There’s less than a week until issue 3 of the @yoilitmag​ drops… So here’s a little sneak peek of my illustrated piece.

Some of you might be familiar with this story… 🙂 ;;; 

Text version:

Little Matchstick Vitya (preview) 

“Why would little Vitya be out in the cold if he had no ushanka?” you ask. “He’ll catch a cold if he doesn’t freeze to death!”

You would be right, of course. This is what little Vitya tried to explain to his aunt and uncle, too, before they pushed him out onto the front step that night.

“It’s New Year’s Eve!” they said. “You must take advantage of the holiday, there are so many people out! Take these matchbooks; they have the company’s ad printed on the back. Give them out to the professionals you see, and get their business cards in return. You can come home when you’re all done.”

So he went, taking the matchbooks with him into the dark, wintry night.
But he didn’t go alone, at least. While Vitya had no love for matchbooks, advertisements, or for herring, he did have lots of love for his most loyal companion, Makkachin. The little poodle stayed close on the bus ride to the heart of the city, and closer still when they reached downtown. The parties were all in full swing, and they would easily get stepped on or separated if they weren’t careful.

“Excuse me, would you like a free matchbook? No? But it has really nice printing on it! Wait, where are you going?”

The boy and his dog were kicked out of parties and restaurants,theaters and hotels. They were pushed away in the crowds, and ignored on the ice rinks. A few people took matchbooks out of pity, but most of those ended up in the trash right before his eyes.

It wasn’t as though he hadn’t thought about throwing all of them away, himself. He’d wanted to throw the whole sack in the garbage the moment they’d been given to him! But… they were his family, and somehow, they always knew how to catch him in a lie. Coming back with no business cards or contacts wouldn’t help his case at all.

Besides, the punishment should they find out…

He shuddered to think of it. No; it would be better to stay out all night if he had to.

…read more in issue three of Shall We Read!

Coming soon :)))