The Rain

Short Story Day 100 of 365

Thomas and Korina leaned against the window sill, their chins in the palms of their hands, moping, wishing the rain would stop, telling each other what they would do when the rain actually did stop. It was Saturday, a day that they should have been outside playing with friends and getting dirty. Playing in the rain today or any other day was simply out of the question and they both knew it.

"Think it'll ever stop?" Thomas asked.

She said, "No. We'll be stuck in here all weekend."

"Should we ask Mom if we can go out?"

Korina turned only her eyes towards Thomas. "Ha! You're joking, right?"

"Mm, no. Maybe she'll let us," he said but didn't really believe it.

"Has she ever let us go out in the pouring rain before, Thomas?"

"Have we ever asked?"

"No, we've never asked. We've begged and pleaded and whined, but never asked."

Thomas thought about that. "Maybe she's in a good mood today."

"Yeah, and maybe she'll ground us for asking."

"She wouldn't ground us for asking….would she?"

The rain pounded against the window. With a finger Thomas traced a raindrop's path from the top of the window all the way down until it blended in with a thousand other drops.

"I wish I were a farmer," Thomas said.

"Why do you wish that? That's weird. You're beginning to sound like Dad more and more."

"If I were a farmer, then I suppose I could be thankful that it's raining."

"But farmers can't go out and play in it," Korina said.

"Farmers aren't supposed to play in it. After it's all done, they can go out and work in it."

"That's no fun."

"It's a lot better than not having good crops."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"If it doesn't rain, the crops don't grow and sometimes if the crops don't grow, the farmer doesn't eat."

"Oh Thomas, who told you all that?"

"I don't know, but it makes sense, doesn't it?"

"I suppose."

The rain came down harder and the wind howled, slapping the rain against the window.

"Yeah, it would be nice to live on a farm with all those animals," said Korina. "I'd get a horse."

"I think riding a tractor all day would be fun."

"But not as fun as riding a horse all day."

"It's pretty amazing, isn't it?"

"What's that?"

"Well, how the rain waters things and makes them grow."

"I think it's how God planned it all."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right."

"Hey kids." It was their mother.

They turned around.

"Hi Mom."

"You two look bored," she said.

Korina said, "We are."

"Well, then, why don't you go outside and play?"

Korina and Thomas glanced at each other.

Mrs. Tanner said, "It's a warm rain. I'll let you go out on one condition."

"Yes?"

"As soon as you step inside, off go your shoes and you go straight to your rooms to change."

The two kids bolted for the door without even thanking her.

"Farmers shouldn't be the only people who enjoy a good rain," she said but they never heard her.