Unusual Summer

Walking along a dusty path, no children In the park. 112 degrees in the shade and no birds or squirrels around only the chirping of insects can be heard. Grass and weeds gasping drowning in heat while the tree leaves curl up to protect themselves. Park benches like griddles on a stove, their green paint shriveling and peeling. Not a breath of air just wavy images dancing in the distance. Weather forecast calls for more of the same warning us not to venture outside and to drink plenty of water. Restrictions against watering. The yellow smiling sun looking down pointing its rays at us like saying, ‘you are to blame’.