Произведение «The Game in Wonderland » автора RATTy - Литературный сайт Fabulae (страница 1 из 9)

THE GAME IN WONDERLAND

Chapter 1
The sun hadn’t yet risen high, but the city was no longer asleep. People were bustling, rushing to work, and many were already at work.
- Get up! The sun has already risen, and you, you lazy girl, haven't even opened your eyes yet! Katerina Viktorovna shouted, knocking on the door of her daughter Sofia's room. In fact, she was wrong - Sofia had already gotten up more than an hour ago, and now she was sitting and repeating the theory, since the algebra test was supposed to take place today.
- I'm coming, I'm coming! Sofia shouted back.
The girl got up, stretched, and went to the window, opened the curtains, letting the morning light into the room. Then, opening the window, she looked out into the street. Everything is as usual: the same gray houses, gray sky, gray streets and gray people rushing to work. How boring it all is! Nothing new or interesting. How she would like to go on a trip now, and have the wind blowing in her face and blowing her hair! Sofia shuddered slightly – these are just dreams, this did not happen, no, and apparently it will never happen again. She tore herself away from the sight of this boring landscape, closed the window and hurried downstairs. There, of course, her family was already waiting for her and a traditional breakfast – oatmeal porridge and a cup of coffee. Sofia sat down in her seat and started eating. Her parents were the same as many residents of this city: work, home, and that's it. These gray days seemed to them an ideal life. They also taught their daughters Sofia and Alice to do the same. Alice was a complete copy of her parents. She dreamed of nothing, thought of nothing but studying and household chores, but Sofia was strikingly different from her family. She often dreamed of adventures and another life. She often stayed late at the city library to read another adventure novel about distant and mysterious countries, about different peoples and inventions. Her parents didn't really like it, but they couldn't influence it in any way, because they knew that if they took one book from their daughter, she would immediately find another.
Sofia hurried to eat her breakfast and left the house.
- Good luck at school! Write everything perfectly!- Her father called after her.
Sofia only uttered an inarticulate "Thank you!" and rushed out into the street. She went down the familiar road, with familiar thoughts. Passers-by passed by, lost in their own thoughts. Aren't they tired of this routine? Don't they really want to get out of this cycle? It really seems like this – these people are comfortable living in their usual affairs and worries. But what about her–Sofia? After all, she doesn’t want to live in all this, does not want to spend her whole life spinning between work and home. She wants to see this world, and maybe something besides this world...
...
School. All those gray, boring faces again. Textbooks, lectures, notes. Sofia's first lesson was history. The subject itself was interesting, but the teacher was completely unable to explain, so Sofia took out a book and plunged into the magical world of brave knights and beautiful ladies. Since childhood, Sofia has wanted to become a brave knight. Yes, for as long as she could remember, she had always wanted to become a knight, not a princess. It seemed to her that she had everything for this – courage, strength, dexterity and the ability to react quickly in different situations. She never shed tears. She had been taught from early childhood that tears were forbidden. She solved all her problems, whatever they were, on her own, without any outside help, and therefore working in a team was something terribly difficult for her.
- Sofia! We have a lesson!- Sofia's neighbor, Caroline, said in a loud whisper. Caroline Norris was not an excellent student, but she was always extremely attentive in class.
- I have already known this topic. I read about it the other day,- Sofia replied.
Caroline just pursed her lips. "A typical resident of this city!" thought Sofia, looking sideways at this girl.
At recess, Sofia and her good friend Mikhail Val went out to the school garden to discuss the latest news, which, however, was not so much. Mikhail watched a new movie and finished a school biology project, and Sofia told a friend about what she had just read. Mikhail listened with half an ear – literature didn’t seem to him to be something wonderful and interesting, and he would rather watch a new episode of his favorite movie than sit down to read. He knew about his friend's desire for adventure, but he didn’t share it in any way. He believed that life in his hometown was much better than a trip to an unfamiliar country where you didn't know what was waiting for you. But now the lesson began again. It was an important lesson–an algebra lesson. The test seemed easy to Sofia, and she solved it in just twenty minutes, and then continued reading the book.
- Sofia, you're doing great! The test is solved by four. There are computational errors, but the solution is correct," the teacher said, postponing the girl's work.
Sophia's eyes went dark. Four!? How does she tell her parents about this? How will they react to it?
But now, it's time to go home. The girl slowly wandered through the streets, composing excuses as she went, although I knew that condemnation from the family was inevitable. After all, what can change from this? Judging the family is nothing compared to how tired she is of all this! This city, her family, everything! Sofia's excitement was replaced by anger.
- How was the test?- Mother asked right from the doorway.
-Four, - Sophia replied, without expressing any emotion.
The mother's face changed. It's kind of petrified. All she said to her daughter was, "Uh-huh." After that, Sofia went up to her room and locked herself in order to sit quietly alone and think about all this in order. The girl quickly did all her homework, and, sitting down in an armchair, began to think about what to do next. She noticed the look on her mother's face–saw all the disappointment in those eyes. Without noticing it, Sofia has fell asleep right in the chair.
