My family is Russian, which means Polina is half-Russian. This year, my daughter has been taking an online class in Russian history. Recently, the teacher talked about Alexander Pushkin, considered the greatest writer in Russia.

The impact Pushkin had on Russia cannot be understated. You cannot pass through Russia without passing through Pushkin in one form or another. It is not uncommon for a portrait of Pushkin to hang on a Russian family’s wall. He is the first person most Russians think of when thinking about writers. In fact, in Russia, his name is almost synonymous with writing.

Pushkin’s birthday is coming up June 6. That day is now a celebration of the Russian language.

The teacher explained the circumstances of Pushkin’s premature death at age 37, at the hands of his nemesis, D’Anthès. This is a great tragedy, because how much more would he have written had he lived. The following is an exchange I overheard between the teacher and the class. (The exchange was in Russian, so I translated it.)

Teacher: They met in a duel. Children, ask me what is a duel. Do you all know what is a duel? Kolya knows. Polina, do you know?

Polina: Is it a dance?

Teacher: No, it’s not a dance. They didn’t meet to dance.

And I thought, cleaning the house as I was listening to the class, how the history of Russia would have changed if Pushkin had met D’Anthès to dance.