Poolside

Simone stretched lazily on the lawn chair. "This feels really comfortable," she muttered. "Too comfortable." In truth, the combination of full belly, sun, warmth and the drone of conversation threatened to lull her to sleep. Granted she had an excuse: she'd been awake for nearly 36 hours, travelling from Canada to France but, surrounded by her grandmother, aunt and cousin, Simone fought the sleepiness. B, for his part, ran merrily through the yard, full of energy after an earlier restorative nap. "Can we go swimming?" He begged. Hmmm. Okay. Simone reluctantly got up and dipped her toes in the water. Ugh. Ice water. And that happy, sleepy feeling? Poof! Gone!