Brent watched the second hand creep around the face of the clock. He could hear Lindsay Harper behind him gathering her books together. Miss VanderPoole talked on about the importance of continuing good reading habits during the course of the summer. No one was listening. A lot of kids hadn't even come to school for the last day, now that report cards were mailed home.

The bell rang.

The class cheered. Brent leaped from his seat as the class swirled around him. Everyone rushed for the door.

Brent could hear Miss VanderPoole shouting after them to have a good summer. He turned and waved at her and she smiled back.

The hallway rang with the sound of banging lockers and running feet. Brent was jostled several times and gave a push or two back.

Tom stopped by Brent's locker and said, "You coming over to the swim club?"

"Maybe," Brent replied. "I'll see you later."

Jim ran by and slammed Tom on the head with a book. Tom rushed on down the hall after him.

It was incredible how fast the corridor cleared, Brent thought. He saw the last few people disappearing down the stairs in the distance. The floor was littered with notebook paper and gum wrappers.

Brent opened his locker and took out his sneakers and gym shorts. The banging of the metal echoed in the empty hallway. He checked to make sure there was nothing left inside and then closed the locker door. He turned and walked down the steps. He could hear the roar of the buses as they swung away from the bus loop below.

When Brent got to the first floor, he stopped by the art room. Mr.Samuelson was taking the last few prints down from the wall. The room looked bare and colorless.

"Hi, Brent," Mr.Samuelson said. "Glad that summer's here?"