Hi, my name is Keya.

One hot, sunny day, I went to the community pool.

My dad and little brother, Samar, were there, too.

I was getting out of the pool when I heard music coming from far away...

“Ice cream!” Samar shouted. “Let’s go!”

He headed for the parking lot where the ice cream truck always stopped.

Dad laughed. "I'd better catch him! Meet us at the ice cream truck."

He ran after my little brother.

I started to follow them.

That’s when I found out that I had a big problem.

I’d have to cross the parking lot to get to the ice cream truck…

And I wasn’t wearing any shoes!

That morning, when we got to the pool, the sky was cloudy.

The parking lot and sidewalk were cool.

So I left my shoes in the car.

But the sun had come out.

It had been shining on the parking lot for hours.

I needed my shoes!

I thought about what it would feel like to walk barefoot by the pool.

The wet sidewalk would be cool.

And where the sun was shining on the parking lot, it would get very hot, too!

I wanted to get to the ice cream truck.

But I didn’t want to walk where it was hot.

People getting out of the pool have splashed cold water onto the cement.

Those puddles would be cool.

The green grass was wet.

It would be cool under my feet.  

I thought about it.

Here’s what I decided to do.

Dad bought me my favorite ice cream bar.

Then he said, “Watch your brother for a minute. I’ll be right back.”

Dad went to the car and got my shoes.

“Thanks, Dad!” I said.

I sat in the cool shade under an umbrella and ate my ice cream.

It was great.

THE END