Away until further notice

Closing my eyes, I open my ears. I hear the wind caressing the trees, birds singing and the neighbour's grand-daughter complaining loudly she's hurt her toe. Then there is just the sound of the wind and the birds again. I open my book and let myself slide into the turn-of-the-century México where a man marries the love-of-his-life's sister, because it's the only way he can be near her. My garden, my sun bed, the wind in the trees and the singing birds all fade away. This is summer vacations to me.