CARMEN-G. DUNNE

001-DREAMIN'

PITTSBURGH '69
CARMEN

CARMEN ROUNDTREE INHALED AS THE SUMMER AIR LAY FLAT IN THE HUMIDIDTY, it was warmer than an average day in the summer. The town's heatwave reaching its peak from a week of warm winds and pleasant temperatures. So hot that it practically charged the youth with a type of energy that lead to partying and all sorts of outings. In the humidity, it was hard to move beneath the heatwave. If you were pasty white and outside the enticing shelter of shade, you'd leave the house your natural colour, walk to the local shops and back returning the shade of Tomatoes that you'd purchase moments before. For Caucasian however, it was the perfect opportunity for a tan that wasn't required to travel down to the beach.

Carmen was lucky enough not to burn as easy as her brother Eddie. She'd tan in the sun, despite growing faint if spent sitting around doing nothing. Odd how in contrast, when the Roundtree was out walking in the heat as she did, it would not affect her in the slightest. The sun charged Carmen like a battery, energy and enthusiasm towards anything radiated off her frame.

For now, away from the blazing ball of light, Carmen was situated behind a tightly enclosed counter. Surrounded by bars of melting chocolate and tubs of boiled candies that were sticking together even more by the second. Mama's and the Papa's new release California Dreamin was crackling through the small radio by the door, each time it opened the bell would act like a tambourine to the steady beat of their newest hit. Carmen tapped her feet along to the track whilst bagging up a customer's tin of ham and pineapples. 

An endearing smile was spread across her cheeks to the short hobbling old woman who reached out to retrieve her bag of goods. She must've been struggling with the heat as the lady wheezed whilst pulling that bag off of the counter.

"Have a nice day." Carmen said in a robotic tone. It was deadly trained into you to say each phrase for different occasions.
The old woman waved, her fraols hands pe in the sunlight, she left with out looking back in response, clutching her bag as she braced open the door.

An ungodly crackle erupted from the convenience store's small radio. It shredded her ears, the disruption from the Mama's and the Papa's ending score was more pain than the dreaded sound.

Carmen fiddled with the radio, turning the dial with her orange and white painted nails tapping against the metal as she twisted. Two radio stations had lost signal, until she turned to no. 4: Pittsburgh Top of the Charts.

Hey Jude starting swaying through the speaker.

Hey jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better.

Carmen nodded her head along with the lyrics. Emersing herself into the song, in a heatwave it was simple to lose yourself to reality.

"Hey Carmen."

A rough voice cut into the track, despite being deep, it still sliced through her brain like a knife to melted butter.

Carmen swung her body around to face the caller. His button up summer shirt had sweat patches under the arms that were noticeable amongst the Caramel colour.

"Hey Graham." Carmen replied.

Adjusting the belt around her waist with the distinct flower power design that was tracing through her belt buckles with somewhat ease. It held up her blue denim trousers with great faith, Carmen never realised that the trousers were a size to big when she bought them. The Roundtree girl had saved up for. A month to buy them, so for now, before her mother could take them in shed wear her flower power belt and be done with it. At least the orange and white pattern matched her top and nails with a vibrant statement.