The author remembers idyllic summers and how country life filled each day with family, fishing, friends, swimming in the town pool or a neighbor's pond, or simply whiling away the afternoon with his pet collie. The dream of yet another laid back and mischievous summer changes suddenly to a nightmare of uncertainty and sadness when his favorite Aunt collapses unexpectedly and subsequently is diagnosed with cancer. Under the hot summer sun, the young boy learns the eternal values of hard work, kindness, and the responsibilities of family life, as well as the importance of dignity and honesty when coping with the imminent death of a loved one.
