Behind Pilgrim Wood Public School

Entering through the school grounds, there's a sense of being out of time and out of context because of now being a grownup. I sit in the grass near the path. It's a hot dry September day and there's a light breeze that makes the leaves rustle. They're brown around the edges, even the rustling sounds dry. 3 boys , probably about 12 or 13, pass through the gate and walk down the path. A few minute later, a girl, walks quickly down the path carrying something wrapped in plastic, without making any eye contact. A man rides his bike down the nearby bike trail. The bell rings—a reminder of the regimented life of school and the sense of stoicism, and longing for the outside world it brings out. Is this what makes the area ‘dangerous': the contact with the outside world, and is this also what makes them compelling? Coming back, I pass through the gate and onto the school grounds. There are a few boys there, who immediately start running back towards the school. I can't help but wonder if it's because I'm a ‘stranger', or if grownups now represent authority to them.