TheBanyanTree: Counting Raindrops

[Rob Springs Eternal]

[Written as part of a writing exercise I'm doing on my lunches, where I try 
to write complete stories that are as short as possible.]

The rain came slowly, in drops, hitting the dry earth carefully, as though 
pouring down too quickly would startle the dirt and make it run away. 
Sitting on the bench, she could count them.

One, by the limping flower.
Two, near the root of a tall tree.
Three, alongside the coke can.
Four, on her bare big toe.
Five-six-seven, tic tac toe off the top of the trash can.

Then more and more, getting harder to keep track of them all, as they 
plopped all around her. Was that number sixteen behind her, or number 
twenty? She had to know, so she whirled around, jumping off the bench, 
moving like a mini-tornado that touched down in the park. This storm's eyes 
were not calm, however--they had too much to see.

One hundred and one, one hundred and two! The rain arrived in full force 
now, its skirmishers already sacrificed to the battlefield of burnt grass 
and brown spots, the army of wet on its way from above, marching in columns 
solid enough to be seen as white-gray lines. It touched everything now, 
bench, tree, flower, coke can, trash can, exposed big toe--making the world 
a cooler place, a damper place, a happier place!

She was soaked now, blond hair plastered to her head, clothes sticking to 
her sides and legs like they were tape. Forgetting all about how important 
it was to count the raindrops, she squealed in delight and headed for home.


************************************************************
Rob McMonigal
twainfan at earthlink.net
http://www.livejournal.com/users/trebro
************************************************************
"Myers did a great job today but when you
don't score any runs you're not going to win
many games," -Phillies manager Larry Bowa
************************************************************