a rainy day

a story of a man who changes the world one little step at a time.

He walked along the footpath, an island in a sea of people getting jostled and pushed  as the crowds surged past him until finally, he stopped , he put his hands in his pockets, dropped his head  and waited.

The crowds now forced to acknowledge him as he stood like a rock seemingly unaware of the distress of the people streaming past.

People walked past and glared as they were forced to go around him, but his silence was wrapped around him like a cloak almost as though it blared as if from a megaphone, “go around, nothing to see “. No one was sure how long he stood there, no one paid attention except to glare at him as they all just scurried past like ants late for the picnic.

After waiting what seemed a lifetime he slowly lifted his head towards the sky his eyes moved side to side as if they were searching for something, after about five minutes the first raindrops started to fall, he stood implacable, unmoving and still, the rain fell on his face faster, and faster, his hair plastered to the head, he removed his hands from his pockets and stood with them by his side, the water cascading down his arms to run like rivulets to the ground.

Finally a teenage girl walked up to him, breaking through the barrier of his aloneness and asked him what was he doing.“ What are you doing” she asked “ your getting very wet ” the man finally acknowledging a person was standing there and without turning his head or moving only his lips he said in a quiet sad voice,” Crying, the rain hides my tears ”, finally after studying him for a long time, she asked “ why do you cry”? she heard him take a deep breath and letting it out with a sigh he replied “ I cry for what has gone and things that are yet to be, I cry  for the things I should have said and done and also for those things I didn’t say when I could , I cry for what may have been and also for what was, but mostly I cry for the People who’s voices will never be heard, the child that goes to bed at night hungry in this land of plenty, I cry because if not me then who? One voice crying out in the wilderness, one very tiny flame in the dark”

The Girl looked at the man for a long time her eyes searching his face for the signs of mockery, seeing only truth in his face she took his hand, lifted her head to the rain and stood quietly letting the rain was over her as it continued to fall down.

 a man walked up and waited dry under his umbrella secure that all was right in his world but somewhere deep inside , in that spot which we rarely listen too something moved, making him uneasy, he wanted  so desperately to move around these two but was unable to do so , something drew him and stuck him to the spot finally unable to wait any longer he asked in a shy voice, “what you doing, why are you standing here getting wet ?” she answered him without looking at him, continuing to stare at the sky  with the same answer that she had received from the man earlier. ,” Crying “ she said “the rain hides my tears ”, the man stood and looked at her puzzled and confused , and asked “ why do you cry”? she  replied “ I cry for what has gone and things that are yet to be, I cry  for the things I should have said and done and also for those things I didn’t say when I could , I cry for what may have been and also for what was, but mostly I cry for the People who’s voices will never be heard, the child that goes to bed at night hungry in this land of plenty, I cry because if not me then who? And now there are two voice crying out in the wilderness, two very tiny flames in the dark”

Finally after thinking about what she had said the man took her hand and he also lifted his head to the sky, the rain continued to fall, and the voices continued to call in the wilderness but now as one became two and two became three, there voices resonating just that little bit louder, the message just that tiny bit stronger.

Finally the rain stopped, the clouds parted, and the sun shone, like beams of light making the ground sparkle as the sun reflected in the raindrops.

The three people dropped their heads and moved together for a brief hug not talking to another and as if by some hidden switch moved on into the day, each going there own separate way but each one linked to the other by some intangibility that had touched them deep inside.

So if one day you see a Man or a girl or really whoever standing in the rain, getting wet, ask them why, who knows you too may feel the urge to get wet, to help that candle that burns in the dark, shine just that little bit brighter and just a little bit stronger.