Romachkin is an old, little, sickly looking man. He is Kostia's neighbor. Romachkin is an assistant clerk in the wages department of the Moscow Clothing Trust. His hair is always neatly brushed, his skin is sallow, and he has thin lips. Romachkin's colorless eyes often show fear. He is appalled when he realizes how much the newspapers lie to the public. He knows from his job that the statistics are being tampered with, and the U.S.S.R. is not as successful a country as the leaders would like citizens to believe.