And So We Melt

Sweat dripped down from her brow, sliding down the side of her face and dangled from her chin a milisecond. Like the condensation on a glass of cold southern iced tea, before it attempted to continue its journey. Instead it was stopped by the top of her housecoat. If she was brazen enough she would sit here in the nude but even at five a.m. the mosquitos were still buzzing. Apparently they cant sleep for the heat either. My Lord its hot she said vehemntly to herself. Swiping at the mosquito and her head that was matting in a wet clump. Five a.m. ants its already 97 degrees F.

No central air in this monolith of a mansion. Just small window units that wont trip the breaker box. Prefering fresh air she had stumbled down the three story staircase. Yeah yeah yeah, heat rises but the view from the top floo,not counting the attic floor, was to die for. But not today. Not from the stifling heatwave that had started this past week and had increased in ferosciousness . The temperature climbing every day. This friday morning was the hotest by far. So muggy. Not sure if mosquitos sweat but how can they fly in such steamy air? Feels like breathing thru a wet sponge. And all I wanted was to sit here and enjoy a cup of coffee quietly until the animals start to rouse themselves. If they do today.

Poor things. They dont know what to do with themselves. The sun has been relentless. They dont want to leave the shade of the barn but they can barely breath inside there. We have large floor fans but dont leave them running during the night for fear of a fire. The outlets get so hot now that we are afraid of sparks starting. Usually the animals would collect in a large group but lately they have been travelling down to the pond and wading in together. But how much longer? the pond is drying up super fast. The farmhands were talking yesterday about digging holes and putting wading pools in right behind the barn so we can fill them with fresh water every morning.

Great idea but I feel bad watching them dig when its so miserable hot. And truth be told the water pressure isnt so good. On the news they are telling us to ration water for a little while but I dont know. We cant let them suffer.

Speaking of farmhands, where are they? Come to think of it they should be out and about . The last couple of days they have been getting up before their normal 5:30. This horrible heat has had them up early and off to bed early.

What can you do in the God for saken heat anyway? Swimming these days isnt the answer either. The sun has the water practically boiling. And sunburn comes quick when you get out. You are basically frying!

Well, somebody needs to check on the livestock and since Im the only one around..

I begin to walk, the dry grass crackling under my bare feet. This was a southern plantation home in the beginning. About two hundred years ago and 200 acres. Now its a farm of 40 acres. The house seems much too grand for what it has become . It was in the same family all those years until the last little old lady that hung on to it passed and the bank took possession as there were no heirs. I was lucky to get it for back taxes.

The house was solid if only a bit shabby. It was a real steal. It just needs some updates. Still working on that obviously. Too bad I coundt afford better electrictiy right now. Wouldlove to put in central air. Somday. But not todayl

Anyway, the barn is hidden behind the house about three acres in. These houses were ment to be showplaces. Nothing around to take away from seeing this thing when you come down the long driveway. So I begin the hike down to the barn. Its redicuiously hot! Looking to my right I see one of the bicycles the hands sometimes use on a nice day to scout out the perimeter of the property. Ohhh, thank you! At least I can ride down to the barn. Doesnt seem like much of a walk but in this sweltering heat and the darkness I wasnt sure id make it three feet , much less three acres. Not trying to be dramatic but breathing in and out seems like a chore right now. Sucking air thru a wet sponge seems like an accurate parallel.

Peddling takes alot of effort but I do manage to make it pretty quickly. I drop the bike in the brown grass. Yes brown. Almost all of the grass is brown. Scorched actually. Despite wetting it down every evening and early morning.

To the left of the barn door is a thermometer. Squinting in the lifting darkness I see it reads 102F. What? I look at my watch. Yes some of us still wear them! Its been only about thirty minutes since I stumbled onto the front porch. It seems that I had been melting alot longer. Honestly you cant escape this heat. Stepping into the barn its very still.

No rusling of straw. No welcoming moos or neighs. But why is it so quiet? FLipping on lights I begin to walk thru and check in the stalls. I put the animals in the barn for safety at night but because of the whole heat thing ive been leaving the back door open that leads to the pasture. This way they can go in and out as they please. They may have wanted and just couldnt! Everyone is laying down in the stalls. Breathing labourasly. Oh my God! I go from stall to stall. Im afraid some of them are no longer breathing! All the buckets we filled with water last night are empty and dry as a bone. I am beginning to panick.

I run to the wall and grab a water hose and turn it on full blast. I am not worried about shocking them with cold water because there is none. This water is running out hot. But its wet. I begin misting the whole place. saturating everything. soaking down the larger animals. After I help these animals Ill go out and check the smaller animals that are in hutches and the chicken coups. I look earnestly , trying to find some life in them. Im really worried. I dont make my living with the animals. They are pets really. I rescue older animals. Animals with issues. They are a hobby I guess you could say. It is a working farm in that it works for me. I do collect eggs, a little milk. I dont slaughter anything though. I sometimes help neighbors that need a bit . You never know with this economy. We have several gardens on the property and fruit trees. In i pinch I could sell some to help with the cost of feed.

Well thank the Lord the animals are stirring! Im hearing some pitiful sounds but sounds they are. Thats a releif.

