Page 3 - May 2017 Writing Contest Winner

The old man could almost feel the exhilaration mounting inside the red brick building
just across the fence and rose bushes. And he knew it wasn’t just happening inside this one
building, but in buildings and structures around the town. It would be happening at some point
in every city and in every state.

He was quite familiar with what was happening inside those walls.

He remembered way back to when he was simply known as Bobby and he waited as this
day approached. It seemed like an eternity before it arrived. When it did, most of the day was
spent watching the clock while all kind daydreams and wondrous plans ran through his head.
Usually these dreams and plans were so farfetched, they remained unrealized. But that never
quelled the excitement the following year when this day arrived.

Still reminiscing, his next recollection was when he started going as the more grown-up
name of Robert. It was his freshman year of college and he was rushing across campus to check
a posted grade. He was mentally itemizing a load of exciting things he wanted to do and not
watching where he was going when he bumped into a girl crossing the commons in the other
direction. It was embarrassing, but also fate as it turned out. The girl he bumped into later
became his wife.

Usually after college, adults forget about this annual event. However, a small number go
on to once again enter into the hallowed halls. Now, he was known as Mr. Walker…or Mr.
W….to a special favored few each year. As much as he enjoyed educating his students
throughout the year, there was no denying, he got just as enthusiastic about this day as any of
the students in his class. Unlike his younger years, his plans were not quite as ambitious and
much more practical. Yet, he still had visons of things he wanted to do running through his head
as he watched the clock tick down.

The old man’s days as an educator were well in the past. Now it was just him, alone in
his family’s large old homestead. But this was one day no one would ever be able to take away
from him. One last peek at his watch told him his wait was over. The butterflies in his stomach
were in a frenzy as he waited the last few seconds. His wrinkled, weathered hands gripped the
arms of his lawn chair while both feet now tapped wildly.

A loud ringing noise came from the red brick building beyond the rose bushes.

A few seconds later there was giggling, shouting, squealing, and all other sorts of noise
young people make when excited. School was out for the summer. They were free for the next
several months. Some were running to their cars, others were running to busses, while others
were wandering around hugging friends and waving goodbye to those leaving by way of
transportation. Within minutes most of the youth were gone along with most of the old man’s
exhilaration. Yet, there was still another group to leave. He knew as well as anyone they looked
forward to this day just as much as the students. For another hour he watched the teachers,
librarians, guidance office associates, deans, and other faculty members laugh and joke while