For a long time, Zhenya did not remember such a summer. Two or three years in a row there was so-so summer - the clouds were constantly, and even mixed with rain. By September, all this was turning into a cool-cold drizzle every day, and everything began to seem like a moldy mushroom or a mossy stone. In short, fu.

And suddenly, without much hope, at the end of May, the spring somehow flowed smoothly into a warm summer. Then hot. And in July, when Zhenya came to the workshop to practice, the summer was indecently hot. 28 in the city at 9 am is, as they say, bust. By four o'clock in the afternoon not only asphalt melted, but also brains. And even girls in minimal outfits, and sometimes without bras, were not so pleased. To survive.

Making his way between large “boats” - the so-called container for stamped parts, really similar to boats with an elongated nose and almost vertical stern, Zhenya poured sweat from the heat of reddish forgings that came out of them. How can I work here, he thought. This is good at home, you can even climb into the shower at least five times a day. And here?..

If only the air conditioner was beating with a desperate hope inside Eugene, who followed the assistant of the personnel of the workshop, Sergey Valentinovich, climbed the iron staircase to a high second floor; inferior, but at least so ...

They finally reached the door with a sign "Economists". Knocking, entered.

“Good morning, ladies,” said Sergey Valentinov cheerfully. - Accept replenishment. Trainee, please love and favor. Eugene Cat.

In a small room with a window almost the entire wall were two girls, dark blond and almost blonde. The years are about the same, as Zhenya estimated, 26-27. Although maybe a year more, he is not a professional. Dressed like a summer, blond in a white blouse and cream skirt, blonde in a white sleeveless dress. Both are pretty, blonde slightly thinner features, but blonde has rounded shapes.

- Hello, I am Eugene, - said Eugene, taking a step forward.

On the face of the girls, the affection passing into confusion was clearly readable. As if someone else was expected to be seen. What's wrong? - Eugene tried to figure out. It seems to be dressed normally, a shirt with short sleeves and light pants. Priches, washed, shaved ...

“Hello,” said the dark blond, first to control herself. - I'm Olga, this is Victoria, - a nod in the direction of the blonde. - Well, we will help with advice if we can.

“Well, that’s good,” Sergei Valentinovich quite clapped his hands. - Introduce the young man, okay? Tomorrow, drop by for me, sign for the practice.

And he went out.

There was silence. Zhenya looked at the girls, girls looked at Zhenya. The voltage grew and was already almost perceptibly humming, like inside a transformer. It seems that the practice did not work, Zhenya thought, feeling upset. Something I did not please them, that's just what? ..

- Something is wrong? - he decided to ask, because it was getting quite uncomfortable.

The girls looked at each other, and then blonde Victoria suddenly smiled and said:

- No, you excuse us. We just thought you were ... a girl.

—?

- We were told that Zhenya Koshka will come to practice. We thought that girl. More smiles - I mean, what is the last name, - said Olga. - And then you, we were taken aback a bit. Somehow they did not think that Zhenya was Eugene.

- Aa, - Eugene smiled too, relaxing. - Well, yes, it often happens. We still have Valentin Gurevich in the group, there have also been situations.

- Well, let's settle down, - said Olga. - Let's go straight to “you”, and more convenient, and faster. Here's a table for you, not great, of course, but you can work. What course are you on?

- I switched to the fourth.

- Do you remember what we had after the third? - Olya turned to Vick.

“So,” she answered vaguely, looking at Zhenya. - If you recall, then of course.

“If you start asking, it will be clear,” Olya concluded.

Cheering, Zhenya put the bag on the table. He took out a paper, course sketches, a calculator and a telephone.He did not like to count on the phone, although it could be. There is a handy thing - use. It is convenient to consider a calculator, not a telephone.

- And lunch at 12? - He asked, when he brought everything on the table in some correspondence.

“Yes,” answered Vika. - Where is the dining room?

Zhenya shook his head, did not have time yet. And the personnel officer did not touch on this topic.

- We will show, - Olga nodded.

Having asked the girls for data on the shop, Zhenya managed to estimate the amount of work before lunch - it turned out very well for coursework. We'll have to puff, but there will be something to show in the fall.

Meanwhile, the room was getting hot. A large window gave good lighting, but the air heated the hoo. Zhenya wiped sweat on the sly, then began to do it openly. It was noticeable that the girls are also hot. First Vika, and then Olya unbuttoned the upper buttons of the dress and blouse, periodically fanning themselves with paper as a fan. Well, we will be at the end of the day, Zhenya thought. And by the end of the summer? ..

The way to the dining room was not so far, about five minutes in the workshop. Well at least not by its hottest part. Looking at steamed, red-faced and sometimes dirty workers, Zhenya was amazed - how can one work in such conditions? It’s like in a bathhouse, even open gates to the workshop do not save.

Olya and Vika did not stand in line, brought Zhenya to the dining room and went back, saying that they had everything with them. Well, why not, he thought, they cooked for themselves - homemade is definitely tastier. Although his taste in the dining room was fed very well, and not so expensive.

Returning, Eugene found a closed door. Strange, he thought, where are they? I knocked a couple of times, waited a bit. No one has opened. Okay, a little walk.

Having got out on the street, Zhenya quickly slipped into the shadow of the old Poplar, under which the workers rested on the benches in many places. Having tracked the end of dinner by the hour — only about ten minutes remained — Zhenya returned to the workshop. The doors were open, the girls were in place. He already wanted to ask them - where were you? But he changed his mind - you never know, maybe they went to the toilet. Anyway, what are the questions on the first day?

But in the second and the third nothing has changed. Zhenya from lunch - the office is closed. He even waited all the time near the door. So it was - closed from the inside, he clearly heard the turn of the key. Immediately go after the turn, he did not. Although it was flushing. And I really wanted to ask - what kind of secrets are these? But ... The girls treated him well, helped with advice and was uncomfortable to run into.

Had to endure. Most likely, the girls ate in the office and did not want to be disturbed. Understandable desire, Zhenya, too, felt uneasy at the institute’s canteen. Then I got used to it. Girls are probably more sensitive in this regard.

But there was something else that Zhenya understood only a week later. This sensation grew gradually, but nevertheless it was covered in him by understanding.

By the end of the day, his shirt was wet on his back and in the armpits, although he did not work in the workshop. Just stuffy was stupefied. And the girls at least henna. It seems to be too hot before lunch, and after it, like cucumbers. What a magical transformation? ..

The only table fan, Zhenya, had time to look at the second day, when girls asked him. Recovery could not be due to a burned out engine. What are they refreshing themselves with, Zhenya wondered. This mystery unexpectedly fascinated him. It is for this reason that they close in the office, he realized. But what are they doing there?

The temptation to know it grew stronger and stronger. And with the mouth of Eugene, she said

“Girls, I'll have lunch here tonight, with you.” Do you mind?

Probably the grenade would have exploded with less effect. Even with my meeting with them, this was not, thought Zhenya with some chill in her chest. But did not play back. No, I'll get to the bottom of the truth.

“Well ...” Vika said uncertainly, looking either at Olya or at him. - Of course not...

- Yes, no problem, - Olga squeezed out a smile.

“Thank you,” Zhenya nodded with a smile.

By the end of the day, the girls looked tired and they were ...