Chapter 1:Rain

It’s Tuesday, one of the coldest, rainiest days of winter. It is 4 degrees Celsius and everyone has at least 3 layers of clothes on. Except me. This morning it was 20 degrees and I had put on a t-shirt and shorts. Lucky mum begged me to take an umbrella. I walk into the closest clothing shop and shake my umbrella outside of the door.  I spot a puffy, cream coloured jacket and immediately pick out my size and hand it to the cashier. BEEP. I hear as the shop assistant scans my new-smelling jacket. I swipe my card, thank her and walk out of the store with a huge mound of fur on my back. I’ve never bought anything like it but it’s keeping me warm. I unravel my umbrella and hold as close to the waterproof fabric as I can as it’s windy and might blow away. I peak out from underneath the shield from the weather and see a cafe a few blocks away I start splashing through the large puddles that had formed on the pavement. I’ll have to bring that up at the next meeting. I slide into the sweet smelling cafe and leave my umbrella in the bucket. I order a hot latte with raisin toast. She asks me, eat in or order out? I check my watch and see 8:26 glow up. I have time to stay in the dry, warm shelter. I to eat in give her $9.50 in change as my bag is starting to get heavier with all the water flooding into it. I pick a seat right under the heater, plonk my wet body on the hot chair and wait for my order to be delivered. I check my phone in case i have a meeting I forgot about. No meetings, but my boss wants to see me for lunch. I wonder if he wants to give me a promotion. Or maybe he’ll fire me? Guess I’ll find out later. The waiter comes up to my table with my hot drink and toasted bread balanced perfectly on her fingertips. I thank her and take a sip of my latte. They weren’t lying when they said ‘best coffee in town’. My raisin bread is toasted just how  I like it. Burnt and drowned in butter. It’s now 37 minutes past 8, I should get going. I pick up my cup and plate with 4 crusts on it, place it on the counter and attempt to squeeze my way out of the store. The cafe’s now overrun with soggy looking, tired customers who look like they need a hot bath. I scramble to the bucket Great. Someone’s stolen my umbrella.