If in the USSR determined, as today, the most popular, the most attractive and, in general, the most- most... people, during many years out of competition would be there among them, certainly, the first cosmonaut of planet Yurij Gagarin. He remains a landmark figure for residents of countries from the former Soviet republics. Moreover, not simply a landmark figure, but already а certain symbol of his epoch. For today's youth it is hard to imagine the degree of love, and even adoration that accompanied all his visits to cities, towns and villages the vast, during that time, country. And he made a large number of visits, he was always and everywhere expected, met gladly, and after intercourse people would retell their acquaintances and acquaintances of their acquaintances about all circumstances of happy event. And yet haughtily demonstrated pictures, if they, certainly, were. I got lucky, I also had become the participant of one of such meetings and I even have a photo in memory about it.
I vividly remember that day. I studied in Kiev's school №94 (now it is a gymnasium called «Elada»). It is located in the street Ol'ginskiy (then Mayakovskogo), in the center of Kyiv. Due to a good location and that our director Tamara Fedir Klimenyuk was well-deserved and well-known person in education, various delegations visited us periodically, sometimes even from friendly to our country states – to demonstrate, what is a happy Soviet childhood.
We met Gagarin at the end of April, 1966.We were warned about the arrival of our guests only in the morning, that is why we did not have time to change in a standard pioneer form – white top, dark bottom. After the first lesson every student was lined in the schoolyard to make a living corridor. We stood there and rejoiced the sun, the morning, the surrounding hubbub and that is why, that all of it – in place of seat in bothering classes.
Suddenly near our teacher whose name was Margarita Volodymyrivna Іvanova senior pioneer leader Yura Korolov appeared, pulled me out of the rows of my classmates and led me to the teacher's room. He was a very good leader: the children implicitly trusted him. And all, from timid first-class boys to head master named him simply-Yura. On the way he poked me in the hand a scrap of paper with written by some school poet on this case poems and said, that I have to memorize them quickly. He said, they say, i am incumbent to welcome Gagarin, Pakhmutova, Dobronravov and yet someone on behalf of our school.
As all my class-mates, I with trembling was expecting Gagarin, but could not even imagine that I am going to see him nearby.
Who was Pakhmutova, I knew approximately. But, I confess, the future meeting did not make a special impression on me .The last name of Dobronravov and, the more so, of komsomol functionaries who accompanied the Moscow visitants, i had never heard they had never fluster me (I write everything as it was, and my weak acquaintance with the last names of our glorified author duet called "Pesnyaru", and, the more so, with ideological of that time leaders of youth I can explain, that I then was only in a second grade). And I already had a great experience of the similar greetings.
The thing is, that together with two of my class-mates, I was then «known in a district and city» as a reader-reciter. Moreover, the three of us- I, Vladik Galperin and Borya Fenik – became the laureates of republican competition of artistic independent action as performers of perturbing the soul (however, not so young, as paternal) poem of Agnya Barto «Bear-cub is a boor» («The mother Bear had a son, a little bear-cub, //he had the same figure as his mother- the brown bear...»). As all three of us were very fattened boys , and herewith had ringing and clear voices, our appearances used outstanding success with an audience and listeners. It even had been broadcasted on the radio in the broadcast called «The Pioneer of Ukraine» . Our talents did not remain unnoticed, and we were often invited for greeting of every komsomol-party conventions and plenums which, at that time, were conducted in the October palace of Culture, or, rarer, in the theater of Franko. . Of course, poems about a dull bear-cub were not suitable there. We read the ideologically right poems – there was such form of greeting of participants of important measures: a few children in turn distinctly recited the suitable to the case poems of soviet poets. Then we hurried to the presidium and handed it members flowers, and in return got delicious kisses from gifted. To turn away from such driveling displays of gratitude, and the more so to wipe oneself, was severely forbidden for us, that is why such greetings did not bring large gladness to us.
Consequently, I convulsively tried to memorize a few lines, scrawled on a plucked-up from a school notebook sheet. And learned as though, even repeated aloud for Yura and for someone teachers. In this time the fuss on a court began to increase. It was clearly, that guests are already on approach.
Farther I remember indistinctly, by fragments. People, flowers, bustle. Then I was pushed beforehand, and I saw Yurij Gagarin. He appeared low, very strong, with such, as on numerous portraits, a wide smile. I was staggered by an enormous scar on his forehead – such on pictures I did not notice. Thought: probably, it is track from some frightful accident. And at once began to respect him yet more (considerably later I heard and read a few versions about the origin of this scar, but fully reliable did not meet so). He already was, as it was traditional back then, accepted in the honoured pioneers and a pioneer tie showed off on his neck. Near Gagarin I saw very little, almost of me of that time, woman – composer Oleksandra Pakhmutova. Farther – more and more people who also smiled and with expectation looked at me.
I collected the complete breasts of air and began to recite. Next second I was blinded by a few camera flashes, I heard the chirr of a movie camera and for an instant I understood with horror that forgot suddenly, as there farther. Made attempt to remember, as I was taught, «from running approach», but it did not work. I shamefully stopped , then fell silent at all. Everybody from every quarter begun to prompt me. I heard almost nothing through the noise. Gagarin smiled again, said something what I also did not catch, and calmly pinned me a bit against himself.
Feeling of friendly calming heat went down in memory. He, indeed, was a not quite ordinary man – with super-power energy of good. Somehow, at once, peace and confidence returned in me, I stepped aside a bit and saw right in front of my nose a bulge-in scrap of paper with text of poem. It was Yura trying to help me. But forgotten lines already emerged in memory, therefore I rapidly recited them, although, certainly, quite not so confidently, as at first. Everybody, laughing, started clapping in a friendly manner. Gagarin did not kiss me, as uncles from presidiums, ,just simply smiled again and encouragingly nodded me.
Him, Pakhmutova, Dobronravov and komsomol authorities, were repeatedly greeted, then some souvenirs were brought, but I did not see that already. I was slowly pushed on the second plan, I got out from crowd and ashamed, but however happy from meeting with a big man, ran to my classroom...