"Now that your sketchbook is done, here is what we have been working on as of late," Ollie said. "Today we're starting the concentration works which I think is more aimed at the AP students but everyone is doing them.

After looking over the assignment, "Not everyone in there is AP?"

"Nope, some are photography students, some Art 3 and i think there is even an Art 2 student in there. I think we do get varying work depending on the class but with so many in one bell we've gotten some of the same things to do so far."

After a moment to let the small, but talkative crowd pass us down the hallway, I asked, "Speaking of AP, I saw that there were supposed to be a couple of summer works to be done according to some class papers...?"

"Ah, yes. She told me this morning to let you know that she would like you to do those, but not worry about those right away, wants you to catch up on some of the other work first." Ollie went quiet for a moment and then said, "Oh and something else too. Starting next week we will be holding critiques on tuesdays."

"Critiques? For what?"

"For our works of course. Everyone will display their works and we will talk about each one."

Before I could respond the lunch bell rang. "Sorry I can't really stay, I have a club meeting today." She scooped up her stuff and disappeared down the hall.

I walked out to the same spot in the courtyard as yesterday and opened that assignment. It was essentially a sort of questionnaire about our concentrations, like what mediums and what our theme or subject matter is going to be about.

It took me probably the majority of power hour to pin down what I wanted to do. By the time I had filled out the assignment and turned it in via my chromebook, I realized i've hardly eaten anything and quickly started wolfing down what i could before I had to go in.

When I got to third bell I nearly made it to my seat when I heard my name. "Sebastian, do you mind coming over for a moment?" It was my teacher who was at her desk.

While i made my way there i took out some papers that i had to sign and bring back. "Since we haven't had much time yesterday to catch you up on the assignments, if you don't mind me showing you a couple things we have here while everyone is doing their reading.

If you haven't had a chance to head to the library yet, don't worry we will be heading there today to get a book for something we're going to be working on in class. If you have any questions feel free to ask."

It took probably all of the reading time to go over everything that needed covering. The rest of class went by like a blur. In fact the rest of the day did. Even after I got home I had become so absorbed in the pile of work that it was well past time for dinner by the time I looked up for the first time and saw the clock.

My first week over and getting ready to start the next. I have been working steadily on my first concentration piece for hours trying to get it just right. Right when I was getting to a stopping point I heard a knock on my door followed by my dad's voice.

"Hey Sebby,Are you seriously still working on school work? You've not given it a break at all since your first day."

"I'm getting to a stopping point. Have been working on a project that's due tuesday." I stood up and made my way to the door when dad stopped me and poked my forehead.

"I think you got a little something right there."

"Of course I do." In the mirror, I could see a big smudge of paint right in the middle of my forehead. Thankfully the paint is watercolor so everything came off like nothing.

"You know, before it gets too late maybe we can go do something," My dad said, poking his head through the doorway. "We can go on a little kayaking trip if you want. There's a nearby boat ramp we can go to."

"Sure, when did you want to head out?"

"Whenever you're ready I guess. It's about 2:30 now so hopefully we can be out soon so we won't be getting back too late."

"Ok, well let me get out of my pajamas real quick and grab my phone and then I'll meet you down."

As he headed down the stairs, he replied, "Well I'm going to start getting things ready. Meet you outside."

Once we got the the boat ramp, we parked along the backside of the place where there's a couple families out fishing and entertaining their dogs. The parking lot itself is filled to the max with cars and boat trailers. Once we found a shallow spot and loaded up in this sort of pond area that connects to the creek between the main parking lot and the back section, we started to take off. But before we paddled very far, a husky mix came barreling into the water right in front of us.

"Princess! What do you think you're doing? Leave other people alone, we'll take you kayaking another day!" She turned to us and continued, "Sorry she loves the water to no end and gets excited to see any kind of boat."

"I didn't know you had a dog. She's a pretty thing!" I reached out to say hi when I noticed she had one brown and one pale blue eye. "I love her eyes!"

"She gets them from her dad. This big baby here is her mama, although its hard to tell." The mama came running up to the water's edge with a big smile on her face. "Is this y'alls first time out?

"Yeah, we kinda just decided to come out for a little trip," Dad chimed in. "What are these waterways like?"

"Its kind of a long creek. When y'all get out of this little one and enter the main creek, y'all can go left and can do a little exploring down some little ones that branch off. And y'all might be able to paddle under the little bridge right over there just past the boat ramp.

Or y'all can go right and head towards the bay, although it might take a bit to get to. Not as much to explore as far as any little creeks branching off goes. If y'all do go right be warned there might be a lot more boat traffic that way. Also watch for snakes."

"Noted." After we parted off and made our way out, we decided to go left and do some exploring. Because of it being relatively windy it was a little difficult paddling out initially but no problem our way back in. There was the occasional boat passing by but it was otherwise quiet and peaceful.

We slowly paddled our way through each little creek as we reached each one, turning back after a while when we reached as far as we can go. There were a number of trees and stumps in clusters standing in the water itself or on more solid looking ground, while tall grasses and weeds filled in the marsh areas. Aside from the occasional boat, distant car and the sound of us paddling, all we could hear is the chirping of birds and rustling of the trees and grasses in the wind.

By the time we got to the bridge that sits just past the boat ramp, the sky was starting to shine oranges and yellows, signaling its time to head in. "Maybe next time we can head past the bridge," Dad said, as we made our way back. "We can even try to do a little fishing. Have you seen just how many fish broke the surface? This must be the perfect time of year to catch some."

We continued to gibber about this, that and the other, thinking of ways to try enjoying the rest of the nice temps before winter kicks in. As we finally got home, it was almost completely dark. We hurriedly put everything up while there was still any light left at all and ran inside.

That night I didn't get much sleep. Only the occasional flash of the woods seemed to show up out of an otherwise dreamless, restless night.