Day Three: Sweltering, not hot

Even the best writers rely on obvious words. Practice mental flexibility by writing a paragraph describing a typical August afternoon without using the words hot, humid, heat, or sun.


The air felt as thick as wool. Sweat trickled, dogs panted, and even the wading pool felt like bathwater. Children languished in the shade, dozing as an escape. Brrring, brrrring! The bell jolted the crowd out of their reverie. The words ICE CREAM MAN! read across their faces like LED leaderboards. Purses were dumped, t-shirts and flip-flops were donned, and children were dangled from the arms of scurrying adults. The cold from the door of the truck formed puffs of smoke as it collided with the oppressive mid-day air. Bomb-pomps, ice cream sandwiches and push-ups melted and ran down the hands of the sweaty consumers. As they retreated back to the shade with their icy treats, once again the sultriness consumed them.