Rain

Rain

My heart pounds with the thunder

And chills run down my spine

A beat taps against my window

Making me feel so divine

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‘Tap! Taptap! Tap tap!’

My pencil stopped mid-word as the first hints of a surprise storm caught my ears. Looking up from the homework I was doing, my eyes are drawn to the dark clouds outside, where the first droplets were already leaving trials of water running down the window. I can’t suppress my grin as I turn to you.

“Danny,” I whisper, shaking you from your nap over your own book. “Hey, Danny!” Grumbling, you wake at later, giving me a dirty look.

“What?” You asked irritably.

“A storm’s coming in,” I whisper. Your eyes widened and immediately fly to the window, and a grin spreads across your face.

“Alright!” You cheer, grabbing my hand, “Come on, let’s hurry!”

“Relax!” I laughed, running after you as fast as my eight year old legs could go, “It’s not like the storm’s gonna just disappear on us!”

“Well, you never know!” You tell me sagely, “Lots of other things disappear, right?” I giggle, not denying the truth in that.

“That’s cuz you lose stuff,” I tell you, “Because you’re so easily distracted. You’ll put it somewhere and forget you set it down,”

“Am not!” You defend yourself. “Now come on, let’s go already!” Laughing, I peel off my shoes and socks as you do the same, and we open the door and head out into the storm.

I grin widely as the rain drips over my face, soaking my clothes and hair as I chase after you when you run through the wet grass, which tickled at my feet as I ran. I tackle you to the ground, and we both land in a muddy puddle just as the storm picks up to the point where we can barely see one another, and we both laugh hysterically as we shove mud into each other’s face, knowing that we’d get into trouble later (Me especially) and not really caring…

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I lose control of self-restraint

Reckless energy starts to through

I’m too old to keep playing the game

But have no control over what I do

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“Are you sure?” You ask me again, your nose pressed against the glass.

“The weatherman said we’d get a storm…” I told him, also eyeing the gray clouds hopefully. Behind us, Tucker groaned.

“Come on,” He griped, “You two still play that game?”

“Why not?” You challenged him, your ten year old eyes flashing in defiance as if daring him to make fun of you. I couldn’t help but grin.

“Aren’t you worried about getting dirty?” Tucker asked, “Or what if you catch a cold?” you roll your eyes as the boy points this out.

“You sound like my mom,” You told Tucker pointedly. I giggle as he blushes at the accusation.

“Do not!” He protests.

“Yeah you do!” I told him, grinning. He glares at me before sinking into a couch to sulk to himself.

“Fine!” He said, “Catch Phenomena for all I care!” I wondered how he even knew what that was, but didn’t wonder too long as the rain started to sprinkle on the ground.

“YAY!” You and I shout as one, racing to the door. You beat me out first, and Tucker’s last statement made me pause before following.

“You know, I can get Danny sticking with this game, but I really don’t see why you like it so much,” He tells me, “I mean, you’re a girl! Girl’s aren’t supposed to like getting all wet and cold and muddy.” I hesitate before smiling at him.

“I dunno,” I say, “I guess it’s not something I want to give up just yet. Maybe my mom’s right and I’ll grow out of it someday, but for now the rain is my playground. Sure you don’t wanna join us?” Part of me hoped he’s refuse. Rain Time was always You and Me time, and we didn’t get that often.

“Pass,” Tucker said, making a face, “I’m happy being warm and dry, thanks.” I grin at him.

“Guess that’s your loss, huh?” I say before laughing and heading out the door, shutting it behind me.

“Hey, come on!” You call to me from the puddle you’re standing in, waving your arms to catch my attention, “It’s no fun to play alone!” I grin.

“Okay!” I call, “But it’s your turn, remember?” And, before you can respond, I take off through the wet grass, laughing when you finally catch on and follow.

“No fair!” I yell when you tackle me.

“No fair nothing!” You call back, grinning, “You got a head start, remember?”

“Just cause you’re so slow,” I reminded him.

“I caught you, didn’t I?” You point out.

“I wasn’t talking about running, smart one,” I call back over the rain, getting up and running away with a laugh before you work that out.

“…HEY!”

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Splashing barefoot in the puddles

I laugh and stick out my tongue

And as I catch all the drops I can

A happy squeal leaves my lungs

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“Aww, come on!” You whine.

“Danny, I can’t,” I said, trying to keep the longing out of my voice. We were too old to keep up this game anymore, and I had to be the one to stop them as much as I hated the thought of doing so.

“Please?” You begged. I hesitated a moment, glancing outside again wistfully at the rain that was clouding the windows.

Still, an eighth grader couldn’t be seen running around in the rain like a little kid. Especially if she had a reputation to protect. Besides, you needed to grow up too, and that wasn’t going to happen if I kept up these baby games with you.

“No way,” I said firmly, “We’ve got better things to worry about, Danny.”

“Come on,” you said persistently. “Last one?”

“That’s what you said last time,” I reminded you. At the look on your face, I sighed in defeat. “Fine,” I groan, “But it’s really the last time this time!”

Letting out a cheer, you jump up and run outside. I smile as I follow you trying to keep my pace slower to hide my eagerness.

Nowadays I was genuinely torn over how I should act compared to how I did, and nowhere was that more obvious then with this childhood game of ours. It didn’t really matter too much to me that mom disapproved of it, since we saw eye to eye on so little anyways, but I did want to think that I was getting older, more responsible.

No one would ever think that if they saw me running around soaking wet playing a game that was a combination of tag, wrestling and slip-n-slide. Still, it was our game, and not playing seemed like I’d be breaking some unwritten law of the Cosmos.

