This is an actual letter I sent out to friends and family. It sort of just came out in this story-style, but it was kind of neat, and the remarks I recieved persuaded me to put it up here. It's just what I call a ramble. I tend to have a lot of them. ; ) Hope you enjoy.
May 12, 1998
Day's End
I've had a horrible day, and at last I'm leaving work. I gather
up my backpack and say goodbye to Elaine, who says last time she was
out, it was really raining hard. I'm thankful I brought my green and
white umbrella, which I show her. It's huge, and just the thing. At
least now I haven't been lugging it around all day for no reason. I
stop in the small entryway and try to call home for a ride. Line's
busy. Big surprise. I walk out the doors. First thing I notice is the
rain, because I'm not yet to the edge of the overhang. It's light
really, not hard or fast, but not an annoying drizzle either. Real
rain, with good-sized drops. Still have to use my umbrella. Then I see
the sky. And the rainbow.
The sun is setting, already behind the building at my back,
throwing its light onto the darkest curtain of rainclouds right before
me. It seems to soak the light right up. And arching overhead is the
biggest rainbow I've seen in a long time. I can see the full bow too,
not half or even just spots, but the whole thing. A fainter but
distinct second rainbow arcs over the first. The main one is
brilliant, so bright, especially at the ends, that it glows. The
vibrant colors seem to light up the very black of the sky that
outlines it so well. People coming out of the library, like me, stop
and stare, smile, exlaim, point. One guy turns to me and says,
"Let's go get the pot of gold." He smiles, and so do I.
"Great, isn't it?"
"Yes," I agree wholeheartedly. After a moment, he moves on, even
in the rain, never looking away. Two girls coming out behind me stop
as well.
I wish I could show my friends, so distant or momentarily out of
reach. "Look," I'd say, and stand there. I want to share it with
someone who is missing out. I settle for running in to Elaine and
dragging her outside. She, like everyone else, looks, and smiles, and
wonders. When the inner prompting of her responsibilities takes her
back inside, I stand for a while more. I curse my lack of a camera,
and wish there was some way to capture the moment for later -- reach
out and grab the picture I see before me, the background of dark cloud
that makes the streak of colors stand out so brightly, glowing and
almost tangible. They'd be softer than velvet. There is no wind, it
isn't cold. The warm colors seem to have chased away the chilling
breeze of barely an hour before. I can smell grass and water and rain.
After a time, I open my umbrella and step out onto the wet
green lawn, the light rain tapping gently overhead. I make for the
two-story building across the way. The only method I have to reach all
those I'd share it with is inside, and although I've been staring at a
computer screen for a long time, I'm about to do some more. Writing
this letter is the only way I have to take a moment and share it with
those who I care about. I might even succeed to a small degree. In any
case, my steps are lighter, my day no longer quite so dark.
'Night all,
Kaz
� 1998 [email protected]
