employee’s work performance. The purpose is to learn more about their strengths and weaknesses, offer constructive feedback for skill development in the future, and assist with goal setting.

    Whichever methodology you choose for performance reviews, a well-planned and executed performance review boosts employee engagement and sets the tone for creating a culture of feedback and ongoing development at your organization.

    eBook: Use Employee Lifecycle Feedback to improve your EX

    Types of performance review

    Weekly or fortnightly performance evaluation

    Weekly or fortnightly performance reviews don’t need to collect a vast amount of data each time or be particularly goal-oriented. They are helpful for record-keeping and making sure a project – especially an agile or fast-moving one – stays on track week by week

    Monthly performance appraisals

    These are especially useful for businesses who employ people on short-term contracts or freelancers, and for new hires during their onboarding process, as they go from job description to actual performance.  New projects also benefit from monthly employee reviews so that they stay on track and organizational goals are met. Some employees typically prefer monthly check-ins over annual reviews.

    Quarterly performance evaluations

    Companies divide their business year into quarters (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), with set goals, targets, and budgets. It makes sense that assessing performance is run alongside these. Three months is sufficient time for an employee to achieve their goals and targets, as well as hone their organizational skills.  You can also aggregate weekly/fortnightly or monthly reviews together each quarter to create a report of an employee’s progress, ready for a review meeting.

    Annual performance review

    Some businesses still conduct an annual review, but it is increasingly being replaced, or at least supplemented, by pulse surveys and 360 reviews throughout the year. These traditional and formal performance reviews tended to become overblown, with too much information on them to be manageable, or to be a fair evaluation of an employee’s efforts. They looked back on past performance rather than forwards to future performance, and a year is far too long for employees to go without feedback.

    That said, reviews and feedback throughout the year collated into one 12-month overall performance report are a useful bank of information, provided all the feedback has had actions attached to it.

    Who runs an employee performance review?

    It’s usually the person’s line manager, as they know most about the employee’s role and their current work. In some cases, a leadership group, team leader, or a more senior leader may lead the review or someone from human resources.

    Why are performance reviews important?

    As well as long-term positive outcomes, performance reviews offer an immediate lift – not only for businesses but for employees who want an overview of their strengths and weaknesses and progress in their careers. Here are some of the benefits performance reviews can offer:

    1. Aligning personal roles to business goals
    A job performance review is a chance to make sure everyone understands the organization’s vision and goals and how their work fits into the bigger picture. Individual performance drives organizational performance.

    2. A clear understanding of job roles
    Performance management empowers individuals to think about their role within the organization and clarify any areas where they have questions. When employees and supervisors can clearly understand and own their specific job duties, any ambiguities in the workplace are eliminated. Each person is accountable for their work and responsibilities.

    3. Regular feedback about performance
    Regular feedback contributes to better all-around communication in the workplace. Performance reviews help to identify an individual’s strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly, give employees a better understanding of the expectations that they are being held to.

    Performance management can be a motivational tool, encouraging employees not only to feel more satisfied in their work but to take action beyond what’s expected.

    4. Career development
    The performance review presents the opportunity to plan for and set objectives to further develop an employee’s career. Performance management will also help them gain any additional training or mentoring which can act as a basis for HR’s development of future succession plans.

    5. Rewards for good performance
    Performance management offers a variety of rewards beyond just compensation that show gratitude for a job well done, such as time off and bonuses. The prospect of a better than ‘exceeds expectations’ performance appraisal – one where it is recognized that you’ve gone above and beyond – is an incentive to perform well and may open the door to career advancements in the future.

    Collect and apply employee feedback with our 360-Feedback eBook: Download Now

    What’s the best approach for performance reviews?

    With so many practices, HR policies, tools, and tech­niques involved, no two per­for­mance man­age­ment programs will look the same. Some have grading systems. Others have question and response formats, while others are expected to be free-form.

    Just like your com­pa­ny cul­ture, your per­for­mance man­age­ment sys­tem will be unique and spe­cif­ic to your val­ues, your goals and your pur­pose.

    How­ev­er, every good employee per­for­mance review process seeks to improve how the overall organization performs while sup­port­ing the per­for­mance, development, pro­duc­tiv­i­ty, and well-­be­ing of its employees.

    Despite this common goal, data suggests that traditional approaches to performance management can be demotivating, uninspiring, and make people want to give up rather than work harder and progress.

    In fact, traditional performance management (PM) is universally disliked by both managers and employees. It is seen as having little value and has failed to meet its intended goal of improving performance. According to research reported in the Journal of Industrial and Organizational Psychology:

    • Among managers, 95% are dissatisfied with their PM systems.
    • Among employees, 59% feel PM reviews are not worth the time invested, while 56% said they do not receive feedback on what to improve.
    • Almost 90% of human resources (HR) heads report that their PM systems do not yield accurate information.

    It’s time to make the case for change and redesign performance management. Instead of an annual performance review, a better performance management system frequently engages its employees to better gauge their work satisfaction levels. 

    So rather than focusing on past performance in a yearly review, a better employee performance evaluation system incorporates continuous feedback. Research from Josh Bersin estimates that about 75% of multinational companies are moving toward this model.

    What should a performance review look like?

    Performance reviews based on a continuous feedback philosophy are more likely to be future-focused and geared towards promoting growth and development. Rather than rating employees against a one-size-fits-all standard based on their past performance, continuous performance management treats each employee as an individual whose full potential can be maximized.