So I followed you outside, racing after you as you run away since it’s my turn to ‘catch.’ We end up running around for a long time before I finally tackle you after you slip in muddy grass.

“Klutz,” I laughed, standing up.

“Gimme a break!” You grumble, “It’s slippery out, okay?”

Giggling, I lift my face to the downpour, closing my eyes to enjoy the feel of the rain on my face, the sounds and electric sensations of the storm brewing so powerfully above us…

‘This is my idea of paradise,’ I sighed happily, ‘Just us two and the rain, no school, no parents… just us…’

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I grin as you start to laugh too

Proud this moment is ours alone

Sliding in the cold downpour

In a game I should condone

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“Come on, slow poke, you’re taking forever!”

“Yeah, yeah,” You laugh, rolling your eyes, “In case you haven’t noticed, this IS a routine patrol. That means looking and not just running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

“Nice visual.” I said making a face, “And I know, but I want to get done soon. It looks like it’s going to-!” That’s when the Thunder roared just before the heaven’s opened up and a drenched the two of us to the bone in seconds, “-rain.” I groaned. You, on the other hand, just shrugged.

“What’s the big deal?” You ask, “It’s just rain. We used to play in it all the time as kids.”

“That was a long time ago,” I reminded you absently. “Look, let’s just get somewhere dry, okay?” Too late I saw that evil grin pass your face.

‘SPLAT!’ I yelped at the mud that suddenly covered my face and shirt.

“DANNY!” I yelled, glaring at you. You only laugh.

“You’re turn to run!” You remind me.

“Forget it,” I said stubbornly, “I’m NOT playing!” I screamed again when I got hit by a mud ball.

“Come on,” You say playfully, “It didn’t kill us as kids, did it?”

“Dan-ny!” I growled, trying to wipe the mud way. You disappear on me, and next thing I knew, I had mud on the back of my head. I growled.

‘Alright, that’s it!’ Without warning, I turned and tackled you to the ground, sending us both rolling down the wet, muddy hill. When we finally came to a stop at the bottom, we separated, looking at each other.

You were covered from head to toe in mud, soaked to the bone and probably colder then usual, just like when we were kids. I had no doubt I was in a worst condition then you, but looking at you I couldn’t contain my giggles.

After all, it’s not every day you see a Ghostly Superhero looking like he just got back from a mud wrestling match. You join me with no hesitation, and we both lie there, laughing hysterically just because…

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I still look back upon those times

When the clouds start to gather low

And I smile at the memories

Of the game only we know

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‘Tap! Taptap! Tap tap!’

With a familiar sence of déjà vu, I looked up, my gaze instantly drawn to the window. A faint smile touches my lips when I see the rivers of rain tricking down the glass and become lost in memories…

“Mommy?” Blinking out of my thoughts, I turn to meet the wide blue eyes of my daughter, who looked faintly annoyed with something.

“What’s wrong, Crystal?” I asked, putting my pencil down and standing up. Straightening my business skirt before walking over to my six year old daughter.

“Ryan and DJ locked me out of the room again!” Chrissie complained. “They keep saying they’re playing a game and that no girls are allowed!” Shaking my head, I leave the room and knock on my son’s door, ignoring the DO NOT ENTER sign.

“Ryan!” I called out, “Let your little sister in right now, young man!” Moments later, my son opened the door, making a face as my nephew tried desperately to look around the taller boy.

“But Mo-om!” Ryan whined, “We’re doing guy stuff in here! Chrissie wouldn’t wanna play anyways!”

“You won’t know until you let her try.” I told him with a stern glare. “Besides, there are lots of things girls can find fun that boys wouldn’t think they’d like.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Ryan grumbled before holding the door open to allow Chrissie access to the room. Squealing in delight, the girl ran before Ryan closed the door again, I put a hand on his shoulder and leaned in for a private word.

“Promise me you’ll give Chrissie a chance, okay?” I told him. “Who knows, maybe you’ll find the game’s more fun with her playing too, and DJ’s only here when your Aunt and Uncle come for a visit. Chrissie’s here for you whenever you want.”

“Don’t remind me,” Ryan said making a face before adding a hesitant, “But I guess I can see your point. I’ll try to include her, mom.”

“That’s all I asked,” I said, kissing his forehead before moving to head back to my office. I grin widely as he exclaimed a loud ‘YUCK!’ before his door shuts.

“What was that about?” You ask curiously as you exit your room, glancing at my son’s door.

“Ryan and DJ were playing and wouldn’t let Chrissie join them,” I explained. “I was just giving Ryan a talk about being nicer to his sister.”

“You’d know about that, huh?” You chuckled.

“Of course,” I said, keeping my face completely straight, “After all, I had the most evil little brother a girl could ask for.”

“I’d take offense to that if I didn’t know it was true,” You told me with a grin, “We used to be horrible to one another before the accident. Even after for a while.”

“Being involved in what we did does that, I supposed,” I sighed, “Still, I’m glad that everything’s settled now. And you even found a girl willing to over look the fact that you disappear every now and then.” You groan at the horrible pun.

“Ja-azz…” You say in exasperation. I laughed.

“I’m just playing with you, Danny!” I told him, glancing out a window again. I can’t stop the smile as I remember the way we used to horseplay and laugh as the rain fell around us, when you were a hero and I wasn’t your protector. All we were was what we were supposed to be; two sibling sharing a game only they understood…

My smile widens as I turn back to you.

“Hey, Danny?” I said, completely ignoring the fact that my company was expecting those papers on my desk by tomorrow morning, “You up for a walk in the rain?”