Cool weather has become common here, and at school we have all three kerosene furnaces running during the day. I sit near the large sliding door, and so I’m exposed to the sudden burst of cold air everytime someone comes or goes.
Mr. Hayashi is also nearby, and is subject to the same sudden temperature variations. He has been sitting in the same area for years, and that time has made him somewhat philisophical on the opening and closing of the door.
He believes that the way people close the sliding door is a reflection of their personality. The door is a little tricky – it takes just a little effort to get it to close properly. Some people slam the door, making a loud bang. Some give it a halfhearted push, sometimes leaving gaps for the cold air to get in. Some take the time to understand how the door works, and they close it perfectly every time. Each person has a certain way they close the door, and Mr. Hayashi has been around long enough to observe them all.
