Jaylon M. SmallwoodJuly 23, 2015UWRT 1101Isnt It Time For a Change

Its a nice day; the wind has a calm tempo to it and theres enough sun in the sky to provide shade, but not too much to obscure the sun. It looks like everyone is having fun playing soccer; I would join, but soccer isnt my forte but books are. So, where did I leave off, oh here. Even when stuck in a cave Philippa can be a jerk to John, I bet shes going to get them into more trouble somehow, or it might be John because he is somewhat careless, I thought to myself. I wonder what will happen later today.I always wondered what the rest of the day would be like when I read a book. This day was no different when lunch was over. I came outside and sat on the third bench on the left of soccer field. I thought about sitting on the fourth bench which was under the shade of the trees, but I wanted to be in the warmth of the sun this day. It was hot, but it was relaxing to be under. As normal, I sat and took in my surroundings before I read. The girls were chatting as usual on the first bench, my friends, some were either on the soccer field or on the playground, the trees swaying softly in the wind, and the birds singing along with the branches; I was now ready. I took a deep breath and started reading. I enjoyed the excitement of reading the Children of the Lamp books. P.B. Kerr was such a detailed writer; he included the smallest details in his writing which made it feel like you knew everything about the places Philippa and John went to. I remember in one book Kerr was talking about the MI6, and the detail he gave were as accurate as the ones on MI6 website. It showed how much time he spent researching a topic before writing it in to his books. But as I was reading someone came up to me. I noticed them walking towards me, but I expected them to go by. They didnt. What are you doing? he said, It was TaShaun, an acquaintance more than a friend, but we got along. Uh, reading, I replied. Why? Because I want to I said back. Who do you know will spend their free time reading a book every day outside?TaShaun said this jokingly as the other student were coming by. He left with them and the conversation was over; I went back to my book and continued to read and think.Why did he bother me? He caused me to lose where I was. He really thinks hes special, always with a goofy smile on his face, but, I guess I brought it on myself. Im always reading here in the same spot on this wooden bench. Im in a grid I guess, doing the same thing every day at the same time. I must be a spectacle to some always on repeat, but it doesnt matter; its a nice dayI kept reading, and enjoying my book. I was probably getting a tan from being in the sun for so long, but I didnt care. It was just too nice of a day to care. Everything seemed to go slow; it felt like time gave me some extra minutes in that hour and a half because it lasted forever. It was like time had stopped. The noises around me had vanished and all I knew was the book in front of me and the thoughts forming inside my head. I was lost in my book until someone else came by. It was Ansley. She enjoyed bothering me from time to time, and like TaShaun, she asked the same question as before, What are you doing? As before I said, Reading. Oh okay, she said and she just sat there on the bench with me. I guess she believed I was lonely, but in a few minutes she left and went back to the first bench with the other girls. I now was beginning to think that maybe I need to change. It wasnt like this was the first time people questioned why I was reading a book outside with so many options to do. I looked up from my book and stared at the houses across the field from me, and decided this wasnt how I wanted to always spend my time. But right now, I wanted to enjoy my book. It took me a while before I could get back to the state I was in before, but I found it. It seemed time once more had stopped for me.It felt as if I had read forever. I didnt let the intrusions bother me nor my book. And near the end of recess, I finished the book and was proud of it. But, what I didnt know was honestly it was a perfect day to an unknown beginning.Tomorrow, I was free of my book and decided to hang out with my friends during recess. As before the day was just as nice, but there were no clouds in the sky to mask the suns heat. I walked down the short hill from my school, passing by the soccer field and ignoring the wooden benches beside. For a moment, I considered going to the cool fourth bench and escaping the heat with a good book, but I continued towards the playground. When I came to the basketball court, which in truth was just a square concreate slab with one basket, I was first greeted by my best friend, Mitchell, Hey Man. Hey, I responded back. Before I could start a full conversation with him, I was cut off by someone. Oh my gosh, its Jaylon, As I turned my head, I saw it was Jonathan, the goofball of my friends.What are you doing here? I just finished my book, so I thought I would come by, I said. Cool do you want to play some basketball with us, he asked. No Im good, Come on just one game.Im good, I assured him. With that Jonathan smiled and started playing a game with the other kids. I instead went walking around the playground with Mitchell and Adam, a close friend, passing the worn wooden picnic tables, the blue swing set left alone, and the jungle gym which was being reserved as a sitting area for some of the other students. As we walked, we talked about the newest and the classics of movies, the crazies, who are the students around us, and the ever changing world we knew. It was nice. I was happy having people to talk to, people who could respond back to your comments and ideas. Being alone was good and calming, but being able to engage with others was comforting.I continued to hang out with my friends talking and played some sports as the warm days went by. Books hadnt lost their charm and interest for me, but being with others was more enjoyable. I pushed myself slowly but surely to reconnect with the interactions I had lost. That day, I decided to move away from books to pursue a lost part of myself.