The morning is bright, filled with sun. The air is still, and today is Sunday quiet. I can already feel the heat. It will be in the low 80’s today. I’m thinking it might be a day for the air conditioner, but I’ll wait a bit as this room is still dark and cool. Nala has taken to the window behind me. Last night she was lying on the couch top looking out hoping too see anything. There was nothing to see. The rental is empty.

When I was a kid, Sunday was often beach day. My mother packed the lunch, the blanket and the towels. My father packed the car. We’d drive to Gloucester, to Wingaersheek Beach, the only beach I remember. If I close my eyes, I can still see it all. There were rocks to climb. Giant houses faced the beach. I always thought it would be neat to wake up beside the water. Most of the time we didn’t swim until low tide when the pools were warm. I used to walk the beach for shells to save. We had to wash off the sand before we could take them into the car. It was the same with our feet. We usually stayed the whole day. I don’t remember most rides home. I usually fell asleep.

We used to go to the pool. It was on the opposite side of town, a long walk from my house. The pool cost a dime. The changing room had benches, a couple of showers and those metal baskets for our clothes. The basket key was on a twisted plastic sort of bracelet to put around our wrists. I used to dive from the board, nothing fancy just a regular dive. I’d lean over on the board with my arms straight in front and dive in. One time I went deep and hit the bottom of the pool. My teeth jammed into my lips which bled. There were even teeth marks. I went to the lifeguard who right away tried to stop the bleeding. My lip had already started to swell. The lifeguard called my mother and then drove me home. I don’t remember diving again for a long time.

My sisters ran into the sprinkler, one of those old metal ones which spun. I think my father had the same sprinkler for years. Usually it was set on the side of the house as running room was essential. The front had a small grassy hill, slippery when wet. My sister broke her leg riding her tricycle down that hill.

I have no plans to go out today. I think I’ll vacuum. I always need to vacuum.