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The stifling heat
That drenched each room
Saturating the thick air
Drove the young girls
Out into the backyard.
And still
The heat was there,
The suns rays
Baking the old pavement
That ice heaves have broken
And cracked
Not so long ago.
Bouncing from foot to foot
They escaped the rough gravel
Of the driveway
For the cool
Soft grass.
The damp
Rich earth between their toes.
Embedding its self underneath
Bright pink toenails.
They set up their camp
Beneath a tree for shade
Spreading blankets
Telling stories
Gossiping about boys
Asking tentative questions
About things like kissing
Love
And other issues
That only best friends know about.
They eat their icy treats
While the thin layer of frost
That still covers the thin cardboard box
Slowly turns to water
Making damp spots on the bedspread
The taste of tart orange
The bitter cream
Mingles with sunscreen,
Sweat and chlorine,
Memories
It drips onto their fingers
Down their chins
As this perfect day
Melts
Into the last slanted purple rays
Of warm sunshine
And innocence