    Traditional Model Continuous Feedback
    Focus is on past performance Focus is on developing employee’s performance for the future
    Top-down goals/metrics Shared/aligned goals
    Manager ratings only Multi-rater feedback (Peers/Customers/Direct Reports/Manager)
    Tracked once a year Frequent check-ins, quarterly feedback
    Process mainly led by HR Process is mainly led by managers/leaders

    However, adopting continuous feedback doesn’t mean removing measurement and metrics from your performance review process and reports altogether – it just means you should be using them in a different way. Metrics and measurements can provide valuable clarity and focus for employees and managers, acting as a framework for planning and prioritizing future efforts.

    To be useful and realistic, measurements for progress need to be balanced across all the relevant elements of performance. Appropriate measures might cover a range of aspects like quality, quantity, timeliness, and/or cost-effectiveness of the work.

    Expectations placed on employees also need to be credible – the employee can visualize the results and the means of achieving them, and feel confident about getting it right.

    To that end, performance expectations must be:

    • based on job function
    • clear and understandable
    • specific
    • reasonable and attainable
    • measurable – observable or verifiable
    • results oriented
    • communicated in a timely fashion
    • geared towards fostering continual improvement in productivity and skill development

    How to set the right goals in a performance review

    When it comes to employee goals, striking the right balance is everything. Goals can’t be too easy, or they won’t leave employees feeling sat­is­fied — most peo­ple enjoy a chal­lenge. They want to be stretched, expand their knowledge, and devel­op new skills. Equal­ly, how­ev­er, goals that are too chal­leng­ing can be demotivating. Employees will burn out try­ing to accom­plish them, or they won’t try at all, believ­ing them to be impossible.

    Effec­tive goals should be set col­lab­o­ra­tive­ly between man­ag­er and employ­ee. They should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Based) and tracked reg­u­lar­ly. In addition, reg­u­lar meet­ings should be held to dis­cuss goal progress and what can be done to sup­port the employee in meeting the target.

    Performance review templates

    Nobody can, or should, conduct an off-the-cuff performance review. It’s essential to use customizable templates that cover all the necessary feedback areas and metrics,  and also deliver a positive review that energizes, motivates, and engages individual employees.

    Read more about performance review templates

    Performance review examples: phrases and questions

    Whichever performance review model you’re working within, providing feedback with clear, positive language is the key to keeping the review goal-focused and productive. Writing performance reviews requires managers and other raters to be specific with their feedback, stay constructive, and provide solutions needed to help the employee grow.

    You’ll find criteria will vary depending on the size, scope, and culture of your organization. However, there are a few elements that come up for almost all companies. Here are a few sample areas of focus to get you started with planning your employee evaluation criteria:

    Accomplishing goals

    • Sets challenging goals for him/herself
    • Helps others achieve their objectives
    • Prioritizes his/her work based on the needs of the organization and its customers
    • Achieves his/her objectives even when faced with obstacles and challenges

    Leadership qualities

    • Takes team members’ ideas and opinions into account when making decisions
    • Helps team members resolve work-related problems
    • Holds team members accountable for achieving their objectives

    Communication

    • Actively listens to others
    • Tailors his/her communication to the needs of the audience
    • Communicates clearly and concisely

    Teamwork

    • Collaborates effectively with other team members
    • Gives constructive and helpful feedback to others
    • Treats others with respect
    • Values and respects differences among team members
    • Actively listens and participates in a work-related discussion

    Culture/Values

    • Lives company values every day
    • Acts as a role model
    • Creates a positive work environment

    The content of a performance review will vary depending on job role and organization, but it may be valuable to develop some universal questions for managers to ask, such as:

    • What is [Subject’s Name] greatest strength and what can he/she continue to do to grow?
    • What is [Subject’s Name] greatest opportunity and what can he/she do to improve in the area?

    To help you in composing your employee evaluation criteria, you can download free performance review templates from Qualtrics.

    Performance review phrases to avoid

    Although performance review templates and performance reviews themselves are customizable, it’s important to be mindful of the messages you are giving out. Great review conversations nurture an employee’s performance, development, and manager-employee relationship, whereas thoughtless ones can damage employee engagement and even business success as your top people leave.

    Here are some real howlers – while some of these may seem a little over the top, they do demonstrate neatly what NOT to say, and why not:

    “You do so brilliantly, I have nothing to give you feedback on”

    Even your very top talent will have some areas they can improve or develop skills in. Comments like this give the impression you haven’t bothered to look at their work in any detail.

    “If you double your targets this year, then we might look at promotion to the C-suite next year”

    Avoid ‘if/then’ statements, as they sound like empty promises, based on unattainable goals.

    “You’re never at your desk on time. And you’re always late to meetings”

    Avoid absolute words such as ‘always’ and ‘never’ – no one is late 100% of the time.

    “You’re a great employee. Keep it up”

     This says nothing about what the employee does that is great, how they can be even greater, or what they can do to ‘keep it up’. You need to explain in detail what the employee did that was great and their development goals to continue their good work

    “I heard you handled that financial services account badly, which was disappointing, to say the least”

    The reviewer is relying on hearsay here rather than first-hand observation and gives the employee no chance to put over their version before being criticized. True, it may be peer observation, but using 360 feedback rather than the office gossip mill is much more constructive.

    “You knocked the other two designers into a cocked hat. Their prototypes were trash compared with yours.”

    Comparing colleagues and co-workers in a performance review is a big NO. You’re reviewing only one person’s achievements, so leave the disasters (and triumphs) of others to their own, separate performance discussions.

    “I can’t believe you! I thought you would do a good job of this, but it’s very poor”

    The reviewer is bringing emotion into this feedback, which will only upset or rile the employee having the review. There is no constructive feedback and this level of hostility is likely to drive the employee to look for another job.

    “You’re lucky to get this promotion. Don’t waste the opportunity”

    Condescending and begrudging much? You never want to undermine your employees but rather praise them and encourage their successes. Forcing employees into a promotion does not mean its the best option for them, they deserve to choose.

