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Shauna Poling ran home from school that Friday afternoon, her long dark hair flying. There was only one week of school left, and since school was stretching into June this year to make up for snow days last winter, the heat was intense.
It was so hot in southern Indiana during these last days of school that the building air conditioning system had failed. Shauna’s elementary school was one of those new ones, built for energy efficiency but without windows that could be opened and closed. As a result, the school was a sauna bath by noon, and several students and teachers had passed out in class because of the heat. Just before the noon bell, Mr. Saunders, the principal, came on the intercom.
“Due to the intense heat and failure of our air conditioning system, school today will end at the noon recess. School buses will be here early to pick up students. You students who walk to school, please take great care crossing streets on the way home. Have a nice weekend.”
The oppressive heat suppressed what would normally have been jubilant cheers from the kids, but not Shauna. She literally jumped up and down in her seat, clapping her hands together and screeching.
Fictional reading for entertainment purposes only.