June, Pierce, and I turn the corner that leads to the market street. This street is the only street with gravel on the ground and is big enough to fit ten people across. The shops line up on both sides, brightening as the sun hits the colors of the cloth roofs.

The smell of animals in their wooden cages and fruit sitting out in the sun fills my throat with bile. I used not to be so sensitive to smells but the older I got, the more sickening they became. But then there is a smell that fixes the stench of the market. The smell of Cheleste’s pieces of heaven that she bakes.

I can tell June and Pierce smell it as well because their faces have grown relaxed.

We all follow the scent trail that leads us to a big crowd. Sometimes, the crowd that forms around Cheleste’s tent is so big that we have to give some extra hands to help her out. We used to ask her why she wouldn’t hire more help but she kept saying it’s a good bonding experience for us.

The three of us step into Cheleste’s tent and without asking if she needs help, we put on our aprons. June heads to the counter where the money exchange is placed while Cheleste and I put orders in baskets for the customers. Pierce goes out into the crowd and gets the orders for Cheleste and me.

Once the mid-morning crowd dies down, the four of us take a breather. Cheleste used to not bake enough pastries for her customers so people would race to get her treats. She makes enough now, but people still race to get her treats. I don’t think they will ever calm down. They are the tastiest thing I have ever eaten, so I don’t blame them.

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June and Pierce come back with some water from the well in the middle of the market. I reach for my cup as June hands her extra cup to Cheleste. Quickly taking the cup out of my reach, Pierce shakes his head and makes a tsking noise.

“No, no, no. You sir, have to dance to earn your water,” Pierce says with a grin.

This isn’t something new. Pierce used to try and make me do stupid things so I could get something since we were little kids. I usually do it because I don’t really care but it is excruciatingly hot and sticky. Dancing is the last thing I want to do to get some water down my dry throat.

“Come on, Pierce. It’s too hot to fool around like this,” Cheleste says. Cheleste, bless her heart, always seems to stand up for me and tries to get me out of whatever scheme Pierce has going on. I think it is the fact that she is an older sister of eight that she’s a little more mature than the rest of this friend group.

Pierce groans with disappointment and hesitantly hands me the cup of water. I snatch it out of his hands before he has the chance to change his mind and gulp the water down as fast as I can. It feels ice cold going down my throat compared to the sizzling hot day that is cooking us alive. I gulp the water down so fast. I seem to be the only one dying of the heat so I tell my friends that I will be right back to get some more water.

As I walk to the well, I notice that the market cleared out earlier than usual. People probably don’t want to be in this heat as well. It’s too hot for the elderly and little children and the adults have to take care of those people, so it makes sense.

The well seems to be emptier than usual. Which also makes sense. I bend down to grab the rope for the bucket of water. The more and more I bring up the bucket of water, the colder and colder it feels. Looking around one last time to see if anyone was around, I grab the bucket of water and chug it. I don’t put it in the cup, just drink it straight from the bucket.

Noting how sharp the wood is on my lip, I check for blood. Then I go in for a second full bucket of water. Who knew a human could drink so much?