    How to prepare to conduct a performance review

    If you’re a manager or team leader tasked with running appraisals for your team, you’re likely to have an established performance review process to guide your approach. However, you can still make the review experience go as smoothly as possible by preparing in advance.

    Clear your calendar

    If you’re going to be meeting with team members one on one, make sure you won’t be distracted or interrupted by other priorities during the meeting. Try to minimize commitments earlier in the day to reduce the risk of getting waylaid and having to postpone the review or turn up late. This way, employees know that the review is as important to you as it is to them.

    Brush up on your employee experience data

    Before the meeting, look through your notes from the most recent review with the employee to see what happened last time. What were the main themes of the meeting? Was there anything either of you said you’d follow up on?

    Be ready to take feedback as well as give it

    Make sure you allow enough time for the employee to share their feedback with you regarding the way you manage and bring a laptop or notebook to record it so that you can follow up later.

    Prepare for curveballs

    Although you shouldn’t be telling the employee anything they don’t already know about their performance, it’s very possible that they’ll bring up matters that are news to you. Because they’re private one-to-one exchanges, reviews may be seen as an opportunity to raise issues or share news. While it might not be pertinent to the review itself, be receptive to whatever the employee brings up and table it for a later conversation if required.

    Performance review pitfalls to avoid

    As you’re planning or reviewing your performance review process, you can save time and expense by being aware of these potential failure points.

    1. Losing the link between process and purpose
    Make sure the goal of your performance management systems drives the process, and be ready to make changes if required. Understanding how well your organization’s goals line up with the day-to-day work of individuals and teams is key here.

    2. Not prioritizing a culture of feedback
    If you don’t already have a culture of feedback, invest time and resources on the front end to communicate the true purpose of performance reviews and build trust in the process to develop a feedback-based culture.

    3. Failing to engage your stakeholders
    Getting decision-makers and business leaders on board right from the very beginning will improve buy-in, increase participation rates, and set your program up for success.

    4. Not building in a support network
    Follow-up and feedback need to be built in at the forefront of the project. Set expectations for employees and managers early on so they know who they can go to for advice and support

    5. Lack of communication
    Communication is the most critical component of implementing a new or improved performance management system. Per­for­mance man­age­ment sys­tems suc­ceed when com­mu­ni­ca­tion about the process is authen­tic and trans­par­ent.

    6. Insufficient training and enablement for managers
    No per­for­mance man­age­ment sys­tem will be suc­cess­ful if the peo­ple involved don’t invest in the process. If employ­ees sense that their man­agers are apa­thet­ic about the per­for­mance man­age­ment sys­tem, they will mir­ror this atti­tude. Man­agers need to take con­trol and lead by example, and they need support and adequate training to do so.

    Alternative ways to collect feedback

    For many businesses, performance reviews are the most helpful way to share and collect employee feedback. But thanks to the uptick in experience-led business and a new understanding of the value of employee experience, new methodologies are emerging.

    360 feedback

    In a 360 feedback, staff members can receive feedback not only from managers, but from peers and junior staff members. They can also review themselves, resulting in a complete – or 360 degree – view of their strengths and opportunities. However, this kind of program should only ever be used for development, not to gauge performance.

    Continual feedback

    Some companies prefer to avoid the formal structure of a performance review and instead share feedback on a continual ad hoc basis. This might be a suitable option for very small businesses and new start-ups. However, there is a risk that without a formal checkpoint, staff lack clarity on how they’re progressing and what they need to work on.

    Employee pulse reviews

    The employee pulse review can be seen as a happy medium between continual feedback and a big once-a-year performance review. It’s a smaller-scale employee review that’s conducted on a more frequent schedule, such as monthly or quarterly. Pulse feedback is more commonly associated with employee engagement surveys, but it works just as well for sharing feedback in the other direction since it offers clear measures and is quick and easy to complete.

    Incorporate 360 feedback in a performance review

    Many clients ask us about the ideal use case for a 360 assessment. Some of them use it for performance management while others purely for development. With performance reviews moving away from critique of workers and more towards continuous development and employee engagement, 360s are a valuable part of performance management software.

    At Qualtrics, we believe that 360 is ideal for development because feedback should be seen as an investment into an employee through feedback from peers, direct reports, managers, leaders, and customers rather than a tool that determines their pay, performance, or promotion. To ensure fidelity of responses and to be seen as an authentic review (not a political tool), our recommendation is to incorporate 360 into your performance management software as a review process for developing your employees and not evaluating them.

    Get the essential guide to employee experience surveys

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    This article was written by the EmployeeXM team

    Our EX Scientists are a global team of Employee Experience consultants who deliver advisory services for our clients to help them design and deliver world class EX strategies & programs. They provide empirically driven, best practice solutions.

     

    This post was originally written June, 2019 and was updated August, 2021.

    References:

    Bersin Josh. (2018). We wasted ten years talking about performance ratings. The seven things we’ve learned. Josh Bersin Institute: Retrieved March 18th from https://joshbersin.com/2018/11/we-wasted-ten-years-talking-about-performance-ratings-the-seven-things-weve-learned/#_ftn1

    Capelli, P & Tavis, Anna (2016) Assessing Performance: The Performance Management Revolution. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved March 18th from https://hbr.org/2016/10/the-performance-management-revolution

    Enderes, K., & Derunts, M. (2018). Seven Top Findings for Enabling Performance in the Flow of Work, Bersin, Deloitte Consulting LLP.

    Kathi Enders (2018) Performance Management, Disrupted: Enabling Performance in the Flow of Work. Bersin, Deloitte Consulting LLP.

    Pulakos, E. D., Hansen, M. R., Cargill, A. S., Moye, N. (2015). Performance Management can be fixed: An on the job experiential learning approach for complex behavior change. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Vol 8(1), 51–76.

