COLORFUL RAIN

A charmer. A charmer. I met him by chance. The morning was warm but breezy. The golden sun was only a few inches above the horizon. Buttercups were smiling as their yellow petals began to open to the glories of morning. Bikers, speed walkers, strollers, dogs on taut leashes were guided to trees. They passed each other as strangers, each being the only one there. I had tried a nod, a pleasant good morning to these strangers many times but they were locked in themselves, passed me as if I didn’t exist.

I sat down on an old green wooden bench that had warmth in its soul. Auras of silent people joined me. Some I’d met before. A white haired woman with miles of wrinkles and bony hands liked to sit close to me. When a young boy would join us, I felt his longing, his need to throw away his crutches. My imagination was my stage, my way to Magic Land.

The sun was higher, blinding me. I moved across the path so as not to miss the parade. The sun moved too, behind a scraggly gray cloud. Bikers pedaled faster. A young matron hurried her beagle to do his duty. I sat and watched the foolishness of rushing away the morning. There was no lightning, no thunder but soft raindrops kissed my face. They felt good to me. Were the runners going to shrink like cheap fabric in hot water? Go, go, go, all of you, go! I sat alone as the small black clouds became big black clouds.

There were things I was to do this morning besides wile it away on a park bench and decided to attack them soon. I reluctantly got up and walked to the unlocked park gate, saw traffic already heavy on McDowell St. Giant sized raindrops flooded the gutters. A florist’s red and white striped awning that had not yet been retracted beckoned to me. And that was when a handsome, middle-aged man with thinning hair came out and almost knocked me over. He apologized, clicked open his over-sized black umbrella and began to sing and dance. Laughing hard, he stepped into the gutter, spun and jumped, splashing the lamp post and me. He turned the umbrella upside down and let it almost fill with rain. Putting his hand out for me to join him in his play house, I eagerly grasped it and almost drowned when he lifted it above our heads. It didn’t matter. Wetter I couldn’t get.

My gentleman friend kept dancing and singing, ‘Raindrops are Falling on My Head’ Tone deaf that I was, I sang anyhow. It was such great fun!Cars slowed down to look at the two idiots. We waved and made silly faces at them

My shoes were overflowing with every step. The buckets from heaven slowed down, stopped. We stopped. My charming partner closed his umbrella, bowed to me, kissed my wet hand and said goodbye.

As he gracefully walked away, I poured the water out of my shoes and called after him,’ So long, Gene. You made my day!’