The final exams for the first semester are finally over.
It was Friday afternoon, less than ten days before summer vacation. I decided the most efficient way would be to completely disconnect from the school environment, so I headed to a family restaurant in the neighboring town. Once there, my choice was simple: a bar with drinks and a considerable amount of chips.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead with a handkerchief and looked around the restaurant. The key, as always, was patience and calculation. First, I would wait for the fries to arrive. Only then, and without rushing, would I head to the drink dispenser.
"Okay, let's start the analysis…"
After visually confirming that there were no uniforms from my school in sight, I took out of my bag a classic of Russian literature, a novel that dissected human psychology and social complexities. It was an edition I had recently acquired, and its pages promised a vast field of observation.
Carbonated soft drink, chips, and a study of the human condition. The variables were set for the beginning.