(MAN USER)

Summer of 1986.

A whirlwind of restless thoughts swirled in him, the scalding water in the bathroom for a moment became a cure, but at the same time a harsh reminder of the shame that he associated with these very thoughts. A suitcase lay on the bed, its contents–neatly arranged clothes–a fragile attempt to restore order amid the inner turmoil. His immediate goal is to fulfill his duties as a camp counselor and diligently continue his studies. Only then would he be able to discuss this topic with his parents, uncover the unwanted truth and find a cure, a way to get rid of his illness. Volodya tried his best to accept and comprehend the very concept of attraction to his gender, in other words, to boys. Shame silenced any questions, silenced even the slightest hint of a wrong thought. The very idea that he loved boys was crazy, unimaginable.

Anxiety plagued Volodya in the days leading up to the camp. What if those forbidden feelings resurface and are directed at someone like his cousin? With an effort of will, he pushed away the paranoid thoughts, those persistent doubts that swarmed in his head like flies flocking to sweets. Filled with determination, Volodya went to the camp.

His arrival was uneventful. He was appointed second counselor to the fifth squad, a group consisting of children between the ages of six and eight. Already anticipating the difficulties associated with managing such a young team, Volodya listened attentively to Irina's story about the infamous troublemaker who was a frequent participant in the camp, and according to her was a bully.

The first day brought with it a lot of responsibilities. The task of leading a theater group, which culminated in a military-themed performance at the end of the lesson, fell heavily on Volodya.

The lonely Volodya, huddled against the chilly breath of the empty theater stage, scrupulously filled out the pages of a notebook. In the silence of the hall, images of the future production were born, he carefully weighed the possibilities of each participant, trying on their talents to the characters of the characters. His thoughts about finding a young talent who could enliven the music of the play were interrupted by the rapid appearance of a boy in a scarlet cap. The morning incident with the broken light bulbs and the subsequent punishment in the form of instructions to look after the restless tomboy instantly came back to my memory. "Another problem." – a thought flashed through his mind with quiet annoyance.

"Fortunately, there is no role for you in the play, but you could help create the scenery. Do you play any instrument?" – Volodya asked, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose with a practiced movement.