April Heat: Nica Nugget #86

This morning at 6:30 when I stepped outside I was hit in the face with the heat. It was a full body slam actually, an enveloping.

It’s April, the hottest month of the year here.

I sit in my rocking chair and my forehead glistens with sweat like a water glass covered in condensation.

The cooling winds of January and February are gone. And the rain clouds of May through November just start to build, practicing for their awaited arrival.

Rain clouds build in the distance.

We clean our gutter of leaves and dust.

We paint over the rust on our roof.

We install a better downspout.

And build a berm to reroute the coming floods away from our house.

The sweat drops from my forehead and into my eyes even as I do nothing more than sit.

And our dogs’ poor bellies heave like accordions as they lay at my feet and pant.

Ruffo and Nella pant and seek shade.