Maxim beamed. As the bell rang, he realized that math wasn't a monster to be defeated, but a puzzle waiting to be solved. He packed his bag, feeling like the king of the third grade—at least until tomorrow’s Russian language lesson.
The problem in front of him wasn't just a math equation; it was a riddle. It involved three trains, several kilograms of apples, and a mysterious "X" that refused to be found. Maxim’s pencil hovered over his notebook, the tip worn down to a blunt nub. He looked at his best friend, Anya, who was already scribbling furiously. "Did you get the 'X'?" he whispered.
With a surge of energy, Maxim began to write. The numbers flowed. The "X" surrendered. He reached the final answer: 24.