First Place by the Rules

Alice won the city olympiad — and an hour later learned that the rival had been disqualified over a slip in the answer sheet, though he solved every problem. The coach says the win was fair and will not change his mind. The certificate goes face down into a drawer.

Half a year of preparation fits into three seconds on stage: Alice takes first place at the city olympiad. Then in the foyer it emerges how that happened — Dima from another school was disqualified over a slip in the answer sheet, though he solved every problem. The coach, Igor Lvovich, shrugs: the rules are the same for everyone, the sheet is part of the task, the win was fair. He is not being sly; he genuinely thinks so and will not change his mind. At home the certificate is not hung on the wall but laid face down in a drawer. Alice reads the regulations end to end and confirms it: by the letter, the coach is right. Half a day in the committee corridor ends with the chairman spreading his hands — there will be no review. So Alice puts the certificate on his desk. Dima is not given the place either. At school people tap their temples, the coach says "waste" in the corridor and greets everyone as before. A gap stays in the display case.