Showing Not Telling

The classroom was cold. At first, it didn’t seem to be so; it wasn’t the obvious slam-you-in-the-face cold, like walking outside in the middle of January is. No, this cold was the slower, more subtle kind, the kind that isn’t noticeable at first but slowly creeps up on a person until that cold chill is all that they can think about. This cold doesn’t produce an immediate reaction; it takes slightly longer to be recognized. It begins with the slight feeling of discomfort and not really knowing what that discomfort is. Then it progresses to unconsciously rubbing arms, slowly at first and then faster and more frequently, trying to warm them. At this stage most people don’t realize what’s happening to them. Goosebumps appear. This is when the arm rubbing really escalates, hand rubbing is added to the reaction, and even feet begin to feel the cold despite the fact that they’re layered in socks and tennis shoes.