Into My Own

Five

Monday started out like any other day. I woke up early, went out to feed, shoved some breakfast down my throat, got ignored by my mother, and headed out to do my job.

Even work was pretty normal. I restocked the shelves, rang up a bunch of sweet old farmers, the usual.

Everyone was getting their equipment ready for haying. While they had plenty of time for that all winter, they still chose to wait until the last minute.

The air felt hotter than hell itself, especially for North Idaho in mid June. By eleven, the thermometer was sitting at 97. Normally June weather was high eighties at worst.

All I wanted to do was go swimming. I hadn't actually done anything fun in a few weeks so I figured I was probably allowed to.

I drove out of the parking lot at five with my phone to my ear.

"Hey Landon. It's me. Call me when you get this. I have an idea." Straight to voicemail.

I called Tommy next. He picked up on the fourth ring.

"Sup, sissy?"

"Just got off work. You?"

"Still working." That would explain why he sounded slightly out of breath.

"Sucky. When do you get off?"

"I don't know. Whenever he lets me, I guess."

"I guess that just the life of a farmer," I sighed.

"Anyway, what's up?"

"I had an awesome idea!"

"That's always scary. Shoot," Tommy encouraged.

"I wanna go night swimming."

"Sweet! But what happened to night fishing?"

"It's hot. I wanna be in the water, not on it!"

"Agreed. Tell you what, I'll see what I can do. Meet up point is pine bar at nine. I'll tell everybody."

"Thanks Tommy. You're coming, right?"

"No promises. We have a lot to finish still. But I know at least somebody will come."

"Okay... I can deal with that. I'm just not going alone."

"Yeah, you little social butterfly. Have fun tonight!"

"I will. See you."

"Bye."

Since the responsibility of letting everyone know had been taken away from me, I turned up the music and drove home.

"Charlie!" I yelled, slamming the screen door behind me.

"He's still at work, Code. What do you want?" Mom appeared, eyebrows raised.

"It's hot. I wanna go night swimming and he needs to come," I bluntly explained. "I was gonna clear it with you first, though."

She looked ready to say no so I quickly added "I'll be careful. And the boys are coming."

I took her submissive shrug as a yes and took off before she could protest. My footsteps thundered up the stairs to my room and then proceeded to the bathroom.

By six I was basically ready.

Dinner was sitting on the table when I came down. Dad and Charlie were still at work, so it was just Torrin, mom, and I.

"The thermometer hit 103 at two," mom stated, fanning herself.

"Sometimes I wish we had AC in here," I whined.