| Rain My dad never told me he was leaving. He didn�t tell anybody. I just came home from school to find my mother sobbing at the kitchen table. From that point on that was the most emotion I ever saw in my mother or sister. They just seemed to continue on with their lives like robots. Unfeeling, uncaring, and insensitive to anything that was happening around them. My dad wrote to us a month later apologizing for leaving us (as if he could fix it) and sending child support. I didn�t want Mom to take it. Show him we don�t need him anymore. Mom never listened. Every month he sent money that Mom used and tried to give to my sister and me but I refused it. I said I didn�t want Dad to be a part of my life. But I did. Oh, I did. He was my dad. How could I possibly forget him, or shut him out? I proceeded to bury myself in my music. Not music that I wrote, I was completely tone-deaf but music that I listened to. I listened to all sorts of stuff but mostly rock and soulful ballads that made your heart break. I loved the passionate misery I felt while listening to �Black Balloon� by the Goo Goo Dolls or �To the Moon and Back� by Savage Garden. Music was the only thing left that could reach me on a personal level. I shut out my friends and my family and hid behind my headphones trying to mask my own insecurities. I felt completely alone. Another thing I loved was to take my favorite fluffy pillow and lie out on our screened-in porch and listen to and watch the rain. Rain was just about my favorite thing on the earth besides music. I loved how it came down in sheets washing the earth and scrubbing it clean and giving it a chance to start anew. I wished I could find my rain. I wished I could start over. My dad used to drive me and my sister to school but he was gone now. My sister carpooled and I walked. One cold grey day I was standing on the sidewalk waiting for the light to turn red so I could cross the street when I heard a voice. �Are you lonely?� A man was sitting on the bench behind me and he was talking to me. He looked surprisingly like Eddie Murphy. Remembering my mother�s fanatical tales of kidnappers and the like I said nothing and looked the other way. �I think you are lonely. You miss your father don�t you? You need a companion.� I stared at the man in astonishment. It was as if he read my mind. Forgetting all about feigning disinterest I asked him who he was. �My name is Timothy. I can grant you one wish. �What kind of wish?� �Anything your heart desires.� Secretly I thought the man was crazy. Who did he think he was some kind of wizard? I decided I had nothing to lose. Let him try to grant my wish. At least he�d leave me alone. Taking a deep breath I said: �I wish everything was like it used to be. I wish my father was back and that I had friends.� The man smiled, told me my wish was granted and hailed a taxi. Scoffing at his stupidity I turned and headed to school. Soon I heard a car horn honk beside me. I turned and who was inside but my father! I gaped at him, astonished. �Come on Remy, get in the car. I�ll be late for school,� My sister complained. I leapt in the car and threw my arms around my dad�s neck. �I missed you!� I cried. �Why? I didn�t go anywhere!� Dad said hugging me back. My sister made some crack about me inhaling too much car exhaust but I didn�t even care. I was on cloud nine. When I arrived at school Josh and Marleigh were waiting for me by the steps like they used to. Forgetting all about my dad I ran towards them. �Hey guys!� I yelled excitedly. �Hey yourself. How much coffee did you have this morning?� Josh asked. I rolled my eyes. �What�s up?� �We were just talking about heading to the park this afternoon to hang out.� Josh said. �And I was explaining that I have cheerleading practice after school.� Marleigh said impatiently. Josh and I both smirked and said, �Barbie convention.� Marleigh punched me in the arm and we all laughed. In history class Marleigh and I passed notes like we used to and in math Josh got in trouble for whispering too much to his lady friends while me and Marleigh snickered in the background. We ate lunch together and hung out like friends should. Josh and I made plans to hang out after school, and pick up Marleigh after practice. I reached Cricket Park early and sat down to wait for Josh. He would most likely be late. On a good day he ran ten minutes behind. A man came and sat down next to me. I glanced at him and realized he was Timothy. �Hello Remy. I came to talk to you.� �Thank you so much!� I gushed. �Thank you for granting my wish. It�s been awesome!� �I know and now it must end.� �What?!� I was stunned. How could he do this to me? I could see Josh approaching in the distance. �My wishes only last for one day. I�m sorry but that�s the way it has to be. Your father is gone and you are as you were before.� I watched Josh approach me and dread set in. How would he act now that the spell is over? He walked towards me and stared at me confused. �Remy are you okay? You look like you�ve seen a ghost.� I couldn�t speak. I opened my mouth but words wouldn�t come out. Josh peered at me for a terrifying moment and I felt my heart pounding in my chest. Finally he smiled. �I�m gonna by you an ice cream because, no offense, but you look like you seriously need one.� He squeezed my hand and headed toward the ice cream vendor and asked for two strawberry cones. My favorite. I turned and glared at Timothy who was still sitting next to me. Josh hadn�t seemed to notice him. �What are doing trying to draw it out painfully? I thought the spell was over!� I snapped. �It is.� Timothy answered. �B-But-�I gestured towards Josh confused. Timothy sighed and adjusted his position on the bench. �Funny how it takes a spell for you humans to see what�s been there all along.� |