Written for MLMM Monday Wordle;
the prompt words are shown below.
heat, concern, rush, dug, imagine, elderly,
provide, work, box, digital, drop, halt
By noon, the heat had pressed itself over the city like a lid on a pot. Subway grates breathed up warm air, and even the pigeons looked tired. Simone’s main concern wasn’t the temperature on her phone …. it was her elderly grandmother, three flights up in a walk-up with a window unit that wheezed more than it cooled.
She caught the bus in the middle of rush hour, watching the digital display above the driver’s seat blink 101°F like a warning nobody needed. Outside, a crew had dug up part of the sidewalk weeks ago and never finished; today the exposed dirt looked almost scorched.
She couldn’t help but imagine her grandmother sitting in her little apartment, fanning herself with a folded church bulletin, and quickened her pace.
The city had set up cooling centers to provide relief …. gyms and libraries thrown open, doors propped with a cardboard box to keep the air conditioning from doing all the work alone. Simone convinced her grandmother to come with her, arm looped through hers, down the stairs one careful step at a time.
By the time they reached the bottom landing, beads of sweat had already begun to run down her grandmother’s neck; she looked like she was ready to drop. They slowly crossed the street to the library; once inside, the cold air hit them both like a wave, and for a moment, the whole frantic day seemed to halt. Simone let out a concerned breath, finally able to relax for the first time all day.
NAR©2026
#MLMM
#Wordle
This is “The Heat Is On” by Glenn Frey
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
years back we were in a French Train Station in near 40C, when suddenly a wonderful cooling mist swept over us. It was manmade and came from the roof. Such a great idea.
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Practically heaven-sent! What a wonderfully refreshing and much-needed pause! Thanks for sharing that memory, Gary.
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Love your take on this Nancy. Cooling centres would definitely take off at the moment!! Thanks for joining in.
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Thanks much, Di. It really is crazy hot. Take care! 🥵
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An incredibly descriptive piece, Nancy, I need a cold beer!
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I’ll drink to that, my friend! Cheers! 🍻
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I am hoping these cooling centers are a reality! Great storytelling, Nancy.
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They are in my area …. places like the library, senior center and our local pool which is enclosed and air conditioned. Thanks, J!
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On the News today they said that triple digits were coming to NYC, Phily and DC this weekend for 3 days in a row. Try to stay cool, Nancy.
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Thanks, Jim. We have nowhere to go and nothing important to do so we’re staying inside with the shades drawn and the AC on. We’re safe and cool; I wish the same for you, my friend. 😎
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Lovely story of the thought and concern she has for her grandmother
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Thank you, Sadje. I know I feel the heat much more than I did when I was younger, so I need to be careful.
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Very true. Our tolerance for extreme temperatures lessens as we age.
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fanning herself with a folded church bulletin–such a great line, Nancy.
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Remember doing that, Lois? I sure do! Thanks much! 😊
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I do remember! That line struck such a chord with me!!
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Excellent writing Nance I know it’s hot over here at the moment – but I could feel the heat and the stress as i read it – even the blast of cold as they entered the library- so good 🙌
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Thanks, Ange. We’re under a heat advisory ATM and this batch of words fit right in. Stay safe and cool! 😎
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🤞
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