In our youth, we tend to consider our opinion the most important and the only correct one. Adults, invading our plans, appear as backward formalists as usual. The hero of the story, seventh-grader Yana, thinks in a similar way when the teacher hastily orders to congratulate veterans, violating her plans. But, faced with tragedy, Yana, with the sensitivity characteristic of children’s hearts to distinguish between good and evil, learns new facets of responsibility and friendship with peers. There is personal maturation and the opening of new horizons in the field of human knowledge. It is noteworthy that the author interprets the famous Christian parable. In it, the father calls his sons to work in the vineyard. The first son agrees, but does not come, and the second son refuses, but, after thinking, fulfills the assignment. Thus, the story and the parable emphasize the importance of deeds, and not just words and promises. The story is based on real events of 1984, the names have been changed. “On the Eve of Victory Day” was first published in the magazine “Day and Night”, 4/2020.