The day passed routinely, and I looked with indifference at the lecturer, who, waving his hands vigorously, extolled his subject and his capacity for rational thought. The lecture would have ended the same way as it did every time, but suddenly, at the end of the pair, the lecturer loudly announced to the audience that the students should not disperse, but must come to the assembly hall. Naturally, the students immediately started whispering and laughing. For them, it was fun. For me, it was another fuss and minutes of wasted time.

The assembly hall of the university was filled with curious and at the same time frightened students. I sat in the fourth row, wishing I could leave for the castle as soon as possible. A group of girls were seated next to me, and they immediately put their feminine charms into action, making eyes at me. I put my hands in my pockets and pretended as if I didn't notice that these girls existed at all.

Ten minutes had passed, and only when the students had become quite chatty did none other than the rector of the university himself enter the front doors with an important gait, and the buzz in the hall died down. The students rose noisily from their chairs in greeting. The rector walked to the stage, took the microphone in his hands and with a careless gesture allowed us to sit down.

– Good afternoon, students! – he said cheerfully.

– Good afternoon!" he replied with a raucous chorus of voices.

– I bet you're all wondering why I've gathered you here. Is that right?

– Yes! That's right! Nice tie! How long are we here for? – came from all directions.

– I admire your enthusiasm. But I'm very kind today, so only the fifth and sixth years will remain in the auditorium. Everyone else is dismissed!

The fifth and sixth year students grumbled unhappily, and the younger ones, with happy faces and a lot of noise, hurriedly left the hall. I gazed intently into their crowd, hoping to see that girl… Damn, what was I thinking! I forced myself to look at the stage and mentally scolded myself.

– Something very strange happened at our university: last academic year, many junior students passed the summer session so poorly that they were suddenly seized by a pestilence," the rector said sadly. – Algebra and physics were especially lame. On both legs.

– What's it got to do with us? – came a disgruntled voice from the gallery.

The students giggled.

– It's none of our business! – came another voice.

The laughter rose again.

– It concerns you most of all. You know, in today's world there are millions of academic programmes that we could adopt, but… I suddenly thought: why doesn't Charles University introduce its own? An experiment, so to speak. The older students, the luminaries of our alma mater, should help their younger comrades to prepare for the winter session…

The rector's proposal obviously did not please the audience: there was whistling, unhappy mooing and even silent swearing.

I couldn't hold back a sarcastic grin: people are completely mad!

– The essence of the experiment is quite simple: each of you will study with one of the junior students until the winter session: one, two, or maybe all the subjects he is not good with… – the rector continued his speech.

– Can I opt out of it? Is the programme voluntary? Why weren't we asked? – was heard from all sides.

– I don't understand why there's so much noise and sour faces? The experimental programme is involuntary, but it is compulsory for each of you! Everyone participates. However, it can be cancelled. – The Rector waited for a sigh of relief to spread through the hall before he continued, dashing my hopes with just three words. – But not you. Only those with whom you will be studying have the privilege of withdrawing from this magnificent programme. But I must personally see an objective reason for the cancellation. Are there no more questions?

There was silence in the hall.

– What a circus! – I said quietly, realising what a swamp I had got myself into.

– After the meeting, everyone come to my office: there you will be given the names of your new friends. – The rector looked round the room carefully. – Anyone who does not comply with the experimental programme has every reason, to put it bluntly, to leave the university.

– But we pay for our studies! Why should we have to fulfil our teachers' duties? It's not fair! – shouted someone from the back row in a disgruntled tone. He was immediately supported by a rumble of voices.

– This experimental programme will only last for a few months. But of course, if you think that your money gives you the right to disobey the programme at Charles University, you can always transfer," the rector replied and switched off the microphone.

These words had a deafening effect: there was a dead silence in the hall.

The rector, probably satisfied with the result of his speech, left the hall. As soon as he disappeared into the corridor, the hall seemed to explode: students were loudly indignant and complained to each other about the blatant injustice. Everyone was displeased. But I kept silent, hiding my discontent deep in my soul.