Marya, Alexei and the New Bridge

Two merchants, one in Moscow and one in Kyiv, had been friends for many years. One year, the Moscow merchant had a daughter named Marya, and the Kyiv merchant…

Two merchants, one in Moscow and one in Kyiv, had been friends for many years. One year, the Moscow merchant had a daughter named Marya, and the Kyiv merchant had a son named Alexei. The fathers often wrote to each other and hoped that their children would meet someday. They made no plans on their behalf: when Marya and Alexei grew up, they would decide for themselves whether they wanted to meet.

Eighteen years passed. Marya helped her family run their trading business and enjoyed puzzles that called for ingenuity. Alexei studied roads, bridges, and the design of carts. One day, his father told him about his old friend in Moscow and suggested that he visit. Alexei was curious to meet the Moscow family, so he set out on the journey.

Just outside Moscow, a river blocked the road. The bridge had planks only halfway across, and there were no spare ones nearby. Alexei dismounted and devised a solution: one by one, he removed the planks he had already crossed and laid them down in front of him. Step by step, he reached the opposite bank. City craftsmen noticed him there. Together, they brought new planks and finished the deck so that everyone could use the bridge.

News of the resourceful traveler reached Marya. She sent a messenger with a full jug of milk, a round loaf of bread, and a basket containing twelve painted eggs. The messenger asked, “Is the sea within its shores, is the moon full, and are all the stars in place?” Alexei understood the riddle: the milk was the sea, the loaf was the moon, and the eggs were the stars. Once he had made sure everything had arrived intact, he replied, “The sea is within its shores, the moon is full, and all twelve stars are in place.”

The next day, Marya and Alexei met in the garden with both families. They immediately found plenty to discuss: Marya asked about the journey and the bridge, while Alexei asked about her riddle. Soon they spread paper across a table and began drawing a new bridge for the city. Their families supported the shared idea. Marya and Alexei decided to continue getting to know each other and to work on the project together: they enjoyed designing useful things as a team.