One morning, after a couple of days so hot it failed to cool down at night, we took a blanket with us and went to the forest closest to the creek. Our plan was to read, visit his uncle for lunch and load up on bread and watermelon, then go back to the forest. It was much cooler than in the village anyway.
I stuffed my backpack with the blanket, a couple of books, a bottle of water, and some fruit and doughnuts Grandma gave me. Nothing else worked, as any real food she’d give me would go bad before we reached the forest. We walked fast, with more excitement than I thought possible. The idea of lying comfortably in the shade, without feeling the air was hot enough to burn our lungs, was enough to breathe new energy into us.
When we reached the edge of the forest, we didn’t stop. We kept go