    Rodgers, R., & Hunter, J. E. (1991). Impact of management by objectives on organizational productivity. Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol 76(2), 322–336.

    Smith, M. and Bititci, U. (2017), “Interplay between performance measurement and management, employee engagement and performance”, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol 37(9), 1207-1228.

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    The Future of Performance Reviews

    Idea in Brief
    The Problem

    By emphasizing individual accountability for past results, traditional appraisals give short shrift to improving current performance and developing talent for the future. That can hinder long-term competitiveness.

    The Solution

    To better support employee development, many organizations are dropping or radically changing their annual review systems in favor of giving people less formal, more frequent feedback that follows the natural cycle of work.

    The Outlook

    This shift isn’t just a fad—real business needs are driving it. Support at the top is critical, though. Some firms that have struggled to go entirely without ratings are trying a “third way”: assigning multiple ratings several times a year to encourage employees’ growth.

    When Brian Jensen told his audience of HR executives that Colorcon wasn’t bothering with annual reviews anymore, they were appalled. This was in 2002, during his tenure as the drugmaker’s head of global human resources. In his presentation at the Wharton School, Jensen explained that Colorcon had found a more effective way of reinforcing desired behaviors and managing performance: Supervisors were giving people instant feedback, tying it to individuals’ own goals, and handing out small weekly bonuses to employees they saw doing good things.

    Back then the idea of abandoning the traditional appraisal process—and all that followed from it—seemed heretical. But now, by some estimates, more than one-third of U.S. companies are doing just that. From Silicon Valley to New York, and in offices across the world, firms are replacing annual reviews with frequent, informal check-ins between managers and employees.

    As you might expect, technology companies such as Adobe, Juniper Systems, Dell, Microsoft, and IBM have led the way. Yet they’ve been joined by a number of professional services firms (Deloitte, Accenture, PwC), early adopters in other industries (Gap, Lear, OppenheimerFunds), and even General Electric, the longtime role model for traditional appraisals.

    Without question, rethinking performance management is at the top of many executive teams’ agendas, but what drove the change in this direction? Many factors. In a recent article for People + Strategy, a Deloitte manager referred to the review process as “an investment of 1. 8 million hours across the firm that didn’t fit our business needs anymore.” One Washington Post business writer called it a “rite of corporate kabuki” that restricts creativity, generates mountains of paperwork, and serves no real purpose. Others have described annual reviews as a last-century practice and blamed them for a lack of collaboration and innovation. Employers are also finally acknowledging that both supervisors and subordinates despise the appraisal process—a perennial problem that feels more urgent now that the labor market is picking up and concerns about retention have returned.

    But the biggest limitation of annual reviews—and, we have observed, the main reason more and more companies are dropping them—is this: With their heavy emphasis on financial rewards and punishments and their end-of-year structure, they hold people accountable for past behavior at the expense of improving current performance and grooming talent for the future, both of which are critical for organizations’ long-term survival. In contrast, regular conversations about performance and development change the focus to building the workforce your organization needs to be competitive both today and years from now. Business researcher Josh Bersin estimates that about 70% of multinational companies are moving toward this model, even if they haven’t arrived quite yet.

    The tension between the traditional and newer approaches stems from a long-running dispute about managing people: Do you “get what you get” when you hire your employees? Should you focus mainly on motivating the strong ones with money and getting rid of the weak ones? Or are employees malleable? Can you change the way they perform through effective coaching and management and intrinsic rewards such as personal growth and a sense of progress on the job?

    With traditional appraisals, the pendulum had swung too far toward the former, more transactional view of performance, which became hard to support in an era of low inflation and tiny merit-pay budgets. Those who still hold that view are railing against the recent emphasis on improvement and growth over accountability. But the new perspective is unlikely to be a flash in the pan because, as we will discuss, it is being driven by business needs, not imposed by HR.

    First, though, let’s consider how we got to this point—and how companies are faring with new approaches.

    How We Got Here

    Historical and economic context has played a large role in the evolution of performance management over the decades. When human capital was plentiful, the focus was on which people to let go, which to keep, and which to reward—and for those purposes, traditional appraisals (with their emphasis on individual accountability) worked pretty well. But when talent was in shorter supply, as it is now, developing people became a greater concern—and organizations had to find new ways of meeting that need.

    TIMELINE

    Talent Management

    The tug-of-war between accountability and development over the decades

    • Accountability
    • Development
    • A hybrid “third way”
    • Accountability
    • Development
    • A hybrid “third way”
    WWI

    The U. S. military created merit-rating system to flag and dismiss poor performers.

    WWII

    The Army devised forced ranking to identify enlisted soldiers with potential to become officers.

    1940s

    About 60% of U.S. companies were using appraisals to document workers’ performance and allocate rewards.

    1950s

    Social psychologist Douglas McGregor argued for engaging employees in assessments and goal setting.

    1960s

    Led by General Electric, companies began splitting appraisals into separate discussions about accountability and growth, to give development its due.

    1970s

    Inflation rates shot up, and organizations felt pressure to award merit pay more objectively, so accountability again became the priority in the appraisal process.

    1980s

    Jack Welch championed forced ranking at GE to reward top performers, accommodate those in the middle, and get rid of those at the bottom.

    1990s

    McKinsey’s War for Talent study pointed to a shortage of capable executives and reinforced the emphasis on assessing and rewarding performance.

    2000

    Organizations got flatter, which dramatically increased the number of direct reports each manager had, making it harder to invest time in developing them.

    2011

    Kelly Services was the first big professional services firm to drop appraisals, and other major firms followed suit, emphasizing frequent, informal feedback.

