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Harry grinned.

– Four huge bags?

– Yeah.

– Did you bring the whole wardrobe with you?

– Almost» I answered seriously, frowning at his mocking tone. – But I don't think that's any of your business at all.

Harry blushed a little.

– 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. – He smiled embarrassedly.

– It's okay, and I'm sorry» I said, feeling extremely awkward.

We walked in silence to his car, a big grey Jeep. Harry started to put my bags in the boot, and I paid the baggage handler and tipped him.

Then Harry and I got into the car.

– Don't forget to buckle up» the guy said as he started the engine.

I grinned and buckled my seatbelt, Harry did the same, and only then did we pull out of the car park and onto the road.

– How did you recognise me? – I asked.

– It was easy: your sister told my mother that you were a beautiful, thin, long-haired blonde» he replied.

«I'm not that thin!» – I thought grudgingly. The compliment left me completely indifferent: I was fed up with the admiration of others. It annoyed me.

– Are the students moving in already? – I asked, turning the conversation to another topic.

– I think so, but to be honest I don't know, as I'm rarely in Oxford.

– Why? I thought you lived there.

– Almost. We only live there in the summer, and for the school year we rent a flat and move to London» said the guy. – Can I ask you something?

– Please. – I was very amused by his tetchy English.

– Why Oxford?

This question, often asked of me by my parents, made me smile.

– Because Oxford is my dream» I admitted honestly, glancing at Harry.

He smiled, and I thought about the fact that he was pretty good-looking. But then I tapped myself on the forehead with an open palm.

– Oh, I forgot! – came out of my mouth in Polish.

– What?» Harry asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise: he obviously didn't know Polish.

– I remembered that I forgot something very important in Poland! – I mumbled in English.

I had forgotten what I should have taken in the first place – Maria’s list of rules.

– It happens to everyone» Harry smiled. – By the way, you don't have to buy a bicycle, you can ride Mary's.

– Mary? – I asked.

– Yes, that's my sister. She's seventeen. She's gone to stay with our uncle in Scotland, and her bike is all yours.

– That's great» I said, but I didn't feel any joy.

– You and your sister look very much alike. How many years older is she than you? – The guy suddenly asked.

– Seven» I answered without thinking.

A rather pointless, banal question.

– I wouldn't say that: it's like you're the same age. And her hair is the same golden colour.

I grinned at his compliment on my hair.

– Sisters always look alike» I said.

– Yeah, I guess so.

We fell silent.

I decided to take advantage of the silence and call home as promised and ask my mum to send me Maria’s list.

Taking out my blue smartphone, I dialled my mum's number.

– Hi, I'm already in England. – I switched to Polish so Harry wouldn't understand my conversation with my mum.

– Hi, how was your flight? – Mum asked in a tired voice.

– It was great: there was an lady sitting next to me and she was snoring right in my ear» I replied with a smile. – Mum, I forgot something at home, could you send it to me by post?

– What is it?

– In my room, in one of my desk drawers, there's a piece of paper – it's the advice Maria wrote to make my long-suffering life at Oxford easier.

– Yes, I found it. It's funny, Maria has a real talent for satire.

– Send it to me today, will you? Ordinary post, registered mail. I'll text you the address.

– Okay. Where are you now?

– I'm on my way to Oxford. Hired a car.

«It's a good thing this mortal bloke doesn't speak Polish! I can't tell him I'm taking a taxi. «And I can't tell my mum I'm in a car with someone else!» – I was relieved

– OK. I'm working now, so I'll call you tonight.

– It's not necessary, but I'll call you when I'm free.

– I look forward to your call then , sweetheart.

– Bye, Mum.

I disconnected the call and noticed Harry was smiling.

– What's wrong? – I asked him.

– 'Polish is a bit strange and sounds funny to the English ear,' he replied. – But I think it's a very beautiful and original language.

– Thank you. But, you know, not many foreigners think so, – I said sincerely.

– Why?

– 'They think it has too many funny sounds, hisses and the like.

«Well, there, I've been breaking the most important rule for about half an hour now: don't socialise with people. But that's how you die of boredom!» – I thought mockingly.

We chatted all the way to Oxford, Harry telling me about his sister, about his family, about what Mary was like when he saw her. As for me, I didn't tell him anything about myself, but was careful to keep the conversation neutral.

Finally, we arrived in the city of my dreams. Oxford.

As soon as we got there, despite Harry's displeasure, I poked my head out the window to look at the streets: people were going somewhere, with and without their bags, a huge number of bicycles were scattering the roads, and I felt with all my soul that I was free at last. My dream had come true: I was in Oxford!

Harry stopped the car outside a two-storey stone house, a rather old-looking building that reminded me of the Morgans' castle in Prague.

– Welcome to your new home! – said the guy, getting out of the car.

I got out too and stared mesmerised at the marvel.

– I think I ordered a flat, not a house! – I exclaimed with sincere admiration.

– Well, yes, it is your flat. It's just that all the living rooms are on the ground floor, and the upstairs is where we keep the stuff we're leaving until next summer» Harry explained to me.