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Prompt 1: The weatherman said it was going to be a nice day today. Perfect time to go get some of those errands taken care of. Unfortunately, while you were shopping, heavy clouds rolled in and it began pouring outside. Do you chance it and run for your car or duck inside the nearest shop until the weather clears up?
Word Count: 517
The skies opened up soon after Jonah left the dry cleaners. Anxiety never let him drive, even though he’d taken the necessary classes years ago. In Destiny City, that hadn’t ever been much of a problem, not when he could use public transportation, but a few inconveniences remained, especially when the weather took a turn. Halfway down the street between the dry cleaners and the bus stop, with a few of August’s things slung over his arm, Jonah had to duck beneath the awning of a nearby shop to protect his quarry.
He loved the rain. He always had, ever since he was little, when his dad would let him jump in puddles while his grandfather tutted about the mess. Jonah loved the sound of it pattering against the roof when he was warm inside, reading a book. He loved the paths it made streaking down the window when he was curled up in bed, watching. He still loved the puddles, even if he was too old to play with them. He loved the smell of petrichor, the gray skies and the heavy clouds, and the hush that seemed to fall over everything. The city became slow and sleepy when it rained — the shops less populated, the streets less busy.
Jonah stood beneath the awning and waited, watching the rain come down in sheets. People ran from it, ducking into buildings or waiting in their cars. Jonah wouldn’t have bothered, would’ve let it soak his clothes and wet his hair, even if the accompanying humidity made it frizzier than usual. Unencumbered by August’s dry cleaning, he would’ve continued his walk to the bus stop, might’ve even slowed his steps to enjoy it longer. In the springtime, the rain was often cool. He liked the feel of it on his face, on the back of his neck.
He looked up into the sky, watched the clouds slowly drift overhead. They were dark, but not dangerous. They didn’t rumble or spit lightning. If Jonah was an artist, he would paint them. If he got the color just right, they’d look like August’s eyes.
Embarrassment colored Jonah’s cheeks. He was being ridiculous. August wouldn’t appreciate the comparison. He probably wouldn’t understand the point of it. (Was there one? They were idle thoughts, lacking importance but not necessarily meaning. Jonah wished he could banish them, if only because they hurt a bit, knowing he’d never be brave enough to act on them.) He imagined August’s stern face and thought this sort of weather suited him.
Jonah checked his phone. He’d miss the bus if he didn’t make it to the stop in the next fifteen minutes. He still had the grocery shopping to do. Most of it he could’ve put off for another trip, but they were nearly out of coffee.
A bell jingled over the shop behind him when someone opened the door to escape inside. A collection of colorful umbrellas decorated the window display. Bright and youthful, they reminded Jonah of his childhood again. August would scoff at them, but that was okay.
Jonah liked that about him, too.
