The school was empty, except for the early students and teachers wondering along the concrete paths that snaked along, splitting the grass.
The sun hung lazily over the eastern horizon peeking over the building, casting most of schoolyard in shadows.
One young boy walked along the grass, watching the darkened buildings circled around him.
He stood on a slight hill that elevated him about two feet higher so he could get a better view around.
“Where is Bobby?” he asked himself sliding his gaze along the visible school. “Maybe Sean knows…”
He jogged down the hill and went off toward the corner of the closest building.
The boy’s name was Donny Rawe, a young, 14 year-old boy who is attending Colmont High School in 9th grade.
Donny wondered around until the sun shone down and heated the air around him, signaling that the buses would arrive soon.
Donny spotted another student walking down the side of the building heading his way.
“John!” He called to the student. The student stopped and waved two fingers.
“Hey Donny.” He replied, dropping his arm.
The student stood a head taller than Donny and carried around a backpack twice the size of his upper body.
“Seen my brother or your brother?” Donny asked walking up.
“Nah. Sean should still be at home, I left early, and Bobby I haven’t seen since yesterday.” John replied shrugging his shoulders.
Donny frowned, “Man, I need to talk to Bobby.”
“He’ll show up eventually.” John said, “Well I got to go to work on my project. See ya later!”
John walked past Donny and turned the corner leaving Donny looking around then let his eyes rest on the tree across the way.
Another young boy was standing under it watching the branches lazily.
“Bobby!” Donny yelled running up. “Finally I found you!”
Bobby turned around a bit startled by his brother then replied slowly, “Hey. Donny.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel like someone is watching me.” Bobby looked again at the tree.
“That’s funny.” Donny said while shifting his feet, “I’ve been feeling like that lately too.” He followed his brother’s gaze toward the tree and, for a second, could have sworn he saw a face in the trees.
“Did you see that?” He asked, startled.
“What?” Bobby asked, “The face?”
“Yeah.”
“I see it too but I lose sight of it easily.”
“So it’s like Mona Lisa’s smile?” A voice said behind the two.
“Sean!” Donny yelled jumping in surprise, “Where have you been?”
Sean stood slightly taller than Bobby and wore a wide grin on his face.
“You know…around.” Sean said then looked at the tree, “I see it too.”
“What do you think it is?” Bobby asked.
“Maybe it’s a prank, you know the senior prank?” Donny suggested.
“Nah. That happens at the end of the year.” Sean said, “Maybe it’s something that looks like a face.”
“Ah well. I guess we should go.” Donny said walking away.
“We should.” Bobby agreed following Donny.
Sean stood still for a moment longer then followed his two friends.
Later that day, during lunch, Donny, John, Bobby, and Sean all were sitting at their table when a girl came over holding a lunch tray.
She had freckles that mirrored on both sides of her cheeks and her long-brunette hair was tied down in a long ponytail.
Sean was the first to speak.
“Hey Sharon!” He said cheerfully to her.
She smiled back and said hello as well.
“Come sit down.” Sean said moving over a bit.
“Ok.” Sharon replied sitting down and setting her lunch tray in front of her.
“Sharon. These are my friends,” Sean said motioning to each person in turn, “Bobby, Donny and this is my brother John.”
Sean smiled as he waved to Sharon then introduced her as a new student. The three gave friendly greetings and began asking her a few questions.
“How do you like the school so far?” Donny asked picking up an apple.
“Oh. It’s great.” She replied, “The people here are really nice and I am already making some friends.”
John looked at Sean and gave a small chuckle. Sean blushed.
“That’s cool. So we’re you from?” Bobby asked.
Sharon still was smiling but hesitated in answering.
“You know from different places…” Her voice trailed off.
“Like where?” Bobby asked.
“”It’s just…I’ve traveled…a lot. So I guess I don’t really know where I’m from exactly.”
Bobby shrugged and didn’t press the subject; instead he took a bite from his bread roll.
Sharon looked down at her mashed potatoes while Donny sat there slurping on his soda.
“Why are you nervous?” He asked when he stopped drinking.
Sharon looked up and gulped.
“I don’t know…new school…just nervous I guess…” She replied.
“Well I guess that’s it for our questions.” Bobby said after he swallowed the last of the roll.
Sharon seemed to melt into a relaxed state and she laughed a bit.
“Good. I was worried there for a second.”
“Why?” Bobby asked then Donny said, “I thought that was it for questions!”
“Why?” Bobby asked then Donny said, “I thought that was it for questions!”
They all laughed and resumed eating their school lunches although Donny had a suspicious feeling about Sharon…
At the end of the school day, Donny left the current of students who were eagerly marching of to their own objectives.
He walked away from the crowded bus loop and moved along the concrete sidewalk as the sun hung in the sky blazing the grass in a brilliant orange. Dragonflies flew in clusters of five or more signaling the start of Fall and the air took on a cooler attitude
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