The humidity keeps them from touching in bed.
Backs to each other, they begin the difficult chore of falling
                                                                                 asleep.

Earlier that day, their shih tzu died of heatstroke.
The wife had been looking for an earring in the garden
while the dog followed and sniffed and barked.

The husband was in the veranda with the paper
reading about a horse that drowned in the river.

When he tired of the news, he watched ice cubes
melt into a glass of orange juice.

Giving up the search, the wife went into the kitchen
and started to prepare dinner, the thud of a butcher's knife on
                                                                                       wood.

Standing by the gas stove, she felt trails of sweat running down
                                                                                    her face.
The man lay on the couch and slept.

With meat seared in the pan, she set the table
and called the dog. The house was silent.

Close to sleep, she thinks she could have shaved the dog bald.
He thinks of airconditioning and ice candy on his tongue.