After the Rain

After the Rain

Anyone watching would have seen a girl, barely into her teens, tiptoeing barefoot through the shallow pond that had formed along a broad sidewalk.  They would have noted the precautionary umbrella held in her right hand, shoes clutched in her left, her simple white dress swinging back and forth with her motion, and concluded that she was just out for a carefree little stroll through the water.  But they wouldn't have seen her eyes.

Mattie walked with her head bowed, not to pick out a path through the water, but so that her tears would disappear the instant they touched the surface.  When it rained, she could usually be heard to say, “The sky is crying.  I wonder why?”  Today, she thought she understood.

It had been a beautiful, sunny day, the kind that made every color spring to life.  The green of the grass, the blue of the sky, the yellow of the daffodils – they were all perfect.  Then the gray clouds had swept in on a strong north wind and changed it all, stealing the vibrancy of every hue and cloaking everything with a shadowy sameness.  She was sure it had all made the sky so sad, it had burst into tears.

It had been that way for her, too.  She had awakened that morning to a new day, fresh and full of possibilities.  After breakfast, she had played outside until the rain started, then had returned to her room to play with her favorite UglyDolls.  Just before noon, she had hopped down the stairs and bounced her way to the kitchen, where she was greeted by a table all set for lunch, but no food and no parents.

“Mom?  Dad?” she had called.

“We're in the den, Mattie,” came her father's reply.  Something in his voice had made her heart leap into her throat, and she had raced around the corner and down the hall.  He had met her at the doorway.  “Mary Ann's gone, sweetheart.  She was laying at my feet while I was working at my desk.  There was a little sigh and then—nothing.  I'm sorry,” he had said softly as he folded her into his arms.

Named after the character in the Gilligan's Island sitcom—the whole family enjoyed watching the reruns—Mary Ann was their eleven-year old Irish Setter.  She had been somewhat listless since the first of the year, so a visit to the vet had been scheduled last month.  Doctor Harrington had run the customary tests, then a few additional ones at the family's urging.

“The good news is, nothing worrisome's showing up in the test results, so we can rule out the usual diseases and serious threats like osteosarcoma,” she had reported.  “Unfortunately, although Setters tend to live twelve to fifteen years, it looks like Mary Ann's clock is just going to run out a little sooner.  For her, eleven is old and I can't fix that.”

“But it's only been a couple of weeks since she saw the vet!” Mattie had sobbed.

“We know, honey,” her mom had replied as she added her own hug, “but that's just how it is, sometimes, when a dog is old.”

“I guess,” Mattie had sniffled.  “Can I go for a walk and think about Mary Ann?”

“Sure, sweetie,” her parents had said almost in unison. “ And it's okay to be sad.  We've had Mary Ann almost your whole life, and we'll all miss her very much.  When you're ready—a week, a month, however long you need—we'll go down to Jack's Pets and you can pick out a puppy, okay?”

“I guess.”

“Well, then, we'll take Mary Ann out to her favorite meadow when you get back,” said her father.

“Okay.”

She had walked down the street, memories of Mary Ann running through her head one after another and, when she had come upon the slightly flooded sidewalk, she had simply removed her shoes and continued on her way.  Her tears had blurred the watery reflections, so it was some time before she noticed something unusual.  She stopped and let the ripples fade away, looked more closely into the water, then looked up at the sky.  She was right!  Arcing above the few remaining clouds was a double rainbow!

“Well, sky,” she said, not caring if anyone heard her, “I guess you're happy again.  I don't think I'll be happy for a while, but thanks for the pretty rainbow just the same.”  She turned around and headed back home, a little less sad and now thinking about what she'd say for a last goodbye.


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