January 1999: Rocket Summer

           OneminuteitwasOhiowinter,withdoorsclosed,windowslocked,thepanesblindwithfrost,iciclesfringingeveryroof,childrenskiingonslopes,housewiveslumberinglikegreatblackbearsintheirfursalongtheicystreets.

           Andthenalongwaveofwarmthcrossedthesmalltown.Afloodingseaofhotair;itseemedasifsomeonehadleftabakerydooropen.Theheatpulsedamongthecottagesandbushesandchildren.Theiciclesdropped,shattering,tomelt.Thedoorsflewopen.Thewindowsflewup.Thechildrenworkedofftheirwoolclothes.Thehousewivesshedtheirbeardisguises.Thesnowdissolvedandshowedlastsummer’sancientgreenlawns.

           Rocketsummer.Thewordspassedamongthepeopleintheopen,airinghouses.Rocketsummer.Thewarmdesertairchangingthefrostpatternsonthewindows,erasingtheartwork.Theskisandsledssuddenlyuseless.Thesnow,fallingfromthecoldskyuponthetown,turnedtoahotrainbeforeittouchedtheground.

           Rocketsummer.Peopleleanedfromtheirdrippingporchesandwatchedthereddeningsky.

           Therocketlayonthelaunchingfield,blowingoutpinkcloudsoffireandovenheat.Therocketstoodinthecoldwintarmorning,makingsummerwitheverybreathofitsmightyexhausts.Therocketmadeclimates,andsummerlayforabriefmomentupontheland…