    2012

    Adobe ended annual performance reviews, in keeping with the famous “Agile Manifesto” and the notion that annual targets were irrelevant to the way its business operated.

    2016

    Deloitte, PwC, and others that tried going numberless are reinstating performance ratings but using more than one number and keeping the new emphasis on developmental feedback.

    FROM  “The Performance Management Revolution,” October 2016©HBR.ORG

    From accountability to development.

    Appraisals can be traced back to the U.S. military’s “merit rating” system, created during World War I to identify poor performers for discharge or transfer. After World War II, about 60% of U.S. companies were using them (by the 1960s, it was closer to 90%). Though seniority rules determined pay increases and promotions for unionized workers, strong merit scores meant good advancement prospects for managers. At least initially, improving performance was an afterthought.

    And then a severe shortage of managerial talent caused a shift in organizational priorities: Companies began using appraisals to develop employees into supervisors, and especially managers into executives. In a famous 1957 HBR article, social psychologist Douglas McGregor argued that subordinates should, with feedback from the boss, help set their performance goals and assess themselves—a process that would build on their strengths and potential. This “Theory Y” approach to management—he coined the term later on—assumed that employees wanted to perform well and would do so if supported properly. (“Theory X” assumed you had to motivate people with material rewards and punishments. ) McGregor noted one drawback to the approach he advocated: Doing it right would take managers several days per subordinate each year.

    By the early 1960s, organizations had become so focused on developing future talent that many observers thought that tracking past performance had fallen by the wayside. Part of the problem was that supervisors were reluctant to distinguish good performers from bad. One study, for example, found that 98% of federal government employees received “satisfactory” ratings, while only 2% got either of the other two outcomes: “unsatisfactory” or “outstanding.” After running a well-publicized experiment in 1964, General Electric concluded it was best to split the appraisal process into separate discussions about accountability and development, given the conflicts between them. Other companies followed suit.

    Back to accountability.

    In the 1970s, however, a shift began. Inflation rates shot up, and merit-based pay took center stage in the appraisal process. During that period, annual wage increases really mattered. Supervisors often had discretion to give raises of 20% or more to strong performers, to distinguish them from the sea of employees receiving basic cost-of-living raises, and getting no increase represented a substantial pay cut. With the stakes so high—and with antidiscrimination laws so recently on the books—the pressure was on to award pay more objectively. As a result, accountability became a higher priority than development for many organizations.

    Three other changes in the zeitgeist reinforced that shift:

    First, Jack Welch became CEO of General Electric in 1981. To deal with the long-standing concern that supervisors failed to label real differences in performance, Welch championed the forced-ranking system—another military creation. Though the U.S. Army had devised it, just before entering World War II, to quickly identify a large number of officer candidates for the country’s imminent military expansion, GE used it to shed people at the bottom. Equating performance with individuals’ inherent capabilities (and largely ignoring their potential to grow), Welch divided his workforce into “A” players, who must be rewarded; “B” players, who should be accommodated; and “C” players, who should be dismissed. In that system, development was reserved for the “A” players—the high-potentials chosen to advance into senior positions.

    Further Reading
    • Reinventing Performance Management

    Second, 1993 legislation limited the tax deductibility of executive salaries to $1 million but exempted performance-based pay. That led to a rise in outcome-based bonuses for corporate leaders—a change that trickled down to frontline managers and even hourly employees—and organizations relied even more on the appraisal process to assess merit.

    Third, McKinsey’s War for Talent research project in the late 1990s suggested that some employees were fundamentally more talented than others (you knew them when you saw them, the thinking went). Because such individuals were, by definition, in short supply, organizations felt they needed to take great care in tracking and rewarding them. Nothing in the McKinsey studies showed that fixed personality traits actually made certain people perform better, but that was the assumption.

    So, by the early 2000s, organizations were using performance appraisals mainly to hold employees accountable and to allocate rewards. By some estimates, as many as one-third of U.S. corporations—and 60% of the Fortune 500—had adopted a forced-ranking system. At the same time, other changes in corporate life made it harder for the appraisal process to advance the time-consuming goals of improving individual performance and developing skills for future roles. Organizations got much flatter, which dramatically increased the number of subordinates that supervisors had to manage. The new norm was 15 to 25 direct reports (up from six before the 1960s). While overseeing more employees, supervisors were also expected to be individual contributors. So taking days to manage the performance issues of each employee, as Douglas McGregor had advocated, was impossible. Meanwhile, greater interest in lateral hiring reduced the need for internal development. Up to two-thirds of corporate jobs were filled from outside, compared with about 10% a generation earlier.

    Back to development…again.

    Another major turning point came in 2005: A few years after Jack Welch left GE, the company quietly backed away from forced ranking because it fostered internal competition and undermined collaboration. Welch still defends the practice, but what he really supports is the general principle of letting people know how they are doing: “As a manager, you owe candor to your people,” he wrote in the Wall Street Journal in 2013. “They must not be guessing about what the organization thinks of them.” It’s hard to argue against candor, of course. But more and more firms began questioning how useful it was to compare people with one another or even to rate them on a scale.

    So the emphasis on accountability for past performance started to fade. That continued as jobs became more complex and rapidly changed shape—in that climate, it was difficult to set annual goals that would still be meaningful 12 months later. Plus, the move toward team-based work often conflicted with individual appraisals and rewards. And low inflation and small budgets for wage increases made appraisal-driven merit pay seem futile. What was the point of trying to draw performance distinctions when rewards were so trivial?

    The whole appraisal process was loathed by employees anyway. Social science research showed that they hated numerical scores—they would rather be told they were “average” than given a 3 on a 5-point scale. They especially detested forced ranking. As Wharton’s Iwan Barankay demonstrated in a field setting, performance actually declined when people were rated relative to others. Nor did the ratings seem accurate. As the accumulating research on appraisal scores showed, they had as much to do with who the rater was (people gave higher ratings to those who were like them) as they did with performance.

