Spring

The fragrant spring day beckoned me from just outside the window. Over the bustle of the activity in the room, I could faintly hear birds chirping happily and bees buzzing busily in the breeze outside. A lawn mower droned back and forth on the grass. My mind wandered to all of the things I would rather be doing. My foot tapped impatiently on the cold tile floor. I couldn’t help but feel confined by the glass and cinderblock prison encasing me. Demands from the group staring my direction assaulted me. Glances were cast furtively at the clock as if to hurry it along. Whispers were exchanged with notes passed among the groups. Biting back a sharp bark, I turned back to my work, giving each task the attention it required.

First one hour, then two, passed slowly. Groups came and went in and out of my prison cell, while I alone toiled continually. As time passed, the visitors got increasingly rude and testy, as if they too could sense the opportunity awaiting them beyond these walls. Work was distracted and tempers were short. Finally, all eyes turned to the clock.

The minutes passed by with agonizing slowness. A last scramble was made to make sure all was in place. Chairs were quickly righted, important papers gathered. As the last seconds ticked by, eye contact was made. Each breath was held as the hands moved ever closer to the final moment. Anticipation held us in its grasp. The group tensed as an obnoxious buzzing sound echoed gratingly through the building.

They burst out of the room in a wild mass of color-- all noise and energy. For a short time, chaos reigned. Last minute messages were shouted; belongings were exchanged; doors slammed. Within only a few minutes, the building was quiet. A breeze ghosted down the passageway as if to chase out the confusion and bring things to rights again. A door banged closed loudly in the distance after a muffled laugh.

As silence at last descended over the room, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. In the next instant, I had snatched up my belongings and fled. The sunshine enveloped me in a warm hug as I hurried outside to my car. A smile creased my lifted face as I savored the moment, my mind racing ahead to the enjoyment in store. The students had barely dispersed when I raced away. Friday!