Setting: A chilly spring afternoon in Yaroslavl, Russia. Two friends, Misha (the superstitious one) and Andrei (the rational one), are walking home after grabbing groceries. The sidewalk is slushy, the sky is overcast, and the smell of fresh bread wafts from a nearby bakery.
Misha: (excitedly) Andrei, you won’t believe what happened at the bus stop today. I was standing between two Olgas — one on each side. Naturally, I made a wish.
Andrei: (laughing) Of course you did. Let me guess — world peace? Or a lifetime supply of pelmeni?
Misha: Neither. I wished for my boss to get the flu so I could finally have a quiet week at work.
Andrei: (grinning) You know, statistically, there’s probably a higher chance your boss catches the flu because he doesn’t wash his hands — not because you were sandwiched between two Olgas.
Misha: Don’t ruin it with science. This stuff works, Andrei. Last month I did it between two Alexanders — wished for my phone to start working again after it fell in snow. Next morning? It powered on like magic.
Andrei: You dried it in a bowl of rice overnight. That’s not magic, that’s basic water absorption.
Misha: Coincidence? I think not.
Andrei: Misha, the human brain is amazing at spotting patterns. Even when there aren’t any. It’s like when people see faces in clouds — we’re wired to find meaning. You make a wish, something good happens, and suddenly the tradition is validated. But what about all the wishes that didn’t come true?
Misha: Like what?
Andrei: Didn’t you once wish for snow on your birthday because you think it makes the day “feel more magical”?
Misha: Yes, and it didn’t snow. But that’s because I was between a Sergey and an Irina. Different names cancel the wish.
Andrei: (mock astonishment) Ah, of course! How could I forget the sacred rule of symmetric nomenclature.
Misha: (laughing) Don’t mock it! Grandma says it comes from the old days — names were powerful. Being between two people with the same name creates a kind of “energy corridor.”
Andrei: Misha, your grandmother also believed putting a knife under your pillow would stop nightmares.
Misha: And it worked! I didn’t dream at all that night.
Andrei: Because you were terrified of impaling yourself in your sleep. Fear trumps REM cycles.
Misha: You always need an explanation, don’t you? Can’t you just feel the universe giving you a wink sometimes?
Andrei: I do feel wonder. But I find it in stars, black holes, particle physics — things that actually have mechanisms we can study. Not mystical name sandwiches.
Misha: So what, you’re saying I shouldn’t make wishes anymore?
Andrei: No, no. Make wishes. Dream big. Just… don’t count on the universe rearranging itself based on name tags at a party.
Misha: Fine. But when I end up getting promoted after standing between two Yuris tomorrow, don’t come crying to me.
Andrei: (chuckling) Deal. But if it rains frogs, I’m blaming you.
Misha: Seriously though, you don’t ever do anything — even a little bit — just for luck?
Andrei: Well… I do knock on wood sometimes. But only to keep you from lecturing me about “jinxing.”
Misha: Ha! Gotcha. See? You do believe, a little.
Andrei: I believe in you, Misha. Which is why I’ll stand next to you and another Andrei tomorrow — just in case the wish is about me.
Science Vs Superstition 
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