My Summer

My grandmother lives in Phoenix. It has been ten years since she moved there. I was only 2 years old when she left Chicago. She had to move to a warmer climate because the winters in Chicago were too cold. She went to her doctor and he said that she could not stay in such a cold climate. She was sorry to leave because she had her family here and her friends. But soon she made more friends in Phoenix. 

My mother goes to visit her in winter. I can’t go because I have to be in school, but last summer I went for a long visit. 

I traveled by plane to Phoenix. I had never been on an airplane before. It was very exciting. When we landed, the pilot said it was 110 degrees. I thought I had not heard him clearly. It had never been that hot in Chicago. 

I got off the plane and saw my grandmother right away. We were both so happy I was there. She gave me a big long hug and then we went to get my suitcase. It took about 10 minutes to get it. I was worried that they had lost it, but then we saw it. 

After that, we went outside. I was so surprised because it felt like being in a heater. It was hotter than I had ever felt. It was 110 degrees. 

We went to the bus stop and the bus came right away. I got on and was so glad it came so quickly. It was cool because it was air-conditioned. It took about 30 minutes for us to get to her block. I didn’t mind the long ride because it was interesting to look outside the window. People had brown grass. It was all dried out. And they didn’t have trees. They had really big cactus plants. 

When we got off the bus, we had to walk three more blocks to her apartment. I became so hot again. I asked my grandmother, “How can you live in such a hot place?” 

“Oh, you get used to it,” she said. It turned out that she was right. It took a few weeks, but I got used to the heat. But we stayed inside when it was hottest. We went out in the morning when it was cooler, and at night it even felt a little chilly. 

I went home at the end of summer. My mother came to meet me at the airport. She picked up my suitcase, and then we got on the bus. She asked me all about my trip. I told her, “You’re lucky you don’t go in summer. But it is always great to be with grandma.” My mother said, “I miss her a lot. Next time I’ll go with you.”