Chance of Rain


When I first met him he was a young man, fresh from training. It was early spring and I stretched my arms to the heaven, delighted with the warm sun. I watched when he drank his coffee slowly, his eyes wandering across the park, admiring our cherry blossoms. The soft wind tickled our bodies and he raised his eyes upwards, watching quietly as two men approached him and hesitantly sat beside him on the soft grass. I listened as they spoke, recognizing sadness in their voices.

“Jack.” The older man spoke and then paused, searching for words.

Jack shook his head. “I know, Shep, I’m alright. It was a close call and I nearly blew it up.”

“You didn’t blow anything, mate.” The other man spoke, his accent speaking of old and vast places. “We were all in it together, Sparky and we will learn from our mistakes.”

Jack nodded his head and the three companions sat quietly for a while, drinking their coffee. I watched them from my advantage point, a silent witness to their deep connection; friendship, love, companionship. It didn’t take too long for them to settle into a light conversation, discussing the important details of the previous night’s Hockey game. I chuckled to myself and smiled when Jack looked at me, his eyes bright.

Days passed and he didn’t come to see me although I often saw him running down a trail or another. When he did come it was a bitter day when he sat beside me with tears in his eyes, mimicking the cold drops that fell from the grey sky. I sheltered him as best as I could as he leaned against me for support. One of his friends joined him and they sat together, tears mingling with the rain. I finally realized the cause of their pain.

They were only two now.

I wept with them. I wept for them.

*****

“Here it is.” I heard his voice as he approached me and watched with interest at the two blonds who followed him.

“Jack, it’s beautiful up here.” The woman exclaimed, looking around her in wonder. The dog came to sit beside me, nuzzled me a little and then lay down, resting his golden head on his paws. They sat down on the grass and Jack tapped her forearm.

“Don’t let him scare you, Sue.” He said. “Myles is not a bad man and he is a good agent. He’s just a tough nut to crack.”

Sue nodded her head. “I know I will have to earn his respect. I do appreciate the opportunity, Jack.”

Their gazes locked together and Jack smiled; a hint of sadness in eyes as he looked towards me. “I think you’ll do wonderful, Sue.” He said, his voice hoarse.

The golden stood and Sue tossed him a ball. “Go get it, Levi.”

I smiled as the golden barked joyfully and rushed down the hill and they laughed with me, their eyes once more gazing at each other.

*****

She came alone today, only her golden, Levi, came with her. I knew she was upset, I could sense it in the way she moved, in the way she looked. She touched me, her fingers cold against my heart. I sheltered her when the rain fell down and she leaned her head against me. “I am so sorry.” She whispered. “I never should have listened to him, he tricked me and I fell into his web.” She took a shaky breathe. “Have I completely destroyed our friendship, Jack?”

If only I could hold her and offer her some comfort. Her forehead still leaned against me and Levi whined softly, attuned to his mistress mood. “I thought his intentions were genuine, I thought he was a good man. I suppose not everyone is like you, Jack. Not everyone has your unique, loving heart.” She paused for a moment and thunder struck, the vibration cursing through our bodies. “You confuse me, Jack, one moment I’m sure you feel the same and on the next you back away from me. I don’t know what to do. I just want to fix it, to fix us.”

I gave her what I could and she watched as the early cherry blossom fell to the ground. I smiled when her sharp eye caught his sight as he ran down the trails. I knew he was here, running from life for the past half an hour. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at me, a smile illuminating her features as the sky turned clear. She called her dog and I watched from afar when she met him.

*****

When I saw him again he was in pain. I could feel it in my every cell as they screamed in agony with him. He placed his hand on my heart and leaned against it, shouting with pain, bracing himself against me. His scream brought a shiver down my spine, petals of leaves falling around him as his voice faded away, tears flowing freely down his face. He sank to his knees, his hands still touching me, the rain falling against us.

“I could have lost her.” He whispered. “I almost lost her for good tonight. How could I let her get into the game in the first place?”

If only I could talk to him. If only I could share the secret knowledge of her feelings towards him. I could do nothing but listen, listen as he cried at the sky, the entire universe sharing his sorrow. “There are so many things I want to tell her.” He said softly. “How beautifully she looks when she signs and how her generous heart always makes mine miss a beat. How I would like to spend each day with her by my side.”

He sighed softly, wiping his tears with his hand, the sudden rain hitting his head. “I want to tell her that I love her.” He whispered. He looked like he finally understood something very important, life changing. I smiled when he smiled to himself, straitening his coat and looking at the lights of the city. “I love her.” He mumbled.

*****

Today, I was happy and it was only because they were happy. The cold days of February were slowly turning into warm spring and my children were growing. Sue and Jack sat beside me on a picnic blanket, eating lunch together while Levi lay beside them, his head resting on his paws, his eyes not leaving the food.

There was something different between them, I noticed it the moment I saw them. It was in the small gestures, the glances and the deep feelings in their eyes. I wondered if something finally made them reach for each other and I received my answer when he reached out for her and she willingly went into his arms. They laid side by side on the blanket, Levi settling in for a nap.

I watched when they drew closer to each other, their lips meeting in a soft kiss. Jack caressed her back with his hand and traced her cheek with the other one, his touch light as feather. Sue held on to his shoulders, her hand moving to caress his dark hair as the kiss grew passionate and they both seemed to seek more contact.

He murmured her name and she smiled to his lips, breaking the kiss and gazing at him with bright eyes. “I love you, Jack.” She smiled and he placed a soft kiss on her lips.

“I love you too, Sue.” He whispered, his dark eyes serious and focused on her face. “I loved you for a long time. I dream about spending my life with you.” Sue’s eyes watered and the world seemed to hold his breath. “Marry me?”

