The unmistakable typical smell of unfinished cement exterior coated by films of dust, in scorching afternoon sun. No wind, standing in the shade, the sun is out of sight, yet makes you squint your eyes. A thin layer of sweat coats your palms and feet if you stay long enough. Yes, it is the advent of summers. Not yet hot enough for it to be bad standing in the open, yet hot enough. Dry dust in the air and around you.
Summers are coming.
But even more, it is THAT season. The season dreaded and looked forward to since childhood. The time when evenings become suddenly cold, and pleasant. when the wind picks up and evenings become longer, while still retaining that charm of winters. Clear skies, intercepted by puffs of travelling white clouds.
Yes, this is the weather and the time of the year when as a child I would yearn to play, longer and longer, outside, postponing the moment when I would have to sit in front of the table and prepare for the examination the next day.
The afternoon is the unmistakable time when the double edged sword would have its effect.
The time in the day when the exam would be over, providing relief, the few times I would be home in the afternoon, and also the time when I would think and talk about the exam just given - good or bad, right answers and wrong.
The time for change. The time to get the old class and studies over with, and look forward to the unknown. To the summer holidays, and a new class, new syllabus, new teachers.

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written yesterday on notepad for some reason