You Must Remember This

Chapter 4: Dulcinea

Every morning, when only a few early birds were on campus, the morning fog rolled down from the hills and enveloped Heller, a chill that condensed on lampposts, dampened leaves of grass, and made those wearing light clothing shiver. On particularly frigid days, when the winds were just right, the temperature dropped below freezing, and those who took morning showers had their hair decorated with shards of ice. Sometimes a student walking too quickly without offering the weather the proper respect would slip and fall, and then a good Samaritan passing by would help them hobble to the nurse's office, where the employee on duty would warn them sternly about playing when slippery. Those being tended to were apologetic, regardless if they considered themselves at fault for merely walking as an ordinary person would.

This layer of cloud that rendered the school ethereal tended to burn away in the sun by the first bell if an especially warm day, and if not, it would linger and fester and make the PE students outside cry. Today was a hot day, one when autumn got bored and chose to masquerade as summer. The first students to emerge from the locker room signaled to those still leaving: "It's hot!" They loitered in the shade until they mustered the energy to move downhill toward the track. Some took long sips from the water fountain as a precaution. Ms. Stevens came down exactly five minutes after the bell rang in a visor and black-and-white checkered outfit, showing no signs of discomfort. She enjoyed the warm weather; besides, she didn't have to run. Every lap was a battle against the heat, a lush carpet that smothered all but Frank, who seemed content to jog at a reasonable, if not particularly fast, pace and power-walk slightly slower, all with the intent of running out the clock. The sweat lubricated their shoulders, rigid arms swinging like scythes. Everyone, regardless if they were cross-country all-stars or flabby tragedies, curved on their last lap up the concrete steps and toward the water fountain, which gurgled and spat out an arced stream of frigid water with the press of the button.

Tom and Ted moved immediately to chat with their friends in the shade; they ran quickly and thus had time to relax. Steam rose from Ted's arms, a novel occurrence that Tom immediately commented on. Before they could fully catch their breath, Ms. Stevens's voice rang out:

"Tom! Ted!" They turned in unison.

"You two were late! Run another lap!" They groaned and hopped over the railing, back to the track, and they started running again. The track was scenic: as they ran, students passed by some scattered track-and-field equipment, an athletic shed dedicated to an old coach no students at the school still remembered, and one locked gate in the chain-link that many fantasized about escaping through. There was still no respite from the heat. Ted finished quite quickly, and Ms. Stevens was impressed.

"You should consider doing cross-country. Good stamina."

"I want to join the Navy someday, and for that I try to remain in shape. There is no greater privilege than serving one's country," Ted said with a smile, looking back at Tom out of breath behind him and people like Jason, who appeared on the verge of fainting even after a few minutes' rest.

"Great energy and good work. I respect that. This counts as extra credit for both of you. Now go change," Ms. Stevens concluded with a smile, pointing at the other students who were leaving the field.

Alan still had a few beads of sweat dotting his brow and a mild odor when he left his fifth-period class for lunch, a fact which his peers politely ignored. He walked with no particular destination in mind, but endeavored to project a single-minded determination, tracing the hallways for someone to attach himself to. Behrooz, who held a packet of papers while staring at one of the many posters proclaiming Heller values, proved appropriate.

"What are you looking at?" Alan asked, standing next to him and adopting his same puzzled expression.

"I'm trying to fill out my application to join the leadership program. It's asking me to think of ways I embody true Tiger values," Behrooz responded calmly, as if he was trying to teach Alan.