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Alicat
Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094
Coastal Texas

0 posted 2000-08-10 06:47 PM


In that place, it never rained. Never rained except in stories, the stories told by the old men sitting outside the feedstore, ragged sweat-stained hats pulled over their eyes. But the stories they told, to any who paused long enough to listen on that dusty old street, were stories told to them by their great-great-great grandpas, passed down hand-to-mouth like a communicable disease.

They spoke of rain, rain in the desert, water falling from the sky. Now, everyone with the least bit of sense knows that water comes from the ground. But still they told their tales, water falling from the sky. I reckon they had a pain fixation, for slapping water with your hand stung a bit; now consider that same water falling like little bombs, leaving little bruises, possibly losing an eye to that stuff.

Then those old coots, probably crazed from the heat, would go on about clouds, or somesuch. Water held in the sky. Talk about silly. Ain't they never heard of gravity? Take a glass of water, turn it upside down, and see what happens. Better pray also that nobody sees you do it, or you're liable to get shot.

Then, one day, something strange happened: the sky changed. Now, we were used to the copper or blue dome, and the occasional dust storm, when the sky would be orange and brown. But this was different. The sky was black and blue and green, like someone had punched the sky in the eye. All the townsfolk gathered in the streets and square, staring upwards. Hell, even the old coots got up from their rocking chairs and shuffled down to view this odd sight. And a soft breeze blew up, and it felt like shade. The sky grew darker and someone screamed, pointing at a small crater in the dust. We saw another, and another; there were wet spots on our clothes and skin. Some people started to melt, or so it seemed, their dark tans running down their faces.

It began to rain.

And on that errant breeze we caught a scent, something we never smelled before, the sweetest smell we ever knew: the smell of rain. Heh, even the old-timers didn't know what it was. And it rained and rained. For a week it rained. It was as if the ocean was upside down. The streets turned to ochre mud, then brown rivers. Some houses got washed away, but noone moved from where they stood, water swirling and tugging at their knees.

Rain Day became a holiday. But, as the years passed, so did the memory. In time, the reason was forgotten, then the holiday was forgotten, just a snippet of trivia buried in the almanac. There are still a few of us who remember though, and we sit and rock on the feedstore porch, telling our stories to any who pause long enough to listen.

We still recall the smell of rain.


Alicat, the Persnikitty< !signature-->

As I sit here dimly thinking
Watching modem lights a-blinking
Churning out poetic hash.
Lord, in all Your piety,
Help me keep my sanity:
Please don't let my modem crash!


[This message has been edited by Alicat (edited 08-10-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 Alastair Adamson - All Rights Reserved
Tara Simms
Senior Member
since 1999-08-12
Posts 1244
Honea Path, SC USA
1 posted 2000-08-10 07:06 PM


I'm sitting here, praying for rain, and I read this.  You nailed it right on the head.  Ah, the sweet scent.  What I wouldn't give to smell it now.  Great writing!

Take me as I am or watch me as I go

Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
2 posted 2000-08-10 07:27 PM


Wow!! Marvelous story! I loved it..and would like to see more of that rain here!  
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
3 posted 2000-08-10 08:25 PM


catman, this is superb! What a rich flavor you put into this one.

I'm from a small town in Missouri (pop 110) and the old men do sit on the tavern porch every morning, breakfast brew in hand, and actually do recall the rain of '68 or the snow of '71 or the hail of '55. These are events that are never forgotten and live on in legend, passed down through the years by the porch sitters and tavern minstrels. You have described it perfectly.....

Dusk Treader
Moderator
Senior Member
since 1999-06-18
Posts 1187
St. Paul, MN
4 posted 2000-08-11 01:01 AM


Ali, this is a great tale! I loved how it played out with the repeating of history.. oh and the sweet smell of rain, how we need that here! Liked this much Ali!

