It is interesting to watch how the boys and girls deal with that inner sense of discontent.  Too young and too innocent to understand why they feel this way ... but they sure find creative ways to deal with it.  I must say that I started feeling a little guilty about not fitting an exercise regime into my schedule.

I am wondering ... your style of writing is unique, at least to what I'm used to reading here.  I just started reading Asimov's Foundation the other day, and for some reason, here and there, it reminded me of the way you write.  Especially in The Hermann Chronicles.  Not exactly, of course, but like I said, there was a sentence here, a paragraph there, that seemed to be written in the same style.  Even if you haven't been influenced by Asimov just a little, I do enjoy the style.

There is a sweet, melancholic undertone throughout this coming of age or awareness, reflecting on the summer events as happens when the school term begins--this captures that moment in time, with the rain beating down and movement of the train taking them into the future unknown of the next stage of their lives--love all of the domestic and comradery activity and exploration and awareness presented from all sides between the opening lines and the closing one--lovely, lovely work!