Summer Exchange

Summers were suffocating on the farm. There was no AC in the house so relief was found outside in the cool grass under the ancient oak trees. Sometimes, when Sadie was feeling adventurous, she would douse herself in a light covering of cold dirt. The dogs did it, so it had to be worth something.

The dirt and her rubber boots did not make a good combination. Her sweaty feet became streaked with mud, so she would kick them off and prance around the property barefoot. Which also meant she would get splinters and all sorts of cuts in her feet.

The animals were just as miserable as she was. They would put ice blocks in the rabbit cages and refill the chicken troughs several times a day. The dogs would climb into the goat's barrels and lay there panting, all submerged but their heads like little alligators.

Sadie and her brother, Peter, would get incredibly creative on their games. They would flood a section of the dirt path and damn it up with sticks and stones. Or they would bathe the dogs and get soaked in the process. There was a large tin wash basin they would build a ramp to and let the baby geese swim and play. Then, with the leftover water, they would have a water gun battle.

One afternoon, they found themselves lying in the grass, the goslings asleep beside them. Sadie stared up at the swaying limbs of the trees. She wondered what it would be like to shrink herself down to the size of a doll and climb the ridgy bark like she was Tarzan. She trailed her finger along where the limb blocked out the sky and mapped her route.

"We could go pick berries at Aunt Carrie's," Peter suggested. Aunt Carrie had a pool, but to go use it, their mother always made them pick berries. Half would be given to Aunt Carrie, and the rest kept.

"But it's hot," Sadie whined. Her skin would surely slough off and run away if her blood got any warmer. And, picking berries was no swift task.

"But then we can swim," Peter reasoned. Sadie sucked in a breath and groaned.

"Fine, I'll go ask. Put the geese up." She pushed to her feet, disturbing the young birds. They jumped up at once, chirping and unsure. Peter started to call them to him so they would not follow her.

Their mother was behind the house, stretching a long length of hose to water her elaborate flower beds. She glanced at Sadie's nasty feet.

"Where are your shoes?"

Sadie shrugged and leaned in front of the hose mist to steal a couple gulps. The cool mist coated her face and arms. She grinned at her mother.

"What is it?"

"Could we go to Aunt Carrie's and swim?" she pleaded. Their aunt was just a quick trip down the road. She could bike there if she was allowed to bike alone. Her mother frowned thoughtfully.

"I guess so, go get your things together and buckets for the berries."

And, like a spell had been cast, they were loaded and into the car, windows down, cruising along the back road to their aunt's house. Just like the house, the car's AC was also broken. It was really a nasty combination for the Texas heat.

Their father had made them don long sleeves and hats. Sadie fiddled with hers as she got out of the car and begrudgingly walked over the to large swath of black berry bushes. They were taller than her parents with both thorns large enough to draw blood and small enough to be impossible to remove.

Tight paths were mowed between the rows, but Sadie still had to wear pants and her boots to navigate them. Peter took his bucket and set to picking at once. Both their mother and aunt joined.

Hundreds of delicious, sun warmed, berries gleamed deep purple black from the brambles. Sadie tramped down one of the rows and set to picking. The first few made it into her mouth instead of the bucket. The fruit was sweet and fresh. She was careful to avoid any stink bugs had made bitter.

The heat was worse there in the direct sun. Her hair stuck to her forehead beneath the straw hat. Stains drenched her shirt. Everyone else was on a different row, out of site. Peter always picked the slowest so she would need to finish filling her bucket then go help him.

Thorns snagged her sleeves, her pants, or pricked her fingers. She leaned far into the bushes to pick every berry. On occasion, she almost tipped forward and fell into them. But, she managed to recover. At last, her bucket was full. She wove her way out of the path and to the grassy path. Her mother was there with her aunt. They were picking along the outer edges.

The crammed and low spaces were always left for the children. It made Sadie think of the kids in a book she was reading that were forced to work in factories because they were small enough to fit between machinery. Although, the two tasks were hardly comparable. At worst, Sadie would have some scratches.

"Oh good, here fill this one too." Her mother handed her another bucket.

She refrained from rolling her eyes and stomped back into the mess. Bees buzzed past. Birds sang. The heat marched on. As she rounded a corner, she found Peter sitting in a patch of thorn free grass, his bucket half full and his fingers and mouth stained from eating the fruit. That time, she did roll her eyes.

"Hurry up, they are going to make you fill a second bucket," she warned. Peter's eyes went round and he looked like he might cry. But, he did stop eating all the fruit.

Despite their urgency, if there was a delightfully large berry, they would eat it at once. Finally, four buckets between the two children full, they rushed back to their mother.

"Can we go swimming now?" Aunt Carrie laughed.

"Your aunt might need help with the garden, there's cucumbers and tomatoes," their mother offered. Peter slumped into the grass.

"But it's so hot."

"Mom, you said we just had to pick berries," Sadie added. Their aunt patted Sadie's head.

"Oh, it's fine Susan, I don't need help with the garden."

Peter sprang back to his feet.

"I guess you can swim then," their mother permitted. Both children hugged the older women in thanks before dashing away.

Sadie kicked off her boots as she raced Peter to the pool. He beat her to the ladder, but she pushed him out of the way. Once on the deck, she wriggled out of her damp clothing like a snake shedding its skin.

Then she leapt into the cool water. Peter was right behind her. The water sloshed for a while before it settled. They splashed and giggled.

"See it was worth it," he boasted before she dunked him.

"Only because you had help!" she teased. Soon, the heat was forgotten. Their summer would stretch on like that till school resumed. Then the next summer would arrive and the cycle repeat.