Ho Chi Minh City Rain

Let me tell you a story. It's about a girl...and her life...and the rain.

Her day in school had been...less than satisfactory. She'd had nervous fun in her drama group, because the boy she liked was there. After the group ended, she ruined her almost good mood by asking the boy if he wanted to hang out over the weekend. She was blown off. Not a yes, but not a proper no. Then again, most people don't give a proper no. They give the stragtegic blow off.

The girl met up with her one of her best friend/mom substitutes and they biked home. The girl told the whol sorry saga. Her friend was compassionate, but there wasn't much she could do...there wasn't much anyone could do. She had to get over this one on her own. But everyone is entitled to a little tiny bit of slump time after such a thing, and the girl just had to take it.

It was no fun though. The girl sat on the couch at home and stared at the ceiling. The only thought repeatedly crossing her mind was, Rejected again. She sat like that for awhile. Nothing could make her cheer up. Not her baby brothers, not her book, nothing...until.

The rain came in one big boom. No gradual, building trickle. No, it came hard and fast. The girl sat up. She looked out at the water pouring outside. She made a fast, almost subconcious decision. It was the right one.

Running out the door, the water beat down on her head and shoulders. The Ho Chi Minh City streets were singing from the joy of the rain. It has been a long time since the rains last came. The girl at first just stood there. Then she twirled around and screamed from pure euphoria. She began to run and dance. Tilting her face upward and continously thanking the heavens for this wonderful rain. Her bare feet slapped the warm pavement. Water ran from her clothes to add the the river on the ground. Her hair hung in wet ropes around her glistening face.

As the girl danced, she let go of everything. Without even realizing it. She was free. The rain welcomed her exhiliaration, it's fingers stroking her hair face and body ever faster. It screamed with her as thunder rolled. On some level, it understood the gift it was. As she lifted her face again, it left precious drops on her tongue. The taste could not have been sweeter. The girl savored it.

Reluctantly, she came inside and was halfway wrapped in a towel before one of her brothers came in, his chest bare and dripping with the wonderful rain. She hesitated a second, before removing her own shirt and joining him in more rain dancing. They loved the fresh, natural feeling of the sky water beating their skin. They twirled and screamed and paid homage to the rain with the love and freedom coursing through them and strangling all unhappiness with joy in its simplest form.

When the winds began, the two were finally forced inside. They weren't quite cold, but they knew when to stop. They gracefully wrapped in dry towels and dressed themselves in clean clothes.

The girl did not return to her slump state. The rain still pounded out it's friendly loving message on the window.

The message?

Throw your head back and dance. Love nature, for it loves you. Above all else, don't let how others see someting make your thoughts. The rain is looked on as a bad omen, but you know of it's kindness. Things that happen in life can be seen as bad, but that doesn't mean they are thus. Rejoice at everything that comes your way, for it is a gift.