2.Buildit up...

The classroom now looked very different. It was interesting how the position of the sun at any given moment could affect the view. In the early afternoon light,grains of dust flew like tiny sparks. They swirled in the warm spring breeze that gently swung the red rayon curtains. The colours and shapes became more vivid,so did the students.

- Then abit quieter! - Mr. Miller entered through the thick, creakywooden door of the classroom, flanked by a slightly shorter, bearded fellow.

The lesson has not startedyet. There were still at least five minutes before the bell rang, but it was almost customary for the classmaster to arrive early. Mr Miller had always taken his job seriously and usually allowed himself time to prepare. He was never in a hurry,in fact, no one had ever seen him in a hurry at school, yet he always arrived on time. He was a point of reference in the teaching staff and in his classas well. If he promised or undertook something, it could beconsidereditdone. He worked with the precision of a maths teacher and the thoroughness of a classmaster. He sat the bearded guy down in frontof the blackboard, facing the class, exchanged a few words with him quietly, and then began unpacking his small handbag on the teacher's desk.

- Who is thisguy? -Ratio pushed aside Phil, who was playing on his phone.

- Not now, Ratty...just not now! - he said excitedly. He knew he didn't have much time if he wanted to finish the course before the bell.

Ratio hardly took his eyes off the stranger, although it was not his habit. He was deliberately careful not to stare too long even at girls, because he considered it degrading to himself to waste too much attention on anyone just because of their appearance.

But this thin, bearded fellow had caught his interest with an elemental force, and he didn't seem to want to let go easily.

From the penultimate bench in the middle row of desks, which was Ratio and Phil's perpetual seat in that classroom, he had just a glimpse of the person between Mickie and Judy, yet he was well enough hidden not to be too conspicuous. He just sta