Summer of Apples - Patar 2003

Patar 2003
School Update & Apple Festival


It's the last week of school before the official summer break and the students were understandably excited.



Johan took a few minutes to have some quiet time in his office, well the corner of the room that he calls his office. Thankfully the progress on the new school building is almost complete. He has to do the final tour and then all the equiptment can be moved. The new building comes not a moment too soon. The Sweeny triplets are due to start school this fall. By the time the building opens the enrollment will be up to 16 students. Jesse Kent is doing a wonderful job as the high school teacher and he recently hired Nicole Humphrey as the music teacher. He still needs two more teachers (junior high and elementary), but for now the school is going well.

He decides to check up on the high school students. Verde is busy practicing at the ballet barre. It wasn't the young man's first choice for his physical education credit, but there isn't a soccer field or basketball court on the tiny campus.

The younger students are busy with educational play and completing thier reading assignments.

The students are on the last chapter of The Llama and the Bicycle and it's one of the few books to capture thier attention. Johan makes a mental note to start looking for books for the new year.

He calls them all to sit on the floor and the class has brief debate about the logical reasoning of llamas riding bicycles. Satisfied that the children possess some hints of logical ability, Johan dismisses the class for recess in order to prepare for his special guest.

After much playing in the puddles, games of catch and chats about summer plans, Johan calls the group inside.

Johan watches as the students crowd around Neeve Boudin of Simberry Fields.

They politely greet her and lead her to the front of the cramped room where she delivers a short speech about the importance healthy eating and physical activity during the summer. Afterwards the children give her handmade thank you cards and big hugs as she leaves.

****

Neeve has a lot to do during her brief trip to Apple Valley. After the speech at the school, she meets with the hood council to discuss plans for a community garden. Finally she meets up with her friend, Ginger, at the Apple Festival. Thankfully, they managed to spend some time together beforehand with Ginger's newly adopted son, Breckin, in Apple Plains. Today, they thought bringing all the children to the festival would be a good idea and allow the rest of the residents to see little Breckin.

"You look great." Neeve exclaims. "I still can't get over how much your skin glows. Pregnancy definately suits you."

The friends sit on the ground of the park and play a little bit with Breckin.

"Congratulations, Ginger. He is adorable."

Ginger looks up into the eyes of Tobi. "Thanks! Congratulations to you as well. How is the little one?"

"Doing well. His siblings love him, how are the children responding to the newest Grey?"

Ginger laughed. "The children can't get enough of him, they love him. They're also excited about the baby as well."

"Wow, looks like your family is growing. How is Grex?"

Ginger stalled. How was Grex? He had been moody to say the least, distant and angry from some strange reason.

"He's fine. How's Li?"

Tobi nodded. "She's doing well. Taking everything in stride. I admire her, she's been such a good sport with everything."

"Everything like what?"

"The children, the bills, everything. I know this isn't what she signed up for when we said 'I do' "

"I don't think marriage is ever what we envision." Ginger adds.

Neeve takes it all in, envious that they are able to discuss thier children and growing families while she was trying to convinve her husband to adopt a pet.

Her thoughts are interrupted as Jimmie Page, also of Simberry Fields, takes the stage.

The woman is sporting a new look due to her recent photo shoots and time spent in the studio. Her signature soulful, bluesy sound mixed with a rock n’ roll beat filled the small arena and after her last song, the crowd gave her a standing ovation.

She was followed by her label mates, Glitter. The teen band performed thier first single, My Glitter Jeans.

The catchy pop tune had the crowd snapping thier fingers and the older members of the audience sat polietly.

The highlight of the evening was Aerial Bionic. It was thier second time in Apple Valley, but this time thier performance was part of thier summer tour.

"Thanks for having us again, Apple Valley! Good night!"