Week 2 Story: The Hectic Recess

The Hectic Recess

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Billy the second grader was swinging on the playground, daydreaming. While he was day-dreaming, he remembered a conversation he overheard his parents had this morning about how the world was just falling apart. He started to wonder what they meant by that and what that would look like.

At that moment, the fifth graders’ kickball struck the swingset poles. There was a loud crash and the swingset shook. Billy, remembering his parent’s conversation earlier that morning, knew it was the world falling apart. He began to run towards the school for protection.

As Billy started running, he ran straight into Sara, who asked him what was the matter.

“My parents said the world was falling apart and it’s happening right now! I heard it just now!” Billy panted.

Sara joined him in his run. The more kids they passed, the more questions they asked. First the second graders asked what was happening, and once they were told they joined Billy and Sara. Then the third graders, then the fourth graders, and then even the fifth graders joined the mass of children running towards the school. 

Right in front of the school’s entrance was Mrs. Smith, the second grade teacher. When she saw the massive huddle of children running towards her, she whistled so loud it brought all the kids to a halt. 

“What’s wrong?” Mrs. Smith asked the fifth graders.

“The fourth graders said that the world was falling apart,” they declared.

When Mrs. Smith asked the fourth graders, they pointed to the third graders. And when she asked the third graders, they pointed to the second graders. And when she asked the second graders, they pointed to Sara. And when she asked Sara, she pointed to Billy.

Billy, out of breath, explained how he had heard the loud bang and how his parents said the world was falling apart and that was happening right now!

“Our kickball hit your swing set,” One of the fifth graders noted. “Was that the loud bang you heard and the reason the swing set shook?”

“And parents are sometimes dramatic,” Mrs. Smith reminded the children. “They don’t always mean exactly what they say.”

Billy gave this some thought and calmed down. The other kids considered it too, and they too began to calm down.

“Now, everyone go enjoy the end of recess,” Mrs. Smith said. “Before you must return to class.”

All the children ran back to where they were previously playing. Even Billy returned to the swing set to swing and daydream about life. Author's Notes: Whenever I read the story, I just imagined all of the animals running around acting like children, because they acted on so little knowledge and instantly just went a little crazy. So that's why I changed my story for the main character to be a second grader and for it to take place at an elementary school. The story was based on The Foolish, Timid Rabbit. Bibliography: "The Foolish Timid Rabbit" from Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt. Web Source

Swing Set from Flickr Images