While waiting for Ms. Hanley, the Latin teacher, to arrive for class, Michael announces his idea of the zone game. To play you have to be able to keep the mind free of intrusive thoughts for at least an hour. That is, to become an adept in self-control of the mind. In this empty but attentive mind, the adept hunts for primary perceptions, collects them and creates something from them, hopefully a work of art. Every year there is a festival to display the adepts’ creations and give awards. Jem and Hugh make jokes, and Cyde begins to ask a question when Ms. Hanley arrives and puts an end to that. But at lunch, at the picnic table where this group meets, they have a chance to learn more.