Spring

On his very first day at the Paunvere Parish School, Arno Tali, still recovering from scarlet fever, steps into a bustling classroom. He sits beside Joosep Toots, a lively prankster whose energy pulls him into the classroom’s chaotic rhythm. Around him, Teele appears as a classmate who will become central to Arno’s early emotional world.

Arno soon meets Teele, who lives near his family’s farm, and her warmth awakens a gentle, romantic imagination in him. Their budding bond begins to brighten the everyday classroom routine and colors his days at school. Her presence introduces a tender tenderness to his days.

The classroom hosts a cast of vivid characters, with Toots’ energy fueling mischievous stories and antics. A memorable prank erupts at a baby’s christening when Toots drunkenly crashes it, turning chaos into noise with a gramophone before slipping away. Kiir is left to pick up the pieces as the consequences ripple through the parish.

In another stunt, Toots drags the hungover Kiir into an icy bath and steals his clothes, testing the patience of the parish clerks and the limits of discipline. The chaos threatens to destabilize order in the classroom and beyond. Laur, the compassionate teacher, steps in with patient persuasion to rein in Toots.

Laur’s steady presence provides a fragile balance to the rambunctious spirit in the classroom. He tames the worst of Toots’ schemes and offers guidance that shows care can shape behavior. The students look to him to keep the class from spinning into constant mischief.

As the seasons turn, the school finds itself skirmishing with the local German-ruled children who attend a nearby school. Toots escalates the conflict by branding the German opponents with red-hot tools, turning the quarrel into a dangerous display. The clash tests loyalties and the fragile order at Paunvere.

In another altercation, Tõnisson endures a harsher punishment at the hands of the boys armed with whips, a harsh reminder of the volatile dynamics in the neighborhood. The episode underscores how power disputes spill into the classroom. Arno, Toots’ classmate, witnesses the tension and the risk of punishment.

Seeking revenge, Tõnisson sinks a raft used by the Germans, drawing suspicion onto Kristian Lible. Arno investigates and convinces Tõnisson to confess, choosing truth over rumor. When Arno tries to report the incident, teacher Laur steps in to resolve things, clearing Lible and sparing Arno the stigma of tattling.

Winter arrives and the river freezes into a dangerous playground. Toots persuades the students to skate on the thin ice, and Teele slips beneath the surface. Arno makes a heroic, costly effort to save her, plunging in after her, but is saved by Lible, though he falls ill in the aftermath.

As more students arrive for the next term, Jaan Imelik and his servant Jüri Kuslap join the class. Imelik, a carefree musician who plays the kannel, immediately captures Teele’s attention, causing her to forget her earlier attraction to Arno. Arno watches this shift with quiet detachment.

Teele asks Imelik to play a lively tune, and Toots drags her into a dance, teasingly calling her 'Tali’s fiancée.' Arno, shy and withdrawn, watches as Teele and Imelik’s playful moment escalates into a playful clash that knocks over the parish clerk. The moment cements Teele’s pivot toward Imelik.

Spring arrives and Teele reconnects with Imelik after he leaves without a proper goodbye, but Arno has grown wiser and more disengaged from old affections. He has moved on from his initial devotion to Teele, carrying gentler memories rather than jealousy. The shifting affections reflect a maturation of Arno's inner world.

The school term ends with a note of bittersweet growth. The friendships, rivalries, and tender moments of Arno’s adolescence linger in his memory as he steps into a newer phase of life. The story closes on the idea that early experiences shape who he becomes.