Soon Social Studies and Earth Sciences came and went. Jeffrey was back in P.E. class.
The athletic shorts and t-shirts were quite cold in the winter breeze. However few had actually purchased the sweatpants and thick jackets that were too hot to be warm in summer.
After running a few laps, they practiced for the presidential fitness test.
Lining up, they did the flexibility test on the ruler boxes to measure how far they could reach bending over. Next was the number of pull ups that they could get their head over on the pull up bar. Finally they did a push up and sit up tests to get a baseline of how many students were above the national average.
Their school was frankly just average, some passed and some didn't. However at the very least they got to use warm nice blue mats rather than do the tests on the rough hard black pavement.
Afterward in the locker room they all hurried to get changed quickly for a quick dismissal. No one wanted to be last in the lunch line.
"Dismissed", the PE teacher Mrs. Peabody said.
They all grabbed their backpacks and headed to the courtyard.
Jeffrey saw Samantha behind him and Preston had already gotten his food.
"That lucky duck", Jeffrey thought.
"Get us a table", he told Preston.
Preston nodded his head and sipped his a carton of chocolate milk.
After waiting in line and picking up food at the counter, Jeffrey walked toward the lunch area and found Preston. He sat across from him at the lunch table. Samantha joined a little later.
"So how was class for everyone", Preston asked.
"Mine's good, had to turn in a lot of work", Jeffrey said first.
"Not bad, my grades are doing alright", Samantha said happily.
"Glad to hear that", Preston responded to both of them.
They talked about the holidays, some of the more recent Christmas and Disney movies, and a little more on their science project.
"We're meeting up at my house next?", Jeffrey asked incredulously.
Preston and Samantha both nodded their heads.
"Well, ok. My house is a little bit of a mess, but if you both insist", Jeffrey said.
"I'll let you guys figure out how you want to sell our Oobleck and slime. However, I'm headed over to the ping pong tables. I've got a score to settle", Jeffrey excused himself.
Preston and Samantha let him go.
"Have fun", Preston said to Jeffrey.
Samantha continued to eat her lunch before pulling out a reading assignment from her english class.
Preston joined another group of guys he was friends with and they split up for the rest of lunch.
At the ping pong tables, Troy was dominating the rest of the kids. Jack Morrison had just exited the table, his gray hoodie a little messed up from the match.
Jeffrey joined the line to challenge the winner. Losers left, while the winner stayed.
Jeffrey reminisced about his primary school playing tether ball. Usually Preston would fist the ball to serve or grab the rope and hurl it across the pole. Jeffrey stayed away from the fast moving projectile since getting hit really hurt. Then Jeffrey would get back in line again to try again.
Jeffrey found himself at the front of the line challenging Troy.
A few spin serves and missing the ball Jeffrey lost 11-3. The only way to get better was just to keep playing. Most school days were just a repeat of the last one. He got older, took different classes, learned more things and time passed.
Jeffrey stared at the willow tree outside, the clouds gently floating on in the sky, and kids were all busy doing their own thing at lunch.