I Saw Summer Go

It was Saturday. It was beautiful. The sun was shining. The wind was still. The water was like glass. The leaves were just starting to yellow, just at the edges. There were a few splashes of red, now and then, as I drove along the highway toward the beach. Not many. Just enough to know that the nights were becoming cooler, the days shorter.

We sat outside all day. Bathing suits and beer. Watching the water and listening to the waves. A succession of football games played inside. Big Ten games. Some exciting. Some not. Then music. More drinks. Snacks. A light breeze.

In the evening, we boiled shrimp outside. The clouds rolled up a bit from the horizon, heading towards us slowly.

The breeze, that was so slight only moments before, strengthened and became a wind. Spatters of raindrops hit the ground. The blanket of clouds scuttled toward us.

The temperature dropped. The wind began whipping at the trees. The fire underneath the pot of shrimp blew out.

We went back outside after dinner. But we needed jackets and blankets and shoes and socks. The next morning was grey and the clouds haven't lifted since.

Summer was here for a while. Then, whoosh, shiver...there it goes.