On this particular hot day, the sun was relentless. The air shimmered with heat, and not a cloud could be seen in the sky. People were sweating rivers beneath their layers of woolen coats, yet no one dared break the tradition. There was even a little pride in how many coats each person could wear.
At the center of the town stood two best friends, Lucas and Ben, both dressed in not one, but two coats. Lucas, a tall and stubborn man, was dressed in a heavy, dark overcoat, with his favorite tweed jacket underneath. Ben, on the other hand, was not quite as fond of the custom but was too afraid to refuse. He wore a thick wool coat over his summer shirt, with his light denim jacket underneath.
As they stood at the edge of the parade route, waiting for it to begin, Ben couldn’t help but notice how miserable the whole situation felt. His face was flushed, his shirt soaked with sweat, and his body felt like it was being roasted on a spit. He turned to Lucas and said, “Why do we do this every year? I’m burning up in these coats!”