I never thought about why we hate Katya Olina. It just happened. They give us porridge and a cheese sandwich for breakfast, we solve problems in math, we have a vacation in summer, and we hate Katya Olina. That's it. This is how it is with us.
It started in first grade, with a game called Katya Olina. Someone runs up to you at recess, claps on the shoulder and shouts happily: “You are Katya Olina!” Frankly speaking, the feeling is not pleasant. It's like putting an ugly slug on his shoulder. And you can't just get rid of it, you can't throw it off. You should definitely transfer it to someone else, otherwise you'll be walking like this forever.
— Watch out! Katya Olina as Dashka! — everyone around you is yelling, warning each other about danger, and running away from you as if you're a zombie or some other monster.
And there's only one thing you're thinking about: you could pass this disease on to someone as soon as possible so that you don't have to be Katya Olina for a whole lesson. But it doesn't always work out right away. Especially when everyone knows that today you are Katya Olina.
Sometimes you're incredibly lucky to meet Katya Olina herself, the real one, in the hallway or in the dining room. You'll pass your curse on to her and finally be cleansed! The main thing here is to tap her lightly so as not to make her angry and run away, or else she'll catch her up, grab her, and now you're Katya Olina again.
Katya Olina is big, strong, with thick white hands. Her hair is short, just like a boy. And the clothes are boyish, even full of holes in some places. And she would probably make a great, moderately cocky boy if she hadn't been a fifth grader named Katya Olina.
Everyone knows that Katya Olina is a sophomore. She is a cut taller and twice as wide as all her classmates. I don't know if they're playing Katya Olina among themselves or if they're just trying to avoid her. I would never agree to study in the same class as Katya Olina. It's scary to be at the same school with her. What if you imagine that the dining room doesn't wash the fork she ate with? Or the glass she drank from? It's better not to eat in the canteen at all then!
But there are also textbooks that Katya Olina used. Mishka once came across such a textbook. There, on the front page, an ominous inscription is written in the corner in pencil: “Katya Olina”. Mishka turned pale, as if he were about to vomit, and invited Costa to switch.
- What's wrong with yours? — Kostya was wary.
This is where everything about Katya Olina came to light. Anyway, Mishka had no choice but to throw this damn textbook into the trash. And his mom had to buy a new one because she had to report to the library.
Going for a walk with Katya Olina is also a problem: she gets in with everyone. The boys don't want her on the soccer field, so she hits them. He yells and hits. They just don't have time to give up: the homeroom teacher comes running and takes Katya Olina, who is crying, away from “these ill-mannered hooligans”. It's kind of unfair, because they just didn't do anything wrong to her.
One thing is not clear to me: what is wrong with Katya Olina? Why can't she be a normal girl?
Apparently, her mom was also very concerned about this issue. She recently saw a school counselor and let's be outraged:
— Where do you all look when my child is being bullied?! Yes, she comes in tears and bruises every day!
We stopped in the hallway to listen. Of course, I wanted to tell Katya's mother Olina that her daughter made us bruise enough to count. But we were afraid that mom might fight better than her daughter? Who knows them, these Olins!
You see, the psychologist said quietly, “it's like a stereotype.” Perhaps Katya once offended someone herself or had an argument with the guys, and since then they haven't seen her... as a friend, and she responds aggressively. A vicious circle.
— Yes, this is bullying! Real bullying! — Katya's mother Olina was struggling.
This is such a special niche, the psychologist said cautiously. “Each classroom has certain niches that children occupy.” A niche for an excellent student, a niche for a bully, a niche...
Katya Olina's mother turned green and screamed, pointing her finger at the psychologist:
— Yes?! So tell me — what is my Katya's niche?
We perked up our ears. We'll finally find out what's wrong with Katya Olina! The greatest secret will be revealed.
But the psychologist did not live up to our expectations. She just said quietly:
— Special.
At home, I specifically looked at what a “niche” is. It turns out to be a recess in the wall where statues are placed to make them stand out and everyone can see how special they are.
If I were the statue, I would be very proud to have earned my own niche. But Katya Olina had a bad niche.
Since then, I've often wondered if Katya could somehow get out of this niche. Well, so we can stop being afraid of her, so that this terrible game doesn't happen. And Katya must be tired of it — she doesn't even have anyone to pass her curse on. Until someone slaps you on the shoulder shouting “You're Katya Olina!” , you'll never understand what a terrible shame this is. But if it weren't for the game, maybe the curse would have disappeared by itself.
Once I told my mom about Katya Olina. What if she knows a reliable way to get out of the niche? Mom promised to think about it.
My mom invited the whole class to my birthday party. My parents made lots of games like Twister, and the prizes were a whole bag of sweets.
But the fun didn't last long, and not because the prizes were over, they were overflowing, but because the apartment got a call. Mom ran to open it, and then she had the worst nightmare! — Katya Olina. Our jaws are still drooping.
Never mind, she'll be driven away now, Mishka whispered.
— How impudent! Came uninvited! — Galya grumbled, adjusting her festive cap.
Mom, although she knew about the curse, was not at all afraid of Katya Olina and brought her hand to us. We looked at Katya with our eyes bulging with fear. We wanted to run away out of habit, but you don't really run around the apartment. And there are not enough nooks and crannies to hide for everyone. They stood like silent statues until Mom offered to play Twister.
Of course, Katya Olina won: anyone who accidentally touched her immediately fell down like he had been shot and was out of the game.
And so Katya Olina climbed into the bag with a thick white hand. We froze in horror: she fumbled around with her fives there and touched all the candy!
I'm going to vomit now, Nastya whined plaintively.
“Well mom! How could you do this to me on my own birthday!” — I thought I was desperate.
And then Katya Olina took a handful of candy out of the bag and handed it to us.
You gave in to Twister for me to win, so everyone deserved the prize!
Poor Katya! She thought we were playing seriously with her and giving in because she seemed to be new. Nobody wanted to take anything from her hands, but we were also afraid to fight with her in front of adults.
Suddenly I heard a rustle on the right. Kostya unwrapped his lollipop and put it in his mouth. When he noticed that everyone was looking at him, he just shrugged his shoulders:
— Come on, we're all already...
He wanted to say “Katya Olina” but he stumbled.
It's true that we all touched Katya in one way or another. There was no one to pass the curse on. We unwrapped Katina's prize candies and ate them calmly. It looks like we're immune now.
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