A Parade Rained-Out

A Parade Rained-Out

by Rob Delisa

Things became very unsettled when that first bolt of light seared the calm, muggy sky. Rowdy, menacing clouds laughed as the surrounding air roared back in joyful thunder. A lazy, afternoon sun tried dozing beneath the mocking gray skies, keeping a watchful ray above the cast, in case things should get out of hand too quickly. Hoping to join the parade, but a bit too shy to make an abrupt scene, the rain politely shed its first few drops of water on the dry, heated surface below; and waited for approval. The clouds giggled and the sky snapped back with reckless abandon. Disturbed from its nap, the sun glared a few more rays; threatening to put an end to the hopeful party. When the white and gray balls of cotton gasped back in defiance; the mischievous skies rumbled in joyful agreement. The rain timidly revealed a few more of its playful drops, before being severely reprimanded by the sun's awakening gleam of dissaproval. Still, the skies showed no sign of surrender. There was more laughter, followed by a series of cracks, bangs and pops. Then, an arrogant newcomer joined the scene: With hopes of blowing things even further out of order, the wind let loose a hot, puff of air, and the ensuing laughter was deafening: Crack, Boom...Crackle...Pop...Now growing increasingly annoyed with each bolt of fractured light and crack of thunder, the sun pushed more of its light beams above the gray skies, threatening to put a complete stop to the afternoon melee that was about to ensue. The wind blew back, but it was all hot air, as another heated lightening bolt struck the sky. The clouds laughed and the skies roared, as the arrogant wind enjoyed its blowing endorsement. With each breath turning cooler, the whooshing of the wind, made the trees shiver in fear. Yet, the rain said very little, producing only a few more drops in reply. As a result, the sun seemed to mellow, realizing perhaps, that rain was not up to the task today. Emboldened by the sun's passiveness, the laughter of the clouds grew more boisterous, and the wind cooled its breath to a late fall chill. For a moment there was silence as they all waited in unison for rain's reply. "Drip, drop, drip drop...drip...drip..." The rain couldn't quite muster the courage, and when the sun showed its head once again, the lightening and clouds cackled back like disobedient school boys. Growing weary and tired of the fracas, the sun settled back down beneath its covers of gray. Things grew darker and the clouds became bolder as the bolts tickled them more furiously with each flashing strike. The wind howled. The rain backed down, and the rest of them became suddenly discouraged. The wind whistled, whirred and whooshed. The rain said not a word. With the clouds now hysterical, and the wind turning more ferocious with each burst, the rain could only manage a few more lonely drops of sympathy. The hopes of a full-fledged storm were beginning to waver in the wind. Silence fell over the impatient cast, as they all wondered how long the sun would sleep. Restlessness turned to impatience as open holes formed inside the flinching clouds. Thick, billowy, white shapes began to drift away, making only sporadic chuckles as they left the wind and rain to quarrel with each other. "Whirrrr. Drip...drop...drip...drop...drip...drip...whirrrr" It wasn't much of a parade. Having scared the rain into dry submission, the wind went on its way to join the rest of the cast. The sun was now rising from its nap, and casting a newness of light upon the skies and earth. Now, feeling a little friskier with the wind's departure, the rain tried to make a late return. As if to say, 'come back, come back, come back...look at me, now!' the rain unleashed its final, and greatest effort. In the light of the sun, glistening drops came down bigger and faster than before: "drip drop drip drop drip drop drip drop...drip....drip..." It was too little, and too late. The others were gone, and the sun was awake now; far too energetic to allow any further distress for the afternoon. The rain had missed its chance. What remained was not a parade, but a sunlit encore of an afternoon matinee. Another summer day was gone and weather's cast had moved on. A rainbow formed a colorful, smile across the empty sky, teasing and telling onlookers what might have been.