First up, sprinklers.

The kids, Charissa, and I were enjoying breakfast later that morning, and the kids were trying to decide what to do. My phone reported that it was going to be a scorcher, and the kids loved going outside in the heat.

"Please can we play outside today?" my son asked.

"Charissa, will you play with us?" my daughter begged.

Charissa and I both laughed as she said, "Yes, of course. That's why I'm here!"

"I want to play in the sprinklers!" my son shouted.

"Me too!" my daughter agreed.

"You have to wear sunscreen," I warned.

"OK!" they said in unison, thrilled at being told yes.

"I hope that's OK," I said to Charissa, a little apologetically.

"Yeah, no problem," she smiled. "And before you ask, yes, I also promise to wear sunscreen!"

The kids flew to their rooms to put on their swimsuits as soon as breakfast was over, and Charissa dutifully went into the basement to change. I fought the urger to follow her, instead cleaning up from our meal and then helping my kids with their sunscreen. They ran out to start the sprinkler as Charissa came upstairs.

She was stunning, of course, wearing a pair of fairly short shorts and a bright bikini top.

She had a few white smudges on her arms and legs and, enticingly, on her collarbone, but she was still rubbing in the sunscreen as she entered the kitchen. "Would you mind getting my back?" she asked.

I flashed back to our very first beach outing and marveled at how much had changed and how many things were still the same. "Of course," I replied, taking the sunscreen from her and placing a small drop on my fingers. I rubbed the base of her neck and her shoulders, then took some more sunscreen. I worked the back of her shoulder blades and down her sides, taking more lotion and working my way to the small of her back. I massaged upward, sliding my fingers underneath her bikini top and rubbing all the way to the side, almost getting as far as her sideboob. I worked a few more spots for good measure and reluctantly said, "That should do it."

"Thanks, Seth!" she said. "See ya later."

"Have fun!" I called as she walked out the front door.

I assumed the same perch she must have used to observe my yardwork as I watched her and my kids through our front windows. They all took turns splashing in the sprinkler, and I was thrilled to see Charissa shimmy out of her short shorts and jump through the water in just her swimsuit. Eventually, I had to tear my eyes from their candy and resume my responsibilities.

I was just finishing the dishes when my son charged into the kitchen.

"It's Friday!" he announced.

I laughed. "Yeah, OK. So..."

"So!" he said, "The giant block sale starts today! Can Charissa take us, please?" I had forgotten about the neighborhood yard sale scheduled for this weekend. The kids always loved it, and it was fairly close by.

"Sure," I said. "But do you want to wait until tomorrow when I can join you too?"

"No, that's OK!" he said with the brusqueness of a thoughtless child. "We're happy to go with Charissa!"

I sighed and smiled and fished $40 from my wallet. "Don't spend it all in one place," I joked.

"Thanks, Dad!" he said, and ran off.

I settled myself down to my laptop, grateful for the quiet house and air conditioning, and tried to get some work done. But of course I was distracted by a series of thoughts and fantasies that ran through my head, chief among them, I wonder what they'll bring home from the block sale?