    And managers hated doing reviews, as survey after survey made clear. Willis Towers Watson found that 45% did not see value in the systems they used. Deloitte reported that 58% of HR executives considered reviews an ineffective use of supervisors’ time. In a study by the advisory service CEB, the average manager reported spending about 210 hours—close to five weeks—doing appraisals each year.

    As dissatisfaction with the traditional process mounted, high-tech firms ushered in a new way of thinking about performance. The “Agile Manifesto,” created by software developers in 2001, outlined several key values—favoring, for instance, “responding to change over following a plan.” It emphasized principles such as collaboration, self-organization, self-direction, and regular reflection on how to work more effectively, with the aim of prototyping more quickly and responding in real time to customer feedback and changes in requirements. Although not directed at performance per se, these principles changed the definition of effectiveness on the job—and they were at odds with the usual practice of cascading goals from the top down and assessing people against them once a year.

    So it makes sense that the first significant departure from traditional reviews happened at Adobe, in 2011. The company was already using the agile method, breaking down projects into “sprints” that were immediately followed by debriefing sessions. Adobe explicitly brought this notion of constant assessment and feedback into performance management, with frequent check-ins replacing annual appraisals. Juniper Systems, Dell, and Microsoft were prominent followers.

    CEB estimated in 2014 that 12% of U.S. companies had dropped annual reviews altogether. Willis Towers Watson put the figure at 8% but added that 29% were considering eliminating them or planning to do so. Deloitte reported in 2015 that only 12% of the U.S. companies it surveyed were not planning to rethink their performance management systems. This trend seems to be extending beyond the United States as well. PwC reports that two-thirds of large companies in the UK, for example, are in the process of changing their systems.

    Three Business Reasons to Drop Appraisals

    In light of that history, we see three clear business imperatives that are leading companies to abandon performance appraisals:

    The return of people development.

    Companies are under competitive pressure to upgrade their talent management efforts. This is especially true at consulting and other professional services firms, where knowledge work is the offering—and where inexperienced college grads are turned into skilled advisers through structured training. Such firms are doubling down on development, often by putting their employees (who are deeply motivated by the potential for learning and advancement) in charge of their own growth. This approach requires rich feedback from supervisors—a need that’s better met by frequent, informal check-ins than by annual reviews.

    Now that the labor market has tightened and keeping good people is once again critical, such companies have been trying to eliminate “dissatisfiers” that drive employees away. Naturally, annual reviews are on that list, since the process is so widely reviled and the focus on numerical ratings interferes with the learning that people want and need to do. Replacing this system with feedback that’s delivered right after client engagements helps managers do a better job of coaching and allows subordinates to process and apply the advice more effectively.

    Kelly Services was the first big professional services firm to drop appraisals, in 2011. PwC tried it with a pilot group in 2013 and then discontinued annual reviews for all 200,000-plus employees. Deloitte followed in 2015, and Accenture and KPMG made similar announcements shortly thereafter. Given the sheer size of these firms, and the fact that they offer management advice to thousands of organizations, their choices are having an enormous impact on other companies. Firms that scrap appraisals are also rethinking employee management much more broadly. Accenture CEO Pierre Nanterme estimates that his firm is changing about 90% of its talent practices.

    The need for agility.

    When rapid innovation is a source of competitive advantage, as it is now in many companies and industries, that means future needs are continually changing. Because organizations won’t necessarily want employees to keep doing the same things, it doesn’t make sense to hang on to a system that’s built mainly to assess and hold people accountable for past or current practices. As Susan Peters, GE’s head of human resources, has pointed out, businesses no longer have clear annual cycles. Projects are short-term and tend to change along the way, so employees’ goals and tasks can’t be plotted out a year in advance with much accuracy.

    At GE a new business strategy based on innovation was the biggest reason the company recently began eliminating individual ratings and annual reviews. Its new approach to performance management is aligned with its FastWorks platform for creating products and bringing them to market, which borrows a lot from agile techniques. Supervisors still have an end-of-year summary discussion with subordinates, but the goal is to push frequent conversations with employees (GE calls them “touchpoints”) and keep revisiting two basic questions: What am I doing that I should keep doing? And what am I doing that I should change? Annual goals have been replaced with shorter-term “priorities.” As with many of the companies we see, GE first launched a pilot, with about 87,000 employees in 2015, before adopting the changes across the company.

    The centrality of teamwork.

    Moving away from forced ranking and from appraisals’ focus on individual accountability makes it easier to foster teamwork. This has become especially clear at retail companies like Sears and Gap—perhaps the most surprising early innovators in appraisals. Sophisticated customer service now requires frontline and back-office employees to work together to keep shelves stocked and manage customer flow, and traditional systems don’t enhance performance at the team level or help track collaboration.

    Gap supervisors still give workers end-of-year assessments, but only to summarize performance discussions that happen throughout the year and to set pay increases accordingly. Employees still have goals, but as at other companies, the goals are short-term (in this case, quarterly). Now two years into its new system, Gap reports far more satisfaction with its performance process and the best-ever completion of store-level goals. Nonetheless, Rob Ollander-Krane, Gap’s senior director of organization performance effectiveness, says the company needs further improvement in setting stretch goals and focusing on team performance.

    Implications.

    All three reasons for dropping annual appraisals argue for a system that more closely follows the natural cycle of work. Ideally, conversations between managers and employees occur when projects finish, milestones are reached, challenges pop up, and so forth—allowing people to solve problems in current performance while also developing skills for the future. At most companies, managers take the lead in setting near-term goals, and employees drive career conversations throughout the year. In the words of one Deloitte manager: “The conversations are more holistic. They’re about goals and strengths, not just about past performance.”