The girl woke up only when it was completely dark outside. She unlocked the door and went out into the hallway, shivering from the cold. There was no light anywhere. Only the faint light of a night light shone from under the door to the parents' bedroom. Parents were discussing something about Sofia. The girl tiptoed to the door and sat down next to it so that she could clearly hear what exactly the conversation was about.
- Honey, why are you so upset? Remember the proverb – there is not without a freak in the family," Dmitry Valeryevich said.
- Oh, what a shame! All the neighbors are already talking about our daughter's antics, but at least she doesn't care! She doesn't think at all about running a household, working, and now she's started bringing fours," Katerina Viktorovna swore.
- She's always been like this. Do you remember in kindergarten, all the children did beautiful and neat crafts, but ours is the devil knows what! I've always told her that.
-I remember, but that doesn't make me feel any better. After all, along with Sofia's reputation, Alice's reputation may also suffer. Oh, how terrible it is!
- We'll figure this out somehow. Now go to bed, get up early for work tomorrow. Good night.
- Good night, darling!
The night light went out, and the house was completely plunged into darkness, leaving Sofia sitting on the cold floor in the hallway. Sofia didn't hear anything new. She knew what her parents thought of her, but she, like any other child, was very hurt by it. How she would like her parents to be as proud of her as Alice! However, this has never happened: her crafts are crooked, she can't sing, she dances terribly, she cooks disgusting. Throughout her life, she had heard only this from her parents. At first, her sister supported her, but now, realizing her superiority, Alice has distanced herself from her. Now Sofia was completely alone, useless to anyone. There was only one support left – books. Only the mighty power of literature kept her afloat. Sofia got up and slowly wandered to her room, where she fell on the bed and lay there until dawn.
Chapter 2
At breakfast, Sofia gave no sign that she had heard their conversation. She was sitting at the table, her face buried in her plate, picking at the oatmeal porridge with lumps. Without eating a spoonful of porridge, she got up, took her bag and went outside. There was no sun, and the sky was gray and gloomy as usual. "There isn’t even a sun in this city!" said Sofia sadly. When she got to school, she suddenly remembered that she had forgotten a change of shoes: "Damn it!" thought Sofia, but turned around and went home to get a change of shoes. Alice was still at home.
- Did you forget your shift?- the sister asked, - You're going to be late for class now. The grief of the family! No wonder your parents keep saying that you're a disgrace to us!
- Leave Alice alone! I feel sick without you! - Sophia snapped.
- I'll tell Mom everything! Or better yet, Dad! - Alice threatened.
- Yes, tell anyone you want! It's not going to get any worse than it is! - Sofia said and ran out into the street so as not to listen to her sister's screams.
At the door of the school, the girl was met by a guard who muttered something about being late, but Sofia did not hear him. She was furious–the whole family was discussing her behind her back, and her sister was telling her about it now without any remorse! In the locker room, she met Mikhail and Karolina, who were also late. Karolina was rushing Mikhail, and Mikhail, apparently, was not in a great hurry for the first lesson. When Caroline saw Sofia, she asked why she was late, and she replied that it was none of her business.
Another girl ran into the locker room, tripping over her own foot. It was Agatha Morrymes, modest, shy and very trusting. No matter what anyone told her, Agatha believed everything. The girl was in poor health and was often ill.
- Hi,- Agatha said, raising her big blue eyes to the guys.
- Why are you late? Caroline asked sternly. Poor Agatha became agitated, blushed, and began to mumble something unintelligible.
- Caroline, leave people alone! Why are you late?- Mikhail asked, hanging his jacket on a hook.
-By the way, I was at a school meeting,- Karolina replied proudly, giving Mikhail a contemptuous look,- But you all don't have a good reason for being late. By the way, Agatha, did you know that today we are writing the final biology test? Have you been preparing for it? While you were gone, and we repeated everything, and what are you going to do?- Caroline asked, incinerating poor Agatha with her predatory gaze.
-I... I,- Agatha whispered, convulsively clenching and unclenching her fists. Now she turned pale sharply,- I was sick. I will ask that the topic be explained to me.
- Found a reason not to learn lessons!- said Caroline, - If you don't go to school, then you have to study at home. Besides, since you stay at home, you have to study twice as much, because you don't go to school. And you didn't do anything, and now you're standing there and justifying your laziness!
Agatha couldn't say anything else. Tears welled up in her eyes.
- Shut up, Caroline!- Sofia said sharply, pushing Caroline in the side, - You know perfectly well that Agatha has health problems, and that she sometimes physically could not learn lessons, - with these words Sofia approached Agatha, and slightly hugged her shoulders.
- If she hadn't been lazy, she would have felt great! Work heals,- Caroline said firmly.
- So get some treatment, but leave us alone! -Mikhail supported Sofia.
