Story Stream: July 14th Part 2

I lift up my head and look down the long straight road leading to my apartment building. It is maybe a quarter of a mile away, a short 5 minute walk. I can see the the reflection of the sky in the asphalt, a sure sign of a hot day. I jump off the sidewalk, and onto the grass by the mailbox, as I snap back to reality, realizing how hot my feet are getting. I guess I have no other choice, I'm going to have to go back. I've been waiting for this package for nearly a month now, and it is finally here. If it was delivered by anyone else other than the post office, I wouldn't even have to deal with this. It would have just been dropped off at my front door. But the post boxes here have a small locked cubby for packages, and it looks like mine fit. I take a deep breath and start to head back. 

A minute of so pass and I see a jogger coming up down the road. He is sweating like a pig, wearing nothing but some small track shorts. He's tall, with thick wavy hair and muscled. He is by all means of the word, quite attractive. I suppose that's why he is out running in this awful heat, there is only one way to achieve a body like his, diligence. As he passes by me I give him a little nod, he doesn't even notice. Either he is too much in the zone, or his eyes are too glazed over with sweat to see anything but shapes. I'm thinking it's later based on the monsoon coming out of his forehead.

Almost immediately after the runner passes, and seemingly out of nowhere, Mrs. Johnson is standing right it front of me. "It's a frightfully cold day today isn't it?" she asks me. I don't understand, how is it that once we reach a certain age our bodies stop producing heat? It must be over 100 degrees outside and this women is wearing a sweater and complaining about a chill. 

"I suppose it is Mrs. Johnson"

"You just make sure you don't catch a cold now, dressed up in those shorts and barefoot of all things!" 

"I'll be careful, I was just heading home now to get my mail key"

"Good! Why don't you stop by my warm, cozy apartment after you're done, for some cookies?"

The thought of Mrs. Johnson's cookies sounds heavenly, but I can't even imagine what a warm and cozy apartment means to this woman. 

"I'm pretty busy today, but I will take a raincheck"

"Ok, well, have a good day then."

She seemed a little bit sad, but I really don't know if I have it me me to be in a room the same temperature as her cookies will be baking at. I will make a point to come back on a cooler day.

My feet have stopped hurting, I'm pretty sure they're just numb now, but at least I don't have to walk like I'm doing high knee exercises anymore. On the other side of the road I can see a man walking his dog. He looks to be about as uncomfortable as me, minus the bare feet. His dog is a big fluffy thing, with its long slobbery tongue sticking out. It seems like no matter the weather, dogs always look happy. The man, on the other hand, has the same annoyed look that I myself have had this whole time. The "I really wish I was somewhere else right now" look. 

As I start to walk up the stairs to my house I begin to question if it is worth it to go back. I can just sit right back down in my chair and go back tomorrow. My package isn't really necessary, I'm just excited for it. No, I have made it this far, I'm seeing it through to the end, I have to. I open up my door as a small cool breeze hits my face, I can do this.