    Further Reading

    Perhaps most important, companies are overhauling performance management because their businesses require the change. That’s true whether they’re professional services firms that must develop people in order to compete, companies that need to deliver ongoing performance feedback to support rapid innovation, or retailers that need better coordination between the sales floor and the back office to serve their customers.

    Of course, many HR managers worry: If we can’t get supervisors to have good conversations with subordinates once a year, how can we expect them to do so more frequently, without the support of the usual appraisal process? It’s a valid question—but we see reasons to be optimistic.

    As GE found in 1964 and as research has documented since, it is extraordinarily difficult to have a serious, open discussion about problems while also dishing out consequences such as low merit pay. The end-of-year review was also an excuse for delaying feedback until then, at which point both the supervisor and the employee were likely to have forgotten what had happened months earlier. Both of those constraints disappear when you take away the annual review. Additionally, almost all companies that have dropped traditional appraisals have invested in training supervisors to talk more about development with their employees—and they are checking with subordinates to make sure that’s happening.

    Moving to an informal system requires a culture that will keep the continuous feedback going. As Megan Taylor, Adobe’s director of business partnering, pointed out at a recent conference, it’s difficult to sustain that if it’s not happening organically. Adobe, which has gone totally numberless but still gives merit increases based on informal assessments, reports that regular conversations between managers and their employees are now occurring without HR’s prompting. Deloitte, too, has found that its new model of frequent, informal check-ins has led to more meaningful discussions, deeper insights, and greater employee satisfaction. (For more details, see “Reinventing Performance Management,” HBR, April 2015.) The firm started to go numberless like Adobe but then switched to assigning employees several numbers four times a year, to give them rolling feedback on different dimensions. Jeffrey Orlando, who heads up development and performance at Deloitte, says the company has been tracking the effects on business results, and they’ve been positive so far.

    Challenges That Persist

    The greatest resistance to abandoning appraisals, which is something of a revolution in human resources, comes from HR itself. The reason is simple: Many of the processes and systems that HR has built over the years revolve around those performance ratings. Experts in employment law had advised organizations to standardize practices, develop objective criteria to justify every employment decision, and document all relevant facts. Taking away appraisals flies in the face of that advice—and it doesn’t necessarily solve every problem that they failed to address.

    Here are some of the challenges that organizations still grapple with when they replace the old performance model with new approaches:

    Aligning individual and company goals.

    In the traditional model, business objectives and strategies cascaded down the organization. All the units, and then all the individual employees, were supposed to establish their goals to reflect and reinforce the direction set at the top. But this approach works only when business goals are easy to articulate and held constant over the course of a year. As we’ve discussed, that’s often not the case these days, and employee goals may be pegged to specific projects. So as projects unfold and tasks change, how do you coordinate individual priorities with the goals for the whole enterprise, especially when the business objectives are short-term and must rapidly adapt to market shifts? It’s a new kind of problem to solve, and the jury is still out on how to respond.

    Rewarding performance.

    Appraisals gave managers a clear-cut way of tying rewards to individual contributions. Companies changing their systems are trying to figure out how their new practices will affect the pay-for-performance model, which none of them have explicitly abandoned.

    They still differentiate rewards, usually relying on managers’ qualitative judgments rather than numerical ratings. In pilot programs at Juniper Systems and Cargill, supervisors had no difficulty allocating merit-based pay without appraisal scores. In fact, both line managers and HR staff felt that paying closer attention to employee performance throughout the year was likely to make their merit-pay decisions more valid.

    But it will be interesting to see whether most supervisors end up reviewing the feedback they’ve given each employee over the year before determining merit increases. (Deloitte’s managers already do this.) If so, might they produce something like an annual appraisal score—even though it’s more carefully considered? And could that subtly undermine development by shifting managers’ focus back to accountability?

    Identifying poor performers.

    Though managers may assume they need appraisals to determine which employees aren’t doing their jobs well, the traditional process doesn’t really help much with that. For starters, individuals’ ratings jump around over time. Research shows that last year’s performance score predicts only one-third of the variance in this year’s score—so it’s hard to say that someone simply isn’t up to scratch. Plus, HR departments consistently complain that line managers don’t use the appraisal process to document poor performers. Even when they do, waiting until the end of the year to flag struggling employees allows failure to go on for too long without intervention.

    This article also appears in:

    We’ve observed that companies that have dropped appraisals are requiring supervisors to immediately identify problem employees. Juniper Systems also formally asks supervisors each quarter to confirm that their subordinates are performing up to company standards. Only 3%, on average, are not, and HR is brought in to address them. Adobe reports that its new system has reduced dismissals, because struggling employees are monitored and coached much more closely.

    Still, given how reluctant most managers are to single out failing employees, we can’t assume that getting rid of appraisals will make those tough calls any easier. And all the companies we’ve observed still have “performance improvement plans” for employees identified as needing support. Such plans remain universally problematic, too, partly because many issues that cause poor performance can’t be solved by management intervention.

    Avoiding legal troubles.

    Employee relations managers within HR often worry that discrimination charges will spike if their companies stop basing pay increases and promotions on numerical ratings, which seem objective. But appraisals haven’t prevented discriminatory practices. Though they force managers to systematically review people’s contributions each year, a great deal of discretion (always subject to bias) is built into the process, and considerable evidence shows that supervisors discriminate against some employees by giving them undeservedly low ratings.

    Leaders at Gap report that their new practices were driven partly by complaints and research showing that the appraisal process was often biased and ineffective. Frontline workers in retail (disproportionately women and minorities) are especially vulnerable to unfair treatment. Indeed, formal ratings may do more to reveal bias than to curb it. If a company has clear appraisal scores and merit-pay indexes, it is easy to see if women and minorities with the same scores as white men are getting fewer or lower pay increases.

