– The girl from the shop! Is that you?» I heard a familiar male voice beside me.

It was Andrew, Mary's ex-guyfriend.

– Hi» I said, confused.

– Hi! Why are you hiding here? – He was wearing a black robe, too.

– This may seem silly and funny to you, but I'm completely lost! I don't know what to do or where to go! – I exclaimed, delighted by his appearance: how timely he was! No, it's not that… How marvellous that he came!

– Then let me take you where you need to go: the freshmen are about to take their oaths» said the guy.

– What would I do without you? – I said with sincere gratitude. – I'm Misha, by the way.

– Misha » he said again. – And my name is Andrew. Come on, we need to get your coat.

And that's right: now I saw that his robe was on top of his black coat.

I picked up my coat from the cloakroom, put it on, then the gown, a cap on my head, and Andrew and I walked out into the courtyard, which was already lined with hundreds of students. The guy led me to the organised rows of freshers and walked away. The freshers standing next to me were chatting merrily, and I was just very nervous, not at all understanding what was happening and what was going to happen.

– Hi, did you just get in too? – suddenly asked me the neighbour on my left – a nice smiling girl.

– Hi, yeah. And to be honest, I'm insanely excited! – came out of my mouth.

– Oh, I know exactly what you mean: I'm the same. Where are you from? You have a strange accent.

– From Poland» I answered and smiled: I was very pleased that she had spoken to me.

– Far away from here… And I'm from Scotland. My name is Ellie.

– I'm Misha. You know, I'm very confused.

Ellie laughed softly.

– Me too. We can… – She didn't finish, because at that moment an elderly grey-haired man in a robe (but not like ours) and a cap came up to the podium and greeted the students. A thunderous applause erupted in response. I followed the students' actions, but I still felt like an unimaginable dumbass.

– Let's be friends, Misha! I don't know anyone here! – Ellie whispered to me after a moment's pause.

– I'd love to, because I don't know anyone here either! – I told her.

– And the guy who brought you?

– He just helped me» I explained.

– Yeah, I see! Shit, I'm so worried! – Ellie laughed softly.

– Me too! – I smiled back.

Soon I calmed down a bit and was able to focus on what was happening: there were hundreds of robes and enthusiastic happy faces around me, young and friendly. Everyone was smiling.

«That's what people are like when they're happy! But they will give this place some of their youth. That's sad» I thought as I watched the students.

I don't remember what happened next: I remember some kind of disorder, professors coming to the podium and saying something, students applauding… Chaos, incomprehension and fog in my head. Then the freshmen recited the pledge. Lots of noise, clapping, speeches, smiles, but I remembered almost nothing and was pretty disappointed.

«And this is what I'm supposed to remember for the rest of my life – the first day at the first university of my life? This chaos? Am I going to be able to fondle myself with these memories afterwards if I realised almost nothing but worrying and looking around? What a disappointment!» – I thought unhappily when all the activities were over and I could go home.

But one thing I remembered for sure: that October day was cloudy, and sometimes drizzled a small nasty rain, but no one paid any attention to it – everyone was completely engrossed in what was happening. Everyone except me.