Summer Flares

Heat rises from the ground

The air sticks in my mouth

Even the grass drips beads of sweat

Everything fades away

Searching for somewhere dark and cool

During the hot summer months

I am an oddity

Scraping my plastic sandals

Down the scalding gray asphalt

Rushing, running away

Even though mom will find me

No matter where I go

From a dank shack

Held together by furious malice

And a generous splash

Of the cheapest of vodkas

I run to escape the heat

To find a place to cool down

At the end of the street

My sandal falls apart

The flesh of my foot sizzles

As I step onto the piping pavement

And then the car pulls up next to me