CHAPTER 14: RETURNING TO THE WORLD
The morning bell rang at Oakridge Middle School. Children poured through the double doors with colorful backpacks, laughing, trading comic books, and complaining about algebra homework.
Toby adjusted the strap of his backpack, pausing at the front entrance. For a brief second, his trained mind mapped the hallway: forty-two students, two teachers, one spilled carton of juice near locker 114.
Then, he consciously let the analysis fade away. He chose not to dissect the room. He chose to simply experience it.
"Hey! Toby!" a boy from his science class called out, waving from the courtyard. "We need a fourth player for four-square! You in?"
Toby looked back at Raymond, who was watching from the driver's seat of his pickup truck across the street. Raymond gave him a warm, reassuring thumbs-up.
May you like
Toby smiled—a genuine, carefree boyish grin. "Yeah! I'm coming!"
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