HOME | DD

Description
Chapter 23 – Raindrops.

When Catherine left in a fit of rage, she told me she didn't love me anymore. Strangely… I didn't care much. Red loved me, Chris and Jean loved me, and that was all I needed.

Caroline decided to spend most of her time at her new boyfriend's house. Mark was his name. He was your stereotypical jock. Assholeish, tall, muscular, not very bright. I didn't like him. He had short brown hair and cold blue eyes like Caroline's. He didn't smile, he leered.

My eyebrow had healed up a little better, it was looking pretty good. My back was still sore, in the mornings I had to hobble until the pain melted away. This morning Jean gave me a shot of painkiller, my doctor said I'd need it. Red was gone with her family for the day to some camp thing, I didn't have much to do, so I decided to make myself some lunch.

I walked out into the kitchen and made myself a PB+J sandwich, Jean had left somewhere. She never told me where she went anymore, just when she'd be back. I took a bite of my sandwich and chewed thoughtfully, thinking about what had happened with my mother, I felt strangely relieved to know that it really wasn't anything I did that made her leave.

I hopped up after a moment and slipped on Red's red tripp pants and a black tank top, lacing up my black ankle-high converse shoes and stepping out into the warm early summer air.

I realized it was raining and went to grab my umbrella.

Opening it, I strolled slowly down the road, I had nowhere to go really, I was just wasting time.

The world was silent save for the soft steady hush of warm summer rain showering the leaves on the maple trees above me.

The raindrops on my umbrella sounded like a drum, the kind my cousin Wesli made. I had attempted to make one once. I hadn't stretched the hide tight enough over the wooden frame, so it didn't sound as good as his did. I sighed and rubbed my forehead. I stopped for a moment, staring up at my umbrella. Then I closed it, wrapped the Velcro around it and used it as a walking cane. Jean hated when I did that, she said it ruined the metal part on the end.

The rain streamed down my face, soaking my hair, I took the pins out and shook my head wildly, smiling to myself, I probably looked like a fool. I shrugged and kept walking, humming softly to myself, then belting out into song, swinging the umbrella around like they did in the old movies.

"If you're blue and you don't know where to go to why don't you go where Harlem sits? Puttin' on the Ritz." I sang out loudly.

I laughed to myself and pictured Red singing along with me, she spun the umbrella high over her head, "Different types who wear a day coat, pants with stripes, and cutaway coats, perfect fits, Puttin' on the Ritz."

I felt slightly exhilarated by the fact that Jean hated when I went out in the rain like this, but I was doing it anyways. I had always been the type of girl that did what she was told without question.

I leaned my head back and gazed up into the sky, still walking, smiling, squinting so I wouldn't get water in my eyes.

The rain came down in sheets, soaking the mud around me. I was in the ocean. The waves comforted me, warmed me and wrapped me in a blanket. The sound smudged and hushed out around me and I didn't feel so small. The universe ceased to exist now. It was just me and my bubble of hushing sound, moving throughout a vast picture of black and white. Everything I stepped on colored itself just for me, then faded again when I left.

Suddenly my moment was ruined by a small muddy hill. I stepped in just the right place and the weeds broke away and slipped from underneath me. I landed with a thump on my back. I winced and froze for a second, feeling my heart beat in my spine. I groaned and sat up slowly, propping myself up on my hands and sighing.

I glanced down at my mud soaked body and laughed softly, picking up a handful of mud and watching it melt between my fingers. I grinned and jumped up, picking my way carefully down the slight slope and back onto the road, using my umbrella for support.

A lady stopped by in a blue Pontiac and asked me if I wanted a ride home. I shook my head and told her I wasn't walking home yet. She shrugged and said okay, driving off reluctantly. When the car was out of sight, my feet started to hurt.

"Hmm… maybe I should turn back now…" I suggested to myself.

With a swift movement, I pivoted on one foot and turned back towards the way I had come and started to walk.

I got about halfway home when Jean rolled up in her car.

"Brooke!? What the hell are you doing out here!?" She yelled, more concerned than angry, "Where's your jacket? Why are you soaked, Why aren't you using your umbrella?"

All I could do was shrug.

She groaned and laid a few towels on the seat and told me to get in. I did, and smiled to myself, staring straight ahead.

Jean forced a frown, "You want a sore back AND hypothermia? You crazy girl… What am I going to do with you?…"

I smiled wider, I saw the corners of Jeans mouth twitch slightly, we sat in silence for half a second, then both laughed.