    A classic study by Edward Jones and Victor Harris in the 1960s demonstrated that people tend to attribute others’ behavior to character rather than circumstances.

    When a car goes streaking past us, for instance, we think that the driver is a jerk and ignore the possibility that there might be an emergency. A good workplace example of this cognitive bias—known as the “fundamental attribution error”—is to assume that the lowest performers in any year will always be the worst performers and to fire them as a result. Such an assumption overlooks the impact of good or poor management, not to mention business conditions that are beyond employees’ control.

    Of course, this model is highly flattering to people who have advanced into executive roles—“A” players whose success is, by definition, credited to their superior abilities, not to good fortune. That may be partly why the model has persisted so long in the face of considerable evidence against it.

    Even when “A” players seem to perform well in many contexts (and that’s rarely measured), they may be coasting on the “halo effect”—another type of bias, akin to self-fulfilling prophecy. If these folks have already been successful, they receive more opportunities than others, and they’re pushed harder, so naturally they do better.

    Biases color individual performance ratings as well. Decision makers may give past behavior too much weight, for instance, or fall prey to stereotypes when they assign their ratings.

    But when you get rid of forced ranking and appraisal scores, you don’t eradicate bias. Discrimination and faulty assumptions still creep into qualitative assessments. In some ways the older, more cumbersome performance systems actually made it harder for managers to keep their blinders on. Formal feedback from various stakeholders provided some balance when supervisors were otherwise inclined to see only the good things their stars did and failed to recognize others’ contributions.

    Anytime you exercise judgment, whether or not you translate that to numerical ratings, intuition plays a part, and bias can rear its head.

    All that said, it’s not clear that new approaches to performance management will do much to mitigate discrimination either. Gap has found that getting rid of performance scores increased fairness in pay and other decisions, but judgments still have to be made—and there’s the possibility of bias in every piece of qualitative information that decision makers consider.

    Managing the feedback firehose.

    In recent years most HR information systems were built to move annual appraisals online and connect them to pay increases, succession planning, and so forth. They weren’t designed to accommodate continuous feedback, which is one reason many employee check-ins consist of oral comments, with no documentation.

    The tech world has responded with apps that enable supervisors to give feedback anytime and to record it if desired. At General Electric, the PD@GE app (“PD” stands for “performance development”) allows managers to call up notes and materials from prior conversations and summarize that information. Employees can use the app to ask for direction when they need it. IBM has a similar app that adds another feature: It enables employees to give feedback to peers and choose whether the recipient’s boss gets a copy. Amazon’s Anytime Feedback tool does much the same thing. The great advantage of these apps is that supervisors can easily review all the discussion text when it is time to take actions such as award merit pay or consider promotions and job reassignments.

    Of course, being on the receiving end of all that continual coaching could get overwhelming—it never lets up. And as for peer feedback, it isn’t always useful, even if apps make it easier to deliver in real time. Typically, it’s less objective than supervisor feedback, as anyone familiar with 360s knows. It can be also “gamed” by employees to help or hurt colleagues. (At Amazon, the cutthroat culture encourages employees to be critical of one another’s performance, and forced ranking creates an incentive to push others to the bottom of the heap.) The more consequential the peer feedback, the more likely the problems.

    Not all employers face the same business pressures to change their performance processes. In some fields and industries (think sales and financial services), it still makes sense to emphasize accountability and financial rewards for individual performers. Organizations with a strong public mission may also be well served by traditional appraisals. But even government organizations like NASA and the FBI are rethinking their approach, having concluded that accountability should be collective and that supervisors need to do a better job of coaching and developing their subordinates.

    Ideology at the top matters. Consider what happened at Intel. In a two-year pilot, employees got feedback but no formal appraisal scores. Though supervisors did not have difficulty differentiating performance or distributing performance-based pay without the ratings, company executives returned to using them, believing they created healthy competition and clear outcomes. At Sun Communities, a manufactured-home company, senior leaders also oppose eliminating appraisals because they think formal feedback is essential to accountability. And Medtronic, which gave up ratings several years ago, is resurrecting them now that it has acquired Ireland-based Covidien, which has a more traditional view of performance management.

    Other firms aren’t completely reverting to old approaches but instead seem to be seeking middle ground. As we’ve mentioned, Deloitte has backpedaled from giving no ratings at all to having project leads and managers assign them in four categories on a quarterly basis, to provide detailed “performance snapshots. ” PwC recently made a similar move in its client-services practices: Employees still don’t receive a single rating each year, but they now get scores on five competencies, along with other development feedback. In PwC’s case, the pushback against going numberless actually came from employees, especially those on a partner track, who wanted to know how they were doing.

    At one insurance company, after formal ratings had been eliminated, merit-pay increases were being shared internally and then interpreted as performance scores. These became known as “shadow ratings,” and because they started to affect other talent management decisions, the company eventually went back to formal appraisals. But it kept other changes it had made to its performance management system, such as quarterly conversations between managers and employees, to maintain its new commitment to development.

    It will be interesting to see how well these “third way” approaches work. They, too, could fail if they aren’t supported by senior leadership and reinforced by organizational culture. Still, in most cases, sticking with old systems seems like a bad option. Companies that don’t think an overhaul makes sense for them should at least carefully consider whether their process is giving them what they need to solve current performance problems and develop future talent. Performance appraisals wouldn’t be the least popular practice in business, as they’re widely believed to be, if something weren’t fundamentally wrong with them.

    A version of this article appeared in the October 2016 issue (pp.58–67) of Harvard Business Review.

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