From renowned author, Aminjon Shookuhi, comes the story of two boys who live in the small village of Laklakon. It is July, the hottest month of the year in Tajikistan, the country in which their village lies, and Asad and his friend Samad are waiting for the water to fill the canal outside their homes like it does everyday. Just yesterday, the water flowed freely, clear and cool, inviting them to splash and play under the afternoon sun with Asad's dog, Kalta. But they can't understand why the canal is now dry, and all they know is that they're getting very hot and impatient.

Not...