When I imagined the smells in the house, I hurried away, citing an urgent trip to the shop to get notebooks and pens for my studies. I grabbed my purse, quickly put on my sneakers and jacket, and stormed out of the house without even asking Mary where I could find the shop. But I found it quickly: there was a big bookshop in our street. I took some notebooks, two notebooks, eight pens of different colours to write the titles of topics and sections, some simple pencils, a ruler, a sharpener, an eraser, and took all this to the checkout. The cashier was a nice young man who smiled at me.

I put the items on the register and asked him to give me a bag.

– You must have just got in? Oxford? – The cashier suddenly asked, glancing at what I had brought.

– Yes» I answered briefly, not looking at him: I didn't want to talk to him.

– Which college? – He asked again.

– St John's» I answered reluctantly, glancing at him, but not really understanding why he was asking me that.

– I study there, too. Second year. It's a great college! – he said, putting my things in a bag and smiling at me.

– That's great. – I opened my wallet. – How much do I owe you?

– Twelve pounds» the guy replied.

I handed him the ill-fated hundred quid that Mary hadn't accepted. The guy counted out the change and gave it to me with the bag.

– You know what…» He hesitated. – If there's anything you need or don't understand, you can ask me: new student always have a hard time – I've been there myself.

– Thanks, I'll know. – I took the bags and quickly left the shop to avoid further pointless conversation with the brash salesman.

At that moment, I was reminded of how people around me react to my appearance. Looks, for crying out loud! It's like I'm a pretty wrapper! A beautiful doll with a void instead of a brain! I was even willing to put up with the horrible smells of Mary's food, just so I wouldn't have to face the attention of the people around me.

I got home, took off my sneakers and jacket, put the bag of stationery on the bed in my room, and went into the kitchen to ask Mary the question that had been bugging me.

– Mary, do you think I'm stupid? – I asked, as soon as I entered the kitchen.

– Wow, what a question! No, I don't think you're stupid. On the contrary, I think you're a very clever girl to have got into Oxford» Mary said, and ran the back of her hand over her face, leaving marks of anguish on it.

– Then why does everyone else think otherwise? – I asked resentfully.

– Who does?

– It's just that I heard two blokes talking today, and they thought I didn't get into Oxford because I'm smart.

– Don't listen to any idiots. How many idiots are there in the world? – Mary opened the lid of the pan and looked at the meat. – I'll tell you a big but banal secret: there are many losers in our town who couldn't get into any college, especially Oxford, so they get angry and take out their offence on everyone around them, especially on beautiful girls, because they are the easiest to offend.

– So it's all about my looks? – I was upset at the thought.

– Exactly: you are very beautiful and you make a stunning impression on people… Oh, I think the meat is burning! – Mary began to turn the meat over to the other side. – Even Harry said you're insanely beautiful, and he's very objective about women's beauty… He said if you weren't so thin, he'd fall in love with you.

– Don't mention it» I asked, feeling awkward and inexplicably ashamed: I was embarrassed to hear what Mary's brother thought of me. I didn't even feel bad that Harry had said that about me, and called me skinny.