Abrahm Simons

"Keep on dreamin' boy 'cause when you stop dreaming it's time to die" - Blind Melon

Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration
5 posted 2000-08-15 12:42 PM


Sorry so late Ali... just wanted to say that I really liked this! Had a folklore feeling to it. Si bueno senor!
StarrGazer
Senior Member
since 2000-03-05
Posts 679
Texas
6 posted 2000-08-15 10:33 PM


wish I could smell the rain too, this was very nicely written, and as was said earlier describes perfectly the small town life, only difference is here they all gather in front of the auto repair shop  
X Angel
Senior Member
since 1999-11-07
Posts 1521
Oregon
7 posted 2000-08-19 12:48 PM


*sigh* it rained here yesterday for the first time in ages and I forgot to go outside and BREATHE! Darn darn darn
maybe I'll get another chance today, it's stormy looking still...

Beautiful writing Mister Kitty...*hugs*
~H

Paula Finn
Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546
missouri
8 posted 2000-08-19 03:45 PM


I could repeat almost word for word Balladeers response...this is such a wonderful tale...you almost expcect to hear the chant from the raindance...
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
9 posted 2000-08-20 06:34 PM


Legendary perfection...you, too, may become an old man!
Alicat
Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094
Coastal Texas
10 posted 2000-08-20 06:46 PM


Tara: Yes it is.  Gawd, but I miss that scent.

PdV: I hear ya loud and clear.  In fact, the other day it almost rained here in Yuma...but on the other side of the mountains.  Talk about a teaser.

Balladeer: Sir, you honor me too greatly.  

Dusk Treader: Thanky, and I do hope you get some.

Chris: Hey, better late than never.  Muchas gracias, vaquero.

Starrgazer: Yawp, they will congregate wherever there is adequate shade and a place to rock.

XAngel: Thanks hon.  Next time it storms, forget about work and play in the rain.

Paula: Thanky ma'am.  Well, if'n they is chantin, it ain't workin..at least not yet.

Sunshine: Hmmm...what a perfect name for this place--98% of all days are clear and sunny.    Thank you most kindly, and inside, I'm already that old man.  

Dawn Eclipse
Senior Member
since 2000-01-31
Posts 637
The Horsehead Nebula
11 posted 2000-08-20 10:45 PM


Alicat~

Great story!  I love to walk outside after a nice rainstorm and smell the air... it is one of my favorite smells in the whole world!  I wish we had more rain now... we're a bit short.     nice job!

"Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other course, no other way... No day but today"
~Broadway Musical RENT~

*Cassandra Roseen*


Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
12 posted 2000-08-30 01:56 AM


AliCat~
What a marvelous feeling !

I was reminded of the days of the 'rainmakers'
doing their 'thing'
until mother nature finally opened up
and gave them their heart's delight.

I'm a puddle-jumper myself ...
love to take little kids and romp in the
rain puddles and have mud-pie fights.
Oh, what fun !

Thanks again for the sheer joy of this piece.
~*Marge*~


~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com



Sudhir Iyer
Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943
Mumbai, India : now in Belgium
13 posted 2000-08-31 06:23 AM


A wonderful, wonderful piece...

enjoyed this read so much ...

regards,
sudhir

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
14 posted 2000-10-22 10:39 AM


Still waiting for that gully-washer, so thought I'd re-visit this one...

Karilea
If I whisper, will you listen?...KRJ



vlraynes
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229
Somewhere... out there...
15 posted 2000-10-24 06:50 PM



Alicat-
   wow...this is awesome!!  
   i like it bunches.  
   gotta love that rain!!  

   Marge...can i join ya in that
   puddle jumping? lol  

   -vicky




"...until you have read the verse on his
heart, you have not truely met the poet."
-vlraynes



Victoria
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Ascendant
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869

16 posted 2000-10-25 10:52 PM


I love to smell the rain before I know it is raining..great story alicat..

                  ~Victoria~


A poem is never finished, only abandoned.
- Paul Valery (1871-1945)


Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
17 posted 2000-10-27 10:56 PM


Hi...This story is wonderful, the description and the flow so natural...the ending superb..Loved it!!
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