Sue seemed stunned for a moment but nodded her head, tears flowing down her cheeks. “Yes, Jack.” She whispered and he grinned placing a delicate ring on her finger. I wanted to jump up and down with joy, leaves falling around the happy couple. The heavens joined the happiness and shed tears of joy, surprising the happy couple.

Jack sighed. “I thought it will be a sunny day. What are the chances of rain at a wonderful day like that?”

Sue laughed and looked upwards. “Well, I think we’re pretty dry over here.” She said and Jack raised his eyebrows suggestively before pulling her to him, kissing her passionately. I averted my attention to other places, protecting them as they forgot about the outside world for a few moments and drowned in each other.

*****

Changes.

The only thing constant in the universe is change.

I learned it when I was only a seed; it is the world’s nature to change, no matter how much we dislike it. We all change in our course of life, we grow, we develop…

I changed much in the past year. I changed shape and I was forced to face a new and uncertain future. It was not my fault but the disease was always there, always spreading. I will most likely to never grow again but I still watched at the world around me, I still had a lot to see, even if I was unable to grow anymore.

Jack and Sue didn’t visit me for a long time now but I understood and kept on hoping to see them someday. I didn’t expect to see them on that grey day, climbing on the heel towards me, the golden trailing behind them. I heard Sue’s gasp when they approached me. “Oh, Jack, what happened to the Cherry tree?”

Jack’s features were sad as he circled me, his eyes bright. “I don’t know.” He whispered and I remembered all the times he leaned against my trunk and sat by the shade of my branches. I remembered as he sat on the flowers that fell and tasted the bitter cherries I gave him.

Sue touched me, her fingers hot against my cold stump. Jack sat down on the grass, leaning against me and Sue sat between his legs, leaning against his chest. I watched when his hands wandered to her swollen belly and watched when they smiled at each other. The small drops of rain fell from the sky and Sue chuckled as she reached for her bag and pulled out a large umbrella. Jack took it from her hands and opened it, motioning for Levi to join us.

They all sat beside me, the rain pouring around us as they sheltered me with their love.



~FIN~

Inspired by Shel Silverstein 'The Giving Tree':

THE GIVING TREE

Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come to play
Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade
Laughing all the summer’s hours away.
And so they love,
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon the boy grew older and one day he came and said,
"Can you give me some money, tree, to buy something I’ve found?"
"I have no money," said the tree, "Just apples, twigs and leaves."
"But you can take my apples, boy, and sell them in the town."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon again the boy came back and he said to the tree,
"I’m now a man and I must have a house that’s all my home."
"I can’t give you a house" he said, "The forest is my house."
"But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home"
And so he did.
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

And time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes.
"My life has turned so cold," he says, "and I need sunny days."
"I’ve nothing but my trunk," he says, "But you can cut it down
And build yourself a boat and sail away."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

And after years the boy came back, both of them were old.
"I really cannot help you if you ask for another gift."
"I’m nothing but an old stump now. I’m sorry but I’ve nothing more to give"
"I do not need very much now, just a quiet place to rest,"
The boy, he whispered, with a weary smile.
"Well", said the tree, "An old stump is still good for that."
"Come, boy", he said, "Sit down, sit down and rest a while."
And so he did and
Oh, the trees was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

that was beautiful

cath

Gorgeous.....

Oh my, Bell, that was a wonderful piece of work. Simply wonderful. Thank you!

WOW!! An amazing piece of work!!! very beautifully written!!!

Bell, this is just incredible - so beautiful, so touching!!!

Thank you so much for sharing with us!!!

Joy

You've outdone yourself, Bell.

This was simply beautiful. Absolutely wonderful.


gracie

that was my favorite book growing up!!! I made my mom or dad read it to me everytime i went to the doctor

That was a truly inspiring piece of writing, bell. I was wondering if you'd take part in the challenge and I'm so very glad you did ... and how!

Congratulations on a great piece of work.

p/s The Giving Tree has a huge meaning for the family and I'm so glad I have this to add to the memories.

bell it was beautiful .......thanks for sharing it with us .......it was very inspiring!! and i hope for more in the near future!!!

outstanding hun!!

thanks and take care

suejack

Bell, it's wonderful story... You touched me, virtually.

Sometimes is so simple to solve something when you are standing aside but if you can't do that your heart is aching like if you are the person to whom the pain is...

The poem is really sad... it "forced" me to realise the life is too sad if you don't give... if you only take... you can hurt so much...


for this story!


Restie

What a wonderful story, beautiful

Wonderful story - made me all teary!

Great idea, Bell and very well written. I thought of the Giving Tree right off. Loved the points of their lives that you chose to highlight and the ending was absolutely perfect!

kav

Fantastic post bell, thank you for sharing with us.

I had never seen the poem before but it is lovely.

Soph

I was thinking that I had posted when I read this but it looks like I didn't - sorry! It was a great take on a wonderful book, very nice weaving the characters throughout.

Wonderful job, Bell! I just loved it!

Jill

Such a wonderful story. I enjoyed it every word.

Bell, this is an absolutely beautiful story! Very touching! Thanks so much for sharing it! I loved, loved, loved it!

BTW, did I mention I loved it?

Bell, this was beautifully written with excellent imagery. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Vivid, wonderful imagery, Bell. Loved the use of The Tree and the passage of time. Very creative and inspired...

Great job!

It took me a while to figure out who's point of view this was from ....but i got it.....anyway....I liked this story although it was a little bittersweet.....Great Job!

That was a beautiful story, Bell. Thank you for sharing.



Sairs

Bell, I missed this. What a warm, sentimental, wonderful piece. Love haw the tree was there shelter and they become the tree's. Beautiful.

beautiful.
i always loved that stry.