Now that everyone is wet I go over to the Large floor fans and plug them in and turn them on to cool everyone down. I hate not to run them in the night but with the heatwave Ive noticed it doesnt take long for the plugs and cords to become really hot. I couldnt sleep at night worrying about something catching fire. Ok that should help alot. Now to find some help. Still no sign of a farmhand. Ive only three but how are none of them here?

I go outside . Its 6 am. Ive been in here that long trying to rouse these guys. How did the sun get so high? It looks to be about noon. Its painful to look in the sky. I have to blink rapidly because my eyes are watering.

This time coming out of the barn I look to the right at the thermometer. Gee Wizz! 110F. How is that even possible. What a wonderful start to the weekend this has been so far.

I dont know what to do. I have to leave the animals and go find someone. Back on the bike. OMG..the ride to the house is a bit of an incline but I peddle as fast as I can. Which isnt really fast at all. feels like I am peddling thru mud. Not the leisurely peddle down here.

I reach the house finally. Go to the front yard and look down to the left. A few acres that way is a patch of woods. The farm hands share a small two bedroom house just there inside the trees. No lights on. Nevermind calling , Ill just ride down there too. I reach the edge of the woods a little bit slower then I reached the house. This heat is sucking the life out of me. The house sort of melts into the woods. Normally it would be darker in here but not now. The trees are scorched like the grass. No movement from the house or land. The only sounds are the fans in the windows. Not one bird chirping. Just too hot to live! The guys refused to use window airconditioning. They said no need because it would be cool in the woods. Ha! Well we know thats not true. I had actually offered to get units this weekend because I could see they were miserable now that this heatwave was upon us. And it is my house. I provide for anyone working for me.

I call out. No answer. I run to the door and knock. The door swings open. Rushing inside I call out their names one by one. Still no answer. I go thru the house to the back where the bedrooms are. No one no one no one. I just the first bedroom. The one Rory and Charlie share. Empty. I go to the second one. Jepsoms room. He in charge so he gets the single room. Empty as well but something bizarre! His bed sheet is covered in a large stain. Reddish in color. I walk closer. Its actually the shape of a ..man. It rather sticky looking but i deside not to touch it but what in the world? I back out and head to the kitchen where the landline is. There on the side table is what appears to be a note with my name on it. It reads.. Miss Mandy we had an emergency. No time to explain. Didnt want to wake you. Sorry about the animals, we will get to them upon our return. R. My Lord what now?

Rushing back to my own home on the bike I jump off of it with as much energy as I can muster and climb the porch stairs, walk around the wrap around veranda and into my own kitchen. I use my cell phone thats been charging by the land line. For some reason the landlines arent working so well. Its almost like the electric wires are too hot or something. I call Rorys phone and its picked up right away." Hello, hey its Mandy.." Yes ma'am . Sorry for the fuss. Jepsoms with the doctor and Charlie went to get a cold drink if he can find one. . Miss Mandy we went directly to the emergency. We woke up really early as we have been lately. To get started before the unbearable hot started. We woulda made coffee but nobody was wanting that so I got bottle water from the fridge. But mr. Jepsom didnt come from his room. You know hes always up before we are. We were a bit worried right away because Mr. Jepsom is gettin on in age. I sent Charlie to go get him . I heard him knock a couple times. Wait then call to Mr. Jepsom. No reply. Then I heard the door creek open , the light click on and then footsteps. Next I heard Charlie let out a holler and I went arunnin. What we saw was just...Not possible Miss Mandy. I went to Mr. he was a bit unrecognizable. He looked like a blob. His skin was dry as paper. I couldnt tell if he was breathing but I knew we had to help him. We tried to get him up but he was stuck Miss. stuck right to his top sheet like glue. We looked at each other and i jestured to Charlie to follow my lead. Mr. Jepsom was just in his underwear so we wrapped him in the sheet and carried him out to the truck. We were sweating buckets but it dried up so fast. We took off at high speed Miss. Quicker then an ambulance would have been. We were awful scared and didnt dare yell out to you. I dont know anything to tell you yet but I assume Mr. Jepsom is still with us as they have been in there awhile and havent come out for anything. Be careful Miss Mandy. That truck was so hot. We barely got it started and it was on its way to over heating when we got her. Like the water in the radiator just evaporated Miss."

I quickly looked at my cell phone. It has the date, time and temp . The temp read 120F. I saw no reason to distress the guys with the animals right now. Id go see to them myself. See if they were reviving. "Rory.. I have an issue here to take care of real quick and then Ill be up there soon." " Yes Miss Mandy. Miss is it possible for a grown man to actually...melt? Cause thats what it looked like Miss."

"I dont know Rory. I just dont know...

Listen I'll see you soon." I hung up the phone. Walked back outside.. came off the porch to head back to the barn. I went to pick up the bicycle and jerked my hand back. My fingers were blistard! In just a few minutes the metal had become hot enough to do that.

I walked as quickly as I could back down to the barn. Looking to the left when I reached the barn door I homed in on the thermometer. 130F.. What the hell?! How long since I left the kitchen? 10 minutes?

Lord help us...