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Lakewood Times

“Perspective Story Assignment” Tori Klepsky

 

A Rainy Day

 

Rei’s Perspective:

As she woke, the soft patter of rain on the roof filled her with a sense of serenity. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Rei smiled as she listened to it, almost dozing off once more. The soft beat of the rain was calming; a peaceful sound. The thought of today’s plans brought her back from the brink of sleep, as she rolled from her bed and stretched. She and her best friend, James, were going to the park today. She thought of how many sunny days there had been recently, and felt somehow thankful the weather finally broke it’s repetitive clearness. There was a smile on the girl’s face as she got ready. She scrambled around her room, trying to find something to wear. She settled on a comfortably loose camouflage t-shirt and some black sweatpants. She pulled her hair up into a loose ponytail, the brown strands a sea of dark waves. Content with her appearance, Rei slipped on a pair of black converse, grabbed her umbrella, and headed out of the door. 

The smell of rain was heavy in the air, and it swirled around the girl like a cloud. Taking a deep breath, she savored the scent. It was one of her favorites. She pushed the umbrella open and began her walk, sending a text to James to say she was on her way. Rei watched as the children of her block splashed in puddles. She thought about how much fun those kids were having, and began to hope that there were puddles at the park for her and James to jump in as well. She chuckled as the thought crossed her mind. How ridiculous would two seventeen year olds look playing in a puddle? She thought she wouldn’t mind the looks, it would be fun. 

She finally arrived at the park, seeing James walking in from the entrance on the other side. His Monster Energy hoodie, even with the hood up, couldn’t contain his brown mop of hair. His green eyes could shine at you from a mile away. Smiling, Rei happily rushed over to him. The wet ground had turned to mud, splashing up onto her pants as she ran. As she finally reached him, she was gasping for air but her grin never fell despite the look of disappointment on the boy’s face. 

“Hey! You made it just as I did, isn’t the timing wonderful? Have you smelled the air? It’s so refreshing. It’s lovely out,” Rei beamed, her joy as obvious as the rain.

“Yeah, what timing,” James grumbled. “What’s different about the air? Same oxygen as always. And just what do you mean by lovely? It’s pouring out!”

“Take your time and really breathe it in, it’s such a wonderful smell. And you know it doesn’t have to be sunny to be beautiful. We’re here together, the rain made us puddles to jump in and gave the air such a nice smell!”

“I guess it is different. Also, puddles? What are you, five?” James chuckled. “All I see is mud. Look at you, you’re covered in it.”

“The latest fashion, you like?” Rei gave a small spin, posing dramatically. She knew he could be a downer, it was her job to cheer him up at times. 

“Now come on, let’s go get muddy!” Rei pulled James by the arm, leading him into the wet grass. She thought of how much fun they were about to have, to dance in the mud like children, like no one was watching.

 

James’s Perspective:

James woke to the soft sound of rain on the rooftop. He sighed heavily, looking towards the window with disappointment. Today he was meant to go to the park with his friend Rei, and all they could do had just been ruined. He slid out of bed groggily, not really understanding why he bothered to wake up anyway. Rei would likely call and cancel plans at any moment. The disappointment weighed heavy on James’s shoulders as he went through the autopilot portion of his day. Breakfast, brush teeth, fall back in bed and wait. Wait for what? He did not know. Just as he thought his plans for the day were all but hopeless, his phone buzzed. He thought this would be Rei canceling plans, but to his shock it read that she was on her way there! In a sudden panic, James rushed to get ready. The closest clothes were his black Monster Energy hoodie and a pair of old, faded blue jeans. He slipped them on hurriedly, stopping only for a moment to check his hair in the mirror. The brown strands flew messily in all directions, but he thought his hoodie would cover it anyway. He brushed the stray hairs from in front of his face and slipped on the nearest pair of shoes; a pair of black Vans. Fully dressed, he rushed out of the door. 

All he could see for miles was grey and dark, and the air felt damp and heavy. As James began to feel the rain soak through his hoodie, he scowled. The day was ruined for sure. He passed by some children playing in the water. He let out a sigh of disapproval, thinking of all the mess those kids were making. Where were their parents to stop them? He continued walking, and continued to curse the rain. He wondered why Rei was even going. Maybe she was just too bored, or maybe too stubborn to give up on the plan. He couldn’t think of one reason someone would want to be out on such a bleak day.

James finally reached the entrance of the park, just in time to see Rei rush over to him. Her umbrella swung wildly as she ran, and her brown ponytail fling in all directions with the motion of her body. James gave a quick, small smile as Rei beamed up at him, her blue eyes seemingly sparkling. 

“Hey! You made it just as I did, isn’t the timing wonderful? Have you smelled the air? It’s so refreshing. It’s lovely out,” Rei beamed. James smiled for just a moment, the joy emanating from his friend lifting his spirits for just a split second

“Yeah, what timing,” James grumbled, hearing the rain begin to beat down harder. “What’s different about the air? Same oxygen as always. And just what do you mean by lovely? It’s pouring out!” He couldn’t understand her optimism, today to him was a lost cause. 

“Take your time and really breathe it in, it’s such a wonderful smell. And you know it doesn’t have to be sunny to be beautiful. We’re here together, the rain made us puddles to jump in and gave the air such a nice smell!”

James took a deep breath in, just to humor her. To his surprise, he truly did smell something different. It was a good smell, one that was so strange and unique. He had never taken the time to smell the air before.

“I guess it is different. Also, puddles? What are you, five?” James chuckled. He thought of those kids from before, splashing and making a mess. “All I see is mud. Look at you, you’re covered in it.”

He looked her up and down, noting the mud all up her pants.

“The latest fashion, you like?” Rei gave a small spin, posing dramatically. James smiled, his friends’ witty comebacks and ‘go with the flow’ attitude familiar to him. He began to feel better about the day, feeling it really could become something fun.

“Now come on, let’s go get muddy!” Rei pulled James by the arm, leading him into the wet grass. He didn’t know how the day would turn out, but he was content to let her lead him into whatever adventure she wanted. Maybe rain wasn’t so bad.

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