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Heatwaves (11): An unfortunate dry spell has come over Destiny City, and a heat wave has made it all but unbearable. The heatwave is only projected to last for a week but it’s been rough. Plants are wilting, people are wilting. The city is experiencing blackouts, which isn’t helping. Thankfully, the reservoir is always open. Just, crowded. It might just be the worst part of the summer. People are passing out regularly, and the hospitals are getting too many admissions to keep up with. It’s probably just the heat and not anyone up to anything nefarious, right? Better stay hydrated and try to keep cool, and maybe avoid everyone in weird costumes, just in case.
The heat was building, it had been rising for the last several days but today it felt like it was positively melting outside. Dawn was fairly certain that the old joke of cooking an egg on the sidewalk was not a joke on a day like today. With this kind of heat it meant that just being outside was dangerous. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke were very real concerns. She wanted to help but what could she do? Her money was limited to savings and the little bit she was making working every little job she could do. At first she was planning on setting up a ‘lemonade’ type stand but handing out water for free but she quickly ran into several roadblocks. The least of which was the cost of materials; the cups and the cooler for the water for the most part. But there were also logistical things like where to set up, the zoning laws, and the like. Some people could be major sticklers for things like that, Country Time had to create ‘Legal-Ade’ for a reason after all. So while Dawn wasn’t going to sell water it didn’t mean she wanted to get into legal trouble.
So what was her next step? She actually volunteered. There were actual places, primarily governmental, that were set up for cooling facilities. They always welcomed enthusiastic volunteers since most were sorely limited in funds, so volunteers were the best… they were free! So that's where she ended up in the middle of one of her rare free day’s, helping pass out cups of water and making paper fans with the kids. Someone had to keep the little one’s occupied but not causing any issues. That was Dawn’s main job, one she happily took. With some markers, a ream of paper, some masking tape, and a stapler she was able to set the half a dozen kiddos to designing and creating one of a kind paper fans that could be given out. “Now don’t forget to fold your designs when you're ready. Once you're done, bring it here and I’ll staple the bottom so it is secure,” the young woman reminded the table of concentrating children.
“Here you go Miss Dawn!” One of the little girls happily passed over her rainbow striped folded sheet.
“Oh it's beautiful,” Dawn fawned a moment over the fan before she quickly, and with practice, stapled the bottom of the paper before wrapping the staple part with the masking tape to make it a bit more sturdy. “Here you go!” She passed the fan back and watched as the little girl got up from the table and promptly gave her fan to her mother. Dawn watched for only a moment before turning back to the rest of the group, and her own fan.
“Miss Dawn, momma said it was time to go.” The little girl was back, she looked a little sad at leaving but she also looked proud at being such a ‘big girl’. “Momma said to give you this as thanks.” The child thrust her hand out and when Dawn put her own out, a little star charm was dropped into it.
“Oh thank you! I love it!” Dawn smiled and held the charm to her chest, honored that the little girl wanted to give her a gift. “Now you be careful out there. Don’t forget-”
“Drink water!” All the kids at the table chimed up at the same time before breaking into giggles.
“Yes. Drink water. Stay hydrated and be careful in the heat.” Dawn chuckled and nodded.
“I will! Bye!” The little girl assured her new friend and waved even as she headed back out into the blistering sun. It really was a scorcher out there.
“Miss Dawn here is another fan,” Her absent thoughts were drawn back to her job when another one of the kids offered her his completed fan to be stapled and taped as well. It might not have been glamorous or earth shattering but at least she was really helping. If only by keeping the kids occupied and focused while their parents relaxed and drank the truly needed water in the well ventilated building.
((Word Count:700))
