Having gone up to the fourth floor and having clarified the number of the office from the guard, I joined the queue of those who wanted to get this place. The girls were just like a selection, as if they came off the cover of a magazine. I nervously pulled up the sleeves of my jacket. Though it was already too big for me. Ramila was taller than me and a little bigger in important strategic places, but she wouldn't let me wear hers. I didn't have any new or unwashed clothes. Unless you count jeans and sweatshirts.

" Go, get outta here!”

The blonde girl jumped out of the office and, snorting, ran down the hall. She was followed by a tall, overweight middle-aged woman with a short haircut.

" Who's language level is based on: "I can hardly read and don't understand", you are free to go! " she said.

No one moved. I got discouraged. If such beauties want to get a place, it means the salary is decent. Besides, bosses prefer legs to brains.

" And knowledge of what language is required? " I ventured to ask.

Indeed, if they need Spanish or some Portuguese. And I do not know them. Then it turns out I'm standing here for nothing.

" Come in," the recruiter told me.

" I'm the last one in.”

" If you keep mumbling like that, you'll be the last one in. Come on in.”

I ducked inside the office, to the angry stares of the crowd. And handed over the folder with diplomas.

" Ms.Clarke. And Ms. Adams . Well, very good. Here, read it.”

Ms. Adams handed me a sheet of English text. I exhaled with relief and read it. It was about launching an application on a smartphone. Then there was a description of what it did.

" Ms. Adams! Did you find it? He's already asking! And tell me what to do with it!?!”

A pleasant young woman flew into the office. She stumbled with excessive emotion, catching her heels on the threshold.

" There's the applicant.”

" And this?”

The girl shook the papers.

" Julia, calm down and show me.”

The blonde, nervously waving the crumpled sheets, collapsed on the chair next to me and put them on the table. I glimpsed it, noting the familiar hieroglyphics.

" The partners sent it. He asked: "What's this?" What should I say? Why start a business without knowing the language? I don't even understand what they want!”

" They don't want to, they announce their arrival in a month," I intervened.

" Do you know Chinese? " Ms.Adams was surprised.

" Just a little bit. I am self-taught.”

" You are accepted! " Julia blurted out. " Translate the letter to the end!”

" First I'll formalize her. And tell Mr.Roberts about the arrival. And that the letter will be fully translated tomorrow.”

I clapped my eyes shut. I didn't expect it to be so mundane.

__________

* All coincidences are coincidental!

The house Ramila got was on the Leningradskoe highway between Khimki and Zelenograd. She took a bus to the right stop and headed for the house along the broken road.

Honestly, when my friend told me that the house was in the suburbs, I expected it to be much worse, and further away. In fact, it turned out that there is a small gap between Moscow and Moscow suburbs.

The house, too, was much better than one could assume: one floor, four rooms with a veranda and a bathhouse.

And what pleased me most of all was the neighboring street from the road. And to go not far and nothing in the room from the rushing past trucks does not bounce.

" How was it? " Ramilya asked, leaning out of the window up to her waist.

" They got me.”

" Yes! " Ramilya jumped up, almost falling out of the window. " Ours won!”

I didn't say anything and went into the house. Personally, I wasn't at all sure of victory. Tomorrow is the first day of work, and I will meet with him. How will our meeting go? What will he say to me?

"You've been hired, so why are you so glum? " Ramila asked.

" I don't want to see him," I confessed.

" He doesn't want to see you… Or rather, he doesn't expect to see you. I can imagine him coming into the waiting room and seeing you… God, why can't I see his face at that moment?!”

Ramila laughed and disappeared into the kitchen again. I took off my clothes and changed into an old laundered robe. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and slipped into my trampled slippers. It took about ten minutes, along with removing my makeup, and the whole time I regretted that I'd given in to my friend's entreaties.