Astor Elementary 5th Grader Payton is next up as an Honorable Mention in our Student Essay Contest. Our judges enjoyed the humor in Payton's essay and also how well he described the feeling and sound of being in the rain.

I love the words my mom says "Payton get your shoes on" "we are walking to school." When the rain goes tap-tap-tap on my coat it sounds like a soft drum beat. Plus the rain is like free water, 'cause it is. Having to go into my class half-way soaked makes almost everyone laugh. It also feels so cold out, so when I walk in the classroom it's sooo warm and the cold goes away even with my coat on. Some other people say that when it rains it's not cold out which is sometimes true.

Payton Arrington, 5^th grade, Astor Elementary