-I won't leave you alone until you come into the classroom and take your seats," Caroline insisted.
Ignoring Caroline, Sofia, Mikhail and Agatha left the locker room. They barely spoke as they climbed the deserted stairs.
- What is the lesson now? -Mikhail asked as they walked down the corridor.
- They don't even know what lesson we have! Caroline, who was walking behind everyone, muttered.
No one paid any attention to this caustic remark.
-Chemistry,- Caroline muttered.
Sofia and Mikhail exchanged glances, and Caroline, pushing everyone aside, made her way forward. The guys went to the chemistry room. Sofia was now trailing behind them all. Thoughts of her parents, of this life and of traveling returned to her, while catching up with an irresistible sadness. Suddenly, the sound of heels was heard in the distance.
"We're lost," Agatha moaned.
"Hush, maybe she will pass," Sofia said, although she had already seen the figure of the headmistress of their school from afar.
- What are you doing here? Don't you have a lesson?- The headmistress asked, looking around the whole company.
- I was at the meeting!- Caroline hastened to declare. The headmistress only nodded at this, and her gaze immediately turned to the others.
-I... missed the bus,- Mikhail lied, although in fact he just didn't want to go to the first lesson.
"I forgot my change of shoes, so I had to go back and get the bag," Sofia said, deciding that the truth wouldn't make it any worse.
An icy gaze fixed on Agatha. She stood motionless, and did not even seem to breathe. The headmistress did not scare the girl even more, so she let them go.
- Wait, young people!- She said after thinking for about a minute. When the guys looked around, her face was still thoughtful, but after a second she still made some kind of decision, -Come with me.
All four of them looked at each other. What else did they do? Sofia pursed her lips, Mikhail slightly shrugged his shoulders, Agatha turned pale, and then covered with red spots, and Caroline's face expressed extreme bewilderment. Arriving at the office, the guys began to look around. A small office, with simple furniture and flowers on the windowsill.
-Please, have a seat,- the headmistress said, sitting down in an armchair and taking out some papers. The guys obeyed and sat down on the sofa to the left of the door, - The conversation that I will have with you will be very interesting and long. You probably know that an experiment is being conducted in our city, in which schoolchildren participate. They are testing new equipment to help you test your wits. Four students from each school participate, the strongest, of course. The other day, I reviewed all the personal files of the students and decided that you are the most suitable candidates. How do you see it?
All four of them thought about it. New equipment, an experiment – it sounds tempting, but also dangerous. Sofia did not think for long: "Once such a chance has presented itself, we must not miss it!", Mikhail was skeptical about this idea: "Why would I do that? It's better to stay at home, eat, and then watch a new episode of the film," Caroline was proud that she was given such an honor: "I will become famous! How wonderful it is to participate in such an important event!", Agatha was interested, but scared: "But if I fail? If my health plays a trick on me? What will happen to Mommy and Daddy?"
-You said strong students, but I don't fit that description at all,- Agatha said timidly.
- You...,- said the headmistress, - You, my dear, are stronger than you seem to yourself.
Agatha looked at her with her clear eyes. There was a question in them - is this really the case? Is it true that she is stronger than she thinks? The headmistress only smiled faintly. Sofia bravely raised her eyes and said:
- Yes, I'm participating!
Mikhail looked at his friend and decided that it was by no means impossible to let her go alone, so he also agreed to "this adventure." Karolina followed the example of Sofia and Mikhail by accepting the invitation. Agatha alone remained undecided, because she knew perfectly well that these three were five times stronger and braver than her. Finally, she made this important decision for herself:
"I will participate," she said.
- Well, then, come to school the day after tomorrow at 14:10 exactly! Don't be late! They'll explain everything to you. You can take one of your relatives with you. Now you can go to lessons, -the headmistress said, - And also - thank you for your bravery," saying this, she looked at Agatha.
…
Sofia flew home on the wings of happiness. How long had she dreamed of doing something useful and necessary! How long had she been dreaming about traveling! This magnificent day is already so close! At home, she ran into the kitchen without taking off her jacket.
- Mom, Dad, Alice! I will participate in the experiment the day after tomorrow! It's going to be a wonderful adventure! I'm so happy! I was told that I could bring my family. You're coming, aren't you? Will you come, yes?
Alice looked up from the magazine:
- Like a test rat or something?
This remark could not overshadow the girl's joy completely, but it upset her a little.
- Shut up, Alice. You don't have to go! Mom, Dad, but are you sure you're coming?
- Oh, honey, I don't even know, - said Katerina Viktorovna, - There are a lot of things to do, and generally work.
-Yes, Sofia, you have to understand that people have a lot to do without your nonsense,- my father added.
Sofia just nodded in disappointment and walked briskly to her room.
- Well, I'll do fine without them!- the girl said to herself, being already in her room.
All evening she was tormented by longing, disappointment, sadness, and the only thing that supported