Summer Day

It is a hot summer day---not simply the kind of heat that causes its patrons to unwittingly scour their vision for umbrage, no. It is the kind of heat you swim in. It is so hot and so humid that you feel smothered, and not by the sweat or humidity, but by the heat itself. It begins to feel as though heat itself were a palpable substance. And it is on such a day that I sit in front of my computer, working on what I think is due on Monday, while glancing out of my window into the vibrant summer imagery that occurs just 20 feet away from my window.

Girls walking about in their floral summer dresses sporting shades, standing next to the cool dude in his bermudas and leaning on his silver car, talking ever so casually amongst themselves, seemingly preparing for a much needed road trip out to where the seas meet the lands in soft embrace as the waves carefully lap upon the shores. Near the tree just outside my window, some students lie about lazily atop their bellies on a makeshift mat upon the soft lush grass, with their books spread in front of them. Just 10 feet away from these studious students were a couple both lying on their backs with their hands beneath their heads, looking upwards at the cloudless sky in a relaxed mood, whispering sweet nothings to each other, far from the earshot of anyone nearby.

And I sit in my room, swimming in the heat, suffering from the migraine that often plagues me when it gets too hot even to think. A most terrible affair, if you ask me, since the effects of the three fans blowing at full power in my general direction have done little to alleviate the obvious discomfort that I was facing. My vision somewhat impaired by both the dripping beads of perspiration that have gathered on my brow and the wavering refraction of the light from the heat, I struggle to work on my homework, whilst trying to fight away the pangs of procrastination. Outside, the activity beckons me, almost like a flirty mistress, wanting me to enjoy the heat out there where the walls do not trap it, where there are grassy fields to expend all that energy, so that I can finally collapse in exhaustion and nap with glee.

But I resist, for the homework is long and unyielding, and there is much to be done. Annoyed at the distractions, I released the rolled up blinds to the windows, and immediately regretted doing that, since the released blinds hid the distractions from me, but trapped all the excessive heat that was already in the room. Cursing under my breath, I rolled up the blinds once again, and managed to snub my toe on a piece of furniture that happened to be in the way. Grimacing from the pain, I finished up the task at hand and hobbled back to my seat behind my desk, and proceeded to work more on my assignment.

By now, a group of people both male and female have taken up position outside my window in that secret garden-field and are enjoying a game of frisbee. Muttering incoherently under by breath, I swore one last time and packed my computer, intending to find somewhere that I could work peacefully without distracting myself so much.

(Originally from X-peri Mental Writings, now defunct. First published 25 Apr 2009 12:57:00)